Ever wonder why that cashier is in a bad mood while you’re waiting to be checked out at the grocery store?  Do you think maybe it was something you did?  Or perhaps the customer in front of you did?  Or maybe they’re just having a bad day?  Do you want to have a pleasant experience while checking out at a grocery store?  Have you ever wondered if that cashier is thinking something about you?  Here are some common insights from a real cashier and most of these insights relate to all cashiers.  It’s the truth about what goes through most cashiers’ minds.

I am able to write this because I was once a cashier.  I was promoted to the customer service desk, but I still understand the frustrations that come along with being a cashier.  I’m going to tell you the main things that go though my head, as well as most other cashiers.  It is the honest, yet sometimes ugly, truth behind cashiers and customers.  Who knows; after reading this, maybe you won’t give that cashier such a hard time, or if you’re not that type of person, maybe you will just gain insight and understand cashiers better. Some of you might find this a bit humorous and end entertaining because you know what it’s like working in a retail environment. Sadly, while working in a retail environment, you get to see first-hand just how nasty some people can be. Again, this doesn’t go for everybody. I’ve met a lot of really great people who have turned my bad day into a good day just by saying something as simple as “Hang in there.”

Note: These are not listed in any type of order.  These are also written as though they are coming directly from a cashier’s point of view which is why I use the words “us”, “we”, “I”, “me”, “you”, etc.  Also, I know there are some really great people out there who haven’t done anything on this list to any cashier in their entire life, so please don’t take any offense to anything on here.  I’m not saying all cashiers feel this way, I’m saying most cashiers think this way.  I’m also not saying all customers act this way, because I know only some customers act this way.  The intention of this blog is not to make customers look bad; it is simply just to give people an insight on what goes on in the grocery store from a cashier’s point of view.

1. Never take your frustrations out on us if we weren’t the cause of it.  How would you like it if I randomly started giving you an attitude just because I was having a bad day?  Although I will admit, I have witnessed some cashiers give customers attitude just because the cashier was having a bad day.  I guess some people can control it and others can’t, but that’s not an excuse to not try to contain it.  You’re in public for goodness sakes.
2. It is considered rude to not empty your handheld basket and instead, you just set it on the belt and expect us to empty it.  Believe it or not, it will actually help you get out of the store faster if you just weren’t lazy and emptied the basket yourself because we have to reach in and pull stuff out instead of normally just reaching out and scanning the item right away.
3. If you want us to load up the groceries into your cart for you; just ask us politely!  Yes!  It’s that simple.  Key word politely.  Most grocery stores that I’ve been to don’t require the cashier to load up your cart/basket for you and you are supposed to do it.  The way we look at it is, you certainly didn’t have any problem getting the items off the shelf and into your cart, so why at checkout do you have issues putting bags full of those items into your cart?  If you can’t load them up into your cart, then how are you going to get them into and out of your car without any help?  I once had an elderly woman give me incredible attitude because I did not load up her cart.  I didn’t even know she wanted her cart loaded up by me until after she already gave me attitude.  I didn’t say anything to her, I just started helping her put her groceries in her cart and then that’s when she said to me “Oh don’t even worry about it.  It’s too late now!” when she only got one of her bags into her cart.  So not only did she give me attitude after I didn’t know I had to load her groceries into her cart, but after I started helping her, she then refused my help.  If you’re going to complain about one something, then don’t complain when I try to help you with it.
4. Treat me with respect and I will treat you with respect.  Treat me with kindness and I will treat you with kindness.  Treat me like garbage, well then don’t expect any good treatment from me.  Always remember, I am God over your entire grocery order.  I have the power to smash your bread, break your eggs, bruise your produce items, and still make it look like an accident.  I also only get paid to be a cashier, not to be your emotional punching bag because of whatever is wrong in your life.
5. Yelling at me won’t solve anything.  It might make you feel better for whatever reason, but I will just have to call my manager over and get them involved.
6. It’s considered rude to be on your phone during checkout.  I, personally, don’t care if you’re on your phone if I’m taking care of another customer; but when I’m taking care of you, then I do consider it rude if you’re still on your phone.
7. Please be considerate about giving us cash.  We don’t really enjoy taking money from you that’s been in your bra, mouth, or a sweaty pants pocket.  They have this wonderful thing called a “wallet”, please get one.
8. Always remember, plastic bags are usually easier and faster for us to pack than paper and the reusable bags.  If you want to help the planet, that’s fine, just don’t get upset if we’re not going as fast as we normally would if we were packing your items in plastic.
9. We secretly get really aggravated, frustrated, P.O.’d, etc. if you use your Foodstamps for really expensive foods that you don’t need such as seafood.  I can’t afford crab every month, but you don’t see me using other people’s money for it.
10. We also get really mad when you use the cash side of your Foodstamps to purchase tobacco products and/or stuff you don’t need.  I don’t work this hard to support your bad habit.
11. It makes you look really bad when you come into a grocery store with your hair done, your nails done, a fancy smartphone, and a Louie Vatton/Coach/Gucci bag, yet you’re on Foodstamps.  Funny how that stuff works isn’t it?  If you do this then you’re just as bad as the people who purchase cigarettes with the cash portion of their Foodstamps.
12. Please do not tell me what I should do with my life.  Yes, believe it or not I’ve had people tell me what color to dye my hair, what makeup I should wear to make myself look better, etc.
13. If you don’t know how to use a self-scan register, then don’t go to one. It will be less frustrating and probably less of a wait for you to just wait in line with a normal cashier.

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