Thursday, March 22, 2012
Paranoid Customers
People are SO overly and unnecessarily paranoid during the checking out process. This customer last night told me he wanted to pay with his debit card the exact amount. I tapped the buttons and watched as he wrapped both his arms around the pin pad machine and bent his head over to enter in his pin number as quickly as possible. Ooookayyyy. I tried to keep my face straight.
The other extreme was one time this older couple came through my line and he decided to pay with debit exact. His wife had to show him how to slide the card and then he couldn't remember the pin number.
""I wrote it down somewhere..." He took out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it. On the paper was written "Pin #" followed by the numbers. He waved it around and flattened it out on the counter where anyone could have seen it.
"6, 8..." he said outloud as he hit the numbers on the keypad.
"Don't say it outloud!" his wife said. I caught her eye and we laughed.
The paranoid debit card user reminded me of all the other ridiculous people. Quite a few people go to slide their card and I have to ask, "Is that debit or credit?" They answer, "Credit," and slide again as if I had asked the question out of mere curiousity. Uh, no.
"I have to slide credit here," I say. Did you really not notice that nothing is happening on the pin pad?
They look at me like I'm crazy to even suggest the idea that they hand me their card.
"I'll do debit instead," they say. Because clearly I'm going to take the card and copy everything down so I can steal your identity. I'm definitely not 12 inches away from you, right in front of your face in a public place with tons of people watching me. So stupid.
And the old people who take half an hour to write a check instead of sliding a card because for some reason they think all their money is going to be stolen. Some old woman will wait until the very end of the order and then look around in her huge pocket book for EVER to find her checkbook. She opens it slowly and fills out the check, asking me for the amount when it's right on the screen in front of her. She carefully rips out the check and writes down the number and amount before handing it to me.
"Do you have aMarket Basket card..........." I ask.
"Oh, yes!" Now, she has to find the card and she's so old it takes her about 30 seconds to get it out of the slot in her wallet and hand it to me.
"Can you confirm here please........" I point to the pin pad. She squints at the screen and says, "Is that the green button?"
"Just hit the button next to where it says 'confirm'."
"Where is that?" UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
JUST USE A DEBIT CARD.
After I finally get to put the check through the printer and show her the amount, I hand her the receipt along with a good chunk of my sanity.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Carriage Hound
There's this one employee who works here named Timmy and he has very red hair and he's the nicest kid. He was bagging on register 14. Gregory came in from outside and went up to the assistant manager that night, Aiden to see what he was supposed to be doing. She said to him, "Send carrot top outside."
He heard, "Send carriage hound outside."
"Who's carriage hound?" he asked seriously.
"No! carrot top!" Aiden said laughing. Gregory went to pass on the vest and switch places with Timmy.
Later that night Gregory told me what happened and i thought it was the funniest thing ever. We kept laughing about it. Every time Gregory would come in to put away the carriages he had gotten Gregory would call him carriage hound. Timmy would smile in puzzlement and we would just crack up. After the first time he stopped asking why we were calling him carriage hound. He probably thought we were complimenting his carriage-getting skills.
Since we were on register one, we could see all the customers coming in and this one red headed kid came in. I looked at Gregory and we both laughed.
He heard, "Send carriage hound outside."
"Who's carriage hound?" he asked seriously.
"No! carrot top!" Aiden said laughing. Gregory went to pass on the vest and switch places with Timmy.
Later that night Gregory told me what happened and i thought it was the funniest thing ever. We kept laughing about it. Every time Gregory would come in to put away the carriages he had gotten Gregory would call him carriage hound. Timmy would smile in puzzlement and we would just crack up. After the first time he stopped asking why we were calling him carriage hound. He probably thought we were complimenting his carriage-getting skills.
Since we were on register one, we could see all the customers coming in and this one red headed kid came in. I looked at Gregory and we both laughed.
