Is it just me? (I'm feeling cranky...)

[DisneyDotty]

Has anyone else noticed that store clerks never say "thank you" anymore? I'm lucky if I get any kind of acknowledgment--usually in the form of "Have a nice day!"
I'm especially cranky 'cause I spend hundreds of dollars EACH WEEK at my local Jewel store--yet rarely does anyone thank me. And yesterday the clerk was so involved in discussing who the bagger should/should not date, that she didn't look up a price for a free item for which I had a coupon. (I'm going back today to demand the difference.)
Anyway, thanks for the opportunity to vent. Feel free to share any positive experiences you've had to offset my grumpiness.

 

[TimeforMe]

I must be grumpy too, then, because I feel the same way. One day I did a "test" of sorts to see if I didn't say anything if I could get through the whole process without anyone saying a word and guess what? I did. She didn't say hello, thank you or even tell me how much $ I owed them. I think that's just plain awful.

 

[DVCLiz]

This is my 100% pet peeve in the whole world. The reason no one says "Thank You" anymore is because they have replaced it with the most offensive phrase ever......

"No problem!"

I get this from almost every teen worker I come in contact with. It drives me absolutely insane. I'm so glad it's not a problem for you to wait on me and take my money. I would hate to think I was inconveniencing you in any way - if so, I can assure you how easy it would be to take my money down the street where the staff is better trained.

OK, deep breath, I feel better now...

Oh, and as far as taking the time to answer your post, believe me, it was NO PROBLEM!!!!!!!!

 

[Evil Genius]

Count me in!! I usually tell them "Thank you have a nice day!!" That throws them for a loop.

 

[piglet too]

Maybe I am in the minority of retail cashiers out there, but I talk to each person I ring up. It starts to feel like a script, but

"Hi there, how are you today?"
"Did you find everything that you were looking for?"
~ if they say "no" I then ask if there is anything I can do to help them with that before they check out ~
Depending on the customer, I then make small talk, but nothing too personal, just idle chatter. (some people just don't want to be talked to,so I don't.) I close it out with...
"Have a good day (night) thanks for coming in."
I even thank the people in self-checkout as they leave if that is where I am working. (normally is too) If I see people leaving without buying anything I thank them for coming in as well.

 

[Bbgrizzle]

I noticed this too! Sometimes at our nearby Taco Bell, when you drive up to the window, they won't say a SINGLE WORD! They just hold out their hand for you to put the money in, hand you your change (they don't even say "$5 is your change") and hand you your goods. That shocks me. I just say it for them: "Thank you! Have a lovely day!"

 

[cardaway]

Maybe it's because there are more customers who don't mind the silence. Personally I hate forced, fake, or scripted small talk. I would rather them just do their job so I can be on my way.

The opposite is what gets me furious. When the clerk goes on and on with a custmoer when their are people in line waiting for them to finish.

 

[ducklite]

You must have an awful lot of jewelry...

If you arne't happy with the service, tell the manager you won't be shopping there anymore and why. And then use another jewelry store.

Anne

 

[piglet too]

You must have an awful lot of jewelry...

If you arne't happy with the service, tell the manager you won't be shopping there anymore and why. And then use another jewelry store.

Anne

Jewel is a grocery store.

 

[ducklite]

Jewel is a grocery store.

OMG!! I'm laughing at my mistake! I misread and thought she said "JEWELRY" store. I'm thinking who spends hundreds of dollars a week at a jewelry store?

Now it makes more sense. My advice remains, I'd say something to the store manager.

Anne

 

[blondewithbrains]

I was wondering why she spent so much at the jewel store, too....I was thinking maybe it had something to do with her job (like maybe she bought thank you gifts for employees or ten year anniversary gifts for employees or something LOL.)

 

[phantom728]

I agree with talking with the store manager, although sometimes they are so young and could care less.
I'm in my early 30's and it just seems like stores don't properly screen their employees to make sure their hiring courteous ones, then they don't follow back up with them on performance.

