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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask everyone to slow down!

61 replies

stonecircle · 30/04/2016 12:33

Yesterday in the supermarket I asked the young girl on the checkout firmly but politely to slow down. I'm so sick of having items slung down the conveyor belt at break neck speed. In the past I've thanked assistants who've adjusted their pace to mine.

I've just made a payment by telephone and had to ask the person on the other end of the phone to speak more slowly as I couldn't keep up with what he was saying. I felt uncomfortable as he had a strong regional accent which wasn't helping and which he may have thought I was getting at but he just spoke so quickly! He then started to speak too slowly so I guess I'd offended him.

I could have kept up with both of these people if I'd wanted to - I'm old but not that old (50s) - but am just so fed up with being rushed I've decided to take control and set the pace myself!

OP posts:

seekingwhatsoutthere · 30/04/2016 14:18

I worked in a call centre straight out of uni.

I was expected to give fantastic customer service and write up my notes on each case and be ready for the next call in a maximum of 4 minutes.

It's just not possible.

pigsDOfly · 30/04/2016 14:23

I tend to shop in Tesco because that's the main supermarket where I live. Never noticed that I've had my shopping slung at me. The people on the checkouts are generally very helpful, putting your fresh meat in a small bags for you, asking if you want the price taken off your flowers etc, and can be quite chatty.

Maybe areas vary, I'm sure they do, this is in a small semi rural town.

MarthaCliffYouCunt · 30/04/2016 14:25

The asda where I live is fine. Always offer to help with packing. Will chat to you/your children. Not too fast or too slow.

Grapeeatingweirdo · 30/04/2016 14:33

I was quite a fast scanner when working for Tesco but got told my scan rate was too low! They're quite funny about it. Sales assistants and call centre staff are under so much pressure, it's best to keep that in mind when dealing with them.

You're NBU to wish things could be a little more relaxed though. It's not great customer service to sling things down a conveyer belt at you and then look peeved that you can't magically keep up with them, there must be a middle ground somewhere.

Iamdobby63 · 30/04/2016 14:37

They are welcome to scan my items as quickly as they like...... But I don't pay until every item is in its bag and all bags are in the trolley - don't care how many times they say 'that will be X amount'.

ppeatfruit · 30/04/2016 14:37

Sainsbos must have changed their policy then because a year to 2 ago the checkout person WAITED for me to finish packing before asking for the payment. I did thank her.

NewStartNewName · 30/04/2016 14:38

Grape I spent over 10 years at Tesco, found some managers were stricter than others.

DownstairsMixUp · 30/04/2016 14:45

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

pocketsaviour · 30/04/2016 14:47

I went in Sainsbos a few weeks ago and was asked the default "Would you like any help with your packing?" I said "Yes please" as I'd injured my arm. Was wearing a support bandage. Checkout operator looked as me as if I'd kicked her kitten.

She was shit at packing, too! Just chucked everything in willy nilly. Everyone knows packing your shopping bags should be like a game of high-level Tetris, where you're judging not only size and shape, but also will the bag handles break, and are there any sharp corners which may slit the 5p bag open.

Oakmaiden · 30/04/2016 15:02

I used to work in Sainsburys. They used to put your speed up on the staff notice board, and you had to operate above a certain speed, as far as I remember...

(You would have hated to go through my checkout. I was fastest. )

Gingefringe · 30/04/2016 15:24

Well, you should come to our local post office where customers are served at a snail's pace. Some most of the customers seem to think its ok to chat to the cashiers about absolute nonsense and hold up the massive queue whilst the poor cashiers try not to appear rude by interacting with them.

scaryteacher · 30/04/2016 15:31

We have a store in Belgium called Colryut, and its offshoot, OK, where they pack for you as they scan your shopping. I love it!

Scaredycat3000 · 30/04/2016 15:36

We defiantly need slow tills. It's not fair on me to constantly be stuck behind the elderly, disabled or selfish who can't or won't pack at a normal speed. Also add some lovely comfy seating to persuade them to use it, some where nice to sit whilst they wait their turn. There is only so much time in a day that I can guesstimate to allow for others problems and sometimes that 'others' time runs out.

Original poster

stonecircle · 30/04/2016 15:42

Nice Scaredy . What exactly is 'normal' speed? There simply shouldn't be just one 'normal' speed. It doesn't take too much effort for someone on a checkout to adjust their speed according to the customer. If they're keeping up with the onslaught of shopping fair enough. All I'm asking is that if someone clearly isn't- ie that they're looking flustered or the shopping is piling up - that the assistant adjusts their speed accordingly. There have been occasions where I've started pushing stuff back up the conveyor belt in my attempt to sort it out. Is that not enough of a clue to slow down without having to be asked?

OP posts:

MarthaCliffYouCunt · 30/04/2016 15:45

Wow! Its not fair on you to have to put up with other people existing scaredy? why dont the just gather up all those who dont match your speed and create a whole other community for them. How dare they expect patience and tolerance in your world.

MarthaCliffYouCunt · 30/04/2016 15:45

I often wonder who raised people like scaredy.

Scaredycat3000 · 30/04/2016 15:48

I should add the aging population here is massive, it is rare that you don't join a queue without at least two customers with a full weekly shop in front who you can see are going to be slow, then the you have invisible disabilities, then you get the 'I'm more important than you brigade'. It can get very frustrating, tills for different needs would be nice.
Stone normal speed is clearly faster than you.

MarthaCliffYouCunt · 30/04/2016 15:51

then you get the 'I'm more important than you brigade'

Which clearly you are a fully paid up member of.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 30/04/2016 15:51

We will all be old one day.
We are all just a day away from a lifechanging illness or disability.
Some would do well to remember that.

MarthaCliffYouCunt · 30/04/2016 15:52

There is no normal
speed. There are just different speeds. Like people are, you know, different? Imagine that huh?

Scaredycat3000 · 30/04/2016 15:52

Tolerance works both ways.

MarthaCliffYouCunt · 30/04/2016 15:53

Im amazed you recognise that it even works in any way!

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 30/04/2016 15:54

Ah right a common or garden goady cunt.
Moving on.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 30/04/2016 15:55

Op yanbu the world seems to run at breakneck speed these days.
It's exhausting

19lottie82 · 30/04/2016 15:58

In Lidl and Aldi, Just put your items in the trolley, pay then take it to the side where they have special shelves that you can pack it into the bags.

No need to be a dick by "refusing to pay until every item is in a bag", therefore holding up the que and reducing the cashiers scanning totals, which could possibly rout their job on the line.

If you don't like it, don't shop there!

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