You don't belong here
A couple nights ago I was on express, but it was register 16 which isn't as bad because usually it's only temporary and sometimes there's a bagger. This particular night I had a bagger, Gregory. This man came through my line and said something, but I couldn't hear so I asked him to repeat himself.
"That kid has really blond hair." I turned around to see where he was looking. There was this new hire working a couple registers down who had very blond hair, almost white.
"Oh," I said. He said something else, but I missed it again so I just nodded and handed him his receipt. When he walked away I asked Gregory, "What did he say?"
"He said, 'He doesn't belong here."
"What!" I said, "That's so sad!"
"And really weird," Gregory added, "Who says that?"
We laughed about this for the rest of the night. Every time one of us saw the other we would say, "You don't belong here," with a really serious look.
"That kid has really blond hair." I turned around to see where he was looking. There was this new hire working a couple registers down who had very blond hair, almost white.
"Oh," I said. He said something else, but I missed it again so I just nodded and handed him his receipt. When he walked away I asked Gregory, "What did he say?"
"He said, 'He doesn't belong here."
"What!" I said, "That's so sad!"
"And really weird," Gregory added, "Who says that?"
We laughed about this for the rest of the night. Every time one of us saw the other we would say, "You don't belong here," with a really serious look.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
People who think everyone cares
A lot of customers are really rude, but there are actually some customers that are a little too friendly.
I was working on the register of doom and isolation when this guy came through my line and he chatted a little bit about his family while I was bagging his groceries. After he paid and I handed him the receipt I thought he would head to the door and leave like everyone else normally did, but he got out of the line and stood by the end of my register. He took his ipod out of his pocket and said, "I have some pictures on here."
"Okay..." I said. I turned my attention back to the line, but now people were unsure of whether they were waiting for that man or not.
"Oh, you can help him," the man said as he noticed me just standing there, "I'm just waiting for this to load."
After a few more customers my line died down and he came over holding up his ipod.
"This is my grandson Bently, he's 6 years old. He's so funny he wears his underwear on his head like this and I call him Captain Underpants..."
"He's cute," I said and faked a laugh.
"...And this is our dog Spot who we got off Craigslist for $50. It's sad to think about what would ahve ahppened to him if we hadn't taken him..." He went on forever and showed me picture after picture. Finally someone came to my line and he left. It was the first time I'd ever prayed for a customer.
I was working on the register of doom and isolation when this guy came through my line and he chatted a little bit about his family while I was bagging his groceries. After he paid and I handed him the receipt I thought he would head to the door and leave like everyone else normally did, but he got out of the line and stood by the end of my register. He took his ipod out of his pocket and said, "I have some pictures on here."
"Okay..." I said. I turned my attention back to the line, but now people were unsure of whether they were waiting for that man or not.
"Oh, you can help him," the man said as he noticed me just standing there, "I'm just waiting for this to load."
After a few more customers my line died down and he came over holding up his ipod.
"This is my grandson Bently, he's 6 years old. He's so funny he wears his underwear on his head like this and I call him Captain Underpants..."
"He's cute," I said and faked a laugh.
"...And this is our dog Spot who we got off Craigslist for $50. It's sad to think about what would ahve ahppened to him if we hadn't taken him..." He went on forever and showed me picture after picture. Finally someone came to my line and he left. It was the first time I'd ever prayed for a customer.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Facepalm
I know I complain about this so much, but I HATE coupons. And more importantly the people who have the coupons.
This one woman comes through my line and she hands me these two boxes before I can ring anything through.
"These are only $3.99" She says. I look on the price tag on the item which says they are $4.99.
"So they're a dollar off?" I ask to make sure.
"Yes. They are supposed to be $3.99. I just want to make sure they ring through as $3.99." I knew they weren't going to ring through at that price so I types in the price manually. It showed up on the screen; two items for $3.99.
"All set," I said and carried on with ringing the rest of her items through. At the end of the order she handed me 2 coupons for a dollar off each for those two boxed items. I handed them back to her and said, "I already took the dollar off."
