distracted cashier, would you have said something?

[Lorelei Lee]

In the supermarket tonight, the cashier was a young kid, probably new to the job.


Two things happened while he was handling my order.


He rang up my purchase and began bagging -- I bought a lot of groceries.


When he first starting bagging, he handed me a bag containing Powerade and peanuts -- two items I did not buy. Clearly he forgot to hand those items to a previous customer.



And he stopped bagging my things when his co worker cane up to his register. She asked him to ring uo her purchase, a single bag of candy. He stopped bagging my groceries to ring up her purchase. After she paid for her candy he finished baging my purchases.


I thought about saying something to the store manager. I didn't want to get the poor kid in trouble, though, just thought someone should tell him to better focus on the job . . .so I didn't say a word.

 

[hereyago]

In the supermarket tonight, the cashier was a young kid, probably new to the job.


Two things happened while he was handling my order.


He rang up my purchase and began bagging -- I bought a lot of groceries.


When he first starting bagging, he handed me a bag containing Powerade and peanuts -- two items I did not buy. Clearly he forgot to hand those items to a previous customer. I wouldn't be yelling at him, but he can't learn if no one says anything.





And he stopped bagging my things when his co worker cane up to his register. She asked him to ring uo her purchase, a single bag of candy. He stopped bagging my groceries to ring up her purchase. After she paid for her candy he finished baging my purchases.


I thought about saying something to the store manager. I didn't want to get the poor kid in trouble, though, just thought someone should tell him to better focus on the job . . .so I didn't say a word.

Why would you not say anything? He may have been new, but he still has to learn to be more viligant about making sure customers purchases are in bags and the second part, his co worker possibly new to or just unprofessional, still I would say right then he has to finish waiting on me.

 

[dakcp2001]

Eh, I would have been annoyed, but probably wold not have spoken up. He will probably get chewed out by someone soon. It would not have been me though. I usually give teens a break since they are all scatterbrained.

 

[brdlyleon]

Hmmm I think with the first situation of it being someone else's previous purchase, it's not necessarily the cashier's job to make sure a customer takes their items. He rang them up and bagged them and finished their transaction, the least they could do is make sure they have their entire purchase. I would have made a comment on how scatterbrained their previous customer was, not how the cashier was.

As for the second situation, I might not have said anything but I can't blame anyone who would. You're the cashier's priority right now; he's helping you and only you. He shouldn't be ringing anyone else up, especially another employee.

Basically, no to the first, yes to the second.

 

[Malibustyle23]

Did you keep the bag from the previous customer?

 

[Allison]

No, neither thing would be a big enough deal to me to bother.

 

[Poohforyou]

I definitely would have said something about the items that weren't mine but wouldn't have bothered about the other. Of course I never just stand and wait for the cashier to bag for me I'm always bagging as well.

 

[curious3069]

I would have said something about the 1st, not the 2nd. That transaction probably took less than a minute, in fact, I probably would have suggested he do it if I had noticed that person standing there with one item.

It's very possible the previous person in line rattled the new cashier..I've witnessed happening to a young kid, a lady was beyond rude over probably $.30 cents and this poor cashier was just beside himself. Pretty much I think she enjoyed just how much she got under his skin. Ok I'm projecting there but she was a jerk. Your cashier might just be forgetful and telling him about the forgotten bag might give him a clue to pay attention!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would have started bagging my stuff right away.

Was he the only cashier available? That makes a difference if I would be miffed with him ringing up the coworkers stuff.

If he was the only one available, I would be understanding since I had a large order.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would have said something about the 1st, not the 2nd. That transaction probably took less than a minute, in fact, I probably would have suggested he do it if I had noticed that person standing there with one item.

I agree with this. "These aren't mine." and hand the bag back. On the second case, were you putting bags in the cart? How long did checking out the bag of candy take? I don't think I would have said anything.

