How are you paying today?

[ItsTricky]

It drives me bonkers. If I am making my purchase today, I'm not going to pay for it tomorrow, am I?

Ha drives me mad too. Also when they ask for your email address to send the receipt.

I feel sorry for them actually because it's probably a dumb ass stupid company policy that they have to ask this.

People on here get mad over the strangest things.

They are asking the method of payment - how is that annoying? The have to enter whether you are paying debit, credit etc. They are not asking if you want to pay today or tomorrow.

Exactly becauseicannes, don't see the problem, they are asking you how you want to pay today not do you want to pay today.

OK. I'll put it another way. Is there a word missing from 'how are you paying?'

It always makes me wonder if they can't actually trust their staff to be civil without a list of stupid totally unnecessary questions.

They are asking what payment method you are using. Why is that a problem? Surely it is a necessary question.

Its not a necessary question when they can see the cash/card in your hand.

"How would you like to pay?" settles it

It's often a way to engage the customer in a chat about opening an account. Do you have one if our cards?

The 'today' bit is just silly.

The 'cash or card' in Aldi annoys me. Just wait and see.

I get completely thrown by being asked, 'And what are you doing with the rest of your day?'

I know they don't give a shit, and I don't want to tell them.

I normally say that I'm going home to unpack my shopping. But I'm tempted to regale them with plans of sex with the plumber.

YY Line. I always want to make something up and see if they are listening. They are only making conversation as instructed i guess.

Oh yes and 'Is it your day off?' Nosey sods. No, I'm a lady of leisure just killing time while the Aston Martin gets waxed.

Try working in retail then. We have to ask these things so please don't be so fucking mean. We have a thankless and not very well paid job.

I used to work on the counter in a bank. We were never instructed to engage in conversation. We just did-because it was polite. That was way back when though.
i was in the bank last week and there appears to be no actual people at all any more.

Come on the madlizzy, get your own back with some stupid things customers say. Peter Kay did a joke about customers always asking taxi drivers 'what time are you on 'til?'

(My daughter is in retail too)

Do you honestly think that the staff make up these witty comments?
They have to.
Retail isn't like the old days. In 2015 staff have to conduct a circus act while helping you find a way to pay!

I like a bit of chat in a shop. Interacting with people- it's part of being human imo. I live in a small town where everyone chats and has a laugh in shops, in the street, walking the dogs, in the pub..

Loads of people are lonely and need some chat, even if it's at the till.

I always say 'Hello, how are you?' to people serving in cafes and shops. I don't always get a smile or a reply but hey you never know.

I have noticed that more and more often I get "and can I take your email address?" at the checkout.

To which my reply is always "no".

Seems to throw them momentarily...

Upon further consideration the phrase "How are you paying today?" is technically accurate if you take into account the following-

"Because yesterday you paid by xyz method" or "Because tomorrow you may choose an alternative method than today"

I have FAR too much time on my hands.

I work in retail and I often have to spend a long time with customers.
It'd be weird if I didn't make small talk. We'd just sit there in an odd and uncomfortable silence.
For what it's worth, I am genuinely interested, I don't HAVE to ask certain things, and my and my clients tend to get on rather well.

It turns a fairly mundane and lengthy transaction into something rather pleasant...most of the time

I agree the word 'today' is unnecessary

I give my email address and post code and whatever else they want. Sometimes i even buy the chocolate they are promoting at the till in B&M. I worry that the staff have targets to meet.