# Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Let's do it again! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [October 23, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193 "2019-10-23T21:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 265
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5284 "2022-08-18T11:36:11Z")
Does this have to do with employee/guest interaction? If so, is Tuesday easier because people talk about Monday Night Football? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5285 "2022-08-18T11:52:41Z")
reply to dirtball: Is this task something the cashiers are supposed to do in regard to each and every customer they ring up without exception? Almost without exception. For the purposes of this puzzle: Yes. If not, does the decision to perform the task depend on what item(s) is/are being purchased? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5286 "2022-08-18T11:55:08Z")
reply to kitap: Does this have to do with employee/guest interaction? Yes. If so, is Tuesday easier because people talk about Monday Night Football? No. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5287 "2022-08-18T11:56:35Z")
Is this happening in the present day, or is it set in the past? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5288 "2022-08-18T11:58:49Z")
reply to Cheesesteak: Is this happening in the present day, or is it set in the past? Present. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5290 "2022-08-18T12:16:12Z")
Is the employee asked to say something specific to each customer? Is this related in any way to receipt handling? Bagging of groceries? Manner of scanning or ringing up purchases? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5291 "2022-08-18T12:16:13Z")
reply to grahamsnumber: Is it anything do do with how calendars are printed? No. Is it anything to do with the word “Tuesday” itself? No. This is not one of those “the horse’s name is Tuesday” type puzzles. No wordplay trickery. It is straightforward. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5292 "2022-08-18T12:18:34Z")
reply to Cheesesteak: Is the employee asked to say something specific to each customer? Yes. Is this related in any way to receipt handling? No. Bagging of groceries? No. Manner of scanning or ringing up purchases? No. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5294 "2022-08-18T12:27:50Z")
This thing the cashiers are supposed to say: Are they asking the customer a question? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5295 "2022-08-18T12:36:10Z")
reply to dirtball: This thing the cashiers are supposed to say: Are they asking the customer a question? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5296 "2022-08-18T12:38:26Z")
Are they supposed to say the thing because … – It improves the shopping experience for the customer, even if they don’t actively notice it? – It nudges the customer’s behavior in some desirable way (e.g., preventing shoplifting)? – It gives the store valuable information? – It causes the store to sell more of an item? Would it help to know when the store instituted this requirement? Is COVID-19 relevant in any way? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5297 "2022-08-18T12:44:20Z")
reply to Fretful\_Porpentine: Are they supposed to say the thing because … – It improves the shopping experience for the customer, even if they don’t actively notice it? No. – It nudges the customer’s behavior in some desirable way (e.g., preventing shoplifting)? No. – It gives the store valuable information? No. – It causes the store to sell more of an item? No. Would it help to know when the store instituted this requirement? No. Is COVID-19 relevant in any way? No. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5298 "2022-08-18T12:46:23Z")
Does the answer involve another language, like Spanish, or sign language? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5299 "2022-08-18T12:47:45Z")
reply to Isamu: Does the answer involve another language, like Spanish, or sign language? No. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5300 "2022-08-18T12:48:43Z")
Are there certain customers who arrive in greater numbers on Tuesday than any other day? Are they seniors? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5301 "2022-08-18T12:50:16Z")
reply to Cheesesteak: Are there certain customers who arrive in greater numbers on Tuesday than any other day? Yes. Are they seniors? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5302 "2022-08-18T12:57:33Z")
Does the question help categorize certain customers for purposes of the store’s own record keeping? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5303 "2022-08-18T13:04:25Z")
reply to dirtball: Does the question help categorize certain customers for purposes of the store’s own record keeping? No. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5304 "2022-08-18T13:09:21Z")
Are the cashiers required to ask the customers if they want any help packing their shopping & loading it in their car ? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193/5305 "2022-08-18T13:14:59Z")
reply to pjd: Are the cashiers required to ask the customers if they want any help packing their shopping & loading it in their car ? Not relevant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=264) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-lets-do-it-again/842193.md?page=266)