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Post by juju on Jul 15, 2023 13:42:56 GMT
I've noticed a definite trend these days, certainly in some supermarkets, for the server / cashier to ask all sorts of chatty questions at the till. To me it feels very 'American' - it didn't used to happen here. We are not used to that level of cheerfulness 😂
Whilst I understand some people might really value that sort of interaction, I find it highly distracting and sometimes a bit intrusive. 'How are you today?' is ok, but I've also been asked if I've been busy (what does it look like? I'm frantically trying to bag up a fortnight's worth of groceries) or if I have any nice plans for the weekend.
I always do reply as cheerfully as I can, and I know, I'm probably getting old and grumpy, but really - just let me get my shopping bagged and out the shop with the minimum of effort, up to and including conversation with someone clearly being ordered to make small talk. 😂
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Post by JoeP on Jul 15, 2023 18:47:17 GMT
Doesn't happen in Finland!
Unless the cashier is mini-Miisa.
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Post by whollygoats on Jul 15, 2023 19:59:02 GMT
It used to be that way here. We had a local grocery chain (Kienow's) which was noted for having bad produce, good buys, and chatty checkout clerks. They had a loyal fan base, but when the guiding light of the corporation kicked the bucket, the outfit was not far behind. Now, most supermarket checkers seem to be browbeaten servile wallflowers who fear saying the wrong thing such as it would lead to their being replaced by self-checkout units. They are cowed, not chatty. TBH, I'd rather have chatty.
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Post by Moose on Jul 16, 2023 0:07:30 GMT
I am terrible at making small talk. I don't mind just saying 'oh fine thanks' if someone asks how I am but anything deeper than that from a stranger would freak me out.
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Post by juju on Jul 16, 2023 8:13:51 GMT
It was always more normal from older people, but these days I've noticed young cashiers in Tesco's asking all sorts of questions as you're bagging up. It's obvious they've been ordered to make conversation with customers, but they don't seem any more enthusiastic about it than I do 😂
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Post by tangent on Jul 16, 2023 10:33:42 GMT
There's a cashier at the Coop who makes me squirm when he asks what I'm doing at the weekend. He's otherwise a nice bloke. And I have a young friend who revels in that sort of talk and will even flirt with him.
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Post by Kye on Jul 16, 2023 16:46:30 GMT
I don't see many cashiers as for so much of my grocery purchases I use self checking (not my choice-- I suck at bagging, but the regular cashiers usually have long waiting lines.
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Post by JoeP on Jul 17, 2023 8:55:45 GMT
There's a cashier at the Coop who makes me squirm when he asks what I'm doing at the weekend. Have you considered ... Have you considered wearing all black, with goat horns, and a kitchen knife covered in tomato sauce?
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Post by tangent on Jul 17, 2023 12:53:51 GMT
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Post by kingedmund on Jul 17, 2023 22:47:47 GMT
It’s that way here and I would not change it for the world. Not a problem with it at all. When people start being not nice then society starts to shift and fall.
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Post by Moose on Jul 19, 2023 1:40:02 GMT
But - there's nice and 'nice' though. If a cashier asks me how I am etc I know perfectly well that they simply do not care, they are just being told to do so (not their fault). I'd rather just a polite 'hi' and that's that. But I am very introverted.
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Post by Moose on Jul 19, 2023 1:40:55 GMT
There's always a temptation, of course, when a stranger asks you how you are, to sigh deeply and say 'well actually...' and watch their face fall.
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Post by Mari on Jul 23, 2023 21:24:33 GMT
I generally use self check out, but back when I was alone I would start lining up around 2 weeks into my holiday so I'd talk to at least 1 person a week. 6 weeks is a long time to be on your own without seeing anyone otherwise.
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Post by kingedmund on Jul 26, 2023 20:42:08 GMT
There's always a temptation, of course, when a stranger asks you how you are, to sigh deeply and say 'well actually...' and watch their face fall. People do that to me often. Tell me thier issues. I have met some awesome people doing that. But I love talking to people and a lot of people have problem. One of my customer’s kids that was on their way to have a medical appointment told me thier issue. You know. I made life feel better for them. The kid was so happy I took the time with him to show him around and help him in his crippled state. Got him a free drink out of my vending machine fridge and very much made him and his mom smile. You know what, they cam back last week just to tell me it was time again and I open up my second store after hour for the kid to see some toys. Got to meet the dad too. We all had a wonderful time. When I ask how someone is doing I actually mean it.
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Post by tangent on Jul 27, 2023 14:18:36 GMT
That's super, KE.
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Post by Elis on Jul 30, 2023 20:23:30 GMT
One guy at our local supermarket can be a little chatty. I like it purely because it usually gives me more time to bag my groceries. I noticed again how comparatively slow they seem to be in the UK, which is nice, because I don't leave with half my groceries in my arms, wallet and card between my fingers and my half-packed bags hanging over my arms.
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Post by tangent on Jul 30, 2023 23:00:29 GMT
I noticed again how comparatively slow they seem to be in the UK, which is nice, because I don't leave with half my groceries in my arms, wallet and card between my fingers and my half-packed bags hanging over my arms. Except in Aldi where they put your shopping back in your trolley and shoo you off to the side to pack.
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Post by Moose on Jul 31, 2023 8:30:24 GMT
LOL yes but they do get through checking out very quickly
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Post by Elis on Sept 19, 2023 8:01:50 GMT
LOL yes but they do get through checking out very quickly Not sure that is such a great thing when it leads to more stress. What I hate most is when the person in front of me takes their time, my groceries are scanned while the person is still blocking the front, slowly packing their stuff, and I'm then expected to make up for the time the person in front of me took.
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Post by JoeP on Sept 19, 2023 13:17:23 GMT
Resist that expectation! Do checkouts in Germany have the dividers in the packing area that the cashier slides to the other side for the next customer while the previous one is packing? Everywhere in Finland has them. I don't actually remember if they are used much in Britain but I think not.
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Post by tangent on Sept 19, 2023 16:27:11 GMT
They do have dividers in the North West, and I presume elsewhere in Britain. I have noticed cashier waiting until a customer has packed before starting to check out the next customer's goods.
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