Try Being Nice to Cashiers

We've all seen it, perhaps even done it, although I hope not. Someone is yelling at a cashier at the grocery store or the gas station. Most of the time what the customer is complaining about is not in the scope of what the cashier can fix. Don't complain to a cashier about prices being too high, they don't set the prices and they can't change the prices. It would be like yelling at the paperboy because of a headline being misspelled. About the only thing that would be the cashier's fault would be ringing up an item twice since everything is computerized they rarely have to even enter in pricing anymore.

My daughter has worked as a cashier at our local grocery store for the last four years while she was in high school and now college. She hates it and can't wait to get out and do something else. I always thought it wouldn't be too bad to work at this store because we are in a little farming community and people tend to be more laid back here. I guess it's universal for people to complain. Just think about it, eight hours a day of people griping about things over which she has no control.

Often times the cashiers will offer to call a manager up front if the customer is complaining. Most times the customer declines but continues to grouse about whatever it is that has upset them and the cashier has the pleasure of having to listen and absorb all that negativity. At some point you learn to let it roll off your back, you learn not to care. This is purely a survival skill. You can just imagine what cashiers at gas stations are hearing these days! As if they set the prices or make any profit from the high price of gasoline.

One thing that people who have not worked in retail may not understand is that the prices are not necessarily set by the stores. If there's a sale on say Pepsi products, it's Pepsi who is determining those prices. In the case of our little town, they say we are in a remote area so they charge the store more to deliver their goods out here. What's funny is we're on a state highway and there's a series of small towns that the delivery truck goes through and makes stops all along.

My daughter says there are always issues of people being confused by coupons. Most times it is a matter of the customer not reading the coupon. Of course this always presents the customer with an opportunity to vent at the cashiers. If a coupon says that it's good for the 16 ounce item then don't take the 8 ounce item up and try to use the coupon on it. The manufacturer of the product will not honor that coupon. The store can't accept it.

I propose that we all try to turn this nastiness around and be kind to the service people who work in these thankless jobs. If they made a mistake, forgive them and have patience with them until it gets straightened out. If you get any person all flustered it just leads to more mistakes. Try making another person's day by being kind and see how good you yourself will feel!