I just got hired by Home Depot for part time cashier. I've never done anything like this before. I hope it goes okay. Anybody been a cashier? What is it like?
Never been a cashier, but I bagged groceries before, and I waited tables and bartended for a long time, so I dealt with a cash drawer. Just be prepared to stand for long periods of time and have customers bitch at you when things get rang up at the wrong price.
It will be fine. I've been a cashier many times over the years. The first few days are tough---lots to learn, standing all day, customers asking questions you have NO idea how to answer. But once you get into the swing of it, it's a breeze. Just keep your cool and remember that you're leaning. Don't let it rattle you. Oh, and wear comfy shoes.
It's easy. If any advice I could give is always front face your bills. It seems a bit anal retentive but it gives you better control over shortages or overages.
Yeah, and your managers will probably make you do it at the end of the night anyway, so you might as well just keep them faced as you work.
Being a previous customer care rep I'm ready for the customer abuse. I've just never been responsible for a cash drawer before and this direct interaction with customers. I've always lined up my bills in my wallet to face the same way and in the same orientation so that should be easy. I've been told that I'll be good at it but I don't know......................I just hope it goes well.
It's really not very difficult. I was nervous the first time I used a cash drawer, too, and then I realized how easy it was.
About the worst I ever had to deal with was the guy who attacked me over a pack of M&Ms or the one who yelled at me for 15 minutes because I gave him 2 5s instead of a 10.
My favorite was two customers I had to deal with over the phone at two different jobs and they both did the samething. The first I was troubleshooting a customer's software and they were not following what I needed to have them do. It didn't make sense to them so I tried a simple explaination on what I was doing and why and he interrupted me saying that he knows what it does and that he knows more about the software then I do. The second I was troubleshooting a customer's smartphone and they were not following what I was saying so I tried explaining what I was doing and why. They told me that they knew more about the phone then I did. In both cases, in my mind, I shouted: THEN WHY DID YOU CALL ME?
You think that's bad, I once got yelled at because I gave a customer a $50 bill for change (it was the correct amount, BTW). He said it was bad luck.
I had an old lady yell at me once over a penny. That was fun. When I waited tables, I never carried pennies on me. If you needed change, I would just round up to the nearest quarter. Well, I owed her 24cents, but I gave her 25cents, and she flipped out because I gave her an EXTRA penny!
I have friends who have cashered at Walmart, and they complain constantly about having to stand for most of the day. Why aren't you guys given stools? I've never understood that. And what about the disabled employees who can't stand all day? What are they supposed to do?
I haven't worked with cash before, but I have had several family members who worked for Home Depot, and they all praised it highly. Obviously individual managers are going to make a big difference, but I've heard that the company does well taking care of its employees.
I wouldn't mind working in a place like Home Depot. Although my store is sort of like that (it's a very very large store, but in my case, a supermarket)...I like the fact that I have pretty much free run of the place and I just go where they need me.
Cashiers in the UK all sit on chairs due to health and safety regs. Never understood why the ones in the States are made to stand.
That is my other concern. I have constant lower back pain due to all my surgeries. I'm prepared to deal with it but....
Seems like a lot of stress to be a register jockey. No one is asking you to perform open heart surgery.
A few thoughts: 1 - Please count back change. I always counted it back instead of handing someone a handful of bills and coins saying how much it was. 2 - Don't depend on what the register says, know how to calculate change, which includes handling the extra pennies the customer will hand you after you input their amount. I hate when cashiers are thown by that, or even won't take the pennies because they don't know what to do with them 3 - Don't let the customer confuse you with their cash. I have seen them try and mess you up asking you to take bills, then give back bills, telling you what you should give them. Many times they are scamming you when they get you confused. 4 - They will fight with you and sometimes get hostile when something rings up wrong. Maintain your cool and have someone check the prices. Don't leave your register to do it, and apologize for not taking their word, but policy says it has to be verified. Those are off the top of my head. Be nice, but firm and don't let the customer bully you.