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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

..to have complained about the cashier at sainsbury's this afternoon...?

184 replies

americantrish · 27/03/2007 17:43

i got two bottles of soda at the cigarette counter and after paying her (exact change), she just turned her back, didn't offer a receipt, a thank you. NOTHING. seriously f**ked me off. so i went to customer services and then spoke to the cashier manager person who was apologetic (sp?) and said she'd have a word with her.

i felt a BIT bad after, but if she treats most of her customers like that....(and i've worked in customer service (albeit in the US) for 10+ years...) being decent is being decent. a thank you or have a nice day would have been nice.

meh!!

OP posts:
llareggub · 27/03/2007 17:44

were you nice to her?

zippitippitoes · 27/03/2007 17:44

I expect she thought you didn't want a receipt as you gave her the exact money

think you were harsh tbh

BigEggLittleEgg · 27/03/2007 17:45

Meh indeed.

Gets my back up when people are so rude.

Not unreasonable IMHO.

I prob wouldn't have complained, but that's because I am a bit lazy .

zippitippitoes · 27/03/2007 17:45

are you american? I don't think we do so much cheery customer stuff here

Spidermama · 27/03/2007 17:46

Unreasonable I think.
The rudeness you describe is fairl;y mild, although I understand it would be a terrible snub by US standards.

I tend to say loudly, 'Thankyou. Oh don't mention it', rather than actually complain to her boss.

NatalieJane · 27/03/2007 17:47

Good on you, I went the local co-op a few days ago, the total came to 9.99 for the few bit's I'd bought, gave her £10 and she said we've no pennies and looked at me as if to say 'You are dismissed', now it was only a penny, and I'm not arsed about that at all, but an apology or something would have been nice, I don't think she'd have been pleased if I'd have said I've no money today and walked out....

Greenleeves · 27/03/2007 17:48

Personally I can't abide the big fake grin and "You have a nice day now, ma'am" culture. It makes my flesh creep. You're paying her to scan your groceries, not boost your mood.

YABU IMO

BigEggLittleEgg · 27/03/2007 17:50

Actually Spidermama, you are right. I do the same thing when someone pushes past me and say "after you" very sarcastically and loudly. Likewise when someone lets door slam in face shout "thank you". Hopefully it might make them realise their rudeness.

WeaselMum · 27/03/2007 17:50

If I were her manager I'd want to know if she were offering poor customer service. Doesn't have to be over the top but she should be doing her job properly which includes basic politeness!

zippitippitoes · 27/03/2007 17:51

reminds me of dp going to buy something in homebase a couple of weeks ago about 8.30am

spent 4.99 and gave a ten pound note she said she was the only one on and wouldn't change it because she only had a thirty pound float so she did have the change but she didn't want to use it!

as there were some other people in the queue he just had to leave it and come home again

fruitful · 27/03/2007 17:52

NatalieJane, I'd have said "that's ok, you can give me a 2p then". . (If she'd said "I'm really sorry, we don't have any pennies, do you mind?" I'd have said "no problem".)

emmatomATO · 27/03/2007 17:54

I know how you feel. Manners cost nothing and it's basic, basic politeness to say 'Thank you' when somebody gives you something.

If she doesn't like dealing with people she should be in a different line of work. (I'm taking the line here that she's known to be like this generally and it wasn't just a misunderstanding with you).

Basic manners create a good feeling with everyone and you did the right thing in my opinion.

indiajane · 27/03/2007 17:55

If you complain like this (and I think it was justified although I wouldn't have done it) I hope you also make a big effort to contact the manager if you've received good service too - otherwise it's a bit one way

booge · 27/03/2007 17:58

Yes. She's got a stressful and boring job that only pays the minimum wage. She has to deal with difficult customers all day and probably works long shifts with minimal breaks. She may just have had a bad day and now you've made it worse, you should have just risen above it.

SpiritualKnot · 27/03/2007 18:01

Definitely right to report it. These big supermarkets don't want staff like that working for them. She'll have got a warning for that. I would have complained like you. I worked in supermarkets for years and that's not how we were told to handle transactions!

zippitippitoes · 27/03/2007 18:02

I think that is so cruel and unkind

unknownrebelbang · 27/03/2007 18:08

Basic manners cost nothing, and the general decline is sad, all round. Rather a lot of customers are extremely rude too.

I wouldn't have complained, although I did once tell a checkout operator that she was rude (and I had been polite to her).

BassMama · 27/03/2007 18:12

I have to agree with booge.. the poor girl works in sainsburys ffs, minimum wage slave.. not the most uplifting of work!

Its very monotonous work, and imagine having to put on a smile and a big 'thank you!' (even though really, SHE has nothing to thank you for, your not paying her you are paying the shop!) to every single person you serve..

Plus i think maybe its a cultural difference. 'Have a nice day' type things are a very american thing, and so is tipping. You tend to find that the service isnt always as good in the UK, but then neither are the tips! From working in hospitality, i can tell you that tips WILL get you smiles! People expext special service in the US, and people expect to be tipped. it works both ways..(not that i'm suggesting tipping the checkout girl!)

Complaining was a bit mean i think.. poor girl.

But i do agree, manners are free!

zippitippitoes · 27/03/2007 18:12

but this checkout person wasn't actually rude..she just wasn't polite and encouraging

colditz · 27/03/2007 18:16

Well, I can understand your peeve - but i would have said something to her.

I hope she hasn't been sacked.

Chandra · 27/03/2007 18:18

I don't think I would have complained about something like this, as somebody has said it's mildly rude. Not worth it to waste more time on her.

saintmaybe · 27/03/2007 18:20

And you know nothing about her, she might have

just suffered a bereavement

had a scarey diagnosis

a crappy headache

Aspergers

you just don't know. If you're lucky enough to be good at that sort of stuff, why not just be kind, rather than angry.

SpookyMadBunny · 27/03/2007 18:23

I went into my local Morrisons recently and had a bad experience with a cashier. I was paying for my goods she was blatantly ignoring me and talking to the next customer in line. Not only was that customer a relative and she was not meant to serve her, she was talking in her own language too. I paid for my shopping some with vouchers and got a big harrumphing sigh from her when I handed them over too. I left the checkout without her even saying bye or thank you or anything to me. Needless to say I did complain about that, Its the only time I have ever had to complain about a checkout operator and the only time I will I hope.

brimfull · 27/03/2007 18:26

NOT unreasonable imo,I always want to complain when I get shoddy service like this,but I never do.Perhaps that's why this type of service is more common here than in the US.

Tortington · 27/03/2007 18:29

her dog had a heart attack - her husband broke the news that he fucks donkeyson wenesdays nights ( not european liturature of the 16th century evening classes at all)

and now YOU JUST got her FIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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