# Cashier Confidentiality: How Would You Feel About This **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 24, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239 "2010-12-24T00:36:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/81 "2011-01-03T21:40:44Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Professional discretion at minimium wage and no benefits? Yeah, right. When cashiers are paid on the same level as professionals in health or law, you might have a case. However, as things stand adequate customer service is getting your order right and giving the correct change. What does wage have to do with anything? I would expect any employee at any pay grade to act with at least minimal professionalism, and that includes not gossiping about other customers. And I would tend to avoid stores where a no-gossip policy in not in place. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/82 "2011-01-03T21:53:05Z")
So has the OP woken up from his Christmasy drunken stupor yet? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/83 "2011-01-03T21:58:55Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > What does wage have to do with anything? I would expect any employee at any pay grade to act with at least minimal professionalism, and that includes not gossiping about other customers. As has been mentioned earlier though, many (most?) people don’t consider that sort of thing “Gossiping”. > [@](#): > > And I would tend to avoid stores where a no-gossip policy in not in place. So would the staff. Retail is difficult and unpleasant enough at the best of times without arbitrary “Rules” (that will never be enforced until they want to fire someone). ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/84 "2011-01-03T22:43:10Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > But for the eighteen year-old minimum wage slave behind the counter at the local liquor store or convenience store? Just be glad they’re not taking your photo to later send to their buddies as examples of their lame customers. No need. The store probably already has security cameras installed, with at least one pointed at the checkout counter, to get a good shot of the customers face. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/85 "2011-01-03T22:55:42Z")
I’m still waiting to hear what the OP was buying that automatically branded him an alcoholic. Antabuse? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/86 "2011-01-03T23:01:52Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > As has been mentioned earlier though, many (most?) people don’t consider that sort of thing “Gossiping”. There are many who do. Whose opinions should a responsible store owner take more seriously? > [@](#): > > So would the staff. Retail is difficult and unpleasant enough at the best of times without arbitrary “Rules” (that will never be enforced until they want to fire someone). I don’t see anything arbitrary about it. The medical profession certainly doesn’t consider it arbitrary. And yes, retail can be painful, but I really don’t think forbidding clerks from disclosing information about other customers makes it unbearable. Seriously, do you think that such a rule is going to make the work day impossible to deal with? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/87 "2011-01-04T07:59:01Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > There are many who do. Whose opinions should a responsible store owner take more seriously? Mine, naturally. 😃 Seriously though: The opinions held by the vast majority of the community, whatever those may be. > [@](#): > > I don’t see anything arbitrary about it. The medical profession certainly doesn’t consider it arbitrary. And yes, retail can be painful, but I really don’t think forbidding clerks from disclosing information about other customers makes it unbearable. Seriously, do you think that such a rule is going to make the work day impossible to deal with? You’ve never worked in low- or mid-level retail for any appreciable length of time, have you? Most shop staff- myself included- have no burning desire to go around saying “Hey, Fred Bloggs was in here earlier buying a dozen widgets for like the third time this week. Gotta wonder what a married man is doing with all those widgets…” As someone mentioned upthread, there’s no real difference between a cashier saying “Mr. Bloggs was in here buying widgets again” to someone who knows Mr. Bloggs at the register, and someone standing in line who knows Mr. Bloggs seeing him buying those widgets and sending a text/phone call to their friends saying “Fred’s at the store buying Widgets again… wonder what he’s up to?” The point is, a “Cashier-Customer Privilege” rule being implemented at a store is exactly the sort of “Rule” that gets completely ignored until they need to get rid of someone. And those sort of places are not generally the sort of places people want to work if they’ve got a choice in the matter. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/88 "2011-01-04T12:23:23Z")
