# Why do some cashiers ask WHY you're buying something? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 16, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601 "2003-05-16T03:28:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/41 "2003-05-16T15:42:57Z")
Nosy store employees make the sores on my genitals weep. Thank you for that **Mangetout**. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/42 "2003-05-16T15:50:21Z")
And THIS is exactly why when my ex went to buy condoms he went ALONE. The last thing either of us wanted was a cashier making comments about said items. (I could see one going off on him for molestation or something, since I look considerably younger than I am, and he was a good bit older than me.) ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/43 "2003-05-16T15:59:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ferret Herder \* > \*\*Does that work better than that Nad’s sugaring stuff? That took off maybe half the hair, plus it attracted ants to my bathroom because I could never seem to clean up all of the little drips of the product. From what I can tell, this wax “worked”, as the hair is definitely gone once I managed to remove the wax. > \*\* The Nair you heat up in the microwave and roll on–so much less mess! And it used to taste good, too (much like Nad’s), but they’ve changed the formula and made it all perfumey–blecch! 😉 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/44 "2003-05-16T16:01:19Z")
I’ve never had any judgemental comments from any cashier, but I did have one look at a product I was buying and ask “Is this any good?” Well, no, actually it’s crap, but I have more money than God and I have to spend it on something. :rolleyes: In reality, I had no idea - I was trying it for the first time, and I told her so. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/45 "2003-05-16T16:07:06Z")
See, that one’s not so bad, **FCM**. I’ve had customers ask me that while I was waiting on them: “Is this Dances with Fishes movie any good? I’m getting it for my brothers bar mitzvah.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/46 "2003-05-16T16:13:59Z")
A: It isn’t for me; I’m buying it for a “friend”. _(remember to make that annoying “quote” gesture)_ A: I don’t actually have any firm plans at present, perhaps you could suggest something? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/47 "2003-05-16T16:14:19Z")
**dantheman** - Yeah, I know it wasn’t that bad, but it struck me as odd. Obviously I felt the product had some value since I was buying it. But it might have been her way of expressing “I need to remember this - I think it’s something I’d like to buy myself.” I’m not particularly confrontational with strangers, so chances are if someone made a rude comment about what I was buying, I’d probably just look at them and not say anything. Scathing silence, you know. ---
**Author:** ![stevephillips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@stevephillips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stevephillips)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/48 "2003-05-16T16:18:00Z")
I went into a nation wide chain book store once and asked if they had the book, “And the Band Played On.” (It’s a history of the AIDS epidemic.) The clerk said, “Isn’t that a homosexual book?” Me, "Well its about AIDS . . . " Clerk (interrupting), “We don’t sell those kinds of books here; we aren’t that kind of store.” Apparently she thought it was a how-to manual or something. I was so stunned that I couldn’t even think of something witty to say. I’m sure they had the book, but I wasn’t going to buy it from them at that point. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/49 "2003-05-16T16:21:10Z")
I’m sorry, but that behavior should be reported, for the rudeness which she obviously wasn’t trained to do, the attitude she gave your husband, and the homophobia you say might be behind her words. That store could lose customers over this twat - report the bitch. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/50 "2003-05-16T16:21:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by quietman1920 \* > \*\*That’s only 6; Steve Martin did 20. Here’s some help: > > **Seductive** > > A: What did you have in mind? > > **Very Paranoid** > > A: Why?! What did the Pharmacist tell you!? > > **Handy** > > A: My door squeaks & Home Depot is closed. > > **Scary** > > A: My wife was hoping you’d ask. What time do you get off work? > > **Stupid** > > A: You haven’t eaten Szechuan Double Cooked Pork have you? > > **Educational** > > I’m a mathematician. By the way, you’re out of pencils… > > **Prankster** > > A: I’m putting it in my roomate’s shoe. Sssssh!!! > > **Parental** > > A: They sure make those thermometers Big these days… > > **Beauty Queen** > > A: Why, make my smile Last, Sugar… > > **Rainman** > > A: Put it on my sandwich with Peanut butter. Got to have peanut butter & jelly on Fridays… > > **Good Samaritan** > > A:I’m buying it for some under-age kids outside. > > **Sick** > > A: I just LOVE the smell… > > **Dick Van Dyke** > > A: Do you know a better way to get a toe out of a bathtub faucet…? > > **911** > > A: Under Megan’s Law, this is the closest I can come… \*\* FTR, Steve Martin did a lot more than 20 in that movie, count them some time. My feeling is that if they’re going to be that rude to you, you might as well blow them out of the water. If it wasn’t a good bet that the police would be called, I’d probobly respond “well, I need LUBRICATION to FUCK little CHILDREN up the ASS!” That outta shut them up. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/51 "2003-05-16T16:23:57Z")
