What is the best response when cashiers ask “how has your day been”?

[Curledup]

I am socially kind of inept and I don’t really like this when cashiers ask this. But I know they are probably told to ask and be friendly to customers. What do others say? I say “not too bad” should I also ask how their day has been?

Don't forget that some customers are glad for someone to chat to and might be the only person they speak to that day. I'd rather a cashier said that and smiled rather than a misery guts at the till! They don't really need an independent account, they're just passing the time of day. I just say not bad thanks and you?

@RavingAnnie what a shitty way to treat cashiers. I've done a lot of customer facing work over the years and when I was younger, especially if I'd been having a bad day, that kind of response from a customer would actually have been a bit upsetting. (Now I'd just think oh fuck off)

Just say fine thanks, it's obvious if you don't want to engage in conversation and that's fine, but you don't need to be rude to people just doing their job.

Yes takingmytimeonmyride me too. The supermarket delivery drivers do it too. Ask how my day has been and I am never sure how much chat they are expecting. Over thinking me I am sure

@Curledup

Yes takingmytimeonmyride me too. The supermarket delivery drivers do it too. Ask how my day has been and I am never sure how much chat they are expecting. Over thinking me I am sure

'Fine thanks' is all that's required surely? I would imagine delivery drivers don't have time for long amounts of chit chat because they are on a timed route etc.

Yes think I am over thinking massively 🤦‍♀️ Clearly a fine thanks is ok. I will stick with that.

‘Oh ok. Just work, the usual. How are you?’ Simple.

@RavingAnnie do you have any friends?

OK I guess, thank you. Have a good day yourself.

@RavingAnnie

I'd rather they didn't ask. I'm not their mate. It's weird. So I just say something like "I'm just here for my shopping thank you". But I'm very anti social and hate this overfamiliarity that businesses seem to think everyone wants whilst at the same time delivering shite customer service.

Gee, I wonder why you get shite customer service

@RavingAnnie - they don't think you're their mate either.
They don't give a flying fuck about your day and how you are.
They are doing what they are told to do which is be pleasant.

A simple fine, thank you. You? Or even just fine thanks would be far better than basically replying " I'm a twat I'm a giant giant twat".

It's a fairly basic social thing. Like when someone sneezes and you say bless you. You aren't actually blessing them.

@KitchenKrisis

Im honest and chat. It must be boring working invisibly I think it's manner to chat and make their day a bit nicer???

Or maybe the checkout operator hates the inane chat too but has to do it as part of their job.

I just say a quick ok thanks but I hate the question. I’m not a fan of all this informality these days. What’s wrong with just ‘good afternoon’? I like old fashioned customer service 😂

Not too shabby! How about yours?

Do you think the staff at told you ask how the customers day has been? Or are they not really given any coaching on what to say and just told to make chit chat and invariably get it wrong inadvertently?

I’ve worked on checkouts at two supermarkets during A levels and uni (so about 8-12 years ago, obviously things may have changed). One did have a focus on telling us (almost scripting us) “you must ask customers this”. The other didn’t really but to be honest when you’re serving hundreds of people over a day, you welcome a little chat, and especially if they’re doing a big shop it feels a little weird to sit there and not say anything. I think (hope!) that I was pretty good at judging whether someone wanted to talk, and if it was more than one person I wouldn’t interrupt their conversation to chat, but obviously checkout staff will sometimes misjudge, like anyone might.

But I would say there’s really no need to overthink it. When you’re serving that many people over a day, you don’t remember “oh that person said something a little awkward”. You remember the really friendly and chatty customers, especially if they’re regulars in the shop who you chat to weekly, and you remember anyone who was exceptionally rude.

I usually say "Not bad, thanks" and ask if they've been busy or what time their shift finishes. I don't much care for small talk.

I often say "oh you know same shit different day"
to which the reply if often laughter or "tell me about it".

'Not too bad, thanks. How about you?'

@SickAndTiredAgain I don’t usually do a big supermarket shop but when I do, I can’t do conversation AND simultaneously concentrate on packing the bags.

I’ve also worked as a checkout operator but years ago as a teen. There was none of this making conversation with customers thing. Polite, good morning/afternoon, that’ll be £80.66 please…. was enough.

Yes I remember when I was younger the polite conversation wasn’t a thing. It was so much easier then really.

And ‘Do you have a club card/loyalty card?’ drives me mad. Especially when followed with ‘would you like one?’ 😡

I just say “fine thanks, what about you”. It’s just one of those normal mannerly interactions.

Try and think of it in the same way as saying thank you if someone hold the door open for you; or saying you’re welcome if someone thanks you for something you’ve done for them; or adding please to the end of a request for something; or saying good morning in return to someone saying it to you.

Also try not to think of someone as anti social but rather as plain ignorant or rude.

Funnily I had the most miserable cashier today. I wanted to ask him if he was ok because he didn't speak. I asked for a bag and he slammed it down, and gestured at the card machine for me to pay. I paid and said thank you and he said nothing

I hate chit chat but assume it's something they're told to do so I try to make it as painless for both of us as possible.

I usually link it to the weather 'not so good on a day like this!' or 'better now the sun's out!'. Sometimes 'has the panic buying started yet?' or 'pasta's low today isn't it?' etc etc

I know a couple of people that work as supermarket cashiers and both DSs had retail (not food) jobs when they were younger.
None of them were ‘told’ to say anything. Acknowledgement as the customer got to the checkout and a nice goodbye. Anything in between at their own discretion .

The thing that really irritates me is when people try to upsell, but I know they have no choice so I just smile & keep saying ‘No thank you’ in the same bland tone until they stop.

Although the relentless upselling attempts were the reason I stopped using my local Paperchase. I seemed to spend more time refusing offers than I did shopping and paying.