Check out operators?
May 16th 2005 | 10:04 am
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Check out operators?
Originally Posted by mandpete
"Thanks, Amanda and have a great day/afternoon/evening". What's all that about, they don't need to say my name, in fact a simple "bye" would be OK.
I then find myself saying "You too" in a cheery voice.
May 16th 2005 | 10:09 am
#32
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Check out operators?
Originally Posted by AmerLisa
But, I suppose for what they charge in grocery stores these days, they ought to be putting on a damn floor show for you at the end.
May 16th 2005 | 10:11 am
#33
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Check out operators?
Originally Posted by fatbrit
I have visions of Calendar Girls. :scared:
May 16th 2005 | 10:20 am
#34
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 92,279
From: MA, USA
Re: Check out operators?
Originally Posted by AmerLisa
This annoys me more than anything. I do some shopping at Safeway (although not exclusively) and my name is printed on register receipt. As it is being handed to me the checkout person will look down at the receipt and say "Have a good day Mrs. X." I'm taken aback, because I surely don't know them, how do they know me. I don't see why its necessary to use proper names. Saying to someone "Have a nice day." or just giving them a smile and thank-you should be enough. But, I suppose for what they charge in grocery stores these days, they ought to be putting on a damn floor show for you at the end.
May 16th 2005 | 11:22 am
#35
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 11,061
From: North Carolina
Re: Check out operators?
Originally Posted by Bob
If they don't thank you by name at Sam's club they have to give you a dollar...hmmm...rather they didn't bother, and rather they didn't have the stoodge at the exit check the contents of your trolley against your receipt.
NC Penguin
May 16th 2005 | 11:29 am
#36
You Are All Diseased
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,511
From: Farnham, UK
Re: Check out operators?
Originally Posted by Guelder Rose
ps I have no idea what the pc name for a check-out operator is these days, but I'm sure there must be some fancy name for it!
May 16th 2005 | 12:11 pm
#37
Just around the next bend
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,276
From: Missouri
Re: Check out operators?
My stepson works on the checkouts at walmart, and says his official title is "associate" lol! After an 8-hour shift he (who is 18 years old and not at all overweight) says his feet are killing him. He also says that they are supposed to give a greeting to each customer like "Did you find everything all right?" or "Is everything going all right today?"
He has had very rude customers swear blind that the jeans they are buying were on sale for $5. He scans them and if there's a discrepancy, he calls the 'redcoat' aka Customer Service Manager, who tells them the real price, and deals with the problem for him, but then they leave and the customer often takes out their frustration on him.
All this for the princely sum of $5.80 an hour
He has had very rude customers swear blind that the jeans they are buying were on sale for $5. He scans them and if there's a discrepancy, he calls the 'redcoat' aka Customer Service Manager, who tells them the real price, and deals with the problem for him, but then they leave and the customer often takes out their frustration on him.
All this for the princely sum of $5.80 an hour
May 16th 2005 | 1:53 pm
#38
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Check out operators?
Originally Posted by rincewind
I prefer the term, "Cashier" as it sums it up. But in the US, people like to feel important so you could use Sales Technician, Public Relations Accountant or Scanner Operator. Should make them feel good about turning up to work the next day.
I now have an ambition to be a "Scanner Operative"...makes you sound like Lt Uhura off Star Trek: "Scanners report no signs of intelligent life captain. Thank you scanner operative."
I have actually perfected the stateside shopping experience into a humerous adventure...I use every Britishism and sarcastic irony I can think of to confuse and confound the operatives, all in a Pierce Brosnam/Prince Charles kind of voice. Its a great way to pass the time.
May 16th 2005 | 2:57 pm
#39
Back Again
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,831
From: Virtual Reality
Re: Check out operators?
Originally Posted by Guelder Rose
Has anyone noticed that check out operators in the UK all have a nice comfortable work area, i.e. a chair to sit on ... whilst in the US they all have to stand?
My husband says that the employers think it will make the workers lazy if they give them a chair to sit on ... or that the customers will think it is lazy? When he came to the UK he was shocked that all our check out operators were given nice comfy chairs to sit on ... oh, he was also taken aback by the fact that they don't generally pack your shopping for you either!
