Rules on grocery store (and perhaps retail in general) etiquiette

[AKWalMartCartGuy]

That's odd. I'm used to going to a supermarket during off peak hours and seeing only one regular line open, and the self checkouts closed. Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather go through the self checkout at odd hours.

I was recently in the store I work at at 11:30 pm(they close at 12), and they had 2 cashiers, one regular register and the smoke shop(it's one of those crappy 3 bag registers unsuitable for large orders), why have a regular register open instead of self check? the same reason this site was created, people are stupid assholes, it's easier to have someone who knows what they're doing

[Bright_Star]

Too many people assume that the express register is where you get checked out by a super fast cashier. I've seen instances of customers getting all high & mighty cause they felt the cashier wasn't going like a race car. I'd be going as fast as I could & STILL get complaints cause I wasn't lightning fast. Do people forget that cashiers are human too?
You can only go so fast. IF you go so fast that you sacrifice accuracy then how is that helping anybody?

[Becks]

If they are calling for a few inches of snow, there is NO NEED TO PANIC!!!! You probably have a good supply of things to last you a day or so until you can get out!

I laugh at customers.

Holy biscuit. If you do your shopping well the whole year, you should have PLENTY of things at home for the blizzard of the week.

[Estil]

Too many people assume that the express register is where you get checked out by a super fast cashier. I've seen instances of customers getting all high & mighty cause they felt the cashier wasn't going like a race car. I'd be going as fast as I could & STILL get complaints cause I wasn't lightning fast. Do people forget that cashiers are human too?
You can only go so fast. IF you go so fast that you sacrifice accuracy then how is that helping anybody?

I don't know about your express lane but trust me, neither our SLOW lane or U-Scans are meant for speed and should not be expected. :P It's just the nature of the way they're designed. I just don't understand why we don't just do like most other retailers and just have standard lanes only; those are always MUCH quicker (having one or two baggers helps in the overall speed of the transaction as this way the cashier doesn't have to do it all themselves).

[Estil]

Here's another one; when trying to do something that we normally (or never) allow, don't try to claim "I come here all the time" when you don't really mean it (most of the people that claim this are those I've never seen in my life). No one likes a liar.

[Peppergirl]

I laugh at customers.

Holy biscuit. If you do your shopping well the whole year, you should have PLENTY of things at home for the blizzard of the week.

Seriously!
This past Friday, I went to my Kroger to pick up a prescription. It was 745am and the parking lot was full. I was like, ???

I went in and had to wade my way through the aisles and aisles of people at the check outs just to get back to the pharmacy. It looked like Wal-mart at christmastime, with about 15-20 people in each of the 4 lanes that were open.

Come on, people! A blizzard was predicted and did happen, but unless you've just set up house and this is your first trip to the grocery, it's doubtful that you're going to be trapped in the house long enough to starve.

I told the pharmacy tech how relieved I was that I wasn't there to shop. She said that people were wandering back to her, in a panic, wanting her to check them out because the snow was coming and there were lines.

[Kitten in the box]

1. Do NOT complain about prices...we do NOT set prices: corp. does.

2. Do not tell us of your about your colonscopy; we do not care

3. Co-workers: Do NOT call for stupid shit, try doing things yourself

[Estil]

Here's a new one for ya:

Don't bite my head off because you didn't read the sign on the Coinstar that says the vouchers can only be redeemed at Customer Care at 7AM-9PM (this is during overnight shifts BTW). It's not my fault you can't read.

[daleduke17]

On that note - why does it seem like a lot of places have gone to having only the self checkouts open during off peak hours? I'm looking at you, Kroger and Albertsons.

Because corporate has shown their almighty knowledge of letting a computer schedule manpower and the computer thinks that during non-peak hours that there doesn't need to be a self-scan operator AND a regular cashier working. Then they turn around and tell the individual stores that self-scan is going to remain open no matter what the staffing is.

That's what i learned when I worked for Kroger and my wife was at a Jewel-Osco.

[Difdi]

I've really gotten into the habit of returning the favor. When customers put/toss/throw the money on the counter instead of putting it into my outstretched tiny little hand, I will nicely lay their change on the counter.

I've been called rude for that.

Disclaimer: While not every cashier does this, I'm pretty good at remembering faces, and I make a serious effort to reciprocate politeness and rudeness with people on subsequent encounters.

