AIBU to HATE checkout operators commenting in my purchases?

[lallyk]

It drives me mental! I think it's so rude 🤣. One day I might put some KY, cucumbers and Johnnie's on the belt just for laughs...

I agree, but I think it’s part of their training. Smile and nod.

What I hate is the checkout operator waiting for me to load the belt, I mean sitting watching me load. Then when I am ready to pack, usually it’s a she, pipes up and says “do you want me to pack?”

Sounds like my average shop to be fair!

I did buy three three packs of condoms from tesco express recently as they had a really good deal on, the older lady on the till asked if they were a new type of chewing gum. I was fighting the urge to laugh too much to think of a witty reply!

The one I had the other day kept commenting on how much I’d spent and shaking her bead. It was bizarre

Or when you get your bags out ready and then ask if you need bags... like I might not want to use mine!

There is one particular supermarket where I will queue longer to avoid one checkout last because she comments on everything, is slow and has a full blown conversation about her life and what she is doing including making comments about why she has to work there... I am sure she is lovely but I just want to get out and go home

Their jobs are boring so talking to people makes the time go faster and if you are one of the people in society who have not talked to an adult for a few days, they are someone to talk to about something mundane.

Reminds me of a Fast Show (?) episode in a newsagent where the customer buys a paper, 'Ah hoping to read about current affairs sir?'
Next visit he buys stamps 'Hoping to post a letter sir?'
Next visit is a top shelf mag. Long pause. Then 'Hoping to have a wank sir?'

I had one once ask if I thought I was pregnant when I was buying a pregnancy test. I said I don't know, that's why I'm taking the test and she somehow ended up grilling me for information and telling me I was too fat to be having IVF. She was very rude and I was very upset.

I almost exclusively use self service checkouts now.

That’s an extreme and rather horrible example pisspoor, sorry you experienced that.

It’s mostly just mundane small talk. Their job is shit and they’re trying to make the day go a little quicker, I really don’t mind it. It’s usually just asking if I’ve tried something before because they keep wanting to try it, nothing sinister.

pisspaw you poor thing, how awful.

I use Waitrose so often I have a normal chat with many of the checkout staff . I'm also a bit of a bargain buyer so they might mention that or that something I have purchased has just given them an idea for their own supper. I don't mind at all as almost all the staff in there are so nice.

Also my mum worked on the checkouts many years ago and I did it as a Saturday job. We both loved it and a quick chat was always nice but neither of us would have dreamed about making personal /nasty comments about people's purchases. Plain rude.

@titchy

@pisspawpatrol

I Hate it when they comment on my excessive alcohol consumption. Still, maybe 25 bottles of wine is a little bit much on a Monday

I hate t when they look at my snacks and alcohol and are all ‘oooh having a party?’ No I’m not fuck off Brenda, let me be greedy and lonely in peace 🤣

You'll get someone else moaning that they were rude or sullen if they didn't make small talk. Can't win!

I hate it too and find it intrusive. It isn't a 2-way thing where the customer sees the checkout operator's shopping in return and can reply "Yes, I'm buying cake and no it isn't "naughty". Why are you buying shoelaces, 47 kiwi fruits and a top that won't suit you?" The policy is probably devised by someone remote in head office who has never worked on a till or met an actual customer.

It’s customer service. In retail/supermarkets etc they’re encouraged to treat customers as a ‘five minute friend’. It’s harder for some than others, so chatting about what you’re buying probably feels like the safest option. Though clearly some of you have been served by absolute bellends 😳

I don't mind. I doubt it's the most stimulating job in the world and I am sure serving every customer in silence would make the shift feel even longer, so although I am not usually a fan of inane small talk I am happy to do it for the few minutes I am standing at a till. And like a PP, the most frequent one is usually asking me what a food product is like, so I am happy to either say, yes it's really delicious or this is the first time I have bought it, but it does sound nice doesn't it or whatever... Better to try and be nice and friendly back when someone is just trying to be nice, rather than stand there in silence. Or even worse talk on your phone, which I have seen happen a few times.

If I really don't feel like talking to someone I just use the self-service machine...

At least checkout staff in the UK are reasonably friendly and pleasant unlike some countries (eg Croatia) where a significant number seem to hate their job and their customers (or maybe they just don't like tourists).

Yes I don't like it either but they are told to "make conversation".

The policy is probably devised by someone remote in head office who has never worked on a till or met an actual customer

Yes. this. They sit in their ivory tower thinking they know it all and ignore staff and customer feedback.

Ditto chasing you round the shop asking you if you need help. It makes me want to shop online as I can browse in peace.

The self service tills are a good idea for anti-social folk like me (as long as they work).

I had an audible tut from the judgy bitch behind the till in Boots once, when I was buying a pregnancy test. Same woman also loudly asked me if I'd seen the offer on durex and did I want a second box, when I bought condoms one time. I was mortified.

I've worked behind a till though and we are told to make some conversation. I sold clothes, so "this top is so popular" type comments were the easiest way to at least try. I recognise that not everyone might want us to chat or they could be really shy... but looking at us in disgust is excruciating.

A girl on the till once commented on the amount of sweets I was buying, I laughed and said oh they’re not all for me....they were! I was mortified!

@titchy I think it was little Britain, I can remember this too!

Picking up on the bag thing - since we started charging for bags, has there been some sort of policy change in most shops for helping you pack? Every time I present my own bag for shopping, the checkout operators seem to go out of their way to scan things and NOT put them in the bag. Does anybody else have this or is it just me?

I think they must be told to make conversation and some are simply better than others when it comes to small talk. One assistant asked what I had planned for the day and when I said I had a dentist’s appointment she told me all about her gingivitis!

Oh I don't mind. One checkout girl refused to let me buy Vanish until I first tried taking out a pesto stain with Head & Shoulders. She was right too.

I don’t know, I imagine they’re thinking something about it so I’d rather they just say it!