wherein my idiot co workers piss off my assh*** friend

[nomorecarts]

so my friend goes to buy some cough syrup at the self check at my store, and it asks for an age approval. there were 5 associates standing at the self check podium trying to figure out how to run a check(probably trying to figure out why it's not working, I'd bet every penny in my checking account that the customer signed the check and wrote over one of the numbers so the computer couldn't read it) with no one watching the 2 working registers.(one failed the measurements test, one was out of receipt paper..... again) wouldn't you think 4 people would be enough for the check, and one person could watch the 2 open self checks(hell, have 3 do the check, one watch the registers, and the CSM go fix the receipt tape) at least a little. I admit, it's easy to zone out on self check, but the register screaming "please wait for assistance" and a red light flashing on my screen get my attention, even when I'm running checks, 5 associates not noticing is truly pathetic(I'm agreeing with him on the part about it being pathetic) so my friend got pissed off, and there was a container of coffee there, at the trash can self check, which he then chucked across the front end and was escorted out he also said he told them "I'm leaving, just make this fucking thing work"


I told him he should have been an hour earlier, when I was there, and running them smoothly, and I can figure out what's wrong with a facking check, the first time that happened it took me about 20-30 seconds to figure out, amazing, I know . it could have been something else, but I don't see why 5 people would try to figure out anything other than why it wouldn't read, and that is because there's a problem with the numbers, and you need to get another check from the customer, checks are simple. I can understand the person that was there not knowing, they had a sales associate relieve me, but one cashier should be able to tell her what's wrong, it happens on probably about 2-3% of all checks that are written, the cashier has seen it before, and if a supervisor hasn't seen it.... well, I've got a bridge to sell you, there's no way it should take 4 people who think they know what they're doing to figure that out. sorry, I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around the stupid. 5 PEOPLE?! 2 or 3 were probably managers(an assistant manager would do the escorting, and a CSM would be first one called to help with the check, and some of them travel in herds) too

[bainsidhe]

Self checkouts can be frustrating. You take what is otherwise a decent civil-minded human being and turn them into an impatient raging checkout-ogre. Yeah. Something like that. While I sympathize that the self-checkouts are frustrating and having some of them broken down is frustrating and having someone not watching the screen is frustrating....your friend was a complete ass.

He could've politely asked for assistance. Hell, your friend could've resorted to the infamous finger-snapping servers love so much. It still would be a step above launching coffee across the way. Grow up, will ya.

And yes, many times a check reader doesn't work due to a signature over the numbers. Or perhaps it's a sucky check. Or a sucky reader. There's been many times my register won't take a check when another register will. And many times when NO register will accept the check, even though nothing obvious is wrong with it. Did it take 5 employees? Of course not. Just like when there's a car accident, everyone wants to stop, stare and add their two cents.

It's unfortunate and yes, rude, that your coworkers weren't paying attention to your friend as a customer. Not to mention inviting shrinkage in general. But that in no way excuses your friend's poor behavior. I know you realize he acted like a jerk and that your coworkers are the reason he went off. But your friend still could have asked for help when he realized nobody was paying attention. He gets a thumbs down.

[nomorecarts]

never said he wasn't an asshole(never said I wasn't for that matter). I had run checks through that reader that night with no problems. trying another check should be one of the first things you think of. I did forget to mention he did say he tried to get their attention, I want to see the security tapes, him pissed off is usually funny.

doing the same thing multiple times and expecting different results is stupidity(doing it a second time because maybe you hit a wrong button isn't, but doing the same thing over and over is) and if the reader can't read the check we can't take it. I don't understand why people still use paper checks for anything under the limit on their debit card