Supermarket cashier chit chat

System

I like a bit of chit chat at the checkout but i hate scripted banter.

miss_independent

Treevo wrote: »

Why did you keep going back to her? If she was that bad.

Because it was the only express checkout and she didn't always work there every time I went in so I didn't know until I got closer that she would be serving me. I wasn't going to stand in a queue behind several people with full trolleys when I just had bread, milk, eggs etc and time was of the essence. I didn't spend enough to make home delivery viable.

Goldiegirl

I prefer just a friendly greeting, efficient service and a pleasant good bye and thank you.

I don't want a load of superficial chat in between.

Anyway, I usually have my shopping delivered these days. Ironically, as I usually have the same delivery man, I've got to know him, and engage with general chat with him.

mucklebones

I dont mind a chat, however surreal it may be lol, but what really bugs me about cashiers is when they push the stuff through as fast as they can raming it down to the end whilst your trying to pack. I generally load it on in the way I want to bag it to make things more efficient but grr some are just to quick.

I do miss getting my shopping delivered but I just cant trust people to pick the nice fruit and veg or get the yoghurts with longer expiry dates. Shame as much as I dont mind a chat with the cashier I would much rather not have to at all.

Bob_the_Saver

Cut the chit chat,

Bag, pay and get out of the way,

Some of us have lives to live and shopping just gets in the way. Go to the pub if you want to chat.

kitschkitty

Rockporkchop wrote: »

Wow that's awkward.

About a month ago I was on my way home from work and popped into Tesco for a few bits. I was wearing a pair of brand new black knee high boots.

The Tesco cashier said she loved my boots and asked where I got them. Flattered, I told her. Then she said "thanks very much, that's great - it's just soooo difficult to get nice boots for fat calves"!!

jtr2803 wrote: »

:rotfl:, did you smile and say you assumed she meant her own

but the implication is still that the Tesco assistant thought Rockporkchophad had fat calves else she wouldn't have asked & then mentioned it.

The only reply I can think of for that scenario would have been Pity these wont be any good for you then.

kitschkitty

I don't mind a little chat with checkout assistants so long as it doesn't hold either of us up. I don't like it when they get personal though.
I once had a woman in Asda, comment on something I had bought for my hubby and she kept going on about how men were all rubbish doing whatever negative thing it was (it was either to do with health or being "house trained" can't remember which), blah blah blah, I just told her my hubby was nothing like that and got out of there asap. She was very odd, hard to understand and "going off on one".

sapphireeye

When I worked in a supermarket we were told that we had to make conversation with the customers. I had a problem with that, not all customers want to chat! I'm a chatty person and sometimes I'm happy to chat with the shop assistant but other times I just want to get on with it. Plus, sometimes if you start talking to certain customers then you can't get rid of them and end up with a big angry queue at your checkout!

I don't suit being a checkout girl, I felt like a parrot all day long! 'Hello! Sorry about the wait (regardless of if there is one, because I got told off for not saying it). Do you need a bag? Which type of bag? (Bag for life, paid for carrier bag, tiny free carrier bag which you'll never fit that in but I bet you're going to try!) Do you need any help packing? (Must be said to all customers regardless of number of items.) How are you today?' Then more general chit chat on top of that is expected, then a goodbye and have a nice day/weekend/afternoon etc. All that just for one customer!

olias

Oh god, don't get me started on the, 'do want any help with your packing?'......errr, I'm only buying one item! I think even I can manage to put that into a carrier bag without requiring help!

Olias

Hermia

I work in a library and find the chat thing a bit of a minefield. We are a friendly library so whilst we are issuing a person's book we will make some comments about what they have taken out (nothing negative and we don't comment if they have taken out a book about a personal problem etc). Most people love it, especially if we have read the same book or like that author. But, some people get really nasty and pretty much tell us to shut up. It kind of annoys me. Of course everyone is in a hurry, but we talk whilst we work so we are not taking longer than normal. I just feel that some people would prefer to be served by robots!