creepy encounters with cashiers

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I'd call myself Mr. Sandman, but nobody would ask me to bring them a dream.

 

[Nick086]

I like it when cashiers do the reverse discrimination.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ The what?

 

[Jonas Grumby]

If the cashier is using your first name and you're not a regular who they're familiar with, nine times out of ten it's because it's company policy since in their view it fosters a friendlier environment for the customer. Now, whether that's true or not depends on the individual customer's perspective, but regardless, it's highly unlikely that the cashier decided to do this on their own, so it's best not to blame them for it.

Plus, I think creepy is too strong a word. There's no mystery where they got your name from, since it's right on your store card, credit/debit card, or check. If you had never said your name before, never used a store card, and always pay cash and they still knew your name, that would be creepy. This is just being a bit overly familiar to make you feel welcome at worst, and the issue is most likely at the company level, not with the employee.

Now, as far as commenting on your purchases, if it's just saying "Oh, that juice tastes great" or something harmless like that, it's just making small talk and trying to be friendly or break the monotony, as said above. If they comment on personal hygiene products and make you uncomfortable, say "Wow, that's a lot of liquor" and make you feel like a lush, or make a joke about the large size of the clothes you're buying, that would be inappropriate. Otherwise, what's the big deal? If you don't like it, it's at most a couple seconds of grunting an affirmative and nodding in response to treat the cashier like a human being; hardly any great hardship.

It's really a thankless job. Because you're the last employee the customer usually encounters, you get the sum total of their complaints if they have any, most of the time about shit that's way above your pay grade or which you have little or no control over. You're required to interact with people even if the customer is having a bad day and just wants to tell the world to fuck off, and that doesn't even take into account how you're feeling. You have to deal with people doing stupid or time wasting shit all day long, with the full knowledge that for every second they waste, you're probably going to be the one who gets blamed for it by other customers unless the stupidity is obvious to everyone. It's mind-numbing monotony coupled with back and leg straining physical work and standing in place (which is worse than being able to walk around). Plus, it combines everyone's favorite activities of having to stand in lines, being herded through small lanes like cattle, being in extremely close proximity to others, making small talk with strangers, and then having to pay for the privilege. YAY!

So knowing all that, unless a cashier is really a horrendous douchebag, I go out of my way to try and be as nice to them as possible and to make things easier for them: bagging things myself if need be, making sure my method of payment is ready to go before I get to the checkout, being polite and responding to their questions/comments, organizing my stuff by category so it's easier to bag, etc. I'm not saying everyone should have to do this, because it is the cashier's job, but that's just what I try and do because of past experience. I worked as a cashier when I was in high school and while most of the time it's pleasant and you get to interact with nice people, it can be an awful, soul crushing experience at times.

Bravo! And well said.

Seconded.

I much prefer people with this attitude to those who seem to be constantly looking for something to be pissed off about.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Last winter, when I was still using a cane and had an infusion pump slung over my shoulder, I decided to try on a cape. The saleswoman heard me tell my friend that I usually don't like loose, floppy clothes, but sleeves were uncomfortable over my PICC line, so a cape would be perfect for a while. So she starts telling me how great I look for someone who's sick, and how many capes she's sold to women who use wheelchairs, and btw what was wrong with me anyway.

It could be much worse, my friend. My godson has CP & is in a wheelchair [well, now its a Rascal scooter thing]. At the mall or movies, people will just stare. Mostly, it is because they just don't know what to say. Often, they are surprised that he speaks so well... they look at the body and assume he's retarded [or whatever the current PC term is].

I commend your waitperson for, at least, trying to be conversational. She was probably trying to put you at ease. Whether or not it worked is your decision.

Oh, I know it could've been much worse. In fact, now that you've reminded me, even I encountered worse. I feel bad for the people who have to deal with that crap all their lives.

As for this particular salesperson, I heard her with other customers... It didn't seem to be a matter of trying to make conversation so much as being unable to not make non-stop babbling conversation.

If there are any companies with a policy to address their customers by name, I've never heard it.

Like Locutus pointed out, I was required to look at the credit card and address the customer by name. Knowing that I found it annoying as a customer, I disliked doing it as the salesperson.

