I’d have that cashier fired or, at the very least, written up. It doesn’t matter if they don’t want to hear a real answer. There is a reason they are told to ask that. You talk; they listen, and then when a manager walks by, they tell the manager.
“Would you be wanting any Dinglebrownies today, sir?”
"Well … I wasn’t going to… because I’m so allergic to the food dye in them that they send me into instant anaphylactic shock, stopping my heart within seconds. But now that you mention them, sure, gimme a couple of boxes.
I’ve always found that the following statement seems to hurry things along.
“Excuse me, can we hurry things along? I’ve just let loose a litre and half of liquid stool and would like to get home before my adult diaper begins to leak. Thank you for your understanding.”
They do always ask that don’t they. Next time I’ll try,
“Not really , I was looking for a long term meaningful relationship built on affection and mutual respect, but that lady whose cart I “bumped” into in the cat food isle wasn’t having it”
And that works? …
I try to do that, keep them in a specific easy access spot, but I’ve learned to not expect everyone else to rush because I’m on lunch break, on my way to work etc.
I did get a little annoyed when some elderly woman waited until her entire cart full of groceries had been rung up and she was given the total , to then begin looking for her check book that was somewhere in her purse.
I mean, bless your heart, can’t you find it and fill in parts of it while they’re ringing you up. Some people like to watch the screen to make sure things ring up correctly.
Win/Win!
Frankly, I wish the cashier wouldn’t talk to me either:
“Do you have a Reward Zone membership card?”
“Do you want one?”
“Can I have your Zip Code?”
“Would you like a bakery treat/discount bannanas/this 2-for-1 special or anything else I happen to be shilling on the counter today?”
“Can I have your phone number?”
“Would you like a gift receipt for any of your items?”
“Would you like our 1 year replacement warranty?”
“Would you like to donate a dollar to our charity?”
“Would you like the receipt/candy/pop/jerky with you or in the bag?”
I feel like I’m banging buttons on my phone to get through an automated voice answering service only in real life.
I was looking for a 56K USB modem today since I usually stay out in the sticks during warm weather. My old one broke, so I went the only store nearby that might possibly have one.
I asked one question: Do you have a USB modem?
I received the history of computer communications from the dawn of time until the present day with the answer finally being, “Since most people have broadband, we quit carrying them.”
Thanks, pal. You could have told me that 11 minutes ago.
Cashier: Question we are required to ask
Customer: Yet another"witty" response.
Cashier: Ha Ha
And on to the next customer…
On the one hand, knowledgeable clerks are great. On the other hand, time is money. The clerk could have been selling something, and you could have been buying something, in that 11 minutes.
The SDMB is packed with social mutants. I used to think maybe my HEAVY METAL music was what made me aggressive and socially irritable but maybe it’s 12 years of hanging out on this message board.
Nah, it was so not a big deal. I just thought the anecdote was mildly interesting as an unexpected example of a linguistic concept (phatic speech acts). Besides, I am by nature sympathetic to working people rather than bosses, and am extremely reluctant to bust on a wage-earning sister to The Man. Only time I’d ever do that is if they were deliberately being cruel or malicious toward me. But this anecdote was of no real concern.
Yankee Candle is one of the absolute worst stores for this…I had to drive my mom over there yesterday (the A/C in her Jeep isn’t working right now), and we were cornered and babbled to by three different sales associates. Mom walked into that store knowing exactly what products she wanted, yet each one accosted her with their favorite scents and a rambling explanation as to why it should be her favorite too, and how they’re using it in their homes, and what it reminds them of…on and on and on! Oh, and the accessories…“It’s hand painted! It’s hand painted!” one repeatedly chirped. (Based on the stickers and the quality of the work, they were hand painted in China under extremely dim lighting.) Finally made it to the checkout, where Mom was repeatedly asked for an emailed coupon that she had received but not printed yet. The sales lady kept trying to get her to take out her cell phone, saying that they just needed to “see the email”. I repeatedly explained to her that my mother A) does not have a smart phone; B) does not have a data plan; and C) does not have an IMAP email account.
I think this experience convinced Mom to start shopping online.
12 years? Obviously, it’s 2014 where you are, and you’ve got a time machine that lets you pop back a couple of years to post in Pit threads.
So do me a favor, please. Head over to the MegaMillions web page at March 28, 2012, record the winning numbers from the March 27, 2012, and post them here. I already called “dibs” on the jackpot, and bought my ticket, but this opportunity to hedge my position and make absolutely SURE of winining (on the off-chance that the cashier at the mini-mart neglected to sell me the right ticket —hey, it’s happened before); well it would simply be irresponsible of me to pass it up.
If you’re thinking of objecting that the page might indicate that the jackpot had not been won, just put it out of your mind. I’m gonna have over $150M in my pocket after taxes, I think I can spare a million or two to clear up any temporal paradoxes.
Seriously, take a month off and see if it helps.
I did, and I was worse. Venting here obviously contributes to my being Sweetness & Unicorn Farts™ in my daily life.
The SDMB started on AOL and then moved onto the internet when AOL decided that the Straight Dope really didn’t fit in.
Had to resurrect this zombie. Cashier and customer talking. Transaction over. Cashier moved from behind the register to stand next to the customer and talks to her as they move forward out of the way and talk for another 3-5 minutes. Understand nothing is going on (bagging, etc.) during this time except them talking.
<Me> Ahem. Excuse me.
<Her> Do you want me to help you with your water?
<Me> No. I want you to start ringing up my groceries so I can put more on the belt.
At that point, I would’ve just said, “okay, here,” and handed over the cell phone to enjoy the flailing.
Is it possible for me to think this is both rude and also think folks need to relax a bit?