Being a Cashier - Top Tips to Remember when Being a Clerk

Yes, we know it's not easy being a clerk. Sometimes, like with most jobs it downright sucks. No reason to sugar coat it in the least. However, just because you're at a job doesn't mean you can do whatever you like however you like to do it. If it were that easy you'd be your own boss or be unemployed. Below are several things a cashier should remember while doing what they are obligated to do: Check people out.

Attitude Check

You may have had a bad day. You might have just broken up with a boyfriend, girlfriend or your beloved pet passed on suddenly and you're not in the best spirits. Now, this can cause some serious issues at work, so, when someone tells you (no matter what line of work you do) to not bring your personal business into work, please listen. That doesn't mean you have to blank out the fact you're not in the best mood, but, you can discuss with your boss or manager the special circumstance going on and perhaps they can suggest a way for you to still work and not be jumping down peoples throats.

Perhaps you are like a lot of the younger people I work with: not wanting to be indoors checking out customers on a nice, sunny spring or summer day. Complaining loudly about what you'd rather be doing in between customers is a surefire way to make the guest remember that kind of snotty attitude and not want to come back, or worse: complain about your attitude to your boss. Then you're in big trouble.

Remember that when a customer is leaving the store you are the last one they're likely to remember and that will be a big impact on their thoughts about the visit that day. Scowling, making rude faces or even just being plain rude when confronted by a customer is one way to not be employed for long. You are a representative of the store, act accordingly at all times.

Handle With Care

Ever been into a store and the clerk in packing smashes your bread or breaks your eggs and you don't notice either until you're at home? You feel robbed and you know the clerk was just being uncaring and attentive. In fact, if you're angry enough you'd go back to the store and complain, right? Right. When a customer is ready to check out, they expect their items being purchased to be handled with almost the same care as a newborn baby. Breakables kept secure, those that might be smashed easily or broken easily handled with extreme care. Don't just toss a glass bowl in with cans of soup. Never seen it done? I have - it's not a pretty sight or sound when you hear "crunch" when the clerk picks up the bag. Pack items smartly, not efficiently. If you have a glass bowl and just four cans of soup, use two bags. Even if another clerk pressures you to use one bag - remember that you aren't obligated to listen to them. Do what YOU feel is in the best interest of the customer.

Likewise, don't drop bags into carts without a care. If you think the plastic or metal used in the making of the cart isn't going to damage goods you're probably wrong. Yes, we understand you have to get customers out efficiently, but that doesn't mean you shove customers through as fast as possible to have a checkout time of under 1 minute per customer. So what if you go over by a few seconds. The customer will appreciate you being careful and taking your time a lot more than getting them out as fast as possible.

Speedy Checkout

Now, I didn't know this factoid about some department stores until I was finally employed at one. Frankly, I wouldn't care unless I were working at one even though it's kind of cool to think about. A lot of stores have this goal of rings per minute. Somewhere the store averages should be around 12-15 but some clerks go higher and some are lower. I'm certain there is a purpose for the clerk reaching the goal and maintaining it weekly, be it for performance bonuses or be it to see who is actually trying. Whatever the case, it's never OK to push beyond your limit.

Most often you can damage goods (as I mentioned before) and anger the customer, but there's also the higher chance of ringing up an item too many times or being so fast you don't ring up items and neither you or customer notice. That creates gigantic problems for you in the long run. Every customer wants to pay for what they get, not two over something just because you're trying to hurry for ring per minute reasons. They won't be amused and probably won't think too fondly on being in your line next time they have to purchase something in your store. It's better to go your own pace and slowly work your way up when you're feeling comfortable upping your speed gradually.

Slow Days

Storms and other inclement weather can make business as slow as a snail meaning you may only ring out one customer every half hour. This will definitely make time drag and instead of being there maybe 6 hours it'll feel like twelve. Why not make use of this time to the best of your ability and make it worthwhile for the store to have you there during these slow times?

Clean the counters with a safe cleaner. Make it so that a customer doesn't have to worry about what kind of marks may get on their white blouse they're purchasing. Make sure your scanner glass is clean so that it can read the UPC tags with only one swipe. Tidy the counter area and make it look respectable and not cluttered. Fold excess bags or even offer to clean the entrance doorways if they look a little dirty. Bosses love this kind of motivation. Go get carts if there's another clerk there to still check out customers.

Even on non-slow days make yourself busy and time just flies by. Tidy the candy areas and make sure that any items that don't belong up front aren't there. Some stores have an operation where you stand out front of your aisle and invite people into your lane for checkout. I've found you can keep busy instead of standing in front for hours. Instead of standing around, which wears on your feet you can tear down empty boxes of gum or candy. Check tags for sale dates and make sure they aren't over. I have found that it is extremely easy to keep constantly busy even when you're "just a clerk".

Langage

This experience has moreso been with the high school crowd who work the checkouts after school to save up for cars, clothes or even college. However, I would never limit this last one (and what I feel the most important one to remember) to just the teenagers as I have seen older people do this too.

So you had fun last night at a party and the clerk on register 5 next to you didn't get to go to the party. This doesn't mean giving a detailed account of who did what to who and who went upstairs with who. Nor does it mean bringing out your potty mouth. Take it from a parental perspective. Would you seriously want to go down a lane to check out when you know the clerk has no control over their mouth and may blurt out what you feel are profane words or just plain rude comments? Most likely not.

Remember, again, you are a representative of the store. If a customer hears a clerk swearing all the time when they're in, chances are they're going to suggest to their friends and family they go elsewhere to shop. What's this mean? Less profits and you getting no pay increase ever. Customers never want to hear it and honestly, you don't sound cool. You sound like an uneducated, uncaring individual.

Sure, there are many, many things a clerk should remember when checking out customers, but, these outlined are the big ones I've experienced and had customers complain about. As a clerk your responsibilities are to serve, be friendly and make the customer's experience as pleasant as possible so they'll come back over and over. Just remember to go your own pace, mind your temper and watch what you say for little pitchers have big ears. Above all else, enjoy being a clerk - you never know what people you'll get to meet.