...to hate Sainsburys checkout staff asking "and what have you been up to today?"

[goodbyegirl]

...as if I was 10 years old and they were my auntie? I know it is part of their training to engage with customers but not all of us want to discuss our activities - feels a bit intrusive to me. I'd rather a harmless chat about the weather!

[KellyElly]

It always helps when you have a young child with you then they just aim the inane chat at them. Borrow a four year old every time you shop and get left in peace

[StrawberryCheese]

Generally I don't mind a bit of chat. I used to work on a till so I have been on the other side and know that the staff get told to do this, obviously it's much more pleasant with the naturally chatty types.

It can go horribly wrong though, like the girl in Debenhams who told the woman in front of me in the queue that she really likes the dress she is buying, but she couldn't wear it because it would make her look huge. She was tiny, the customer wasn't, cue sales assistant trying to dig herself out of a hole by saying 'oh but I'm sure you won't look fat, it'll be lovely, black is very slimming etc. etc. It was traumatic!

[Fideliney]

shocking you know there are lessons from that anecdote from one really really does want to be left in peace

[purplesel]

Yes Fideliney, some supermarkets, no names mentioned, have an items per minute target, which if regularly missed will be subject to capability procedures.
This target is obviously easier to hit without the chit chat, you just get your head down and scan for your life, but this equally posses customers off as the shopping ends up in a heap, whilst you try to pack, however the clock only shops when you total the transaction.

[Fideliney]

however the clock only shops when you total the transaction

It was the ' scan like the clappers then sit back and sigh' that made me suspect

[anothervisittothepark]

Yes i think it hasnt been thought through at all. Asking what you are doing today is insincere snd puts all the onus on the customer to do the chatting. Weather chat. Town busyness. Or even sharing something about their own day would be much better.

[Fideliney]

There won't be a job left that isn't high-stress soon

[rookiemater]

I agree OP I hate this so much, also hate the "Are you having a nice day then?". I'm not a great fan of supermarket shopping and I'm usually feeling a bit fragile by the time I get to the checkout. I try to avoid it by doing Tesco Click & Collect - I find I have much more oomph to have a genuine chat with the lady about the weather - as we are outside- and I'm not stressing about making sure I remembered everything, trying to pack bags at the same time.

[defineme]

Other similar threads on this subject would suggest that 'are you hoping for a positive or negative?' to customers buying pregnancy tests is inapropriate-i have read 2 threads on here where that has happened!

[brunette123]

This stuff doesn't bother me - they are just trying to be nice. I try to be nice back.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

YABU. Even if it's fake I would far rather they did that than the head down, no eye contact thing. I'll chat with anyone, even if it is just to pass the time of day with someone I'll never see again. When I do respond they usually engage properly (sometimes they do seem surprised though).

[DiseasesOfTheSheep]

Ah see, shockingly I say stuff like that when it isn't true. I generally take it as an opportunity to get creative and invent a story, or to inflict the poor sod with some semi-obscure reference. I've just been released from prison, been trailing another customer and all sorts. Clearly bollocks, but good fun...

I told one the other day I'd just got back from visiting the God of Guilt in Valhalla. I was actually just off a train from St Pancras. They probably think I'm a right dick, but said with a smile at least it's better than being ignored or a dull, truthful answer...

[FryOneFatManic]

I'm happy enough to chat to checkout staff, as long as we get down to the business of packing & paying but I do like it to be natural, not fake. I try my best not to be nasty or surly (although we do all have off days, I'm sure), I know they're just doing their job.

[QuacksLikeADuck]

Hmm, it can occasionally feel a bit forced. But I generally persevere with the conversation. I think it's all about acknowledging the person behind the till as a fellow human being, not just some robot to scan your shopping!

[FryOneFatManic]

however the clock only shops when you total the transaction

Actually, while I know a certain supermarket near me has this scanning target, there's one checkout lady who is always, always so slow I'm surprised she's still there. Doesn't help that she's super-sneery with it, I hate going to her till. She's the only person I can't seem to exchange a pleasant comment with.

[AgathaF]

It is bloody annoying. Also when they are over interested in your purchases - I feel like saying "go and choose your own bloody deodorant".

But, the very,very, very worst shop for doing this is Lush. How fucking irritating are their staff?

[FindoGask]

Some of you are awful! Increasingly I find that reading mumsnet is making me hate all people everywhere. Which is ironic, because I initially came on this thread to say that I don't at all mind having to engage momentarily with another human being whilst I pay for my shopping. Either their conversation is spontaneous, in which case fair enough, or they have to do it, in which case I feel bad for them and try to help make the whole ghastly charade as painless for both of us as possible, by being friendly and polite. More people should try this.

[myroomisatip]

I don't mind so much but I admit I find it false and intrusive. Luckily I go to my local supermarket very often so I recognise the staff which helps.

What I do get annoyed with is the speed that they scan my shopping. There is absolutely no way I can pack as fast as they scan! So what is the point? Do they enjoy seeing me scrabble around trying to pack my shopping in a sensible ordered manner, like I loaded it out of the trolley?
Do they enjoy their two minutes of idleness waiting for me to find my debit card? I feel as if their is no consideration for me! Maybe I am just getting too old.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Yes, Findo. I want to 'Favourite' your post. :)

[purplesel]

FryoneFatmatic There are ways round the timer, and usually the ones who know\figure this out are the ones who take the longest,or pass judgement on your shopping most. They also tend to be the lone c\out operator first thing or last one on a night.

[purplesel]

Please accept my dodgy spelling, I seem to have mis-spelt something on each post. This tablet sucks.

[FryOneFatManic]

purplesel I looked at the the spelling of FryoneFatmatic and it made me smile, makes me sound like an awful washing machine

I saw your comment on the c/out operator being judgy, etc and it fits this one particular lady very well. I avoid when I can simply because for my own self, I don't want to get sucked into being rude or nasty.

[shockinglybadteacher]

Myroomisatip, they have a timer on their tills saying how fast they are going. Too slow, and you get a disciplinary.

[lifehasafunnywayofhelpinguout]

They're only being friendly, worse ways to be IT suppose, and if they're told to do that by their management then they have to do as they're told. However do you honestly think they really give a flying fuck what customers are up to. It's just small talk. X

[littledrummergirl]

I scan at the rate I am expected to. Some customers complain its too fast, others thank me for getting them out quickly.

I hate polite chit chat with total strangers so have a few conversation starters which I use a lot. This means I have the same conversations over and over, it feels like groundhog day!

I put through 131trolleys in 6hrs a few days ago, yes I was that sad that I kept count. Assuming half were couples/ had children thats a lot of people I had to smile at

anyone got 131 conversation starters that wont annoy anyone?