# When (and why) the fuck did checking out at a store become such a goddamned stupid ordeal. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 4, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803 "2013-04-04T04:07:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/1 "2013-04-04T04:07:51Z")
Egad I’m crabby! My wifes car had a flat tire this morning. I’m pretty sure it has a slow leak in the valve. Rather than going through the trouble of jacking up the car and such, I decided to get a can of Fix-a-Flat and drive the car to a Goodyear shop. So I go over to the local fucKMart. And it begins. First thing through the door some schlep is badgering people to sign up for their stupid store card. _“Collect a billion punkfaggot points and you can get a free duodenum lube job”._ Get away from me! And get a real job, wuss. I grab my can of Fix-a-Flat and get in line at the check out. Third in line. Shouldn’t take long, right? No, not right. But you know that. The checkout twat has to first interrogate customers as to if they have their stupid store card. If not, she goes into a spiel about how to get one. Yeah, we know. The little bitch at the door told us all about it. Then she has to point out the Snicker bars on the counter and explain how they have candy bars on sale 2 for 1. Yeah, we can fucking see them on the counter. Are you a checkout girl or a tour guide? Stop pointing shit out that’s right in front of our faces. Then before giving the final total, she asks if the customer wishes to donate to March of Dimes. Hey, don’t we all go to KMart to donate money? Why else would we go there? Then she asks if you want your receipt or if she should email it to you. What? “It’s better for the planet if we email it to you.” Yeah, well, for all I care the freaking world can end 2 seconds after I die because I’ll be done with it. Now give me my damn receipt. Oh, no. You don’t get a receipt. 4 slips get spit out. A receipt and 3 useless coupons for Grandpa Chow brand dog food. What the hell? You talk about being good for the planet and you print off multiple pieces of paper with the receipt? Huh? It should not take this long to buy one lousy item! Then on the way out some 'tard in a rentacop uniform says “hold it. I need to see your receipt”. HA! Good luck with that! ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/2 "2013-04-04T04:17:54Z")
Don’t take out your bad day on some poor minimum wage schlubs who are doing what they’re told to do by their employers and no doubt would get a “real job” if they could. And if you yourself have a “real job” then give a few pennies to the March of Dimes for cripes sake. I’ll agree with you on one thing. I do not give my email address out to stores. I already receive enough spam. They’re not trying to save the planet, they just want a way to advertise to you that is essentially free. That said, even that isn’t the employees’ fault. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/3 "2013-04-04T04:21:28Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Then on the way out some 'tard in a rentacop uniform says “hold it. I need to see your receipt”. HA! Good luck with that! And what if you had chosen the email option? Do they give out a paper slip verifying the sent email? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/4 "2013-04-04T04:23:09Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Don’t take out your bad day on some poor minimum wage schlubs who are doing what they’re told to do by their employers and no doubt would get a “real job” if they could. _ **“Would you like to sign up for our stupid card”** _ No thanks (keeps walking) _ **“C’mon, Just come over here and read how great this stupid card is. C’mon”** _ Since when does Kmart do the hard sell?😕 ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/5 "2013-04-04T04:32:35Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > _ **“Would you like to sign up for our stupid card”** _ > > No thanks (keeps walking) > > _ **“C’mon, Just come over here and read how great this stupid card is. C’mon”** _ > > Since when does Kmart do the hard sell?😕 Maybe they’re on commission? (Although I doubt that.) I do agree that it’s annoying, but I can’t really blame the poor schlub who’s forced to take such a job. ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/6 "2013-04-04T04:36:45Z")
Wow, you sound like a gigantic dick that gets worked up over nothing and takes it out on the wrong people. Good luck with that impending stress-induced heart attack. I’m sure we’ll all be pulling for you so we can see more enlightening posts of you calling people 'tards and faggots. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/7 "2013-04-04T04:40:34Z")
Sounds like an annoying trip to the store. BUT- > [@](#): > > some schlep > [@](#): > > wuss > [@](#): > > checkout twat > [@](#): > > little bitch at the door > [@](#): > > 'tard in a rentacop uniform[ Are _ **people** _, just like you. Employees, doing what they have been _trained_ to do, by their managers, per company policy. Believe it or not, they aren’t doing it just to piss _you_ off. They are doing it because their jobs are _very_ “real” to them, and they’d like to keep them and continue to have an income. I totally agree with you on the annoyance, stupidity and ridiculousness of it all, but I don’t think insulting people who are just trying to make a living is an appropriate reaction to being inconvenienced. