If someone is providing you with a service, which a checkout operator is, then it is incredibly rude to not at the very least say “hello” at the start and “thank you” at the end when the transaction is competed.
Paul
Which is what I would do even if I was on the phone. The point is that there is no need for any communication at all apart from initial pleasantries and the fact that you are holding a more important telephone conversation at the time is of no business to the checkout operator. Sainsbury’s did her a favour by firing her and she is clearly unfit for a frontline customer service role if such a minor event causes her to flip out like she did.
You’re changing your story now as a few posts up you have said:
Rob K:
but there is no reason to speak to them
There is a lot of difference between seeing “no reason to speak to them” and being polite enough to say hello and thank you.
Oh, and just so as we’re straight on the story, from what I’ve read at least Sainsbury’s haven’t sacked the checkout worker.
I would like to think that I’m polite/respectful/courteous etc but i see no reason why I should have to engage in mindless chit chat with the till attendant. Their job is to serve the customer, not to enforce social etiquette. If I happen to be on the phone at the time of checkout all they have to do is scan, tell me how much and give a receipt.
If I were on the phone I would acknowledge the worker with a “hi” or a smile but I think that’s as far as I need to engage with them.
If I go somewhere and the person is on the phone I don’t expect them to end the call because of me, I would however expect an acknowledgement to let me know that they know I’m there.
To put another spin on it, what if 2 people go through the checkout talking to themselves and don’t say anything to the checkout person? Would they be accused of being rude and be told by the worker to stop talking whilst going through?
m1cks:
I’ve made the effort to come to your store so show some respect to customers.
The staff on the other hand deserve exactly the same respect from me. I think the cashier was 100% right and sainsburys should back them. If the woman wants to go to elsewhere and be rude, let her.
My opinion too.
Got to agree … checkout staff deserve some respect. I think it was poor of Sainsbury not to back their worker.
Agree to. Mobile phones are a complete pain in the arse!!! [/quote] Well dont put them in your back pocket…simples!
cupidstunt:
I would like to think that I’m polite/respectful/courteous etc but i see no reason why I should have to engage in mindless chit chat with the till attendant. Their job is to serve the customer, not to enforce social etiquette. If I happen to be on the phone at the time of checkout all they have to do is scan, tell me how much and give a receipt.
If I were on the phone I would acknowledge the worker with a “hi” or a smile but I think that’s as far as I need to engage with them.
If I go somewhere and the person is on the phone I don’t expect them to end the call because of me, I would however expect an acknowledgement to let me know that they know I’m there.
To put another spin on it, what if 2 people go through the checkout talking to themselves and don’t say anything to the checkout person? Would they be accused of being rude and be told by the worker to stop talking whilst going through?
cupidstunt:
I would like to think that I’m polite/respectful/courteous etc but i see no reason why I should have to engage in mindless chit chat with the till attendant. Their job is to serve the customer, not to enforce social etiquette. If I happen to be on the phone at the time of checkout all they have to do is scan, tell me how much and give a receipt.
If I were on the phone I would acknowledge the worker with a “hi” or a smile but I think that’s as far as I need to engage with them.
If I go somewhere and the person is on the phone I don’t expect them to end the call because of me, I would however expect an acknowledgement to let me know that they know I’m there.
To put another spin on it, what if 2 people go through the checkout talking to themselves and don’t say anything to the checkout person? Would they be accused of being rude and be told by the worker to stop talking whilst going through?
I wouldn’t have a problem with that if you acknowledged me first out of courtesy.
I’ve had my phone ring at the checkout with a call I needed to take. I said excuse me before answering and apologised after for being rude.
From reading the sainsburys story the woman totally ignored the cashier from the start.
Back in the old days, before scanning, when things had price tickets on, I was working in supermarkets.
If you had a particularly arsey customer, my fave truck was to to try and find something embarrassing in their shop, (jam rags, johnnies, hair removal cream or the suchlike) flick the price ticket off while they weren’t looking, and shout at the top of my voice to anyone (usually nobody) that was on the shop floor…
“TAMPAX! SUPER HEAVY, BULK BOX, PRICE NEEDED!” then mutter something under my breath. Which in the case of johnnies, would have been something like “you’re bloody dreaming”
Was amusing at the time.
With regards to your double scanning comments, I remember one shop I worked at, the manager had a scam going. Obviously every item had to be keyed in, so next to every checkout belt, till side, he put a quarter (125g to you metric folk) of loose tea, very small box. Any customer that spent over a quid had the value of it added to their bill.
If the came back, saying that they’d been charged for whatever price it was, you’d just say “oh, I must have rang in this tea, thought it was yours” and send them to get a refund.
PaulNowak:
Back in the old days, before scanning, when things had price tickets on, I was working in supermarkets.
If you had a particularly arsey customer, my fave truck was to to try and find something embarrassing in their shop, (jam rags, johnnies, hair removal cream or the suchlike) flick the price ticket off while they weren’t looking, and shout at the top of my voice to anyone (usually nobody) that was on the shop floor…
“TAMPAX! SUPER HEAVY, BULK BOX, PRICE NEEDED!” then mutter something under my breath. Which in the case of johnnies, would have been something like “you’re bloody dreaming”
PaulNowak:
Back in the old days, before scanning, when things had price tickets on, I was working in supermarkets.
If you had a particularly arsey customer, my fave truck was to to try and find something embarrassing in their shop, (jam rags, johnnies, hair removal cream or the suchlike) flick the price ticket off while they weren’t looking, and shout at the top of my voice to anyone (usually nobody) that was on the shop floor…
“TAMPAX! SUPER HEAVY, BULK BOX, PRICE NEEDED!” then mutter something under my breath. Which in the case of johnnies, would have been something like “you’re bloody dreaming”
Shop staff that are too busy to serve you as they are talking to their mate by the counter and slam your change in your hand with their head turned still talking.
PaulNowak:
Back in the old days, before scanning, when things had price tickets on, I was working in supermarkets.
If you had a particularly arsey customer, my fave truck was to to try and find something embarrassing in their shop, (jam rags, johnnies, hair removal cream or the suchlike) flick the price ticket off while they weren’t looking, and shout at the top of my voice to anyone (usually nobody) that was on the shop floor…
“TAMPAX! SUPER HEAVY, BULK BOX, PRICE NEEDED!” then mutter something under my breath. Which in the case of johnnies, would have been something like “you’re bloody dreaming”
Was amusing at the time.
That’s as old as the hills.
I believe you but thousands wouldn’t.
Also true. Actually happens