 

[anniemae]

I would not have said anything to a store manager about either incident. I would have given the bag back with the items that were not mine, but no need to involve a manger in my opinion. Mistakes happen. As for ringing up the candy, yeah candy girl should have waited until the cashier was done with the customer, but again, I would let it go.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I would not have said anything to a store manager about either incident. I would have given the bag back with the items that were not mine, but no need to involve a manger in my opinion. Mistakes happen. As for ringing up the candy, yeah candy girl should have waited until the cashier was done with the customer, but again, I would let it go.

Yup.

I've left stuff behind before and I've gotten stuff that's not mine. It just happens.

The cashiers manager would probably talk to both him and candy girl. She should have waited. I worked in a grocery store in high school. I remember what it was like to end up behind a big order when you are trying to buy a snack and you only have a 15 minute break. I would have told him to ring her up if I noticed her behind me.

 

[Aliceacc]

Calling a manager will get a new kid in trouble in a job market that's rough on young kids. And he was pretty much in a Catch-22 as a new worker. Was he supposed to tell someone with presumably more seniority that he wouldn't do her a favor? Ringing up one bag of candy probably added 60 seconds or so to your day.

As to the 2 forgotten items, it happens a lot.

I go to management when there's a serious issue. Neither of these rate that high in my book.

I would forget the whole thing.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Nope

 

[Tozzie]

I absolutely would have said something, first of all, if everyone had read the post the coworker wasn't behind her she came up and asked him to ring the candy as he was bagging the order. As for the previous custoemrs groceries, if the supermarket is like the ones I shop in, the cashier has bags behind him with a platform so he bags them behind the register and if the cashier doesn't hand them to you, you have no idea they are there so that is absolutely his fault as well. The last time I went shopping, the cashiers were in a "race" to see who could ring up orders the fastest, my groceries were being flung around with several items landing on the floor, yes I did say something to the manager.

 

[Ceila]

I would not have said anything to a manager about either, since neither would have been a blip on my radar.

I'm surprised that you're laying all of the blame on the forgotten items on the cashier. It was just as likely to have been the previous customer's fault, yet you jump right to the conclusion that it was the teen.

As for the candy, no, I wouldn't mind him taking a minute to ring up someone who was probably on a pretty short break as it was. Anyway, I always help bag my own things, and I'm usually just about done by the time they print the receipt.

 

[Adipoo]

I'm trying to get past someone waiting for the cashier to bag groceries unless it's checkout that's set up for cashier bagging, like our Wegmans. The other things aren't complaint worthy in my world.

 

[Allison]

I'm trying to get past someone waiting for the cashier to bag groceries unless it's checkout that's set up for cashier bagging, like our Wegmans. The other things aren't complaint worthy in my world.

Customers don't bag their own groceries in my area. The cashier does it or the carry out kid working the cash registers. Heck around here, one of the main grocery stores pushes your cart out to your car and loads your groceries for you.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Why? Customers don't bag their own groceries in my area. The cashier does it or the carry out kid working the cash registers. Heck around here, one of the main grocery stores pushes your cart out to your car and loads your groceries for you.

Yea, the cashiers are supposed to do it at my store however if I have a big order or they are slow, I start bagging it myself. I can't help it.

 

[Bob NC]

When he first starting bagging, he handed me a bag containing Powerade and peanuts -- two items I did not buy. Clearly he forgot to hand those items to a previous customer.



And he stopped bagging my things when his co worker cane up to his register. She asked him to ring uo her purchase, a single bag of candy. He stopped bagging my groceries to ring up her purchase. After she paid for her candy he finished baging my purchases.

Handing you the leftover items from a previous customer I would just consider a simple mistake and it wouldn't concern me.

Ringing up someone else during MY transaction would concern me.

With a young cashier, though, they may not realize this isn't really proper. I wouldn't go running to the manager, but I would mention it to the cashier just as kind of a helpful hint that he/she should finish my transaction before helping someone else.