[QUOTE]Originally posted by integrate
[B]

There already ARE machines to check yourself out.

 

Yeah, I really miss the few years I lived in the South. The difference in attitude between people in the South and in New England is amazing. I think that when someone says "Y'all come back" in many cases they really mean it.

When a cashier in New England can make change for $1.00 without needing the cash register and drop the "deer in the headlights" look if you ask them a question I'll believe the trained professional bit.

 

chroot,
even though what u say might be true to some extent, you still sound like a dick. It just sounds like you dont treat people with respect. If it is the "BOTTOM RUNG OF SALES", why does that matter? he's just trying to make $ just like all of us.
"keep your money on your mind, and your mind on your money"

 

I have been on the cashier side also. Delt with a number of rude customers. The first time I whined to my boss about the customers he stated "I do not condone their attitude but, we need them, they don't need us". It made a good point. I don't shop where the cashiers are surly. I want to make my purchase and leave in a minimal amount of time. There is just too much competition in todays retail market place to have to put up with bad customer service.

 

I worked for three summers as a cashier and stockboy at a drugstore in Charlotte, NC. I grew up in the South, and I know all about "southern hospitality," which is more myth than fact, IMO. I then spent several years in northern Virginia, where people are, on average, pretty rude. Now I'm California, which is a nice happy medium. Come shopping with me sometime -- you'll find that:

a) I actually am very nice to cashiers. I do say "hi, how are you?" before plunking down my goods. I do say "Thank you, have a good one!" when I leave.

b) I am also generally intolerant of incompetence. I hate going up to a clerk/cashier and having the blank stare of indifference, followed by the repeatedly incorrect button-pushing, that goes along with most trips to, say, fast-food restaurants.

I have been "behind the counter." I just happen to expect just as much humanity from cashiers as you cashiers expect from customers. LordVagabond wanted to bitch about being a cashier -- I wanted to bitch about being a customer.

- Warren

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by chroot
[B]1) I don't want you to make jokes with me and ask me how my day was.

 

but true

 

truth has been changed for the better before

 

Well... I don't generally hold up the line with conversation as I am that (seemingly) rare breed that can actually do two things at once... I just try to make the customer feel comfortable, at ease, maybe put a smile on their face if the mood calls for it.

Customer Service is what it says on my name tag, and it's customer service you'll get. I've actually hopped off till and went through every single cart for a lady with her baby son in the store to find one with a baby strap that didn't have a broken tensioning slider... took me five minutes, but I got her one, and the next day she came back and spoke directly to my manager saying I am the only cashier that has ever done that for her. I take pride in my "bottom rung job," dammit, because it's what I have and it will get me through college, so I will do my damn BEST at my job. I *want* to be #1. And if that means going above and beyond for a customer that appreciates it, I will do it. However, if the customer is being a nasty person or just plain rude, I do have the right to refuse service. I can call on a stock person, and if they refuse, then you're S.O.L. Although it takes a REALLY bad customer for me to refuse service. And yes, that is our *RIGHT*

The good thing is that our phones cannot be called directly from the outside.... we can call directly out, but all incomings come to the CSD. Also, if I'm on a personal call and a customer comes, I *WILL* hang up on the personal call unless it is an emergency. It's just the way I am

"The customer is always right" = bull utter bull

And yes, Cashiers are trained professionals... I challenge anyone to come to London Drugs Brentwood in Calgary and process a return at the CSD.... or put a traveller's cheque through my till... or log onto OpenRSA and order shelf signs. It's a shitty profession, but we ARE professionals.

And service is our main issue. If we are treated nice, we serve nice. If we are treated badly, then, in my opinion, we will still serve nicely but you can go shove your attititude up your a$$. (not directed at anyone in this thread, just a general statement)

 

well put LV. I wish more people in the service industry acted like that.