Back in the 19th century discussing neighbours’ purchasing habits was prolly the only way a cashier in a village store could get through those 12-hour work days without killing one of them. No Ipods, no TV, no internet: just the same damn faces every day. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/89 "2011-01-04T12:49:20Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > As someone mentioned upthread, there’s no real difference between a cashier saying “Mr. Bloggs was in here buying widgets again” to someone who knows Mr. Bloggs at the register, and someone standing in line who knows Mr. Bloggs seeing him buying those widgets and sending a text/phone call to their friends saying “Fred’s at the store buying Widgets again… wonder what he’s up to?” Except that the cashier has taken away Mr. Bloggs’ power to determine who knows what. Maybe not every person in the store, but the one he really doesn’t want to know about the widget purchase. If Mr. Bloggs sees Mr. Enfield in the store and, for whatever personal reason, doesn’t want Mr. Enfield to know he’s in the widget market, he can choose to leave empty handed or pick up something else and come back for widgets later. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/90 "2011-01-04T13:09:39Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Except that the cashier has taken away Mr. Bloggs’ power to determine who knows what. Maybe not every person in the store, but the one he really doesn’t want to know about the widget purchase. If Mr. Bloggs sees Mr. Enfield in the store and, for whatever personal reason, doesn’t want Mr. Enfield to know he’s in the widget market, he can choose to leave empty handed or pick up something else and come back for widgets later. As has been mentioned, this sort of thing is really only an issue in small communities (at least IME)- and as has also been mentioned, the solution in these situations is for Mr. Bloggs to travel outside the community for his widget purchases if possible. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/91 "2011-01-04T13:57:05Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Mine, naturally. 😃 > > Seriously though: The opinions held by the vast majority of the community, whatever those may be. OK, good. Let’s say that 75% of customers don’t care, and 25% do. If you’re going to be the kind of business owner who’s willing to give up 25% of your business so that you can allow your employees to be unprofessional, then more power to you. But don’t expect me to be one of your shareholders. > [@](#): > > You’ve never worked in low- or mid-level retail for any appreciable length of time, have you? HAH! > [@](#): > > Most shop staff- myself included- have no burning desire to go around saying “Hey, Fred Bloggs was in here earlier buying a dozen widgets for like the third time this week. Gotta wonder what a married man is doing with all those widgets…” Neither have I. Why are you arguing for that burning desire? Why are you championing unprofessional behavior? ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/92 "2011-01-04T16:50:58Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > It’s not about the pay scale. It’s about being circumspect enough to forgo blabbing about other people’s business when there’s no compelling reason to do so. It falls under the areas of common sense and good manners. If common sense, good manners, or any of the other civic virtues are an issue, the customer shouldn’t be shopping at a place that doesn’t pay a living wage to begin with. Seriously loss of privacy is one of the trade-offs we make for the cheap retail labor. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/93 "2011-01-04T17:31:10Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > If common sense, good manners, or any of the other civic virtues are an issue, the customer shouldn’t be shopping at a place that doesn’t pay a living wage to begin with. Seriously loss of privacy is one of the trade-offs we make for the cheap retail labor. Seriously? Are there stores around you that actually pay a living wage? And are you really saying that - in this job market, no less - there’s no one with common sense and good manners available for hire at minimum wage? I’ve worked more than my share of low-paying jobs, and I was always as courteous and professional as possible, as were the vast majority of my coworkers. ETA: And yes, I would have considered it inappropriate to tell one customer about another’s purchases. I might go so far as to mention that I had seen A’s friend B there recently, but I’ve seen even that kind of comment go awry: “On Friday, you say? He told _me_ he was out of town!” ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/94 "2011-01-04T17:34:24Z")
Gossip. Follow the three rules when you feel the need to say something: Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it kind? If you can fulfill two out of the three, go for it. Otherwise, why do you need to open your mouth? I think the world would be a lot better if gossipers quit their busybody ways. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/95 "2011-01-04T17:43:37Z")
> [@otternell](#): > > I had this happen at a hotel: was in town for a funeral, and I didn’t say anything to the hotel clerk about that, since it isn’t any of their business. But they offered the hot tub suite, and I figured “F - it, I’m here anyway, might as well relax in the tub after the day is over.” > > So then, my dad checks into the hotel (only one in town) asks if I’ve checked in, the clerk says “yup, into the hot tub suite 110”. Fuckers. > > That was very awkward. The hot tub went unused, as I felt like an asshole at that point. Thanks hotel clerk - I’ll always remember you. When I lived in small town I remember calling directory asistance to get a phone number for one of my teachers. I asked for the guy’s number and the operator said " Michael’s not home right now, he’s at the football game with Alan"…it turned out the operator was Alan’s wife. Small town stuff, classic ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/96 "2011-01-04T17:55:25Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > As has been mentioned, this sort of thing is really only an issue in small communities (at least IME)- and as has also been mentioned, the solution in these situations is for Mr. Bloggs to travel outside the community for his widget purchases if possible. Really??..I live in New York City and sometimes it weirds me out how much the local store clerks know about my purchasing habits…at my corner store the guy behind the counter knows everything I buy and will comment on it. ( only a half-gallon of milk today,miss ( I usually bought the gallon size )…no paper today, miss ???..we’re out of the Caramel Cone ice cream but I should have it tomorrow… On the other hand, they use this knowledge to stock the store and they always attempt to stock my favorite ice cream flavors ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/97 "2011-01-04T18:19:01Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Gossip. Follow the three rules when you feel the need to say something: > > Is it true? > Is it helpful? > Is it kind? > > If you can fulfill two out of the three, go for it. Otherwise, why do you need to open your mouth? I think the world would be a lot better if gossipers quit their busybody ways. Preach it! When I worked a crappy minimum wage retail job, I always had things to talk about with my customers. And of all those things, not one of them was another customer. And this was in a fairly small town, where I was a clerk in one of the three convenience stores. I knew exactly what brand of cigarettes certain customer’s purchased (well, eventually) and knew about what time they would be in to buy them. There’s plenty of shit to talk about without talking about a single other person. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/98 "2011-01-04T18:20:22Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Seriously? Are there stores around you that actually pay a living wage? And are you really saying that - in this job market, no less - there’s no one with common sense and good manners available for hire at minimum wage? I’ve worked more than my share of low-paying jobs, and I was always as courteous and professional as possible, as were the vast majority of my coworkers. > > ETA: And yes, I would have considered it inappropriate to tell one customer about another’s purchases. I might go so far as to mention that I had seen A’s friend B there recently, but I’ve seen even that kind of comment go awry: “On Friday, you say? He told _me_ he was out of town!” I live in an urban area with a few million inhabitants and even more people that either come in from the suburbs to shop or order to be delivered. There are some high end stores that do pay living wages. The cost of which is passed on to the customer in the form of higher prices (of cost the advertising budget for the products adds even more to the cost). I always tell people if they are that concerned about retail staff gossipping about them they are always free to go to those high-end places where the staff is required to sign confidentiality agreements and pay $150.00 plus for face cream and $25.00 for air freshener, otherwise, stop complaining. Retail work is low wage, no benefit crappy work, so don’t complain about what the staff does to make clocking in everyday bearable. ---
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/99 "2011-01-05T02:50:16Z")
I fail to see how much one makes an hour has to do with basic good manners. One has absolutely nothing to do with the other. I worked at a small town Library for 25 years, not making a living wage. If just once I had said to Mrs. B that Mrs. A was in to checkout yet another diet book my butt would have been out the door, as it should have. I was paid to do a job not tattle on all my customers. ---
**Author:** ![bubba\_jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@bubba\_jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubba_jr)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239/100 "2011-01-05T03:57:04Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Mrs. Smith: Did he have a red jacket on? > WhyNot: Oh, dear… WhyNot, I don’t think you did anything wrong, you were just making friendly conversation. I’m sure Mr. Smith would thank you, I’m sure he was trying to figure out why there was no more chrome on his trailer hitch. I think you caught Mrs. Smith by surprise, but not in a bad way. Back to the OP, if the conversation was “Hey your drunken slut friend was just here buying her daily gallon of vodka and a tube of Asstrolube” That’s wrong. If it was “I just saw your friend grabbing a 6 pack”. That was just friendly conversation and recognition of a customer, that’s different, and something I kind of appreciate, something I would actually want in an employee. (maybe leave out the 6 pack part, but they are a cash register jockey, not a social worker) My worst cashier experience. Spent the whole night on the throne. Bad BAD!!! food poisoning. Bought 3 refill packs of asswipes, Pepto, and 6 bottles of gatorade at 5am at the Walgreen’s, and the half awake girl at the counter asked me how my morning was. I just waved my hands over my purchases and asked “how do you think I feel”?. She said. “Ohhh.. I’m sorry”. She was on autopilot. It was 5am. It would have been funny if I had felt better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashier-confidentiality-how-would-you-feel-about-this/565239.md?page=6)