"You can survive this. Talk to others that have"

SisterMilkshake posted 12/7/2013 16:43 PM

Yeah, that is what a Target cashier said to me today.

Very hectic day in Target today. I had gone through the check out once already. Then I remembered I forgot something. Had to go back and get one item. The lines were long and they only had 1 of the Express lanes open. There was a cashier in the express lane next to me, but she was closed.

The cashier in the closed lane told the people that had just walked up and were last in line (mind you I had been waiting for quite awhile, as others in front of me had, too). I asked the cashier, "Why would you take the last ones?" Those people told me to go ahead of them. When I walked up to the cashier she said to me "Don't be grouchy, I don't like that!"

Wow! I nearly lost my shit. How fucking dare she say that to me. I wasn't grouchy, actually, I was feeling very ill. I had been hit with a feeling of nausea whilst shopping and wanted to get out as soon as possible.

I was so upset, I got the manager and told her what the cashier said. I was nearly in tears. I was feeling very fragile and ill, not having a great day, and then she just sent me over the edge.

Did I over react? I would never say that to a customer. I have worked in customer service. I have found an "I'm sorry" goes a very long way in defusing people. I wasn't yelling. I asked a simple question. Didn't say it rudely, but maybe exasperatedly.

eta: fix spelling

[This message edited by SisterMilkshake at 8:46 PM, December 7th (Saturday)]

authenticnow posted 12/7/2013 16:47 PM

I don't think you overreacted. That is one of my pet peeves!

Other side of the coin: I am a part-time cashier at a chain drug store. I opened up and said, "I can take the next customer in line please". The lady who just walked over and went to the end of the line gave me a dirty look and said something nasty. I ignored her but then called her next because we are supposed to keep the customers happy and nobody else seemed to care.

Later that day she called to complain about me. I was STEAMED. Mean bitch!

I'm sorry you had a frustrating experience today!

(((Sister)))

wifehad5 posted 12/7/2013 16:48 PM

I've heard them ask the next person in line to move, but not the last in line

SisterMilkshake posted 12/7/2013 16:54 PM

Thanks, an and wifehad5.

I am sorry that the mean bitch did that to you, an. You didn't do anything wrong. I understand that being a cashier is tough, especially this time of year.

I told the cashier I don't know what kind of day she has had, but she also doesn't know how my day was, either. I feel that was totally out of line for her to say that to me.

authenticnow posted 12/7/2013 17:02 PM

I think it was out of line, too. She had no right to say that to you.

I have to say, I actually love being a cashier. I work in a very small town with a lot of seniors. I love seniors. Even when they're grumpy they make me smile. We have a lot of regulars and I have the patience of a saint (I used to teach preschool!). My customers love me, that's why I think the rest of the line didn't say anything when I called her next. They know me and they knew this lady was just being a bitch.

jrc1963 posted 12/7/2013 17:33 PM

I used to work retail... I loved being a cashier too.

I just traded crazy people... I went from customers to crazy little kids...

Cashiering was a lot of fun...

Nature_Girl posted 12/7/2013 18:32 PM

What a horrible thing to say to ANY customer. I'm sorry!

dameia posted 12/7/2013 20:30 PM

That was totally uncalled for on the part of the cashier.

I understand that people have bad days, but when you work in the service industry (and I'm including retail workers with restaurant servers) you just have to suck it up. I was a waitress for MANY years and was never rude to a customer! Not to say I didn't go in the back and talk shit about them to the other employees, but to the customer.... nothing but sunshine and roses.

I'm sorry that happened to you, that sucks. I'm glad you talked to the manager. If you weren't satisfied with the response you got from management you should contact the corporate headquarters.

purplejacket4 posted 12/7/2013 23:28 PM

Totally inappropriate on her part.

I've had patients that came across to me as down right nasty. My response is always "you seem hostile/upset. Is there anything I can specifically do to help you?" This usually elicits an explanation of frustration, sickness, etc. that we can really focus on. Being nasty confrontational never helps.

I'm so sorry you feel ill. Feel better soon.

