Even though I don't work at Winn Dixie anymore, I like this page so much that I'm going to keep it around. Besides, me not working there doesn't mean that this stuff doesn't piss off the cashiers anymore. So, if you want to aviod being talked about and laughed at when you leave, please don't do the things I've listed below. So, in no particular order, here they are:
1. Please don't set your little hand basket on the belt and not unload it. Yeah, okay, we're your slaves, and of course we'll unload your baskets for you. Anything else, Master? Shall we lick your shoes clean? Please unload your own baskets.
2. Do not take our pens without asking. We don't mind letting you use our pens. In fact, we keep them there for that reason, pretty much. Just ask, don't just snatch it from our registers. It is very rude, and it really pisses us off. Ask, and we'll be glad to lend it to you.
3. Don't blame us for wrong prices. We don't put the prices in the computer, and we aren't responsible for wrong prices. Don't get all up in our faces, because we aren't trying to overcharge you, it's just a computer mess up. And of course, you don't complain when the prices are less than they're supposed to be, so I guess it really evens out, doesn't it.
4. Don't come in our lines, buy a bunch of stuff, and then make us take off half of it because you don't have enough money. When we take something off, it's called a void, and we get in trouble if we have too many. We don't mind doing subtotals to check the amount, so please, ask for that instead of making us ring it up, and then take it off.
5. Please, please, please, help bag your own groceries. More often then not, there are more cashiers than baggers, and that means we often have to bag the groceries ourselves. When we do that, it forces the other people in line to wait longer, and if that were you, then you would be pretty pissed. Trust me, it's not that hard, and I know you aren't too good to bag your own freaking stuff. It really pisses me off when people just stand there, letting the stuff build up, and don't help. Hello! You are not too good to bag your own stuff. Make it easier on all of us and help.
6. Speaking of bagging your own groceries, did you know that there is a little bag thingie hanging off the counter on your side of the counter? Well, there is! It's there for the baggers benefit, as well as your own. Now, if you do decide to bag your own groceries, thank you very much, we really do appreciate it, but use the bag thingie on your side of the counter!! It slows us down a lot when you're trying to bag your own groceries using our thingie. Not only are we faster than you, but we're better at it than you are, and you're only getting in our way. We really do appreciate it when you try to bag your own groceries, but it doesn't work very well if we're both trying to use the same thing at the same time.
7. If something doesn't ring up or scan, please don't say "It must be free.", because it's not, and it makes me want to charge you double. It is most certainly not free, it's just either a messed up barcode, or a computer glitch, so please don't say it.
8. Especially don't say, "You look bored/lonely, so I'll keep you busy." We definitely are not lonely or bored! We enjoy breaks, every now and then, just like everyone else, and it really, really pisses us off when people say that, so don't.
9. We're not human, of course, so naturally you don't have to hand the money to us. Feel free to just toss it on the belt or the scanner. I really hate it when people don't hand me the money. I understand if I'm busy, like bagging your groceries, but if I'm standing right there, be polite and hand me the money. Please.
10. Did you know that there are little lights that say "open" above our registers? No? I didn't think so. You see, when that light is on, it means we are open and accepting customers. When it's off, it means we are not accepting customers, so please don't come in. We have things we need to do, like pick ups, and getting more money, or going home. And no, we can't take "just one more person", because if we do, more people will get in line. It is especially frustrating when we're ready to go home and people keep coming. Please note the light, and at least ask before coming through our lines. Thank you.
11. When you buy produce, some things are done "by each", which is per item, and some is done by "tare", where we weigh it. It really sucks when you have by each and tare mixed in, because we have to go through all the trouble of separating it, weighing the tare, then putting it back in the bag. Also, it's a pain when you have differnt types of tare in with each other, because usually it's a different price. The way you can tell if it's tare or by each is on the sign with the price on it. It will each say "each" or "lb." PLease try to help out a bit here. And it doesn't help at all to tell us it's "$2.98 a pound" because we'd still have to look it up and type it in.
12. When you swipe your ATM card, we know we have to push the button. Usually we have to wait on you to put your info in, but sometimes we're trying to bag your groceries so you can get out of there faster, and we don't need a very rude "It's waiting for the cashier." to get our attention. We know what we have to do, thank you. We're just trying to get you out faster, after all. Excuse us for bagging your groceries while we wait for you. A polite "It's waiting for you." will quite suffice.
13. Our registers get dirty. We'll admit it. Just think of all the stuff that comes through. Onions that leave the peels, chicken and beef that drip blood all over, leaky milk and flour, charcoal. It all leaves a mess on our registers. We do our best to keep it clean, but sometimes it's really hard, like when you have 4 customers waiting in your line. Usually we'll wait until we're not busy to clean it, and if a customer comes in while we're cleaning, they'll usually wait the two seconds it takes to finish. That's great, and we really appreciate it. After all, you don't get all that junk on your stuff, right? Well, I was cleaning my register one day, and I had just sprayed the belt and was about to wipe it off, and this guy comes in, and just sets his basket down, where I was spraying and just about takes my hand off with the basket. I was like hello, I'm cleaning here. I told him it would only take a second to wipe it off, and he said, very rudely, "I don't care". Well, I do! I'm trying to clean, and you just waltz in my line and just about crush my hand! And he didn't unload his basket, which is another No-No. I was this close from asking him to leave my line, but I didn't because, after all, the customer is always right. Except when they are wrong, which is more often than not. What a freakin' jerk!
14. Parents, I know you like to push your kids around in the baskets. It's a lot easier than having them tag along after you and knock stuff down. But when you're checking out, could you please remove them from the bottom half of the buggy? The baggers are really hesitant about putting groceries in with kids, and we don't want to get yelled at by you, squash your groceries, or hurt your kids. Just make it easier all around and take them out or put them in the top part. Thanks!
