Fountain of Youth

[Amusement Gal]

I don't have many stories to tell of people, because to be frank, grumpy people are everywhere. If I remembered every grumpy person, I'd go bonkers, so I'll leave that in my Amnesia Department of Sanity.

Fountain of Youth

Go in my line with booze, and you'll love me. Everyone with alcohol is either barely over the age limit, making their older boyfriend get it for them, or is using their Parent's ID. Keep drinking young'ns, and do what you do best: age backwards. I'll join you guys soon enough!

However, some people don't actually HAVE identification. This is where my powers are limited. Whilst you are indeed young when in my line, I still have to see ID to prove it. Therefore, if you're getting any age-restricted goodies, I ask that I see your ID. Having gray hair doesn't exclude you.

And yes, people do do dumb things with cough medicine. It's not you guys, it's the idiots that ruin it for you. But it does make cute stories if the kids ask why!

Kid: Why do you have to be old to buy that?
Me: Because some people take too much and get a little bit sick.
Kid: But does that mean I'll get sick?
Me: Not when Mommies give it to you, silly!

Note: I can't convey the tone well, but I promise this was said properly to a kid. I'm very good at my kid voice. Can't say I'm phenomenal with kids, but I do make sure not to word things in the wrong type of way.

Because I said so

How my conveyor belt works:

An elf is using it as an exercise machine. If you scare him and hit the belt real hard though, he likes to nibble.

It works pretty well until the kids ask how he fits in there.

How Dare I Have to Walk!

Cleaning up our little Jewelry Area since my register is near it. We get people asking for watch batteries all the time there, but the problem is that we have it in the Battery Corner instead of the jewelry area. It makes sense; we really don't need someone in that area at all times since we don't have anything hidden in displays to have to pull out. Apparently telling them where the batteries are though, is so totally, like, not Customer Service. When I told her where the batteries where, she gave a blank look and said, "Wait, I have to find it myself?". I...held my tongue, feigned surprise and OF COURSE said that someone can always help you, but do you honestly think that we have to do everything for you?

Ain't Nothin' but a Gold Digger?

Apparently this lady comes by often. She gets a whole cartload of things that look shiny- nay, addictive, doesn't look at the price, and puts them all on the belt. When she sees how much it is, asks that you take particular things off the order and then toys with the system to make it reach a certain amount. It comes to half of everything she picked up being taken off. The whole time, her daughter goes, "Daddy's going to be mad at you, isn't he?", and the reply? "Not if daddy finds out!". She always uses a credit card too, and I bet it's the poor sap's that married/had a child with her.

Thieves Love You.

I don't look when you put in your PIN on your card, but those beeps are going way too fast to be different numbers. You'd be safer making a completely different set and writing it on your card. And that makes me sad.

-------------------
Lastly, a question for parents/other cashiers. A kid kept asking his mom why she wouldn't buy him anything. She said no, and was doing a great job at it. I jokingly said: "I know, she's such a meanie head, isn't she?", and he said, "YES!". I had to laugh at it, and the mother didn't mind at all and had a chuckle herself. I thought it was cute, and when I told my mom, flipped out and said that was over the line! Somehow the joking tone had nothing to do with it, and it was still insulting the mother even though I made an over the top kiddy voice...

So parents, would you mind if I did something like that or would you be bothered? Cashiers, was this a good idea, or do some people go crazy over the mere thought of it?

I'd remember more, but my ADS filters a lot of it out, especially on my days off, sorry.

[Hanzoku]

To be fair on the last one, I have great 10-pad skills, so it'd probably sound the same as hitting the same number four times... or faster.

[Amusement Gal]

To be fair on the last one, I have great 10-pad skills, so it'd probably sound the same as hitting the same number four times... or faster.

True, but our system is so slow it'd be surprising if you could do it on ours.

[Kogarashi]

I've had those ladies who come through with way too much and then have to get stuff pulled one little bit at a time until it's a passable total. Pain in the butt when it's not someone trying to squeeze under the cap for their EBT card. Never had anyone's kid call them out on it though.