I find it best to just say “None of your fucking business” in a very soft voice. Followed by “Boy, am I gonna have fun on the Internet tonight.” ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/52 "2003-05-16T16:24:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duke \* > \*\*But, having worked as a cashier, there were times when I was sorely tempted to ask why a customer was getting something. Like the time one lady came through with 40 packets of instant gravy. Each packet made two liters of gravy. How many people would that feed–about 400? \*\* Quite possibly there’s an innocent, in fact downright boring explanation. For instance, she was helping to cater a church supper or something, and someone suddenly realized that no one had thought of gravy. Emergency Grocery Run time. Yesterday another mom and I went shopping for the 17th of May (national holiday) celebration at my older son’s school (as revealed in [another thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=184412)). Our shopping list looked like so: [ul] [li]220 hot dogs[/li][li]144 rolls (12 12-packs) [/li][li]100 lomper (Norwegian tortilla clones, for wrapping hot-dogs)[/li][li]3 big squeeze bottles of ketchup[/li][li]2 big squeeze bottles of mustard [/li][li]120 popsicles[/li][li]5 cases of 1/2 liter soda bottles[/li][/ul] Now, in our case, the cashier didn’t ask any questions, but some of the other customers sure looked at us funny… ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/53 "2003-05-16T16:25:41Z")
As revenge, next time buy some mint flavoured condoms and ask the checkout person if they taste of peppermint or spearmint, or ask them which lube they find lasts longest, or ask if they can really feel the ribs on the ribbed condoms… etc. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/54 "2003-05-16T16:25:57Z")
Good God, why don’t any of you people SAY SOMETHING instead of being a bunch of passive-aggressive bitches? If a cashier dared say anything othe nature of the comment in the OP, I guarantee I’d ask for the manager and get her in trouble. Ditto for the C-word who gave attitude over the Randy Shilts book. Criminy, stick up for yourselves, you doormats! One does not take crap from the help. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/55 "2003-05-16T16:28:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*A: It isn’t for me; I’m buying it for a “friend”. _(remember to make that annoying “quote” gesture)_ > > A: I don’t actually have any firm plans at present, perhaps you could suggest something? \*\* A: Oh… well, it was an impulse buy, actually. I’m very… heh heh… IMPULSIVE… Whoo hoooooo!" ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/56 "2003-05-16T16:38:23Z")
I like to head off the inquiries by catching them off guard. I ask if they have straws when I’m buying a gallon of anti-freeze. That sort of thing. It’s passed down from my mom who used to be a wise ass cashier. She would’ve said to the gravy lady, “Roasting a Volvo?” Never, “Why are you buying that?” Just joking. I hope she didn’t ever offend any of you. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/57 "2003-05-16T16:59:33Z")
I once had my four-month old baby in the cart when I bought a pregnancy test. It was actually kind of sweet…the cashier obviously summed up the situation–I must have looked shell-shocked–in a glance and simply said, “Oh, honey. Good luck.” ---
**Author:** ![Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Clint\_in\_Wichita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clint_in_Wichita)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/58 "2003-05-16T17:08:02Z")
I heard a bit by Andrew “Dice” Clay that was quite similar to the OP. He was talking about going into a pharmacy and buying the family-size container of Vaseline. “What do you need such a big container of Vaseline for?” “My wife likes it in the shitter.”😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/59 "2003-05-16T17:10:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bippy the Beardless \* > \*\*ask if they can really feel the ribs on the ribbed condoms… etc. \*\* (Paraphrased from **Third Rock From the Sun** ) Ribbed - for her pleasure. I turned it inside out. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601/60 "2003-05-16T19:20:37Z")
Another good response (seriously) is “Why would you want to know that?” Makes them think a little bit. I once told this to a clerk in a health food store. He stammered a little and offered a lame excuse about wanting to know what the item was useful for. I told him that he should look it up in any one of the many books & brochures he had around the place instead of asking personal questions of his customers. As far as the asking if you “found everything” when you leave a store, sometimes that really does generate sales. I’ve been on the verge of leaving and had a salesperson tell me that yes, indeed they did have something that I just hadn’t been able to locate. Asking “is that everything?” is because sometimes a customer will put part of their order on the counter and go back to get something else they could not carry at the same time. Although if the customer already has her wallet out, that’s an indicator that she’s done shopping! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-cashiers-ask-why-youre-buying-something/175601.md?page=4)