I’m the other way around, kind of for a similar reason. I like to use the regular cashier line, because it gives me the opportunity to interact with adult humans outside of my own house. And I take that opportunity to be as supportive and friendly as possible to those people, partly in order to help “uncrush their souls.”
Also, I don’t like fighting with trying to open the plastic grocery bags, and I’m too forgetful to remember to bring my own bags.
I try hard to relate to people sincerely and as a fellow human being, and not walk over that line between employee and customer. I totally understand that the person is just doing their job, and maybe just doesn’t want any more interaction than absolutely necessary. I like to tell quick dadjokes, at the very least, and I feel bad about kind of pressing one on someone who clearly did not want to be a part of my hijinks the other day. I did get a little smirk back, so it wasn’t all bad, but still.
On the other hand, for example, another recent shopping trip put me in a cashier line behind someone who was obviously being somewhat difficult to a clearly young cashier. After they cleared out, and after my transaction was complete, I made a point of saying to the young man, “You’re doing an excellent job, really. I felt you might have needed to hear that.” I wasn’t lying, he was being focused and patient, although some of his nervousness was still showing through. He thanked me, and said it was his first day solo on the register. “Well, you’re doing great,” and I departed.
I have many more experiences like the latter than the former, so I think my approach is doing good overall.
remember we’re comparing to self checkout. It’s not really a point to say you can cheer someone up after dealing with a rough customer, because neither of those experiences would happen with self checkout. They’re somewhere else they’d rather be, it’s a job that shouldn’t exist.
You’re right, and I completely agree that solely using self checkout would dramatically reduce unneccesary, and possibly stressful, customer interactions.
While there are certainly some people who, as employees, enjoy interacting with customers, and even some who enjoy resolving problems and conflicts for customers, I also understand that people who cashier at retail groceries are generally not empowered by management to exercise those kinds of skills.
I also agree with the sentiment that individual human cashiering is “a job that shouldn’t exist,” although maybe not so completely. There are always going to be transactions which require customer-employee interaction, because they fall outside the more rigidly programmed options available in self checkout. That said, I have watched as self checkouts have grown in both their number and their usage, as the number of employee operated cash registers seems to be declining. McDonald’s, for example, doesn’t even have cashiers standing at the ready at all times any more. You can go order from a person, at the sole register which exists for that purpose, but you will need to wait for a person to come to you instead of the other way around. Their kiosks and mobile app have made the “row of smiling cashiers awaiting your order” a thing of the past. And I think that level of “self-service” at retail establishments is a well balanced one.
You’re the reason I go to self checkout. You’re seeking out social interactions in a purely business relationship. I want my avocado and grapes and to get the fuck out of there, not stand there while you ask somebody how their day was and whether the weather might be getting cooler this weekend.
In your example, I’m the employee. In actuality, I am the customer. And I try to interact with everyone on a “we’re both people with lives and hopes and dreams” sort of basis, not in the banal “weather chat” kind of way.
@NathanielThomas@Nougat
So the only “social interaction” a grocery store check-out employee should have are the negative, abusive ones? If I chat pleasantly with a checkout person, I am interfering with your life? Hmmmm……
Are plastic bags still a thing anymore? I think Ontario banned them, cause I haven’t seen them anywhere. It’s especially awkward if you use Instacart cause they just keep giving you need reusable bags every time. But even before this, they’ve been dwindling for ages, with lots of big chains no longer having em.
I’m the other way around, kind of for a similar reason. I like to use the regular cashier line, because it gives me the opportunity to interact with adult humans outside of my own house. And I take that opportunity to be as supportive and friendly as possible to those people, partly in order to help “uncrush their souls.”
Also, I don’t like fighting with trying to open the plastic grocery bags, and I’m too forgetful to remember to bring my own bags.
most of the time I dont want to be a captive audience even for someone trying to be friendly. I have to be polite, and Im at work, I cant just leave.
I try hard to relate to people sincerely and as a fellow human being, and not walk over that line between employee and customer. I totally understand that the person is just doing their job, and maybe just doesn’t want any more interaction than absolutely necessary. I like to tell quick dadjokes, at the very least, and I feel bad about kind of pressing one on someone who clearly did not want to be a part of my hijinks the other day. I did get a little smirk back, so it wasn’t all bad, but still.
On the other hand, for example, another recent shopping trip put me in a cashier line behind someone who was obviously being somewhat difficult to a clearly young cashier. After they cleared out, and after my transaction was complete, I made a point of saying to the young man, “You’re doing an excellent job, really. I felt you might have needed to hear that.” I wasn’t lying, he was being focused and patient, although some of his nervousness was still showing through. He thanked me, and said it was his first day solo on the register. “Well, you’re doing great,” and I departed.
I have many more experiences like the latter than the former, so I think my approach is doing good overall.
remember we’re comparing to self checkout. It’s not really a point to say you can cheer someone up after dealing with a rough customer, because neither of those experiences would happen with self checkout. They’re somewhere else they’d rather be, it’s a job that shouldn’t exist.
You’re right, and I completely agree that solely using self checkout would dramatically reduce unneccesary, and possibly stressful, customer interactions.
While there are certainly some people who, as employees, enjoy interacting with customers, and even some who enjoy resolving problems and conflicts for customers, I also understand that people who cashier at retail groceries are generally not empowered by management to exercise those kinds of skills.
I also agree with the sentiment that individual human cashiering is “a job that shouldn’t exist,” although maybe not so completely. There are always going to be transactions which require customer-employee interaction, because they fall outside the more rigidly programmed options available in self checkout. That said, I have watched as self checkouts have grown in both their number and their usage, as the number of employee operated cash registers seems to be declining. McDonald’s, for example, doesn’t even have cashiers standing at the ready at all times any more. You can go order from a person, at the sole register which exists for that purpose, but you will need to wait for a person to come to you instead of the other way around. Their kiosks and mobile app have made the “row of smiling cashiers awaiting your order” a thing of the past. And I think that level of “self-service” at retail establishments is a well balanced one.
You’re the reason I go to self checkout. You’re seeking out social interactions in a purely business relationship. I want my avocado and grapes and to get the fuck out of there, not stand there while you ask somebody how their day was and whether the weather might be getting cooler this weekend.
In your example, I’m the employee. In actuality, I am the customer. And I try to interact with everyone on a “we’re both people with lives and hopes and dreams” sort of basis, not in the banal “weather chat” kind of way.
@NathanielThomas @Nougat
So the only “social interaction” a grocery store check-out employee should have are the negative, abusive ones? If I chat pleasantly with a checkout person, I am interfering with your life? Hmmmm……
Are plastic bags still a thing anymore? I think Ontario banned them, cause I haven’t seen them anywhere. It’s especially awkward if you use Instacart cause they just keep giving you need reusable bags every time. But even before this, they’ve been dwindling for ages, with lots of big chains no longer having em.
Oh I forgot this was /canada - I’m in Illinois, outside Chicago. Cheap plastic shopping bags as far as the eye can see.