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/8 "2013-04-04T04:40:54Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Egad I’m crabby! > > My wifes car had a flat tire this morning. I’m pretty sure it has a slow leak in the valve. Rather than going through the trouble of jacking up the car and such, I decided to get a can of Fix-a-Flat and drive the car to a Goodyear shop. > > So I go over to the local fucKMart. And it begins. > First thing through the door some schlep is badgering people to sign up for their stupid store card. _“Collect a billion punkfaggot points and you can get a free duodenum lube job”._ Get away from me! And get a real job, wuss. > > I grab my can of Fix-a-Flat and get in line at the check out. Third in line. Shouldn’t take long, right? No, not right. But you know that. The checkout twat has to first interrogate customers as to if they have their stupid store card. If not, she goes into a spiel about how to get one. Yeah, we know. The little bitch at the door told us all about it. > > Then she has to point out the Snicker bars on the counter and explain how they have candy bars on sale 2 for 1. Yeah, we can fucking see them on the counter. > Are you a checkout girl or a tour guide? Stop pointing shit out that’s right in front of our faces. > > Then before giving the final total, she asks if the customer wishes to donate to March of Dimes. Hey, don’t we all go to KMart to donate money? Why else would we go there? > > Then she asks if you want your receipt or if she should email it to you. What? > “It’s better for the planet if we email it to you.” Yeah, well, for all I care the freaking world can end 2 seconds after I die because I’ll be done with it. Now give me my damn receipt. Oh, no. You don’t get a receipt. 4 slips get spit out. A receipt and 3 useless coupons for Grandpa Chow brand dog food. What the hell? You talk about being good for the planet and you print off multiple pieces of paper with the receipt? Huh? > It should not take this long to buy one lousy item! > Then on the way out some 'tard in a rentacop uniform says “hold it. I need to see your receipt”. HA! Good luck with that! you are the unfunniest human being on god’s earth ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/9 "2013-04-04T04:43:08Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > Maybe they’re on commission? (Although I doubt that.) > > I do agree that it’s annoying, but I can’t really blame the poor schlub who’s forced to take such a job. They don’t get a commission, but they ARE supposed to meet quotas, and if they don’t, they get written up or fired. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/10 "2013-04-04T04:45:20Z")
Hey! I’m all in with the OP on this one. I was slightly inconvenienced today during a mundane chore also, and it was clearly the fault of people doing their job. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/11 "2013-04-04T04:48:23Z")
> [@nikonikosuru](#): > > we’ll all be pulling for you so we can see more enlightening posts of you calling people 'tards and faggots. I didn’t call anyone a faggot. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/12 "2013-04-04T04:52:10Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I didn’t call anyone a faggot. seriously, you’re like a Dennis Miller for ants or salamanders you’re that fucking unfunny ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/13 "2013-04-04T04:52:54Z")
I’ll gripe a little… American “brick and mortar” commerce hasn’t standardized yet, and I wish they would. Some places ask you whether you want a paper receipt or an e-receipt. Some places ask you to make this choice yourself on a little touch-screen. Some places will accept your phone number in lieu of their discount card. Some places make you enter the number yourself on a little touch-screen. They’re all different! I can’t remember which is which, and so I have to get reminded, every doggone time, what I’m supposed to do. STANDARDIZE, America! Get with it! And, yeah, **pkbites** , too mean-spirited. The poor clerks and checkers and cashiers and greeters probably don’t like the procedures any more than you do. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/14 "2013-04-04T04:55:18Z")
[QUOTE=pkbites;16161243 _“Collect a billion punkfaggot points and you can get a free duodenum lube job”._ [/QUOTE] > [@pkbites](#): > > I didn’t call anyone a faggot. Pretty close. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/15 "2013-04-04T04:56:48Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I didn’t call anyone a faggot. No, just “'tard”. That’s much better. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/16 "2013-04-04T04:59:14Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Pretty close. You are aware that punkfaggot is not a gay slur, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/17 "2013-04-04T05:00:57Z")
God, I feel sorry for people who have to work retail. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/18 "2013-04-04T05:08:24Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > You are aware that punkfaggot is not a gay slur, don’t you? Define it for us. Surely, at the very least, the etymology involves a gay slur. Or are you going to tell us that it’s derived from a British word for a cigarette or a bundle of sticks? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/19 "2013-04-04T05:12:53Z")
Does somebody need a hug? I’m surprised you weren’t also hit up by the salesperson that wanders the Kmart aisles selling new insulated windows installation. Our local Kmart just closed down. I kind of miss them. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/20 "2013-04-04T05:14:20Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > You are aware that punkfaggot is not a gay slur, don’t you? Of course it isn’t. It’s a delicious ice cream topping! You stupid fool. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803.md?page=2)