I tend to think that having to stand all the time could cause problems, i.e. if you have ciculation problems, such as varicose viens, then it is against medical advice to stand for long periods of time. So, if you work for WalMart and have varicose viens, could you sue them for aggravating your condition, or does having varicose viens result in you being unfit for the job?
ps I have no idea what the pc name for a check-out operator is these days, but I'm sure there must be some fancy name for it!
My husband says that the employers think it will make the workers lazy if they give them a chair to sit on ... or that the customers will think it is lazy? When he came to the UK he was shocked that all our check out operators were given nice comfy chairs to sit on ... oh, he was also taken aback by the fact that they don't generally pack your shopping for you either!
I tend to think that having to stand all the time could cause problems, i.e. if you have ciculation problems, such as varicose viens, then it is against medical advice to stand for long periods of time. So, if you work for WalMart and have varicose viens, could you sue them for aggravating your condition, or does having varicose viens result in you being unfit for the job?
ps I have no idea what the pc name for a check-out operator is these days, but I'm sure there must be some fancy name for it!
I've seen pregnant women made to stand at Wal- Mart...give the poor cow a chair!!
May 16th 2005 | 3:16 pm
#40
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,272
From: NJ
Re: Check out operators?
Originally Posted by NC Penguin
Do they double it if they mispronounce your lastname?
NC Penguin
NC Penguin
May 16th 2005 | 6:20 pm
#41
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 16
From: Edinburgh
Re: Check out operators?
Originally Posted by Guelder Rose
Hmmm, wonder if the application for WalMart includes the question, "Do you have a medical condition that prevents you from standing for long periods of time?"
May 16th 2005 | 8:06 pm
#42
Get em out by Friday
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,493
From: Oregon
Re: Check out operators?
Originally Posted by Guelder Rose
Has anyone noticed that check out operators in the UK all have a nice comfortable work area, i.e. a chair to sit on
May 17th 2005 | 12:18 am
#43
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 300
From: US
Re: Check out operators?
Originally Posted by mandpete
"Hi there, how are you today?"
Are you supposed to answer this question or not? I always answer with "fine, how are you?" and am usually ignored but on the odd occasion I don't reply they repeat the question until I do answer. Then I'll get a checkout operator who gives me her life story which pisses off the person behind me.
"Thanks, Amanda and have a great day/afternoon/evening". What's all that about, they don't need to say my name, in fact a simple "bye" would be OK.
I then find myself saying "You too" in a cheery voice. If my friends could hear me they'd wet themselves I think.
Are you supposed to answer this question or not? I always answer with "fine, how are you?" and am usually ignored but on the odd occasion I don't reply they repeat the question until I do answer. Then I'll get a checkout operator who gives me her life story which pisses off the person behind me.
"Thanks, Amanda and have a great day/afternoon/evening". What's all that about, they don't need to say my name, in fact a simple "bye" would be OK.
I then find myself saying "You too" in a cheery voice. If my friends could hear me they'd wet themselves I think.
I used to say "fine thanks, how are you" but they would always cut me off, so now if they say it I just sit there feeling a little awkward and don't say anything
May 17th 2005 | 6:38 am
#44
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 287
From: Leeds to Los Angeles
Re: Check out operators?
I have never been able to get used to people bagging my groceries, and continue to do it myself. If the market is full of eager staff, this often means a lot of distressed looks from the assigned bagger, as though they'll get into trouble if their supervisor sees a customer bagging their own groceries. If the place is busy, then the check out person is usually very gratefully, albeit visibly shocked.
May 17th 2005 | 8:22 am
#45
my arm aches
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,289
From: the warm waters of Florida
Re: Check out operators?
Has anyone else noticed when you hand over a credit card to be verified, they never actually look at the signature on the back of the card?
This afternoon, in the supermarket, the woman made a point of checking my name on the card, even though she doesn't know me from adam, but never bothered to look at my signature. Didn't have to show my DL either. I could have signed Minnie Mouse on the sales receipt and she would have been none the wiser.
This afternoon, in the supermarket, the woman made a point of checking my name on the card, even though she doesn't know me from adam, but never bothered to look at my signature. Didn't have to show my DL either. I could have signed Minnie Mouse on the sales receipt and she would have been none the wiser.