[This message edited by purplejacket4 at 11:29 PM, December 7th (Saturday)]

SisterMilkshake posted 12/8/2013 00:08 AM

Thanks for your kind words and support NG, dameia, Dr.PJ. Your kindness made me tear up a little. I don't know why I am being such a baby today. Can't blame PMS anymore. *sigh*

BTW, both my husband and I are both feeling a little off and queasy. Hope it is just a little virus that isn't going to hit us hard.

jrc, are you saying I am crazy? Maybe I am.

jrc1963 posted 12/8/2013 08:51 AM

jrc, are you saying I am crazy?

NO!!! No no no no no no .... I was commenting on AN's crazy customer!!!

You were disrespected by that cashier... I'm sorry!

SisterMilkshake posted 12/8/2013 09:37 AM

Just teasing you, jrc. Thanks, and no worries.

itainteasy posted 12/9/2013 10:11 AM

Totally out of line!! I have never had a cashier say anything like that to me. Ever. And if one did, I would tell them to focus on ringing out my items, rather than whatever mood they perceive me to be in.

I'm one of those people that doesn't smile a lot. It doesn't mean I'm unhappy, it means that smiling is not my default look. I am told that I look very grave, very serious. That's my default "relaxed" face.

I'm sorry you had a rotten experience, and I would have also gotten the manager and relayed that to him/her.

I hope you and Mister Sister are feeling better today.

SisterMilkshake posted 12/9/2013 12:23 PM

Thanks, itainteasy.

It doesn't mean I'm unhappy, it means that smiling is not my default look

That is so me, too! Even Mister Sister doesn't always realize (and he has known me for 36 years) that I am not unhappy because of my default look on my face, which is just a serious look. Funny thing is, I am in general, a very happy, or at the very least, content person.

As far as our health, Mister Sister seems fine, the bug we had seems to have effected me more and I am still dealing with it, but it is getting better. Thank you for your concern!

JanaGreen posted 12/9/2013 13:16 PM

I had to look to see if you're in the south, Sister. If you have a va-jay-jay and don't smile here, people act like you're committing a crime.

What I like is the commentary from cashiers when buying pregnancy tests. Holy hell. Someone should tell them NOT to do that. Sometimes, for instance, someone who has recently had a miscarriage might buy tests to check their HCG levels, in which case a cutesy comment would be really unwelcome. Don't ask me how I know this.

tushnurse posted 12/9/2013 13:36 PM

Me three on the default face, it's usually because I'm thinking of the next 16 things I need to do. LOL

That Cashier was out of line, and had it been at another major retailer I guarantee you there would have been a write up on it, since the customer complained, and what she said.

I worked a WalMart as a kid, and did just about every job they had from driving the forklift around to assembling bikes to customer service desk, and yes being a chashier can be a lot of fun, especially when you realize crabby people aren't crabby because of you, and if you can brighten their day a bit by saying something funny, silly, or just being kind it can make a persons day. I learned this from an older cashier that had worked for the organization for about 20 years at that time. It is a lesson I have taken with me into my carreer as well.

I hope the gut feels better soon, not a good time of year to get the icks.

((((and happiness)))

dameia posted 12/9/2013 22:52 PM

It doesn't mean I'm unhappy, it means that smiling is not my default look

The official term for this is "Bitchy Resting Face". I too suffer from this affliction.

Nature_Girl posted 12/10/2013 00:30 AM

I had to look to see if you're in the south, Sister. If you have a va-jay-jay and don't smile here, people act like you're committing a crime.

YOU'RE KILLING ME HERE!!!!

Jrazz posted 12/10/2013 00:52 AM

(((SM)))

I'm pissed for you - I've been in Customer Service and what she said is appalling. I hope you feel better tomorrow, sweets.

Sending big hugs.

carnelian posted 12/10/2013 04:36 AM

I respectfully disagree with the majority of the posts here. People don't always make the best calls and respect is a two-way street.

[This message edited by carnelian at 4:37 AM, December 10th (Tuesday)]