15. We appreciate exact change. It really helps make our job easier, because then we don't have to count out the change. But if you hold up our lines for ten minutes digging for change, you'd damn well better have it. It really gets me when people dig in their pockets for a while, and then say they don't have the change. I mean, shouldn't you know if you do or don't? And how long does it take to reach in your pocket, pull out the change, and see if you have it or not? Like a couple of seconds, people! Sheesh!
16. If there's something in front of our register blocking it off, usually it means you aren't supposed to come in. I've had people walk right around it, and start setting their stuff on the belt. I was like, hello what are you doing? I think that's there for a reason. I told them I was closed, and they got all pissy. Well, excuse me for not waiting on you hand and foot. What makes you so special that I should take you, and not everyone else waiting in the lines? Nothing, I should think, unless you're related or something. If it's blocked, that means stay out...including you!
17. Okay. Many people use ATM/Debit cards to pay for their orders. And sometimes, people get cash back. And it's really freaking annoying when people get 100 dollars cash back, and we don't have it. It'd be great if you told us you were getting cash back, and how much. I absolutely adore customers who do. And it works out for you, too, since you won't be getting quarters if we don't have enough. WTGoddess writes: People who say you have a piss poor attitude, when you are very friendly. I agree. Sometimes, when you've been very cheerful and helpful and nice, a customer has just been so damned annoying that it takes all the willpower you have not to blow up at them. And then they get even more pissy, and you just want to cry because you've done your best and they were being really CENSORED rude. PiXieGirl19 writes: That thing on your website about cashiers is so funny..I'm a cashier at winndixie too..and you know what is really, really annoying? The foodstamp people who buy 200 dollars worth of groceries and then don't have any money on their foodstamp cards, so we have to put it all back. Oh, my God that is so annoying! Especially when the person in question has a cell phone, namebrand clothes(like Tommy Hilfiger), and gold jewelry. I mean, hello!? Obviously, if they can afford a cell phone, expensive clothes, and gold jewelry, you'd think they could pay for some food!! It makes absolutely no sense!(I apologize to any people out there that I've offended, especially those who truly need the foodstamps, but there are some people out there who take shameless advantage of that system who ought to be dragged into the street and shot. And YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!) Sheanbean3 writes: Hey kid, sup? Neat website. I may not work at Winn Dixie, but I am on a cash register for 6 hours every Saturday DURING lunch hour at the mall. I work at Chik-Fil-A, for those of you that know me. It's not a fun job. I've worked there for about 7 months now. See, I'm 15, and when you're 15, register is the only thing you can do, which sucks. Some customers are rude, others are friendly. One of the things I hate is when they'll say, "Dont work too hard". Deletions is a big pet peeve of mine, too. Just like voids, we get in trouble if too many. I don't see how people can't tell the difference between a #1 and a #6. ITS THE SAME FRICKIN THING! #6 JUST COMES WITH COLESLAW! JESUS! Same thing with #5 and #8, and #2 and #7. JUST COLESLAW PEOPLE. ITS RIGHT THERE IN BIG RED LETTERS. Another thing is when they ask how big the nuggets or strips are. Yeah, like we sit there and measure every single one just for you. And when people bring up half-eaten food saying that they wanted another one for various reasons, riiiight. Can we say mooch? Well, thats about all for now. If anymore, I'll be sure to write ya, ok Audrey? Laterz.
*~SHEENA~* I know, right! I totally agree with you, Sheena. When people say, "Don't work too hard", I just want to slap them. Yeah, okay, I'll try not do my job, but only if you promise not to work too hard sitting on your freaking butt, ya lazy jerk!! And Sheena, I think people must be blind or something, if they miss the blinding red letters. Maybe they're just stupid. And I know people that do junk like taking food back cause they're jerks trying to get more than what they paid for(remember the pantomime?). People have come into Winn Dixie with junk from other stores and receipts from like May of last year and try to get money back. Some lady even ripped the date off the receipt so we wouldn't know how old the receipt really was! Some people just ain't right. Think of some more stuff and send it in, Sheena, I love hearing other people's complaints about stupid customers! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! Blinky062784 writes: Hey Lil Jim!! Thought of somethin for your cashier page. There was this lady in a Publix or Winn Dixie or someplace like that where there was a buy one get one free sale going on. Well, she was in the line arguing with the cashier when I walked up and the first thing I heard was the poor cashier trying to explain to the woman how a sale like that works. The woman, on the other hand, kept exclaiming, "But I'm just getting the free one!" Finally, the manager came over to see what the commotion was about and then he spent probably like 15 minutes trying to tell the woman how a buy one get one free sale works! Sheesh! I admire all of you cashiers out there cause you put up with more crap than I could! Hey, by the way, Sheena, I loved your observation about the coleslaw! I totally agree. Se ya later Lil Jim!
Pi Pika Chu,
Big Jess
Thank you, Big Jess! I'm glad at least someone appreciates us cashiers! And see, people, what kind of idiots we get in our lines? My friend Brian once said something worth repeating: "Cashiers don't want you to talk, they just want you to flow like water through their lines." That is the best way I've ever heard it said. So do it! Thanks! We love you customers. In fact, most of them are just great, and I have no problem with them. There's just those certain few, though, that can drive us mad! Just follow the guidelines above, and I know it's not that much trouble, and you'll be a perfect customer! That's all I can think of right now, but trust me, I have plenty of complaints about people. I'm just too tired to think right now. If you have something that bugs you about grocery stores(or restaruants) and the customers, Email me, and I'll post it up. Thanks!