The Floating Hand

[WHShit]

I wrote this in the old board, before it was hacked, but I thought that I would write it again, as it still annoys me.

There is this thing that customers do, which I like to call The Floating Hand.

This happens when you ring their order through, take their money and are struggling to bag an item or simply putting their money into the register and getting their change.

They hand you the money and as soon as the money is out of their hand and into yours, they hold their hand out in a cupped position, "floating" in the air waiting for their change to be handed to them.

I friggin' hate this so much! Give me a second to bag your stupid paperclips or to actually GET your change before you float your gnarled paw in my face!
Anyone else have this happen, and does it bother you?

[ArenaBoy]

Yep, happens to me every now and then. Waiting a few seconds won't kill you, but these are customers so they think they're important. I have one called the baby, please don't go. It earned that because there always the one guy who holds onto his money tightly and doesn't want to see it go.

[chainedbarista]

i also hate that; hey bud, this isn't an INSTANTANEOUS transaction-wait until you see me finish ringing it through and am handing you back the cash, card or whatever.

develop some patience; we'll despise you a bit less if you do.

[shazman]

I really hate this. I'm glad for this thread because I thought I was the only one so annoyed by this behavior. I just want to slap their hand back down and say wait a minute why don't you?

[Horsetuna]

I dont do this. but only because its now been conditioned into me to accept NOTHING hand to hand.

Casino rule: Dealers cannot take anything directly from the customers (Money, chips, whatever) it must be PUT DOWN, then we pick it up.


So I admit I will sometimes jerk my hand back or drop the change out of habit

YOu can tell dealers (good ones at least) when they're shopping. Whenever they put something down, before they pick something up, before taking money or afer giving money, they will brush their hands together and spread their hands palms-up.

Its called 'dusting off' and it shows the cameras and patrons that no, we dont have any money or chips or things palmed.

Its a habit that sticks after doing it 5 days a week, 7 hours or more a day.

[tonydanza]

I despise it too and one time just for kicks I pretended to read the receipt for about 20-30 seconds to see how long they would hold their hand out like that. They did it the whole time.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Same here. Plus I have to fight back the urge to give them five...

[dragonflygrrl]

Same here. Plus I have to fight back the urge to give them five...

*snerk* That is the greatest mental image ever. Ever.

I get the floating hand too, and it does bug me, but there is one variant thereof that bothers me even more: the floating phone.

Me: Hottest phone salesgirl in Kansas
FPC: Floating Phone Customer

FPC: *playing with phone* There's something wrong with my phone.
Me: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Let me take a look at it and I'll see what I can do.
FPC: *continues to play with phone* Well, the display looks weird, and it won't ring.
Me: Oh, that's no good! Let me take a quick look at it, I'll see what I can do.
FPC: *refuses to acknowledge my hand outstretched to take the phone, continues to play with phone* I'm not sure if it's something I did, or if there's something wrong with it.
Me: *struggling to remain calm and not shout, 'just give me the goddamn thing, idiot'* OK, I have to actually look at it in order to fix it. So just let me take a look at the phone and I'll see what I can do.
FPC: *plays with phone for a few more seconds, then reluctantly puts it down on the counter, where I have to reach out for it, still ignoring my hand outstretched to take the phone*
Me: *wishes I had a salmon. Ah, here it is!*

[Liz]

Slightly different but closely related is when you start to scan, fold and bag a mountain of clothes, and the customer holds their card out for you to take. They can see there's plenty more to scan, yet they still hold the card out. I often just took it and put it down again.

[dragonflygrrl]

I do the same thing, Liz. I often wonder, if we didn't, how long could we get them to stand there and hold the card? Do you think their arms would give out before they realized they were being ridiculous?

[karma_gypsy]

FPC: *plays with phone for a few more seconds, then reluctantly puts it down on the counter, where I have to reach out for it, still ignoring my hand outstretched to take the phone*

Ack, that drives me nuts with anything. If something needs to be repaired and I know how to repair it . . . I can't stand how someone will just stand there fiddling with it making it worse...

[Great Unknown]

*grits teeth* This thread unfortunately reminded me of another super-fun SC Hand Game:

SC holds a nice, crisp bill for you to grab at, then withdraws it repeatedly, thinking itself clever. For some reason, only males do this, and usually look mortally offended if you manage to pluck the bill from their hand before they get out of range.

SC holds its hand out for change, only to exploit the transfer of bills in order to TOUCH THE CASHIER'S HAND! $%&$@ EEEEEWWWWW!!!! $%@#$
This is compounded when SC is fat (not just obese, but has to waddle from side to side to attain forward momentum), slovenly, bespectacled, lecherous guy.

Lecherous SC subsequently got banned from my store for touching any cashier that strayed outside the employee area. And he *always* made coffee messes and stunk up bathrooms, in stores all over my city.

More ranting about this SC later. For now, that's more than enough for a cathartic outburst.

[Dips]

SC holds a nice, crisp bill for you to grab at, then withdraws it repeatedly, thinking itself clever. For some reason, only males do this, and usually look mortally offended if you manage to pluck the bill from their hand before they get out of range.

My FIL, an otherwise wonderful person, thinks that it is just hilarious to tighten his grip on a bill and go, "Thought I'd make you work for it. Heh, heh, heh." He does it to people taking tickets and credit cards too. He thinks it'll never get old. Sigh.

[Broomjockey]

My FIL, an otherwise wonderful person, thinks that it is just hilarious to tighten his grip on a bill and go, "Thought I'd make you work for it. Heh, heh, heh." He does it to people taking tickets and credit cards too. He thinks it'll never get old. Sigh.

I absolutely hate when people refuse to release their ticket so that I can rip it and verify the information, you know, show time, auditorium, etc.

I mean seriously, what, are they worried I'm gonna spit on it? Not give it back? Come on, I need the freakin ticket! Give it up already!

[Ryu]

I absolutely hate when people refuse to release their ticket so that I can rip it and verify the information, you know, show time, auditorium, etc.

I mean seriously, what, are they worried I'm gonna spit on it? Not give it back? Come on, I need the freakin ticket! Give it up already!

I agree, it bugs me as well
It hasnt happened that much recently but when it does I just give them a cold look, seems to work usually
Whats more annoying though is from halfway across the lobby "Where do i go?" or "what theater is x movie in?" No time given and the number is on the ticket plus its much quicker for me to use the ticket especially if theres multiple showings