AIBU to think that a cashier shouldn't comment on personal items you're buying?

[catlover1987]

Just home from the weekly shop at Asda. The cashier gave a running commentary on all of my shopping. Oh that looks nice, oh aren't those ready meals handy, oh what is that, I'll need to try that. Mildly annoying but I'm sure she was just trying to be friendly. However, where I think she really crossed the line was when she seen my pregnancy test and said, oh I hope it's a yes! I didn't know what to say!

Maybe we can all club together and let the managers of big chains know we don't want this

Ooh yes please, let's. While we're at it we can tell them that 'thank you for waiting' isn't an acceptable alternative to opening another checkout when there are staff standing around either nattering or looking gormless and the queue is six people deep!

I don't live in the UK and here the checkout operators definitely don't comment on your shopping as a matter of course - although occasionally I've had one ask me about a product (ricotta or mascarpone, probably) asking what it is and how I serve it, and I don't mind that at all.
I had noticed a tendancy to chat in Tesco's - "doing anything nice later?" etc. but hadn't twigged that it was a requirement. Might have fun next time i'm there by starting the conversation myself... take the pressure off the wage slaves.

I can't believe the elitism on this thread. I work as a cashier part time cos I enjoy it and like a bit of random banter. I'm on an 0 hour contract and work when it's convenient to me.

But next time you want to look down your noses at the "wage slaves" scanning your shopping do consider that some of them are doing it for fun while earning 10x the income they earn there a year by doing sod all and raking in a nice income off an Internet forum they set up years ago. That "wage slave" has also taken 14 holidays/mini breaks this year, owns their house outright and also drives a Porsche.

Cos that's why I'm there, I don't want to sit on my ass at home all the time even though I could. Sorry for the little brag here but the way people are talking about cashiers is really winding me up. "Wage slave" tipped me over the fucking edge.

Some of the stories are pretty funny but the overall, "how dare the cashier talk to me" stuff is offensive and most of the staff there aren't in my position and how dare you look down your noses at them too! They're working all hours to keep their families afloat and just getting through the day. Wow.

(My husband drives the Porsche btw - I never learnt to drive, but he drops me off to work in it)

I find this all so odd. I worked in retail, for about 10 years, some 25 years ago. We were never required to make inane chitchat.

I find it so odd that management think people want this. When cashiers ask me if I'm doing something nice on the weekend, I know they don't give a shit, they know I know, why do we both participate in this charade to make HR happy?

I often shop at a small local grocers. I know the cashiers as they've been there for years. In that case, if chatting comes up normally then that's fine. Otherwise, can we hair stick to p's & q's?

I've always worked in retail and yes most retail jobs do want you to have some exchange/ banter with the customer. 'Some' customers like it, as can be old people who haven't spoke to anyone for days, sometimes weeks, on end (I know this because they have told me. ). With those people I always make a special effort if they are regulars..it makes me very sad and some will linger just to chat if it's quiet. I hate it the rest of the time as most people from my own generation just want to pay and get out.. as I do as a customer myself unless I'm in a particularly good mood and not dashing about otherwise, please please don't make inane chitchat with me!
Buying a thrush combi thingy a few weeks ago in a chemist, was not too chuffed (excuse pun hahha wasn't intentional) when woman behind me remarked 'oh that's expensive!' 'haha yes, what is it' says man behind her. She said it again to the bloke serving me (teenage boy) ' why is it so expensive?" He just blushed and asked me if I wanted a bag no no no, no point, half of the village now know I need thrush treatment

The chat is a requirement of many places as most have mystery shoppers..this includes charity shops and fast food places.. they have a check list..I know as been on both sides of it both as a MS and as the shop assistant/ manager.

Whose saying how dare the cashier talk to me? Chippy or what! People just don't want to engage in conversations about their personal life with a random stranger at the checkout. They just want to pay for their shopping. Politeness whilst doing so improves the experience, smiling, eye contact, neutral chat if appropriate. No one is looking down on anyone. If the marketing people think the customers want the checkout staff to comment on their purchases I think they need to rethink.

For some of the mystery shopping surveys you are encouraged to put in verbatim or as close as possible , what was said to you by the cashier/ assistant.

I and my staff were once told we'd be sacked if we didn't greet every single customer with 'Happy New Year' both when they came in the shop and when they left. Also if they came to the till. It was exhausting.

Having experienced it myself in Tesco, would say YANBU. I love a bit of chit chat with checkout assistants, but not an inquisition on what I have chosen to purchase.

Nobody has actually said, "how dare the cashier talk to me" it's the attitude on the thread. "Wage slave" gave me the fucking rage.

I bought a pregnancy test in our local chemist once. The cashier actually said 'you'll have your hands full if it's positive'!!!! I was in there with my 2 children aged 5 and 3 at the time so hardly unheard of. I was so surprised I didn't even respond!

Good for you Moreslack

Wage slave isn't derogatory, it means someone who has to work for their living. And I'd hazard that you're in the minority of both supermarket staff and workers in general.

Surely the cashiers are told to annoy the customers so they will only use self-service. Like the 5 items till is too small and cramped and you always have to wait ages. Stores want to reduce their staff to save money.
W H Smiths runs the entire ghastly place with 2 seventeen year olds.
When I'm told to Have a Nice Day I say I'm going to the dentist then a funeral and I've just lost my job and so on. Be inventive.

"Good for you Moreslack hmm

Wage slave isn't derogatory, it means someone who has to work for their living. And I'd hazard that you're in the minority of both supermarket staff and workers in general."

And do you look down your noses at them? Thanks for the but I've just posted some very identifying details about myself so frankly stick your

I now do the scan as you shop. No comments
Unexpected item in the bagging area!

Oh God moreslack are you Justine?

When i went to buy a face serum the sales woman tried to sell me the more expensive one. I said it is for 45-65 year olds do i look that age.

She said no but she slagged off elements of my skin and said some rude things. I told her to keep it all and walked off.

I don't mind a bit of chit-chat. I think the pregnancy test comment was a bit much though... but that's how people are or are we all delicate flowers now who are offended by everything but understand nothing

When I was buying my pregnancy test last year, the cashier nodded at the badge on my school T-shirt I was wearing (I'm a teacher) and said "I would've thought you'd know better". I felt like a schoolgirl being told off

MoreSlack, I haven't rtt, but are you suggesting the average supermarket worker is just like you?

Shouldn't have made the pregnancy test comment but being a cashier is a very very boring job. Sometimes it's nice just to chat to people instead of acting like a robot.

I had a boots cashier look me in the eye and whisper "good luck" when I bought digital ovulation tests once. In LONDON where these things never happen.

I could have been mad but it brought me luck so I will love her forever

As a teen I plucked up the courage to buy a pregnancy test, the cashier patted my hand and said to make sure i take folic acid if it's positive. I was mortified.

I generally don't mind a bit of chat, they're just doing their job, but perhaps a bit of a steer on the types of things not to comment on would be good.