Reaction at the cash register

[Bird]

I was at my local small town bank doing some business. The teller and I got to chit chatting and when it was all done I thought about it and told her "I think you shorted me a dollar". She said she didn't think so and I wasn't sure, but I told her "If your drawer is over a dollar at the end of the day it is mine". This was all done in a very light hearted manner on both sides. Sure enough, a few days later I received a dollar bill in the mail. You got to love small town banks.

Doug in SW IA

This reminds me of something that happened back in the dark ages. I worked a window in the Dallas Post Office in the early '60s. I have no idea how they do it now, but back then each of us who worked a window were issued an inventory; stamps, envelopes, post cards, change, etc. and once every quarter a Postal Inspector would show up unannounced, and check your inventory. If you were over, he took it; if you were under, you just took it out of your pocket to put in the drawer. So you had some incentive to be careful. And one day a customer had bought a number of things at one of the windows (not mine) and left. A few minutes later, he returned and told the clerk, "I think you made a mistake a while ago." And the clerk said, "Once you leave the window, it's too late to change anything." So the customer said, "Well, thanks for the $10, turned and left."

 

[ovrszd]

This reminds me of something that happened back in the dark ages. I worked a window in the Dallas Post Office in the early '60s. I have no idea how they do it now, but back then each of us who worked a window were issued an inventory; stamps, envelopes, post cards, change, etc. and once every quarter a Postal Inspector would show up unannounced, and check your inventory. If you were over, he took it; if you were under, you just took it out of your pocket to put in the drawer. So you had some incentive to be careful. And one day a customer had bought a number of things at one of the windows (not mine) and left. A few minutes later, he returned and told the clerk, "I think you made a mistake a while ago." And the clerk said, "Once you leave the window, it's too late to change anything." So the customer said, "Well, thanks for the $10, turned and left."

I call that "God Smack" Bird.

 

[drssg]

I think part of it is a side effect of a pretty good job market. The people I know, who try to find employees, tell me that it’s difficult to find people that will show up for work and are not addicted to heroin. If the employment to be offered is not that great, then the good ones tend to find better jobs.

That said, I’ve generally had good luck with store personnel.

 

[ovrszd]

That said, I’ve generally had good luck with store personnel.

Me too. I talk to them politely and respectfully. I always thank them by name if they have a tag on.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
As far as rude help goes, my worst experiences have been in the Carolinas. Once someone hears my yankee accent, all that phony politeness goes right out the door and you get your change and merchandise just sort of thrown at you.
One would think that the word would have gotten out that the Civil War ended 150 years ago.

And they still remember they lost!

Some couples work in tandem; one holds their place in line while the other keeps shopping and bringing things to the cart. It's rather annoying while I'm standing there with my basket, holding 2 weeks worth of groceries.

That's rather common in stores that have long lines.
Sometimes at COSTCO it seems people get in line with empty carts and runners are sent out.

 

[Jstpssng]

This reminds me of something that happened back in the dark ages. I worked a window in the Dallas Post Office in the early '60s. I have no idea how they do it now, but back then each of us who worked a window were issued an inventory; stamps, envelopes, post cards, change, etc. and once every quarter a Postal Inspector would show up unannounced, and check your inventory. If you were over, he took it; if you were under, you just took it out of your pocket to put in the drawer. So you had some incentive to be careful. And one day a customer had bought a number of things at one of the windows (not mine) and left. A few minutes later, he returned and told the clerk, "I think you made a mistake a while ago." And the clerk said, "Once you leave the window, it's too late to change anything." So the customer said, "Well, thanks for the $10, turned and left."

I've been on both sides of that one. I grew up running a cash register in the family business, and you would count out the change. If the bill was $12.34 we would count out the 66 cents then the bills. ("$0.66 is $13 "; then" $14, $15, $20" as you put the money in their hand.) By the time I started spending money I had a good idea of what I owed including the 5% sales tax, and how much my change would be. It's pretty scary how often the clerk is wrong, and how easily simple things confuse them.

The first time that I registered a vehicle she gave me back $10 too much. I pointed it out to her and she tried again, but was so flustered that she got confused and I finally suggested that we start from the beginning. When I finally got things straightened out I turned around to see my friends mother/my parent's employee standing behind me. She later told me that she picked up on the mistake from the start and was wondering what I would do.
I've given $100 back on more than one occasion, and lesser amounts many times. The first time I was hard because money was tight and I was short just $100 to make my truck payment. The teller was a snooty ***** who looked down her nose at me all of the time I was cashing my check; and I made it worse when I interrupted her in mid sentence to say "Let me give this back before I change my mind."

 

[two_bit_score]

The vast majority of the time I have good experiences with cashiers and most store/restaurant/service personnel. Quite often I’m impressed with their courtesy and friendliness considering the wages they are probably earning and the public they are encountering every hour on the job.

The few I run across who are rude, incompetent or plain stupid I just dismiss and say a prayer for them and thank the Lord I don’t have to do their job.

The ones I’m usually disappointed with are at the US post office. No so much rude or incompetent but just so S L O W. I frequently think these people must have a running bet with each other to see who can drag out a transaction the longest every day. They get paid well too.

TBS

 

[jerrybob]

Treat people the way you want to be treated.....most cashiers are pretty nice.

 

[oosik]

I ended up feeling sorry for the cashier at a restaurant somewhere just south of the Canadian border, in Minnesota. We were on a vacation from AK and heading to NE. Stopped for breakfast. The wife signed and gave the cashier a travelers check from our bank in Anchorage.

The cashier said - " I'm really sorry but I don't know the exchange rate between AK money and USA money". I still regret what I said - "Well, I'm sure your manager does - check with him". As we watched - both the manager's face and the cashier's face turned a shade of red.

I think it's the devil in me.

 

[ovrszd]

I've been on both sides of that one. I grew up running a cash register in the family business, and you would count out the change. If the bill was $12.34 we would count out the 66 cents then the bills. ("$0.66 is $13 "; then" $14, $15, $20" as you put the money in their hand.) By the time I started spending money I had a good idea of what I owed including the 5% sales tax, and how much my change would be. It's pretty scary how often the clerk is wrong, and how easily simple things confuse them.

The first time that I registered a vehicle she gave me back $10 too much. I pointed it out to her and she tried again, but was so flustered that she got confused and I finally suggested that we start from the beginning. When I finally got things straightened out I turned around to see my friends mother/my parent's employee standing behind me. She later told me that she picked up on the mistake from the start and was wondering what I would do.
I've given $100 back on more than one occasion, and lesser amounts many times. The first time I was hard because money was tight and I was short just $100 to make my truck payment. The teller was a snooty ***** who looked down her nose at me all of the time I was cashing my check; and I made it worse when I interrupted her in mid sentence to say "Let me give this back before I change my mind."

When making change always add, never subtract. Surprising how few people know that.