She looked at me and shoved them back in my face, "No, no. I have coupons for them. They were right on the boxes."
"I already took the dollar off," I said, "I put them in manually at $3.99 each, like you said since that was the sale price." The woman sighed and shook her head at me.
"They're supposed to be a dollar off," she said pointing at the coupons, "It says right here."
I tried very hard to keep my voice even as I tried to explain to her. I scrolled all the way back up to the beginning and pointed to the first two items.
"These are the two items. You told me that they were supposed to be $3.99, but the price tag on them said $4.99 so I manually typed them in to be $3.99. See?" I pointed at the screen again. "I already took the dollar off."
"But I have these coupons," she said. FACEPALM.
"I. Already. Took. The. Dollar. Off." I said, absolutely losing my cool. She sighed again and looked at me like I was an idiot. She had this condescending smile on her face like she felt bad I was so stupid. "No no no no no no no. You don't understand. They were supposed to be a dollar off. That's why I have the coupons." I actually started to tear up at this point out of frustration.
"So your saying there is a double sale on this item?" I said sarcastically.
"Maybe," she said.
"Okay," I said with such an attitude, "I'll take an EXTRA dollar off for you if it makes you feel better." I ripped the coupons out of her hand. I knew they wouldn't scan through, but I tried anyways so she would see and hear the error message. After I typed them in, I made a big show about throwing the coupons in the trashcan. This was for affect since later I would have to retrieve them for my folder so my drawer wouldn't be off.
I handed her the receipt and did not say a word.
This one woman comes through my line and she hands me these two boxes before I can ring anything through.
"These are only $3.99" She says. I look on the price tag on the item which says they are $4.99.
"So they're a dollar off?" I ask to make sure.
"Yes. They are supposed to be $3.99. I just want to make sure they ring through as $3.99." I knew they weren't going to ring through at that price so I types in the price manually. It showed up on the screen; two items for $3.99.
"All set," I said and carried on with ringing the rest of her items through. At the end of the order she handed me 2 coupons for a dollar off each for those two boxed items. I handed them back to her and said, "I already took the dollar off."
She looked at me and shoved them back in my face, "No, no. I have coupons for them. They were right on the boxes."
"I already took the dollar off," I said, "I put them in manually at $3.99 each, like you said since that was the sale price." The woman sighed and shook her head at me.
"They're supposed to be a dollar off," she said pointing at the coupons, "It says right here."
I tried very hard to keep my voice even as I tried to explain to her. I scrolled all the way back up to the beginning and pointed to the first two items.
"These are the two items. You told me that they were supposed to be $3.99, but the price tag on them said $4.99 so I manually typed them in to be $3.99. See?" I pointed at the screen again. "I already took the dollar off."
"But I have these coupons," she said. FACEPALM.
"I. Already. Took. The. Dollar. Off." I said, absolutely losing my cool. She sighed again and looked at me like I was an idiot. She had this condescending smile on her face like she felt bad I was so stupid. "No no no no no no no. You don't understand. They were supposed to be a dollar off. That's why I have the coupons." I actually started to tear up at this point out of frustration.
"So your saying there is a double sale on this item?" I said sarcastically.
"Maybe," she said.
"Okay," I said with such an attitude, "I'll take an EXTRA dollar off for you if it makes you feel better." I ripped the coupons out of her hand. I knew they wouldn't scan through, but I tried anyways so she would see and hear the error message. After I typed them in, I made a big show about throwing the coupons in the trashcan. This was for affect since later I would have to retrieve them for my folder so my drawer wouldn't be off.