Ever seen a cashier hand change to a customer with the bills first, then pile the coins on top of the bills?

Given that I almost alwats have my wallet in one hand, and will have to put something down on the counter in order to not spill coins all over from the other hand, I find it extremely rude and obnoxious for cashiers to hand me my change this way.

When I twist my hands so that they cannot pile coins on top of bills, they stand there, staring at me, not giving me my change until I allow them to do so their way. Sometimes for several minutes. When I try to return the favor, they twist their hands so that I can't pile coins on top of bills, and glare at me if I don't pay them promptly. I've even had managers called to deal with me for treating cashiers the way they treat me as a customer.

I have yet to meet any cashier who realizes how rude and obnoxious they are being when they do this.

So I've gotten into the habit of putting the money on the counter at places like that, since a great many cashiers will respond to my rudeness by being rude themselves, and will place my change on the counter rather than handing it to me. Which, ultimately, is less rude, on both our parts, than treating them with the level of respect they habitually show to me.

1. The Express Lane is for 15 items or less ONLY. One or two over we can overlook, but you're not doing anyone (including yourself) any favors by bringing in a 30+ item order. Because the Express Lane is much smaller than a standard checklane, I have to first bring your shopping cart in position and try to bag everything in a teeny tiny space. Thus your order will actually take even longer and of course, ends up clogging up our only eh, Slow Lane for those who really need it.

1a. Unless the Express Lane is the *only* open register. If the choice is to go into the Express Lane with 30+ items, or not go into any register lane at all, it's ok to go into the Express Lane.

[deafcat24]

I once had about 24 or so items in my cart. I went to the Express lane ONLY after the manager told me to. I pointed out to the cashier that her boss told me I could. Then had to tell a customer who came behind me the same thing when i had everything on the belt.

As for things left in wrong places because they aren't wanted.

While at Zellers on Sunday, i found a bag of salt and vinegar chips in the freezer. I had to circle back to take a second look because I thought it might be a reflection of the chips that were on the OTHER side of the aisle.

I took them out and put them back where they were supposed to be. Next time that person might want to check the other side of the same isle. Who knows, it could be seen by a reflection of light.

[Triscuitty]

Ladies, don't stand there and re-organize your whole purse after your transaction is done. You can put the receipt in your pocket for a few minutes until you get to your car or at least out of the way of the people waiting behind you. Also, don't dump out the entire contents of your purse onto the counter because you can't find your money/card. Especially if you have a bag of weed (or mysterious white powder!) in there. (I have seen this way too many times)

And it is really, seriously disturbing to watch you dig around in your BRA for your money. Bras are for boobs, and boobs only. I do NOT want to touch that sweaty, damp money you just pulled from there. Eww.

[Dreamstalker]

Ever seen a cashier hand change to a customer with the bills first, then pile the coins on top of the bills?

I'll give change back the "correct" way (coins then bills), and have had people complain that I didn't put coins on top of bills

Ladies, don't stand there and re-organize your whole purse after your transaction is done. You can put the receipt in your pocket for a few minutes until you get to your car or at least out of the way of the people waiting behind you.

My mom does that sometimes. Granted, she does shopping for her boss and so has to keep receipts somewhat separate, but what's wrong with personal receipts in one pocket and business in another until you can get home to organize them in detail?

On the offchance that there's both business and personal shopping on the same receipt (Bullseye for instance), she writes down what was what. Not that bad if the stuff is put on the belt in order (business stuff first, get a subtotal, then personal stuff, grand total, write subtotal on receipt), but if it's not...oy. At times I've had to start arguing with her about it...at least move the cart out of the way before trying to total things up! (better yet, do it in the car where we won't be in everyone's way...the receipt's not going to vanish into thin air once we leave the premises).

[Bella_Vixen]

Disclaimer: While not every cashier does this, I'm pretty good at remembering faces, and I make a serious effort to reciprocate politeness and rudeness with people on subsequent encounters.

I take it that you missed the part where I wrote that they refused to hand me the money (often, literally throwing it at me) when you responded? I always have my hand ready in position to receive money that is to be handed to me.

I do not, in any way, throw money at the customer. I lay it nicely on the counter, smile cheerfully, and tell them to have a nice night.

I am not rude in the slightest when I do this.

[Estil]

Here's another one, what is up with people who, when I ask for their phone number, say it 90 MPH like that 80s FedEx/MicroMachines guy?