Really? REALLY???
I've been working part-time as a cashier at my local large-chain grocery store since January to earn some extra money (saving up for a big vacation next year). And there are several general sucks I've noticed.
1) "No, you cannot use the coupon for two 12-ounce whatever when the coupon is for a 24-ounce whatever. Yes, I realize 12 + 12 = 24. No, I still can't scan it for you. A manager won't be able to---oh, you still want a manager? Ok. Let me go get him/her. *manager proceeds to tell customer the same thing*" I have a variation of this conversation very, VERY often.
2) "Oh, I forgot one item!" or "Oh shoot, I left my credit card/coupons/etc. in the car." Or "My husband/boyfriend/wife/girlfriend/etc. is in the store and I need to go find him/her." *customer runs off and never returns* I don't understand why this happens so often. It's annoying when it happens before I've started scanning their order, but it's even worse when it happens after the fact. Then I have to call over a supervisor, suspend their order, etc. so I can take the next customer.
3) Most WIC transactions...*shudders*...now to be clear, I think WIC is a great program and certainly helps needy families, but sweet mother of God, they make everything needlessly complicated. It's more a suck on the part of WIC than the customer most of the time, but at least once a night, I have a conversation such as this:
Customer: I am paying for this with WIC.
Me: Okay! *scans order*
*customer scans WIC card, something in the order isn't covered*
Me: Okay, looks like you owe a balance of $whatever.
Customer: What?! Why isn't it covered.
Me: *reviews WIC receipt* It looks like your WIC benefits don't cover this brand/this size/this item/etc.
Customer: But it says WIC on the sign in the aisle!
Me: Yes, but everyone's benefits are different, and your benefits do not cover this particular item.
Customer: Can you override it?
Me: Unfortunately, no. We do not control the WIC program, so I cannot make it take your card.
Customer: BUT IT SAYS WIC COVERS IT!!!
Me: *repeat*
Again, I am sympathetic to a point, because it is stupidly, unnecessarily confusing (especially for first-time WIC users), but by the time I've explained it for the fifth time to the same customer for the same transaction, my patience begins to wane.
4) Customer: Do you guys sell cigarettes here?
Me: No, sorry, we don't sell any tobacco products in this store.
Customer: WELL F*CK YOU, THEN! *storms off*
Me: *blink blink*
I get asked that a lot, but that fun reaction has, thankfully, only happened once.
5) And finally, a fun suck that just recently happened:
While I'm checking out Customer A, Customer B comes around the register...
Customer B: CEREAL?!
Me: *turns, confused* I'm sorry?
Customer B: CEREAL!
Me: Are you looking for cereal?
Customer B: YES, OBVIOUSLY! WHERE IS IT?!
Me: Should be in Aisle Whatever (*thinks to self* the one with "cereal" in the sign for said aisle). *turns back to Customer A*
Customer B: HEY! DON'T IGNORE ME! I NEED HELP!
Me: Sir, I am checking out this customer right now, but if you can't find what your looking for in Aisle Whatever, I can help you after I--
Customer B: NO I NEED HELP RIGHT NOW!!
Me: Well, I cannot help you right now. Would you like me to call over someone who--
Customer B: USELESS!!!!!!! *storms off*
Ah...people are delightful...
I am thankful I am only part-time and I know this gig is only temporary. Otherwise, I think I'd go crazy...or at least be more belligerent with the customers, which probably wouldn't be great for my prospects of keeping this job. :-)
1) "No, you cannot use the coupon for two 12-ounce whatever when the coupon is for a 24-ounce whatever. Yes, I realize 12 + 12 = 24. No, I still can't scan it for you. A manager won't be able to---oh, you still want a manager? Ok. Let me go get him/her. *manager proceeds to tell customer the same thing*" I have a variation of this conversation very, VERY often.
2) "Oh, I forgot one item!" or "Oh shoot, I left my credit card/coupons/etc. in the car." Or "My husband/boyfriend/wife/girlfriend/etc. is in the store and I need to go find him/her." *customer runs off and never returns* I don't understand why this happens so often. It's annoying when it happens before I've started scanning their order, but it's even worse when it happens after the fact. Then I have to call over a supervisor, suspend their order, etc. so I can take the next customer.
3) Most WIC transactions...*shudders*...now to be clear, I think WIC is a great program and certainly helps needy families, but sweet mother of God, they make everything needlessly complicated. It's more a suck on the part of WIC than the customer most of the time, but at least once a night, I have a conversation such as this:
Customer: I am paying for this with WIC.
Me: Okay! *scans order*
*customer scans WIC card, something in the order isn't covered*
Me: Okay, looks like you owe a balance of $whatever.
Customer: What?! Why isn't it covered.
Me: *reviews WIC receipt* It looks like your WIC benefits don't cover this brand/this size/this item/etc.
Customer: But it says WIC on the sign in the aisle!
Me: Yes, but everyone's benefits are different, and your benefits do not cover this particular item.
Customer: Can you override it?
Me: Unfortunately, no. We do not control the WIC program, so I cannot make it take your card.
Customer: BUT IT SAYS WIC COVERS IT!!!
Me: *repeat*
Again, I am sympathetic to a point, because it is stupidly, unnecessarily confusing (especially for first-time WIC users), but by the time I've explained it for the fifth time to the same customer for the same transaction, my patience begins to wane.
4) Customer: Do you guys sell cigarettes here?
Me: No, sorry, we don't sell any tobacco products in this store.
Customer: WELL F*CK YOU, THEN! *storms off*
Me: *blink blink*
I get asked that a lot, but that fun reaction has, thankfully, only happened once.
5) And finally, a fun suck that just recently happened:
While I'm checking out Customer A, Customer B comes around the register...
Customer B: CEREAL?!
Me: *turns, confused* I'm sorry?
Customer B: CEREAL!
Me: Are you looking for cereal?
Customer B: YES, OBVIOUSLY! WHERE IS IT?!
Me: Should be in Aisle Whatever (*thinks to self* the one with "cereal" in the sign for said aisle). *turns back to Customer A*
Customer B: HEY! DON'T IGNORE ME! I NEED HELP!
Me: Sir, I am checking out this customer right now, but if you can't find what your looking for in Aisle Whatever, I can help you after I--
Customer B: NO I NEED HELP RIGHT NOW!!
Me: Well, I cannot help you right now. Would you like me to call over someone who--
Customer B: USELESS!!!!!!! *storms off*
Ah...people are delightful...
I am thankful I am only part-time and I know this gig is only temporary. Otherwise, I think I'd go crazy...or at least be more belligerent with the customers, which probably wouldn't be great for my prospects of keeping this job. :-)