I handed her the receipt and did not say a word.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Taken out by crazy shopper
I arrived at work yesterday, early like usual, since I'm so paranoid and I leave a half hour before I even need to. When I got out of my car and started to walk to the front of the store I immediately became aware of quite the commotion. A woman in a huge black SUV hit an older gentleman walking in the crosswalk, just trying to make it into the store. He was lying perfectly still on the ground for about 25 minutes before any paramedics are cops got to the scene. When I got there, pretty much every single manager was outside and people were all crowded around the guy. The woman was still i nher car, I couldn't see her or anything. One of the managers put a space blanket over the man lying on his side. I walked into the store very slowly, looking over my shoulder the whole time. I saw another manager rush to the courtesy booth and ask Aiden if they called the cops yet. It took quite awhile and I was on my register already by the time the paramedics, cops and ambulance came and carried him away on a stretcher. Customers from all over the store were crowding around the front windows to see what was happening.
Monday, March 5, 2012
A paycheck-less week
We got a lot of snow wednesday night and all day thrusday. It was insane. It literally did not stop snowing for almost 24 hours, the roads were horrible and a neighboring town where my mom worked closed. I was scheduled to work thursday night at 5. Due to the tretchorous roads and my lack of driving experience, I wasn't sure about going into work. I imagined that not many people would be venturing to Market Basket today anyways. We are supposed to call in 3 hours before or shift if we can't make it so at 2 I decided to call Mark and feel him out; see if he was understanding and like, "Oh yeah I totally understand. Don't worry we don't need you to come in today," or say he really needed me and I should try to make it.
I calleld work and asked to speak to Mark if he was available. He was. I told him that I wasn't sure if I could make it because the roads were very bad and my parents didn't wnt to let me drive since this was the first time I've ever even driven in snow before.
"Well, you're calling pretty early aren't you?" he said. I started to say something about how I thought I wa supposed to call 3 hours ahead, (I didn't think, i knew)but he cut me off.
"I really need some people to come in today," he said. Not understanding. "Where do you live?"
"I live in Kingston," I said, "It's about 20 minutes away-"
"Yeah I know where it is," he snapped. "Call me back at 4, it might be better by then."
"Okay," I said and hung up. It sounded like he really needed me and wasn't understanding of the horrid weather conditions outside so I decided to go to work. I went outside and shoveled my c ar off and shoveled the snow behind it so I could get out of the driveway. At a little before 4:00 I called back to let Mark know I was going to come in, but he wasn't available and I got Simon on the phone instead. I told him what had happened and said, I'm on my way I decided to come in."
"Oh, Mark already crossed your name off. We don't need you."
"Uh, can I still come in?"
"You're not even on the lsit anymore don't worry about it." Okay, that's a no. I said "Alright, thanks. Bye," and hung up the phone.
Wow thank you for automatically assuming that I wasn't going to make an effort. Now I literally won't get a paycheck next week since I took Monday off for my birthday. Love when that happens.
I calleld work and asked to speak to Mark if he was available. He was. I told him that I wasn't sure if I could make it because the roads were very bad and my parents didn't wnt to let me drive since this was the first time I've ever even driven in snow before.
"Well, you're calling pretty early aren't you?" he said. I started to say something about how I thought I wa supposed to call 3 hours ahead, (I didn't think, i knew)but he cut me off.
"I really need some people to come in today," he said. Not understanding. "Where do you live?"
"I live in Kingston," I said, "It's about 20 minutes away-"
"Yeah I know where it is," he snapped. "Call me back at 4, it might be better by then."
"Okay," I said and hung up. It sounded like he really needed me and wasn't understanding of the horrid weather conditions outside so I decided to go to work. I went outside and shoveled my c ar off and shoveled the snow behind it so I could get out of the driveway. At a little before 4:00 I called back to let Mark know I was going to come in, but he wasn't available and I got Simon on the phone instead. I told him what had happened and said, I'm on my way I decided to come in."
"Oh, Mark already crossed your name off. We don't need you."
"Uh, can I still come in?"
"You're not even on the lsit anymore don't worry about it." Okay, that's a no. I said "Alright, thanks. Bye," and hung up the phone.
Wow thank you for automatically assuming that I wasn't going to make an effort. Now I literally won't get a paycheck next week since I took Monday off for my birthday. Love when that happens.
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