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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Supermarket checkout chit chat - Love it or hate it?

155 replies

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 30/09/2014 13:17

Not really a AIBU.

I've just had an interview for tesco for the checkouts, they had me shadow someone for an hour. Apparently I didnt interact enough with the customers, I chatted with some, did polite, Hello/do you need help packing/goodbye stuff. But I'm aware some people really dont want the chit chat.

So Mumsnet, do you love it or hate it?

OP posts:
Lovesabadboy · 01/10/2014 00:13

As someone said upthread - if it is natural chit chat and not forced then it is fine.
I had someone in Morrisons the other day who clearly only had three subjects - the weather, the traffic and what time she finished work and it was as if she had her needle stuck going back to the same subject three times! I actually felt quite sorry for her, as it did not come naturally and yet she felt she had to chat to me about something!

I do remember once having a good chat and laugh with a lady in Sainsbury's once. When my total was exactly £69.69 we both gave each other a look and promptly both broke into immature giggles - I have never forgotten it because it was just so unforced and hilarious.

There is another guy in Sainsbury's that I always look for because he is so lovely to chat with and really manages to make you feel happy - again, he is a natural and knows how to pitch his chatter.

freshlysharpenedpencils · 01/10/2014 04:56

This reminds me of when I worked at Sainsbury's when i was 17. There was a complaint that had come in from a woman - she had brought a pregnancy test and someone at the till had commented on it - think they had said something like "Oooh.... you're in trouble." or "are you hoping it's negative?" or something negative and inappropriate. The woman was really upset and embarrassed.

punter · 01/10/2014 06:19

My mother died on Sunday. On the Monday I had to into waitrose to get some food for my dad and went to the 10 items or less till to get out quick. The woman said 'hello how are you today?' I took a deep breath, thought she does not really want to know, and mumbled fine thanks. I think this chatty stuff came from USA as every store I went to there had a greeter at the entrance asking 'how are you today?' All too slick and automatic in my view.

TheLovelyBoots · 01/10/2014 06:47

The idea of the greeter in the US is to get people to the right department if they need something specific.

Original poster
TaliZorahVasNormandy · 01/10/2014 07:12

Done the right way, a greeter can be alright, but I wouldnt trust Tesco to do it right.

OP posts:
poolomoomon · 01/10/2014 07:39

I like to be acknowledged with a hello, how are you today? And a smile. I think that sort of thing makes all the difference. I've had a couple of cashiers chat with the cashier behind them the whole time and the only thing they said to me was how much the bill came to at the end. I felt invisible and horrible. I was half tempted to complain once when one young man did this, he was having a right old conversation with the cashier behind him as if they were sat in a pub! I couldn't believe it. He didn't even say hello, the only thing he said was "That'll be x amount please", took my money and handed me my receipt. I got to hear all about the fact he's buying a lot of houses to rent out soon though and how this 'crap' job was just a stop gap Hmm. DH said I was overreacting and it gets really boring on the tills so he didn't blame him. I just found it utterly rude.

I don't like being asked why I'm buying my products though. There's one woman in my local morrisons that does this. "Oooh making bread?" Yes. "do you do it often?" Yes. "Do you ever make fruit bread?" Yes. "oh I love fruit bread, do you use a breadmaker?" And so it goes on and on. She once told me how she makes pizzas from breakfast muffins and told me every ingredient she uses on top. I've had a few ask me what almond milk tastes like and what certain teas are like- you work in the store, buy some and find out!

I'm not a naturally very chatty person though. I like to be acknowledged but not have my ear chewed off. I'm a fussy bastard Grin

higgle · 01/10/2014 07:42

I hate it when they try to talk to me, I'd rather they were just pleasant and got on with the job. In our local Sainsbury's I know the two chatty check out people and I avoid them if possible.

Original poster
TaliZorahVasNormandy · 01/10/2014 07:44

I had a chat with my friend, who is a supervisor at the Co-op and she agreed that forcing customers to make chit chat is rude, and she only asks about their weekend and stuff if they are regulars.

I've never had it at the co op, the are lovely people and not over the top.

OP posts:
SquirrelWearingATrilby · 01/10/2014 07:48

punter so sorry for your loss Thanks

Delphiniumsblue · 01/10/2014 07:48

It depends whether they are natural chatterers, they are fine. I hate the ones who are not natural chatterers but have to make the effort as part of the job.

needsacuppanow · 01/10/2014 08:32

I love it. I have been going to my local waitrose supermarket once or twice a week for about 8 years. Through a bit of checkout chat, I have got to know a lot of the staff. I enjoy chatting to them (work from home so don't see many people in the day! )
Also missed a particularly friendly lady when she left our local lidl.
However, only works when they are naturally chatty, not forced.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 01/10/2014 08:42

I'm a chatty SAHM who doesn't see many other people, I don't mind a bit of chat.

