A recent WHO study in life expectancy showed something like a 30-year difference in male life expectancy in two areas of greater Glasgow that weren't more than a couple of miles apart - East Dunbartonshire, something like 78 yrs, and the east end of Glasgow (Calton, maybe?), something like 48 yrs.

Glasgow is fascinating like that, you can find areas of high deprivation (Drumchapel) almost next door to areas of low deprivation (Milngavie).

If I find the link to the survey, I'll post it. I'm just going from memory on the above figures, but I remember it making the national news last year.

I also don't like it when Brits (present company excepted of course) complain because American black people have their own speech patterns ("black people talk like white people in the UK") without ever considering the underlying reasons.

Yes. Business in the US is competitive and one way to compete with others in your same segment is to differentiate the way you treat your customers vs the other guy.
Nothing says 'I don't give a crap about you, Mr Customer Who Is the Reason My Job Exists' is sitting down and "processing" your goods across a scanner. I refuse to use the self-check options unless it is in MY favor. (and if it's over 10 items, it's usually not)

Grocery checking is a moving business, and it can't be done correctly from your butt. The cashier is the last point of contact the store has with their customer. It's their chance to make sure everything met the customer's expectations and to encourage that next visit. If someone delivers that message from their butt, I don't really find it sincere. People ARE part of the experience, so I don't want to hear some lame argument back about how you just want to get your items, pay your money and leave. YOU are then welcome to shop for your needs online. *I* will be very vocal about what I expect my retailers to provide.

Ian's reply touches on it, but only if you already know the answer (I agree, but it is difficult to explain).

Finally, just as I've read a number of complaints here with the reasoning "It's just the PROPER way to do XYZ", I feel the same way about a 'clerk' sitting down to take my custom. I would rather self-check than have some surly grouch touching my purchases and dragging them across her scanner because she can't be bothered to have a decent interaction while she's taking my money.
Standards, man. Standards.

I don't agree that sitting down automatically means you are 'surly'.

That's OK, I don't agree with a lot of things you write.

Really? How many people post on BE when they're standing up?

I'm just shocked that the Brits would be arguing to let us lardy assed Americans sit down at all EVER.

Whether you go in Target, Walmart, HEB, Kroger, wherever they are always standing up. Wheres the differentiation?

I always assumed they stood up because it made it easier to wander off and chat to their mates as soon as they'd finished checking me out, while throwing a totally insincere "Have a Nice Day" over their shoulders as they left....

If you want to differentiate, give me a chair then have all of those sample food folk line up and feed me while I have my stuff checked out...then I'd leave happy and be highly likely to come back!

I do surly just as well standing up as sitting.

I know Aldi are German owned ,they 'allow' their staff to sit down .

I think it is only fair .

I have been served by arrogant people sitting down AND standing up -with a chair at least those working have a choice .

I don't think sitting down indicaties a lack of wanting to help or give good service . As long as they don't bend over , show me their butt cheeks and talk from there while I check out ,it is no big deal

They would have to reconfigure something. If checkers sat down they'd be eye level with my crotch and I don't think that's good customer service at all.

Maybe they would do the decent thing (when they noticed ) and stand when serving you then?

What happened to surly the BE poster?

Just curious - I don't miss him, I thought he was a tit.

I guess I could stand in a hole so we could all feel more comfortable.