Reply to: The checkout girl: abused, ignored and on a till near you

[threaded]

it's just acting really and less work in the long run.

Much like contracting really. Even if you think the clients methods are barmy and counter productive: a big smile and positive attitude will get you rate rises and extensions.

[d000hg]

I've always found you get far fewer "obnoxious customers" if you bother to act like you give a damn. I worked on checkouts before (I dispute most are women) and never had any problems with a single customer. I also worked behind the bar in a pub and was proud of my ability to get bought drinks by regulars who the other staff found irritating.

My philosophy is being helpful gets them out of my hair with as little fuss as possible, it's just acting really and less work in the long run.

[OrangeHopper]

I did two and half years during the 80s recession working for Hertz at Gatwick. A dreadful job dealing with people who have just been on an eight hour flight and want to get to their hotel as quickly as possible. You would be amazed at how different a service you might get if you are a pleasant and can be patient.

As a result I have always been considerate to service staff provided they are trying to give a good service. My attitude has got me into trouble with my wife who would sometimes prefer to bite their heads off.

However, I must admit to easily losing my patience with the odd offshore phone centre. Interesting really because I recently had dealings with an Orange UK based phone centre in Portsmouth where I was "sorted" me with minimum fuss. The assistant then let it drop that it was his first day! Must be a question of training. Sorry, slipped off topic slightly.

[Paddy]

I'm always polite and friendly to check out staff as I treat people how I like to be treated. I always say hello, thanks and goodbye.

Something I've noticed in the bigger supermarkets though, is that the problem is reversed - the checkout staff act is if the customers aren't there. I especially notice this at the cigarette counter where there are usually two women stood close to each other.

In a couple of stores in my town centre you can guarantee they will be chatting away about something without the slightest realisation there are six or seven people in the queue that can hear every word they say.

I can understand how this would happen though. I'd probably grow to not see the customers too if there were thousands passing me by every day. Still, I don't like it when it happens.

It varies from area to area. Near client’s site the staff are ugly old council estate chavetts. Near my home they are part time foreign students and housewives and they are all very chatty and pleasant. I do find however all the managers are self centred and rude.

[pault107]

I'm always polite and friendly to check out staff as I treat people how I like to be treated. I always say hello, thanks and goodbye.

Something I've noticed in the bigger supermarkets though, is that the problem is reversed - the checkout staff act is if the customers aren't there. I especially notice this at the cigarette counter where there are usually two women stood close to each other.

In a couple of stores in my town centre you can guarantee they will be chatting away about something without the slightest realisation there are six or seven people in the queue that can hear every word they say.

I can understand how this would happen though. I'd probably grow to not see the customers too if there were thousands passing me by every day. Still, I don't like it when it happens.

[bodnobal]

When I was in the 6th form a did a stint on the tills at Tesco, Thu, Fri evenings between 5pm and 8pm and Sat betwen 8am and 4pm. It was great fun ripping off the tills and the supervisor was in on the game at the time

The manager got the bullet during the period I worked there for ripping off Tesco's aswell.

Not sure staff can get away with it nowadays but 20 years ago it was fill your boots time working in supermarkets.

[gingerjedi]

Yep, me too!

You never know, they might be single, nymphomaniac and prefer older paunchy men

I feel a bit of an old perv when they have to call the supervisor over to serve alcohol though.

[BrowneIssue]

You never know, they might be single, nymphomaniac and prefer older paunchy men

You get that dream too, huh?

[Platypus]

I always pick the prettiest checkout girl as if I were in a lapdance club, a bit of small talk pay your money and off you go... might as well make it a pleasant experience.

Yep, me too!

You never know, they might be single, nymphomaniac and prefer older paunchy men

[BrilloPad]

Oh do keep up at the back:

http://forums.contractoruk.com/gener...onsultant.html

It was a badly named thread looking at a different subject.

[Board Game Geek]

gingerjedi posted : and have a tips bucket

That's not a bad idea, so long as the management don't reduce their hourly rate to compensate.

I'm all for tipping, as a mark of thanks for good service.

I was in my local Costa the other day and ordered a panini, and when it was ready, the staff member brought it to my table.

Considering how little they get paid, I didn't feel bad about adding another £1 to the cost of the meal.

[gingerjedi]

I always pick the prettiest checkout girl as if I were in a lapdance club, a bit of small talk pay your money and off you go... might as well make it a pleasant experience.

Maybe they should all wear bikinis and have a tips bucket.

[sasguru]

Oh do keep up at the back:

http://forums.contractoruk.com/gener...onsultant.html

[SantaClaus]

Good on her for turning a crap job into a profitable opportunity!

This bit of the article is very telling about the state of the IT industry:

Richard, her husband, has benefited more. He was fed up with his job as an IT consultant on the French minimum wage of €8.71 (£7.73) an hour. “I told him that now we had a bit of money, it was time to learn to do something else.” He is training to become a plumber.

All I can say is

[dinker]

I`ve done frontline customer service and it definately makes you appreciate how obnoxious the general public can be. As a result I always do some research about the product rather than asking the assistant fatuous questions.