To want the cashier in a shop to speak to me?

[Flowerplower]

I live in England and have for a few years but didn't grow up here. So I don't know whether this is just "how it's done" here or not.

Sometimes in a shop I'll go to pay and the cashier will be speaking to her friend throughout the transaction - this is most frequent at cash desks where the cashiers stand next to each other. And the only thing she'll say to me is the amount I need to pay. Today for example I was in Wilkos and this happened and at the end I said "Ok thank you bye" and the cashier broke off her conversation and just stared at me as I picked up my bags and walked off....is that normal? Did I do something wrong or was she a bit rude or is this just how it's done?

I've also had other cashiers who were downright hostile or impatient but I know this is just them being not nice or just that they're unhappy - I guess it must not be a very fun job for most cashiers. Anyway it's not a big deal but AIBU to just want the cashier to say thanks and goodbye?

Oh I should say, I’ve never liked the gossiping with a friend. It is awkward when your colleague won’t get the hint of you saying mm and then ignoring them.

A work colleague asked for assistance at the customer service desk in the Asda near us last week and one of the women actually had a go at him, telling him he was rude interrupting someone's conversation seems about right for that particular branch unfortunately.

The worst experience I’ve had with this was when I went into a florist to order flowers for my grandad’s funeral. The guy serving me actually answered his phone halfway through talking to me, and then sort of waved me away. I was so stunned I waited until he finished his call and then ranted at him about his appalling behaviour towards a grieving customer. Needless to say I also told him to stuff his flowers and went elsewhere.

I’ve worked in customer facing jobs for many years, and it’s just a given that you smile and give the customer your full attention, regardless of phones ringing or anything else going on.

shannon I’m so sorry that’s awful . Glad you toon your business elsewhere.

It's rude and unprofessional.

A while back I had a similar experience in wilko bought something and the cashier was talking with colleagues the entire time through the transaction, scanned an item twice in error (because she wasn't bloody paying attention!) then scowled at me and barked "£4.70!" Or whatever the WRONG total was! I asked her to check that, she loudly sighed, rolled her eyes, pretended to look at receipt and said "no it's £4.70!" Very sharply while shoving outstretched palm at me!

At which point I refused to pay and asked for the manager. Colleagues basically ran off, manager took me to one side while I explained what happened. Cashier tried to deny - (forgetting there's cctv on the cash machines!) manager reminded her of cctv - sudden gushing apologies and load of crap of what stress she was under because of X y z. I got a £25 good gift voucher, didn't have to pay for the goods I'd been buying. I live in a VERY small town (seriously goldfish bowls have more privacy!) and later leavens that this cashier was already on final warning for this kind of behaviour and lost her job. And no I don't feel any sympathy or guilt for that fact.

I've worked retail, I've worked in other low paid customer facing roles, I've even worked in customer services (aka complaints dept) where you get the most shittychallenging customers, there's no excuse for such shitty unprofessional behaviour.

"But they're also probably paid minimum wage for a thankless task" most cashiers are not on nmw now, but even if they were - that's STILL no excuse for such behaviour!

YANBU. It’s very rude. Like others I would wait until they have stopped the conversation or make a comment. I use my local Wilkos a lot and they are fine, really nice and chatty to customers

Yeah, it's rude. No harm in a quick chat with a colleague but you cut it off if a customer needs your attention. I used to work in retail and that's basic stuff.

My experience in Spain is it's not uncommon for the cashier hold entire conversations with a third person whilst serving. Maybe it's because my colouring is obviously British so they think conversation may be a non-starter.

Doesn't worry me in the slightest, it keeps the queue moving!

Superdrug are awful for it! When I worked in retail the first rule was, engage with the customer the whole time ‘smile, hello how are you?, do you need help packing? Give them the price with a please, complete transaction, thank you!’

It’s rude. I used to work in retail and always tried to engage with the customer I was serving- even if they weren’t interested in speaking to me which also happens a lot.

I have noticed many sales assistants now just can’t be arsed. I get it up to a point but it’s still bad manners.