I do mind the till assistants engaging in a lot of chat with the customer before me or other staff in ASDA in an evening.

They never have enough tills open and I have DDs to collect.

It's not the staffs fault, there just aren't enough of them at that time of night. They are trying to sort out problems with the stupid automatic tills and clear booze sales for young till staff at the same time as keeping customers happy.

LikeTheShoes · 01/10/2014 10:38

when I almost worked at Asda we were going told to (if I remember correctly) "fill the gap with some chat"

and most people don't care what you say as long as you stick to the weather, news (but nothing too heavy) or positive comments on their taste in shopping eg "oh, I've been meaning to try this brand of pasta, isn't it great its on a deal"

most people will give you a non committal reply and that'll be it,

but for some people it might be the only conversion they have that day/week and it really means a lot to them Sad

TortoiseUpATreeAgain · 01/10/2014 10:49

It depends. In general I don't like it but there are a couple of checkout operators who really have a knack for natural chat and a conversation just seems to flow naturally. I don't mind being chatted to by someone who's really good at it. But I don't think "being really good at chat" should be a key skill for checkout staff and I don't just want to be chatted to for the sake of it.

TortoiseUpATreeAgain · 01/10/2014 10:51

I can guarantee that if I buy any item of clothing in a supermarket the checkout operator will either have bought one him/herself or will fervently believe that it's a really lovely colour.

Statistically, that seems improbable...

AdamLambsbreath · 01/10/2014 11:02

I'm fine with normal, polite human interaction or genuine friendliness. Most of the time this is my experience at supermarkets, and checkout people are nice.

I loathe prolonged forced chat (because it's dull and a waste of time for both people involved) and I particularly hate checkout staff commenting on purchases. I've been asked 'Oooh, are you having a party?' when I've stocked up on wine for home consumption - was tempted to reply 'No, just an alcoholic.' Hmm I mean, by asking that you're basically saying 'That amount of booze is way too much for you unless you've got a problem, so you must be having a party!' Rude.

Some things are too personal to comment on. I can't believe that people here have had comments about pregnancy tests!

When you shop you reveal a little part of your private life, so shop staff need to be discreet. People wouldn't usually comment on condoms, sanitary towels and ibuprofen, or Anusol, and the same applies to booze, pregnancy tests and Pregnacare multivits.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 01/10/2014 11:05

That's the problem, I've been late to pick up DD because of an old lady who was clearly a regular coming in for a chat.

It wasn't a problem before our ASDA installed so many automatic tills, which are constantly throwing tantrums, instead of employing a couple more till staff.

Bellossom · 01/10/2014 21:53

I've only got shut up and scans attiatude for someone who thinks it's ok to ask my how much I bleed. That's not a conversation I fancy having. With anyone. She should know that surely.

Original poster
TaliZorahVasNormandy · 01/10/2014 22:00

Well, it looks like I didnt get the job. Obviously I'm not intrusive enough.

OP posts:
ChangelingToday · 01/10/2014 22:55

I like it. Was doing a shop yesterday actually and the check out lady started to read my paper there and then, I mean opened it and started reading it. I've gotten her before when I've checked out and she's generally got this kind of laid back attitude which doesn't bother me, I thought that was OTT though.

ChangelingToday · 01/10/2014 22:57

Sorry to hear that Tali, their loss.

Summerisle1 · 01/10/2014 23:05

The very idea of "fill that gap with inane chat" does my head in. It's perfectly possible to be polite and friendly without endless rabbit. Let alone the sort of rabbit that is forced on someone by their employer.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 01/10/2014 23:11

I don't mind it. I'm a talker though. I actually find it quite rude when they sit there stone faced and don't look at you. Some of them make out they're doing you a favor when they're serving you.

popcornpaws · 01/10/2014 23:11

Good God, don't talk, but don't ignore me, don't mention this, don't mention that…why do all the people that find it such a chore to be pleasant do all retail staff a favour and order online?

Dragonfly71 · 01/10/2014 23:21

Sometimes I am in the mood for a good old chat and other times I want minimal interaction and obviously a checkout person must be able to meet my conversational needs. Hope they cover telepathic skills in training!