Having worked at a grocery store for nearly 4 years now and dealing with customers on a daily basis, I can say that I have seen many types of customers and dealt with many problems. Here are some things you should and should not do as a customer. They can apply to any grocery store, retail store, restaurant, etc. they would help make our days so much better!
1. Look to see if the light is on (or off) before asking us if we are open. Usually light on means we’re open, light off means we’re closed. If you’re not sure, you can ask, but check first! It gets annoying having to repeat ourselves over and over again because of customers being too lazy.
2. Please get off your phones during your transaction. Even if your cashier isn’t talking to you, being on the phone is rude, whether you’re just texting or making a call. it isn’t that difficult to stay off your phone for 3-5 minutes. Besides the fact that it’s rude, people who use their phone aren’t paying attention so the cashiers has to keep repeating themselves and people on their phones tend to be much slower in packing their bags and paying for their things.
3. If an employee is walking out of the store, to the bathroom, if they are on their phone, or have headphones on, DO NOT BOTHER THEM!!! They are most likely on their break. This is the only time they have to rest, so don’t waste their time. Look for someone who is clearly working and can help you.
4. We are not a bank. Try not to pay using a $100 bill if your bill comes out to $20 or less. We might not have change or if we do, you will basically wipe out our tills. Go to the bank first and get smaller bills if you have to.
5. Learn to be patient. No one likes to wait, but waiting 5-10 mins in line is nothing to get upset about. Complaining loudly or yelling at the cashier won’t make the lines go faster.
6. If we greet you, don’t be rude and ignore us. Or worse, don’t interrupt us to say “I have 3 cases of water” or whatever. Your rudeness will annoy your cashier and they might not be as friendly as if you had just answered our greeting then told us what you had.
7. Once you pay us and we open our register, don’t say “Oh, I have the change”. We are usually in a hurry with the customers and don’t want to end up short on money just because you are trying to get rid of change.
8. If their is a sign that says 10 items or less (or 15, 20 items or less) DO NOT go into that line if you clearly have a cart full of groceries. If we tell you to go to another line, don’t complain, don’t say you’re not doing anything, or ignore us. Just leave. We can get in trouble with other customers who might then go complain to our managers because we let someone in that line with more than 10 items.
9. If you get a basket, please empty it out yourselves. Don’t expect us to do it for you. This slows down our line and many of us will just dump everything on the conveyor belt at once. Also, this is a hassle for us short people who ca barely reach into the baskets in the first place.
10. If we ask how many you have of an item (whether it’s bakery goods or fruit), tell us HOW MANY, not how much. For example, if we ask you how many bell peppers you have, say 3 or 4, don’t say $2 worth. It’s much easier for us.
11. Don’t start unloading your items until the person in front of you has finished unloading all of their groceries. This is very inconsiderate of you and the other peson might not have enough room to put their groceries
12. Use the dividers. That’s why they are there. we don’t know who the groceries belong to, especially when everything is so close to each other. We might just charge everything together and then the customer will get mad at us, even if it’s their fault for not using the dividers.
13. Remember your manners! Please and thank you are still important. If you decide you don’t want an item, let us know and we will gladly take it off for you, but ask us politely “Can you please remove the fruit? thank you” Don’t just be so demanding and say, “I don’t want that, take it off.”
14. If you don’t want an item, give it to your cashier. Don’t just leave it around the store, ESPECIALLY if it is a meat product, dairy, or any other frozen item, which could go bad if left out and then we can’t sell it.
15. Read the whole sign. If there is a sale, make sure you read if there is a minimum that you need to buy or if there is a limit.
16. Don’t try to give us your money before we have even started your transaction.
17. Don’t hit on or flirt with your cashier. Whether you are a male or female, this is never okay. We are there to work, not to get hit on. You making comments to us makes us uncomfortable. Understand that we are only being nice because of the who customer service thing.
18. Don’t say racist things or sexist jokes.
19. Don’t open or eat anything before you’ve paid for it, especially things like fruit. Many of the fruits we sell are sold by weight. We can’t just charge you for a single banana or apple without weighing it first. Plus, most of the fruit should be washed anyways before eating it, so that’s also pretty gross.
20. If we tell you the chip reader doesn’t work and you need to swipe your card, just listen to us. We know what we’re talking about.
21. Don’t make the same jokes we heard over and over. Ie, “I just made that” (when we check your $50/$100 bill), “You look bored” (when we are at the checkstand with no customers.”
22. If we close at 10pm, don’t come to the store at 955pm and stay for half an hour just browsing. We want to go home too.
23. Paying in change is a big no-no. Especially when it’s more than $10. It slows down the line and is a hassle for us to count. Also, don’t pay in singles if it’s more than $20.
