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 still remember popping to a supermarket near my parents’ house where all I bought was a bottle of Calpol, two bottles of Champagne and a cucumber. The youngish guy on the checkout didn’t say much, except to cock an eyebrow towards the end and dryly comment ‘looks like you’re planning a hell of a party’. I thought it was hilarious, though could see how it could have backfired with the wrong customer!

I’m a supermarket worker and some of the people on this thread are the reason I hate my job sometimes rude entitled and unpleasant, I couldn’t care less what you’re buying, I just want you to buy your stuff and go!

Smiths is very bad too for not providing a person. Shop assistants actually point out the automated check out when they come off the floor to serve you. I ask the assistant to use the automated check out for me.

I think it's pretty mean to not entertain chit-chat from the people who serve you throughout the day. Practically uncivilised, really.

I once bought a pregnancy test kit in Asda. The cashier said to me that she hoped I got the result I wanted. I don't really think cashiers should comment on pregnancy tests, but I did think that was quite a tactful thing to say!
I usually talk about the weather, children etc, occasionally get asked if I have tried a ready meal before, and if it was nice. It doesn't really bother me. The thing that makes me see red is when the cashier won't scan anything through the checkout until I have emptied my trolley completely, meaning I have to balance things three or four high before s/he will make any space on the conveyor.

Oh jeezo, I always forget how seriously these threads can be taken 🙄. To be clear, I was just making a wee light hearted observation at something that I find irritating. Yes, I was a checkout girl too, and a waitress, and a la senza shop assistant (I didn't find any of these jobs shit or mundane though, just jobs) yes, I know some people like to make small talk (so do I, about the weather etc) and yes, I always engage back (would never, ever ignore someone or be rude) but, like previous posters, I want to be able to go to the shop, buy a bottle of wine, a family bag if crisps and a gigantic bar of chocolate and not feel like I need to explain myself! Is that too much to ask??😂)

On the contrary, I had the most lovely lady in Tesco put my shopping through the checkout today!
She was really friendly and chatty, but not in that awkward, slightly annoying way - in a genuinely friendly way. She made a real fuss of both my DCs when she realised I was buying bits and bobs to make DC1’s birthday cake at the weekend.
She genuinely brightened my day I think some people just have that air about them and are absolutely perfect in customer facing roles. Unfortunately I’m not one of those people I’ve done lots of bar work before, and my unintentional resting bitch face didn’t really go hand in hand with the job

I’m actually quite shocked at the number of PPs who seem to think
checkout staff are beneath them and not worthy of conversation.
I’ve had some lovely chats with the staff in my local Tesco.
One was a medical student, doing some shifts to help fund her studies, so I was reminiscing about my own days as a junior doctor, 38 years ago, and laughing with her about the conditions.
One was a struggling artist, and we had an interesting chat about her paintings and craft work.
One had lost both her parents and been off with depression, so I did a bit of counselling and offered to pray for her.
The time my cat had just died, I ended up in tears all over a staff member who gave me a hug and was lovely and supportive.
What I’m trying to say is - they are all human beings, and all are valuable and interesting in their own way, if you bother to engage with them. Please see them as people, not checkout machines!

Yes I worked in Morrisons and they literally told us to try make a conversation by looking at the customers shopping products. If they buy tissues ask if they have a cold. I hated it too and only done so if manager was near.

I was buying ovulation tests once and the lady said 'trying for a baby are we?' I felt like replying 'no, I've plan on using them as contraception actually'. I'm fine with a chit chat but personal purchases should be left out of it.

The operator who commented upon DP's purchase of a nice writing pad, pen, three birthday cards, two packets of paracetamol and a bottle of scotch will always have my gratitude.

I did once buy condoms, KY jelly and a Polaroid film.
They never said a word.

I have a hyperactive thyroid, and for a while last year the medication was wrong and I lost a lot of weight, and generally looked very ill. Checkout woman kept saying " ooh this is how you're so slim" with every single item. I just ignored

I don't like people talking about my shopping it feels judgy and intrusive. I'd rather they focus on other inanities like the weather if they have to chat with me. I feel sorry for the checkout staff though because they are made to do this silly chat and i'm never rude even though it's annoying.

Plenty of threads appear on MN putting down retail workers. The vast majority of retail works are polite and hard working, still manage to keep calm despite condescending bastards looking down their noses at them. They manage to laugh politely even though its the 100 time that day somebody has said oh not scanning must be free. They put up with people being abusive without being able to retaliate. And they will be working Friday and Monday whilst you are all enjoying your bank holiday by taking your family shopping.

I brought a pregnancy test in Tesco once (with a load of other shopping), it was after I’d had a miscarriage and had to have a negative test to confirm. The checkout lady asked me if I was hoping for a positive or negative, I just said positive and didn’t go into the whole sorry tale. I’m happy to make conversation with anyone, but I do think there are some questions they probably shouldn’t ask.

I’m actually quite shocked at the number of PPs who seem to think checkout staff are beneath them and not worthy of conversation.

I don't see that in what posters have said. By all means talk about the weather, the traffic or something mundane. Many on here will have worked on a checkout at some time and managed the brief smiles and chit-chat without making guesses about the reason for people's purchases.

I'm wondering if it's a regional thing?

In London, I can honestly count on the fingers of one hand the amount of times a supermarket checkout person has tried to initiate a conversation about anything. It's all business mate - get your shopping through and out.

Maybe I've just got a miserable face :)

Oh dear, this may have been me on tills.. If someone was buying loads of sweets/choc I would say “now that’s a good lunch/tea!” I’d also do stuff like insist on giving a man a pink lighter “you’re macho enough to pull it off!” Or ask about people’s pets when they were buying pet food etc.

One of my coworkers (in her 60s) sold a bloke in late teens/early 20s some Valentine chocs, wine and johnnies and said “looks like you’re in for a good night ;)”. He looked like he wanted to die!

A little bit of small talk is fine. I can't stand shopping in two very big German supermarkets where the staff just grunt at you and give dirty looks of you haven't loaded your shopping quick enough off their checkout.

I was buying a scented candle and the woman on the checkout peeled back the film to smell it. Thus opening what was meant to be a present. She then declared, "that's vile, I hate the smell of Strawberry"

So why OPEN something to smell that a customer is buying that is clearly marked STRAWBERRY?

Then after she had got someone to get me a new one, she nodded at the opened one and said, "chuck that, that one's been opened" without turning a hair.

Scan as You Shop. You can do your whole shop and not speak to a soul. No conveyor, no checkout person. In and out.

There you go again Sparkling

think some people just have that air about them and are absolutely perfect in customer facing roles. Unfortunately I’m not one of those people blush I’ve done lots of bar work before, and my unintentional resting bitch face didn’t really go hand in hand with the job blush

This is why I now work nights as far away from people as is possible in hospitality and didn't last long in retail. I have zero filter now. Rude to me? Condescending? Treat me like shit? Not getting fuck all mate.
Treat me like a human being? I'll bend over backwards to help you in any way I can.

Scan and shop is the answer to everything Sneaky.