Supermarket cashier chit chat

Kildare

When I used to work in Asda there was some scripting - and you needed to do it just incase you served the mystery shopper. This was over 10 years ago but at the time I had to do the usual (sorry for the wait, do you need help packing, how is your day going, do you have any plans for the rest of your day, would you like cashback etc.). Wouldn't shock me if they extended it and expected to see you talking to customers. They used to have badges for everything - scanning 25 items per minute, 100% badge for mystery shopping etc. Definitly something that came from Walmart.

As an aside I used to love working Xmas Eve on customer services - customers were so funny. I had one woman shout at me because there were no Turkeys left at 4pm Xmas eve (we were closing at 6) and I had one call me and ask us to keep the store open longer as they needed to buy all their Xmas presents

I_Love_Shoes

valkirn wrote: »

As for my own work/ shopping experiances my biggest bugbear is ignorance, ignorant cashiers who carry on their own convos are right up there with customers who continue their mobile phone convos while your trying to serve them.

I used to work in an airport on check in- if anybody came up to me chatting on their phone I would sit and read my book very obviously or just sit with my head down until they are done. They have then very promptly apologised for being so rude after I did the same back to them!

KiKi

I'm always friendly and happy to chat - but the OP's cashier shared TMI, in my opinion!!

At my local Co-op I always get this one woman who's lovely, but she chats even after the shopping is packed and done, and there will be a huge queue (it's a tiny shop with two aisles) and she's happily carrying on the conversation whilst people are waiting to be served.

Then, when she does serve me, she ALWAYS comments on a very unusual bag I have which has the tube map printed on it ("That's really unusual, I really like that"). And she always makes the same comment every single time ("Bet you never get lost in London, do you?"). And every time I respond with the same answer ("No, I don't"). And she always gives the same reply ("I really do like that, how unusual").

Every. Single. Week.

olibrofiz

I don't mind a bit of a chat when I'm going through the till, sometimes find my grin's a bit fixed when they're going on a bit tho

I used to be a hairdresser and had some very interesting conversations!! I think the most 'beam me up scotty' moment I ever had was when i was cutting a blokes hair. I was about 20 at the time.

He limped over to the chair and as I started cutting his hair we got chatting and he started talking about his motorbike. 'So' says I, ' did you have a bit of an accident on your bike then, hurt your leg?'

'No' says he 'I've had a vasectomy and the wound's infected'. Very, very awkward silence

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

I've enjoyed reading about some of your amusing experiences at the check out... back to the original post...

I wouldn't have found it awkward. I'd have probably added that I'm not very tall so I have to take most trouser hems up.

I think this particular cashier might be getting this line in with any customer possibly just to entertain themselves with customer reactions!

gardner1

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

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.

i prefer the peter kay approach....bought it,packed it and f..... off

fly_dragon_fly

That is awkward what you experience OP. I would never have told you that if you'd come into the co-op i work in not even if you were a regular but then some cashiers are a little weird haha!

I think the problem with asda's and tescos is they don't have regular customers and you really have to judge it, i have regulars who i am really friendly with and will spend time helping them and making sure they are ok but again i can also read if a person doesn't want to talk or is in a hurry it's all about judging the situation. I find my voice and body language changes aswell depending on the person, for example I wouldn't talk to the old dear buying her lotto ticket as i would the young adult buying a bottle of vodka and some coke!

wik

I like nice chatty cashiers....
20 somat years ago we had a local safeway... and there was a loverly australian lady, i always went to her till..
well i got the chance to travel to australia and was telling her about it... she was heading back that year for chirstmas, and gave me her number there n said to call.. turned out i was 15 mins from her sons house, so i called, was invited to a bbq - got there and all her family were there.. was so so good, we still exchange christmas cards

lollipopsarah

aw Wik that's so nice.
xx

Sally_A

I think the "fat calves" comment is ace.:rotfl::rotfl: I quite like chatty cashiers, so long as it is not forced or scripted.

A cruel thought by me, but you often get the shelf fillers battling with shoppers, and when they ask "Excuse me, do you think I could just squeeze through please" I want to answer "Not with a backside that size"