TiddlyPom

Apart from the repetitive work, they stand on 'anti fatigue' mats, dealing with some real assholes. I think working at a checkout is one of the hardest jobs I ever did in my life (Tesco, years ago). Some of the complete morons you get through - rude, arrogant people who think they're somehow better than you. And then, lovely customers who would queue up at your checkout because they knew you were friendly and pleasant.

Deriding service people is disgusting and pathetic. If you knew some of the stories of those people I've worked with, you'd be not so happy to be handing out looks of derision. There's a lady at our local who works there to support her very disabled daughter. It's the only job she can get which is casual enough to fit in with her life.

TiddlyPom

So go and make a complaint to your store. If they don't know you're unhappy, how on earth are they going to fix it?

Write to Michael Luscombe. He's the CEO at the moment and he's an incredibly nice man.

DeadVim

I've done the main grocery shop at the same Woolies for the past year and the employees have always been friendly. I guess it all depends on your area.

I guess I am more inclined to have a brief chat because many moons ago I did a year part-time on grocery shop floor and the checkouts at Tescos.

ozzieeagle

How often do you see that ? I would have thought that's a very unusual occurrence. Got to say I can't ever recall ever going past a check out where the staff member had 'tude in Aus... honestly ! The bread and Potato and similar packing blunders yes..

Having said the above... I would totally agree about getting rid of them, if you are getting that kind of service.

brissybee

I already complimented the really good one...

Now you want me to whinge about the really sour-faced one!

Actually, what I'd really like is more checkouts open at peak times so people aren't trolley raging for a spot in the queue.

Oh yes, and British sweets. In every aisle of every store.

TiddlyPom

Yes.

You'd have to speak to the service manager or the store manager and tell them that. It really depends how their staff levels are on the day. Esp when it's flu season and people are ill.... sometimes you can lose 4 people off a shift and it can blow everything out of the water.


PS - not confident about your chances of British sweets.

moneypenny20

When you get served like that, go to Customer Services and tell them. Most of the checkout chicks know how to pack bags but there are obviously some who either don't care or are having a bad day. First Born has people go through her line regularly because a) they reckon she's the best packer in there and b) they want to know how she's getting on at Uni, after her op etc etc etc. She's had people tell CS that she's brilliant, she's also had one or two go and complain about her - it's life and she'd rather know she'd done something wrong than think everything is fine.

However she's also had some who abuse and shout at her and she's had to call the Supervisor over because she's actually been scared of what the person is going to do. Asking a mother to please remove her child from the conveyor belt as it's not a game and the child could get hurt, shouldn't result in the mother threatening to '****ing smack' her.

I fail to understand why adults think it's ok to be rude, objectionable and aggressive to teenagers who just want to earn some money.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

My wife and I, go out of our way to tell people when they have done a good job. It takes a moment to do, and yet it can make somebodies day.

TiddlyPom

Good for you Creature. I do it too. Probably makes up for the ****wits they have to deal with at the checkouts.

lancastrian48

Perhaps another reason people dont like "talking" is the rip off prices of the Woolies/Coles duopoly. Added to goods well past their sell by date.

DeadVim

So you're just going to ignore the last 4 pages of arse-kicking that you've got for acting like a knob?

brissybee

Totally agree with you here MP.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

I find it's an approach that works for me.

TiddlyPom

There are three types. Woolworths have made it easy so someone of your intellect can fully understand it.

RED = People who don't want a conversation - their mother might have just died and they have to shop, or maybe they're just not a talkative person. Woolworths staff have to evaluate and interpret their mood and act accordingly.

ORANGE (Can you see where they're going with this?) = people who aren't immediately chatty but who can be drawn into a conversation.

GREEN = people who immediately start chatting with you - they want interaction.

If I'd have been you, I'd have quit whilst I was ahead instead of coming up with your deeply insightful attempt to change the focus on you being an arse, but hey, that's me.

Tomorrow, you can pick the window we'll all go through. Will it be round or square, or maybe even... arched?

DeadVim

I guess if you're going to ignorant, arrogant and demeaning in real-life you might as well carry it over to the virtual world. It would be too difficult to switch personalities otherwise.

Not YOU obviously.