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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to call the manager and complain about this cashier?

136 replies

CanISawItOff · 30/07/2012 14:10

She has really pissed me off with her snarky manner and childish face pulling.

Checkout girl in the supermarket easily a clear 10+ years older than me (so around 40 odd) was throwing my shopping through at a rate of knots so i politely asked her to stop for a moment to let me catch up with the packing to which I got a short "yeah if I must, you'll get a subtotal on your receipt tho" I responded that's fine and the conversation carried on like this (which I could have risen to but was completely polite!)

"Yeah well my manager won't be we're timed at how long it takes us to process this lot"

Oh I didn't know that, is that why shopping can be sent through at a rapid rate of knots at times? (Big grin and a chuckle to imply that it's not her that it's aimed at)

"You what? I wasn't sending it through at a 'rapid rate of knots' (said in a very childish mimicing/mocking tone)" at which point she looked away and pulled a 'rolly eye' face at her colleague and a face my 7 year old would be proud of pulling behind my back when she's told off!

Cue me trying to explain my remark and giving up because she was getting snotty.

I go to pay, hand over my nectar card, and she drops it. "Pick it up. I can't get it from there i've done my back in" again said in a really snarky tone. The card was hardly out of reach, it would have taken a small stretch at best for her to get it but instead I had to walk round pick it up and hand it to her with her annoying smug grin like she'd got one over on me.

I know it's a really really minor thing in the grand scheme of life but I loathe bad customer service, I work dealing with clients and suppliers day in day out and realise you get some that are easier than others to deal with which is why I always try to be polite and say thank you for their help etc etc She really has got my back up and I think I hate that she's got under my skin this much more than anything. It's really not 'me' to complain about things like this.

AIBU to report her to her manager?

OP posts:

usualsuspect · 30/07/2012 15:11

Whats the reason shes paid £5 an hour then?

Zealey · 30/07/2012 15:13

That's what she's worth. Hence the bad customer service.

MrsHHanssen · 30/07/2012 15:15

YABU to refer to a grown woman as a girl.

You'd probably be an arsey bitch working day after day with people treating you like crap because you work on a check out. With management breathing down your neck about scan rates. And people thinking you're worth £5 an hour. WTF is that about?

I wouldn't complain.

Zealey · 30/07/2012 15:16

If you want to be regaled with witty anecdotes and amazing service then go to Chanel on Bond Street ;)

usualsuspect · 30/07/2012 15:18

You mean she should be paid more? or checkout operators are only worth £5 an hour?

mynewpassion · 30/07/2012 15:18

So what if she's scanning faster than you can pack it. Just pay for your lot and finish packing later.

If they all have to scan a the rate a customer packs, we might be waiting for a long time.

CokeFan · 30/07/2012 15:19

For those who know, does the scan rate include multiples of things? As in, if you put in 20 x (whatever) does it count as one item scanned so would it be "better" for you scan rate if you waved it over the scanner 20 times quickly?

Kayano · 30/07/2012 15:20

I bet it's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. Girl? She is in her 40s...

She might have done her back in. I have done my back in and stretching for anything is agony so DH now does all my bidding

HecateHarshPants · 30/07/2012 15:22

Sounds like she was narky, yes, but you didn't even need to ask her to slow down. I just pack at my speed and pay when I have finished packing. The cashier has a choice - either slow down, wait for me or keep pushing everything through, giving me a big pile to pack. doesn't make any difference. Gets paid for when I'm done.

They can't start on the next person anyway, while you're still there packing, or your shopping would get muddled, so it really doesn't matter.

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 30/07/2012 15:26

I don't get why posters think this woman is intuited to be rude just because she works in a supermarket.
Isn't that a bit patronising?
It's hardly the worst job in the world!
She sounds a right mare and unless the OP actually called he 'girl' she had no right to be a snotty cow.

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 30/07/2012 15:27

Entitled, I don't know what that other word means

usualsuspect · 30/07/2012 15:27

I did wonder what you were on about

MardySkimpyBeachVolleyballBra · 30/07/2012 15:30

I agree with Zealey in that it's not really something that important to get worried about, and that you should cut her some slack. You also sound quite stroppy from the tone of your OP - are you sure you weren't a bit snippy with your initial request to slow down?

As for use of the word "girl", I'm afraid saying "'Girl' is a generic word I use if I don't know a woman's age" isn't acceptable in my book. Would you talk about the boy on the reception desk or on the checkout? What if the "girl" is of a perceived higher status - e.g. a doctor, lawyer, company director? Is she then conferred the status of woman? Sorry to go on, but this is winding me up more and more at the moment - from Macca at the Olympics getting the "girls" in the audience to clap to the tabloids congratulating our "girls" for winning medals. They are adults.

HecateHarshPants · 30/07/2012 15:32

I think 'woman' is a better generic word for any adult female.

MardySkimpyBeachVolleyballBra · 30/07/2012 15:33

That's what I was trying to say in a very unsuccinct way Hecate.

JennerOSity · 30/07/2012 15:33

Poor OP is having a few fingers pointed. She did say she politely asked her to let her catch up and used smiles. Is it so hard to believe the check out lady (who rolled her eyes at her behind her back... sooo mature and professional) might actually have been rude enough to spoil her day and made her come to mn to seek solace?

usualsuspect · 30/07/2012 15:35

I'm sorry but a cashier no matter how rude would not ruin my day

I would think what an arsey cow and then get on with my life.

MardySkimpyBeachVolleyballBra · 30/07/2012 15:35

But the point I was also making is that it's usually women in the more routine jobs that get called "girls" and that people rarely use the term to describe women in managerial or professional positions.

HecateHarshPants · 30/07/2012 15:35

I'm sure the woman on the checkout was narky.

I think what I posted was reasonable. You don't have to ask them to slow down. You just pack at your pace.

JennerOSity · 30/07/2012 15:36

Fair point Usual it was me that said that not OP. OP was merely wondering whether she should complain. :)

DefenceAgainstTheDarkArts · 30/07/2012 15:38

YANBU - she could have politely told you about the scan rates and politely said "could you please pick up that card - sorry, I've got such a painful back at the moment." I doubt the OP would be complaining had she done that.

I don't complain much at all but I did complain when in Boots I very politely asked if they had something in stock and the assistant bit my head off!

The manager didn't seem very interested, though!

sparkle12mar08 · 30/07/2012 15:47

I always report poor customer service immediately on my way out, and similarly I always make an effort to report good service too. The time to do it is there and then, as factually as possible. Going back a day or so later is pointless and I wouldn't give it any further headspace at that point.

LucieMay · 30/07/2012 16:09

I once nearly put in a complaint at work at being dismissively refered to as "one of the admingirls". Highly offensive and inappropriate, it was a senior manager who said it too. He was referring to two of us in our 20s at time.

alemci · 30/07/2012 16:16

she sounds rude and i would complain. I once complained about a lady in tesco who was older than me. she made me feel like i was a nuisance because it was her time to go home and some of the items wouldn't scan.

there were other things too. long time ago but i did speak to someone as i thought i was perfectly polite and pleasant.

it is not on to be rude.

wellwisher · 30/07/2012 16:16

This:
I always report poor customer service immediately on my way out, and similarly I always make an effort to report good service too. The time to do it is there and then, as factually as possible. Going back a day or so later is pointless and I wouldn't give it any further headspace at that point.

I am delighted if someone refers to me as a girl, makes me think I must look younger than I really am! Similarly, I weep inwardly when shop assistants call me "madam", which seems to be happening more and more :(

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