For the joke question, as a parent, I wouldn't mind, but then I regularly tell my own kids that I'm a meanie-head in a perfectly serious voice, so a joke like that wouldn't get under my skin if it's clear that it's a joke. BUT, from my cashiering days, parents like that are usually in the minority. I've had ladies who would go off on me for so much as talking to their kids, let alone making a joke like that. I would recommend exercising caution when joking like that, if only to protect yourself from the ones who don't subscribe to that brand of humor. Sounds like your mom may have overreacted a bit, though.

[bainsidhe]

I would recommend exercising caution when joking like that, if only to protect yourself from the ones who don't subscribe to that brand of humor.

This. And if you look at the wording, it could be considered a little insulting. It wasn't asking if the child thought mommy was acting mean, it was a statement telling the child mommy was mean. Even so, words alone don't convey situation, body language or tone, and you already said the woman appeared fine with it. When I cashiered, it's funny how I subconsciously knew when I could make jokes/be sarcastic to a customer versus when I needed to be unfailing serious and polite. The ones where I was serious and polite were the ones most likely to get upset about any random thing.

[Amusement Gal]

For the joke question, as a parent, I wouldn't mind, but then I regularly tell my own kids that I'm a meanie-head in a perfectly serious voice, so a joke like that wouldn't get under my skin if it's clear that it's a joke. BUT, from my cashiering days, parents like that are usually in the minority. I've had ladies who would go off on me for so much as talking to their kids, let alone making a joke like that. I would recommend exercising caution when joking like that, if only to protect yourself from the ones who don't subscribe to that brand of humor. Sounds like your mom may have overreacted a bit, though.

She tends to do that sometimes, but she's a bit old fashioned. I usually don't joke around like that, but saying something like, "Goodness, that's terrible!" in a cheerful tone is my more common approach. Unless the kid is grumpy. Then I just keep my yap shut or try to hand them a sticker. Px

This. And if you look at the wording, it could be considered a little insulting. It wasn't asking if the child thought mommy was acting mean, it was a statement telling the child mommy was mean. Even so, words alone don't convey situation, body language or tone, and you already said the woman appeared fine with it. When I cashiered, it's funny how I subconsciously knew when I could make jokes/be sarcastic to a customer versus when I needed to be unfailing serious and polite. The ones where I was serious and polite were the ones most likely to get upset about any random thing.

I'm pretty good at it too, which is the only reason I said it then. The kid was so over-the-top-goofy at it, I figured if the mom was laughing, it wouldn't do too much damage. Tone-wise though, let's just say that I'm rather goofy-sounding myself when I talk to children. Funny thing is, he tried asking ME to buy something for him! At least he's honest....

[Imogene]

Go in my line with booze, and you'll love me. Everyone with alcohol is either barely over the age limit, making their older boyfriend get it for them, or is using their Parent's ID.

And then, there are the customers who get all bent out of shape because I ID'ed them...

"Look, I'm trying to say you don't look 40 yet... if you're pissed about that, fine, you old hag... how the hell have you not crumbled to dust?"

[fireheart]

Cute moments with the kids.

[Amusement Gal]

And then, there are the customers who get all bent out of shape because I ID'ed them...

"Look, I'm trying to say you don't look 40 yet... if you're pissed about that, fine, you old hag... how the hell have you not crumbled to dust?"

Exactly! Which is why people are so happy to buy booze in my line. Or they pull the denial card. But I see lots of people dye their hair gray! There's nothing wrong with following a fad.

Cute moments with the kids.

Thanks! I'm actually rather inexperienced with children, so I try my darndest to make it work. Hell, I'm still getting used to talking to adults! So far stickers, or putting sibling stuffs in a separate bag makes me popular with the kiddies.

[PepperElf]

"Look, I'm trying to say you don't look 40 yet... if you're pissed about that, fine, you old hag... how the hell have you not crumbled to dust?"

exactly. when people check my ID i take it as a compliment.
and i like to pretend it means they think I look under 21...

[Megg]

If I were the mom, I would have likely said something along the lines of, "Yep, I am a meanie head. Totally." Followed by a laugh and likely an evil look from my daughter.

I have to agree, though - some people just look for a reason to be mad. You should get good at identifying those folks - just in case.