to think this self-service check out counter staff was rude?

[DreamingMyDreams]

So I was at the grocery earlier. I noticed after scanning that one tomato can was dented so I was moving it away. However the machine detected the bar code. And then detected it again with every move, resulting to four scans.

I asked the staff for help (she was standing there, I assumed she was monitoring the self-checkout counters and helping if there are problems) and she said,

"Never put your items in front of the scanner!" in a stern voice.
Then she said, "Now I have to remove them one by one!" in a stern voice still.

I was surprised (actually more shocked because of her tone), and mumbled my apologies.

Now I realise I was wrong and it must be annoying to her, but uhm, it's her job to troubleshoot problems that arise in the self checkouts?

Yeah, the machine detected your movements and then interpreted them incorrectly 4 times. Sure. Of course she shouldn't be rude no matter how many idiot customers blame machines for their own mistakes.

Yeah, the machine detected your movements and then interpreted them incorrectly 4 times. Sure.

I realise you're being sarcastic but why would I scan a dented can four times?

I asked to swap out a bag of mouldy salad the other day that I only noticed after I had scanned . The lady on the checkout acted as though I was the most Massivley unreasonable snob to not just take my mouldy salad home and enjoy it 😂 To be fair though I have worked in a customer facing role and the same bullshit time and again is really tiresome

It's no biggie really

I asked the staff for help ... No, she shouldn't have been rude, but I hope your wording of your post isn't a reflection of the way you framed your request to her?

No, she shouldn't have been rude, but I hope your wording of your post isn't a reflection of the way you framed your request to her?

What is wrong with my wording?

I had a similar experience with a rude self scan attendant who told me off for having "too many items" (even though I had been encouraged over by another member of staff to use them) and then snatched away (literally snatched out of my hands) a drink that wouldn't scan and said "you can't have that". I complained and got a voucher for £20 and they said they would retrain the attendant. Doubt they did, but I'm glad I complained!

the way you framed your request to her?

I put my hand up, and when she came, I said, I made a mistake, the can was dented, and I need help. She didn't need a lot of explanation as the monitor was in front of us.

Did you get her name? I would complain. I’ve had enough of rude supermarket staff. (And I’ve done my time in retail so I know how soul destroying it can be) I can’t see there was anything wrong with your wording!

It doesn’t actually matter if a customer has made a mistake. That’s what the staff are there for! To help people when they get into a pickle. There will be customers who have difficulty with hearing so might think an item hasn’t scanned, or might have movement problems so their hands shake and might scan too many times or customers with LDs who aren’t sure how it all works. The staff member should be polite and helpful. Not berating people and behaving as if they are being a nuisance.

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree

No, but she's always there. Like every morning (everytime I go, at least) I'd see her there. Always in the same assignment, overseeing the self checkouts.

I'm also confused about what's wrong with my wording of my OP.

Op. You were not rude. She was rude. And I say that having just finished a shift working the self service and says tills.

I'd have come over and cancelled your items, while chuckling and light hearted grumbling about how these self service tills are a right old pain in the bum.
Cause they are. Too sensitive and the scales are not sensitive enough.

And as for her grump being down to customers? Don't work in a customer facing role then. I've done over a decade, don't feel the need to be rude to people going about there day. No excuse.

The self service machines don't usually allow the next item to be scanned until the weight of the first item has been detected in the bagging area. Perhaps the machine was faulty?

And then detected it again with every move, resulting to four scans
Well, yeah. How does this result in four scans?

Imalloutofoptions

Please read Idontevencareanymore's post.

The self service machines don't usually allow the next item to be scanned until the weight of the first item has been detected in the bagging area. Perhaps the machine was faulty?

It was just the can's barcode that was needed for this machine.

I'd have come over and cancelled your items, while chuckling and light hearted grumbling about how these self service tills are a right old pain in the bum.
Cause they are. Too sensitive and the scales are not sensitive enough.

I wish you're at my checkout counter!

The self service machines don't usually allow the next item to be scanned until the weight of the first item has been detected in the bagging area. Perhaps the machine was faulty?

They all work like this. Otherwise people would be regularly massively overcharged.

What these grumpy staff don’t realise is that your day goes so much quicker and work is far more satisfying when you paint on the smile and fake it til you make it. Honestly, if you decide you hate your customers and don’t care to put on a hint of a smile then your day will be shit and your job willmbe shit because you get back what you give out.

She was rude. Sounds like you spoke politely and weren’t asking something ridiculous.

Not sure how you managed to scan the item 4 times without even placing it down once though, and given my job I am very familiar with self scan machines.

I e never worked in retail but I feel so sorry fir staff.

Yes she should not be rude however, she may be having a very shitty day. We all have them!
If anyone is rude to me (in such a minor way as you’ve described) I simply smile and get on with my day. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Yes, but the machines don't usually scan anything until the last item you scanned is placed in the bagging area. It registers the weight to make sure you haven't bunged a big bag of spuds in your bag having scanned just a toilet roll, for example. Hence the "Unexpected item in bagging area" message that it bleats when it thinks the weight is wrong.

It couldn't/shouldn't scan anything at all until you've put the can in your bag. So either the machine was faulty or you've visited a weird shop, which might account for the arsey attitude of the member of staff!

I'm in Australia, if that helps. I don't know why it happened, it just did. Maybe our machines are weirder here.

LizzieSiddal

True, but it's a customer-facing role (and I've done customer-facing roles) and I was just used to, well, people smiling and providing friendly customer-service all the time. Anyway, I didn't complain, or answer her back. I actually probably sounded like a scared child with how I apologised, now that I think about it.

HarrietSchulenberg

Yeah, it kept scanning the barcode with my movement, without me putting down the item in the bagging area.

Yes, but the machines don't usually scan anything until the last item you scanned is placed in the bagging area. It registers the weight to make sure you haven't bunged a big bag of spuds in your bag having scanned just a toilet roll, for example. Hence the "Unexpected item in bagging area" message that it bleats when it thinks the weight is wrong.

I know this is the norm but at my local Tesco express they have a card only quick serve bit where there is no bagging area just a row of the machines and a little shelf bit in front. No weighing or anything. Presumably it's for the lunchtime crowd.
Perhaps the ops is like this