B.J., now you've heard of it. This was a major department store (same company that owns Macy's).

 

[Avon]

whenever i go into a shop i loudly insist everyone calls me The Earl of Tuesday and demand anyone younger than me shine my shoes. and if they don't i'll complain to the manager in swahili until they give me free t-shirts.

because respect isn't earned, its blindly given to someone older than you especially if they are whiny and like to disparage people based on their belonging to a section of society.




Sarcasm

 

[tomalak301]

I try to be nice to cashiers since I know they take so much crap day in and day out. My friend works as a cashier for a grocery store, and I hear some horror stories from him either about co-workers or just customers being nasty.

I think it's just good customer service for cashiers to be nice, and to strike up conversation. The Customer is the only outlet for cashiers to make conversation anyway, so it's nice to have a bit of small talk. Also, it gives variety to the work day other than just being there like a robot helping customers and doing nothing else.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

My view is simple: Don't talk when you don't have to. This applies outside of work as well as in it.

 

[tomalak301]

My view is simple: Don't talk when you don't have to. This applies outside of work as well as in it.

Easier said than done if you want to be a social individual.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

My view is simple: Don't talk when you don't have to. This applies outside of work as well as in it.

Easier said than done if you want to be a social individual.

Not everybody wants that.

In any case, there's a difference between being "social" and being a chatty, annoying jackass. Better to not talk enough than to talk too much.

 

[tomalak301]

My view is simple: Don't talk when you don't have to. This applies outside of work as well as in it.

Easier said than done if you want to be a social individual.

Not everybody wants that.

In any case, there's a difference between being "social" and being a chatty, annoying jackass. Better to not talk enough than to talk too much.

That's true, even though I wouldn't call them a jackass. Maybe if they start pushing it more and more to the point of annoyance, but that typically doesn't happen with the cashiers I see.

 

[Nick086]

I agree nobody like a chatty cathy especially if they aren't sexy.

 

[publiusr]

I won't bash poor minimum wage earners.

it's their bosses and scuzzball employers I can't stand

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I like it when cashiers do the reverse discrimination.

What do you mean?



PS: junxon, I love the avatar.

 

[Portal]

 

[Gov Kodos]

Hag... wench...?

 

[iguana_tonante]

It is impolite to address elders by their first name unless they say it's ok. Doubly so for a customer. If they introduce themselves to you by first name it's good. If I introduce myself as "Mr. Zoid," then it's disrespectful to address me by anything else.

Since you are so into this formality stuff, you should at least know that you don't introduce yourself as "Mr" Last Name.

(Except if you are Mr Wolf. He solves problems.)

EtA: ninja'd.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

In Australia using first names is the norm. Adults introduce themselves to children by their first name, the only place they call adults Mr. or Mrs. is in school. Outside of school I've only addressed the very elderly that way and only heard it used with the very elderly, such as in a doctor's office. I've wondered if this is more casual than in the US because of past interactions I've had.

 

[Pingfah]

It is impolite to address elders by their first name unless they say it's ok.

Why, specifically, do you believe that advanced age should automatically command what you would consider to be greater respect?

Try to answer without appealing to tradition, please.

 

[iguana_tonante]

In Australia using first names is the norm. Adults introduce themselves to children by their first name, the only place they call adults Mr. or Mrs. is in school. Outside of school I've only addressed the very elderly that way and only heard it used with the very elderly, such as in a doctor's office. I've wondered if this is more casual than in the US because of past interactions I've had.

The point is, you don't introduce yourself as "Mr Smith". You introduce yourself as "John Smith". People who wish to maintain a level of formality will address you as "Mr Smith" (or whatever title you hold).

Here the level of formality varies. Young-ish people commonly go for the first name only. Professional settings usually call for a higher level of formality, at least when speaking with clients/customers. But again, it depends on the situation, the people involved, the level of familiarity, etc.

In school the level of formality rises as you rise in level. In primary schools teachers and pupils are addressed by first name, while in university instructors are addressed as "Professor" and students are addressed as Mr/Ms.