I have always spoken to sales assistants/cashiers, which used to embarrass my dd when she was a teenager (don't know why, it was just general pleasantries). She then had Christmas and summer jobs in retail when she was at University and told me that she loved customers like me who treated her like she was a human being and to never stop.
Like a pp, I know the evening staff at Sainsbury's well enough to chat about lots of things and sometimes the other cashiers will join in, one who lives near me even brought round a bag of shopping that I had left at the checkout.
On the other hand I have experienced miserable as sin cashiers or one's who will only speak to their colleagues, but the one's that annoy me are the one's who will stop serving me to go and speak to someone else - either customer or colleague. In a moment I am not proud of I took the receiver out of the customer service rep's hand and hung up, when he answered the call when he was in the middle of dealing with my complaint - there were other people available to answer calls. I know I shouldn't answer rudeness with rudeness but on that occasion my self-control slipped

I usually work alongside a colleague on the tills & we chat but stop when a customer comes so we can give them our full attention. You’re there to work first & foremost. I love chatting to the customers anyway & have received several compliments on my customer service skills.

I don’t really care, they’ve got a crap job and get paid minimum wage and I’m happy not to chat!

I find it annoying but at the same time I find the enforced chit-chat annoying too. Eg 'hello, how's your day going, blah blah'
Tbh I like Aldi best, a quick greeting, scan your shopping quickly, thank you, bye.

I worked in a shoe shop when I was 15 for the princely sum of £1.56 an hour and when a customer was buying shoes we had to try to get them to buy leather or suede protector. We used to get told off if we didn't sell a certain number per day! I used to hate it, so I do feel sympathy for shop workers as most of the time the wages and hours are poor.

I suppose it's the equivalent of when customers approach the till on their mobile phone,both v rude.

Funny video Reagan

I don't like it when people say nothing throughout the entire transaction. Not even to tell you the price!

Also in small shops people are often on their phone when serving.

Basic manners are free and nothing to do with how much a person is being paid. That’s a ridiculous idea.
Flip side: I honestly don’t know if I prefer being ignored to the whole excruciating “done much shopping today then?” “Got anything on later?” “Any holidays booked this year?” inquisition. Just ring up my pantyliners, take my money and let me out of this hell! That’s probably just me, but I find it really hard to cope with that nosiness (I know they are bored out of the minds and just looking for some conversation), makes me itch and want to run away

It’s rude. It’s also rude when customers continue a phone conversation and ignore the cashier.
Took me ages to realise that staff in Aldi and Lidl were talking to colleagues via earpieces and not just mumbling to themselves

Im a bit of both - i hate it when they have a chat amongst themselves i dont mind too much if its a work query but i really dont need commentaries of what im buying oooh thats a nice dress if you need shoes (or something) we have some i think that would look lovely.. Thanks. But making comment on every single thing then asking what im doing today etc please dont? But that may be me and struggling with small talk

I'm from outside UK. Staff prioritising chitchat with each other over serving customers also shocks me, OP. There's a lot less of it than used to be, at least.

On the other hand there are cashiers that try to engage and the shopper just ignores them or gives them one word answers.

I was buying a coffee at a small, independent coffee shop earlier this week. The cashier said nothing to me at all. It was so strange. No pleasantries, she just smiled at me and then I told her my order. She didn’t even tell me the price, I just read it on the card reader.

When I moved over to collect me coffee I turned around and she was kissing a guy over the counter. I’m thinking either I’m not her type of clientele or she was thoroughly distracted by her [I presume] boyfriend’s presence.

Definitely the weirdest behaviour I’ve had encountered at a till.

Our Home Bargains is shocking. Last time I was in, there were 2 of them shouting so loudly across to each other whilst serving, about their night out and how drunk they were and all the antics they'd got up to. It was so loud and raucous as well as rude.

Oh and on the other hand in our B and M, there's a lovely lady who always chats just the right amount, makes you feel totally at ease, and hi fives my daughter when she says please and thank you, and always compliments her on her lovely manners. That means a lot.