Speaking as someone who worked cash as a teenager/young adult, no we don’t want to fucking talk to you. I was there because I liked money and that was a reliable way to make minimum wage. That’s it. I didn’t have a passion for scanning items and asking for payment. I had tuition to pay and debt racking up. I wasn’t there to chat with you, or improve the customer experience. I was there to get paid and I can tell you that most if not all of the other cashier’s were in the same boat.
I have some soft bread, I at least know I won’t put something heavy on it.
I have some items that are fragile, I can keep track of them packing and keep them separate.
I won’t end up single-bagging a bunch of stuff that could be bagged together (e.g. if they scanned some window cleaner, they bag it separate, not knowing that some dishwasher detergent is coming that it could be packed with).
Got some product with a markdown barcode? I can be sure the discounted barcode gets scanned not the full price one.
To the extent possible, I can also just skip bagging most of the time. If I have some very small things sure I might use a bag, but mostly I just scan and put in cart.
I won’t end up single-bagging a bunch of stuff that could be bagged together (e.g. if they scanned some window cleaner, they bag it separate, not knowing that some dishwasher detergent is coming that it could be packed with).
Not that it is foolproof but unloading your cart in an organized manner helps with that. Though maybe you’re talking about helpless baggers, I’ve seen plenty of both clueless baggers and customers who toss things onto the belt willy-nilly.
Yep! First job was as a grocery boy. If you feed the cashier your goods in an organized manner, they do better.
My wife was an utter mess at Aldi, pushed her aside and handled scanning and bagging my way. Know what? She’s great at it now! After watching a few times, she hands me our purchases in a logical order. Boxy stuff? That goes together. Cold goods? Goes together. Heavy shit? That goes in the empty bag. Soft stuff? Top off a bag.
What’s great is that I didn’t say much of anything. She figured it out after a few trips!
People get more sociable the closer you get to the equator. This is reflected in the distance from which people talk to you. So in the southern USA people are very chatty and will talk about pretty much anything while basically sitting on your lap, but in Norway you’ll pretty much just shout across the fjord at someone to tell them their house is on fire if you’re in a talkative mood. Talking to cashier’s doesn’t happen anyway.
The cashiers at the store across the street (that has no self check out) will talk your freakin’ ear off. There could be 1 person ahead of you with a single item and it takes 'em 15 minutes to get checked out. 😬
Why is everyone so adverse to talking to a cashier? Also, you have cashiers that wish to chat?!
Speaking as someone who worked cash as a teenager/young adult, no we don’t want to fucking talk to you. I was there because I liked money and that was a reliable way to make minimum wage. That’s it. I didn’t have a passion for scanning items and asking for payment. I had tuition to pay and debt racking up. I wasn’t there to chat with you, or improve the customer experience. I was there to get paid and I can tell you that most if not all of the other cashier’s were in the same boat.
That’s what I’m saying! Not 1 in 20 cashiers give a shit to chat you up. And I’m in the American South!
I’m faster.
Also, trust myself better.
I have some soft bread, I at least know I won’t put something heavy on it.
I have some items that are fragile, I can keep track of them packing and keep them separate.
I won’t end up single-bagging a bunch of stuff that could be bagged together (e.g. if they scanned some window cleaner, they bag it separate, not knowing that some dishwasher detergent is coming that it could be packed with).
Got some product with a markdown barcode? I can be sure the discounted barcode gets scanned not the full price one.
To the extent possible, I can also just skip bagging most of the time. If I have some very small things sure I might use a bag, but mostly I just scan and put in cart.
Not that it is foolproof but unloading your cart in an organized manner helps with that. Though maybe you’re talking about helpless baggers, I’ve seen plenty of both clueless baggers and customers who toss things onto the belt willy-nilly.
Yep! First job was as a grocery boy. If you feed the cashier your goods in an organized manner, they do better.
My wife was an utter mess at Aldi, pushed her aside and handled scanning and bagging my way. Know what? She’s great at it now! After watching a few times, she hands me our purchases in a logical order. Boxy stuff? That goes together. Cold goods? Goes together. Heavy shit? That goes in the empty bag. Soft stuff? Top off a bag.
What’s great is that I didn’t say much of anything. She figured it out after a few trips!
Anyway, I’m a grocery bagging expert. AMA.
People get more sociable the closer you get to the equator. This is reflected in the distance from which people talk to you. So in the southern USA people are very chatty and will talk about pretty much anything while basically sitting on your lap, but in Norway you’ll pretty much just shout across the fjord at someone to tell them their house is on fire if you’re in a talkative mood. Talking to cashier’s doesn’t happen anyway.
Great point! But I’m in the American South and cashiers are rarely talkative, at all.
Wasn’t my experience in Shreveport.
Only time I had cashiers wanting a chat is if there is no queue otherwise its “Hello” and “Have a nice day”
The cashiers at the store across the street (that has no self check out) will talk your freakin’ ear off. There could be 1 person ahead of you with a single item and it takes 'em 15 minutes to get checked out. 😬
I see that as a positive! They’re happy at their job, who am I to complain?