I can say that a few months ago, I was really cranky one morning and went through the drive-thru at Burger King for a soda (don't drink coffee) and the girl at the window couldn't have been more miserable than me. When she handed me my bag, without so much as a smile, the cranky side of me said to her..."Could you be more miserable and work in a customer service job." With a stunned look from the girl and my angry opened up, I drove off without another word.
About a week later, I went through the drive-thru and wasn't expecting her to be anymore pleasant than last week and I have to say, although she didn't smile, she did at least mumble "have a nice day".

In todays society, we've become complacent with poor service. After working as a manager in customer service, I expect more and I let a company know about it. I have a few stores that I will no longer shop at because of poor service and poor concern from their higher-ups about it. I take my business elsewhere, even if it means driving a few miles out of my way.

 

[ARLO1]

I was at my local supermarket the other day and the girl at the register had a real attitude. you could see it right away. If you asked a question she sort of just off handed answered you. I had an internet coupon they wouldnt accept(oh well I'll just use it in another supermarket and she forgot(?) to give it back to me. Well anyway...one of the items i bought rang up at a great rate so I finished my purchase and took my basket and bought some more. since she was at the express lane I went back to her anyway. On my way back to her line I realized I never got the coupon back.As I was checking out the 2nd time I asked her for the coupon and she said you cant use it anyway why do you want it. I told her I couldnt use it there but I knew I could use it in another supermarket near me. The lady behind me started making conversation with her about which register she was at(the one closest to the exit door) and I said maybe thats why she has an attitude. She started to go off on me and said she didnt have an attitude I was just pissed off about not being able to use the coupon(which certainly wasnt the reason). Well she and i continued to go at it and the last behind me told me to calm down. Well since I was totally upset by now i proceeded to tell her to just butt out and mind her own business. She replied that we all have to get along. Kiss me lady. By now I just wanted my change back and procedeed to tell her 3 times for my change. I got my change and promptly walked out without saying anything else.

Was I wrong - a little....Was she wrong....lots.she was supposed to be providing the customer service...something unheard of these days....

 

[Magickndm]

That's why I like Publix. 99.9% of the time the employees are very friendly. I go so often I feel like I know some of them, and if my husband goes in without me they ask where I am.
I told him he's in big trouble if he ever cheats on me and takes "the other woman" to Publix....they'd kill him before I could.

 

[phantom728]

ARLO1 - you were definitely not wrong in getting upset, I certainly would have. From what I was always trained...the customer is always right, even when their wrong.
It's your coupon and she should have just given it back no questions asked, it's not like it was used. As for the lady behind you, I agree on the butt out part. I certainly wouldn't get in the way of an angry customer.

Maybe this is why I like internet shopping, no teenager with attitude to deal with...I already have one at home.

 

[MAKmom]

Yes I have noticed it & JC Penny is the worse in my area. It started to be really bad when Clinton reformed Welfare. One year of checks & that was it. It forced alot of people back into the work force who are not happy about it.

Then you have the teenagers who are just not drilled on the way to answer phones & talk.

 

[disneymac]

I think more often than not the cashiers are pretty pleasant around here, but it can really stick with me when they are unpleasant or rude. The stores must not tell them to be pleasant to people when they train them these days, I don't know... I have actually called to speak to a manager about one cashiers' bad attitude one night - this was after a couple of times that I'd gone through her line with the same rudeness - since then she has been much better.

Hope you're in a better mood now!

 

[llp479]

At least your Jewel still has cashiers. Our Jewel is about 60% self-checkout now. No one talks to you.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Thanks--your replies/commiseration make me feel lots better! Some made me LOL--hundreds of dollars a week in jewelry? Don't I wish!
I did go back to the store yesterday and talked to an assistant manager who politely apologized, said she would talk to to the cashier, and refunded me the full price for the product.
I'll be back soon to see if anyone says "thank you."

 

[Chicago526]

My Jewel usually has very good cashiers. We've got about 50% self checkout lines too, but the ones that are left are very pleasant. I do like the self check out when I've got 15 items or less, though, I'm almost always out faster than if I was in a regular line.

In general I don't think I've had a problem with rude or silent cashiers. I think the only time I've noticed it is at Target of all places. The one where I work has several cashiers that hardly say a word. Actually that's fine, because it means they don't offer me the credit card for the 1000th time!