[Sakura-Chan]

(Original post by alexlduffy)
Agreed with the first paragraph. I went into another branch of the shop I work at when I was visiting a friend in Sheffield, and the service was terrible. Ignoring that the shop was an absolute state (loads of stuff was in the wrong place, and it's not like there wasn't any staff either), the service at the till was awful. He followed none of the basic procedures, didn't give my friend her change, spent 5 minutes getting a DVD for my other mate then an extra 10 minutes when he got the wrong DVD, and I had to ask for a bag, which he threw at me. And this was the manager of the store too. I don't mean to sound whiny or anything (too late) but I think rude staff like that can be worse than rude customers by a long shot.

I agree with the second one too, actually xD

What you've said about the managers doesn't surprise me at all to be honest, I've seen it a lot too in a variety of places.

If you have a manager that doesn't really give a ****, that filters down to all the staff, then you have a shop full of people who all act the same It's pretty bad really, but it's really hard to get people to give a damn about doing things right if even the manager doesn't. It's not my job to do that either really, so I'll just carry on being consistently good and showing everyone else up

It does suck if you get stroppy, but at the end of the day, as a member of staff you get paid to be friendly, helpful and just generally do your job. So yeah, I totally agree with your last point too

[journalismus]

I always try have a wee chat with the checkout assistant, though sometimes they don't want to talk at all.

I worked in a supermarket and it was always nice when you had a conversation while putting items through the checkout, made the hours go a lot faster!

I always say thanks and goodbye.

[Vitamin D]

(Original post by d_aan)
It's worse when you put your hand out to take the money from them and instead they just slam their coins and notes onto the counter. Then give you evils for taking so long to put it into the till.

YES. This is the most annoying thing you can do to someone at a till. I used to just do it back to them

[Vohamanah]

I'm always polite to the shop assistant, I'm surprised so many people on here are so rude to shop assistants, they are only doing their job. Fair enough if you don't want to have a long conversation with someone, but its not much effort to say "Hello", "Thank you" and "Goodbye"

[alexlduffy]

(Original post by Sakura-Chan)
If you have a manager that doesn't really give a ****, that filters down to all the staff, then you have a shop full of people who all act the same It's pretty bad really, but it's really hard to get people to give a damn about doing things right if even the manager doesn't. It's not my job to do that either really, so I'll just carry on being consistently good and showing everyone else up

It does suck if you get stroppy, but at the end of the day, as a member of staff you get paid to be friendly, helpful and just generally do your job. So yeah, I totally agree with your last point too

Very good point about the manager. Luckily, I have a very enthusiastic manager and it reflects on the staff. Haha, your nice behaviour really stands out in that case, so even better!

I like your last point too, except I'm not paid for my work but I'm essentially representing the shop.

[Iron Lady]

I always thank the shop assistant and say goodbye...

I think a bigger problem lies with the incompetent youth serving in stores. Some of them are so mouthy and only care about talking about Big Brother or a night-out with their friends.

[Jessica no]

I always say thank you & goodbye
Also I don't really enjoy talking to someone I don't know


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[hippieglitter]

(Original post by Cool Cat)
Just out of curiosity.. why do some of you come to the checkout and not communicate with the shop assistant AT ALL? it's clear you can speak as you've just been having a laugh with your mates a minute ago.

and more annoyingly/ uncomprehensible, why do you say hello and answer the standard Qs such as 'would you like a bag?' and then suddenly become mute and leave without a thanks or a goodbye?

not particularly pee'd off just can't understand it

Well i have been a shop assistant so know how bloody annoying it is when the customer doesn't talk you so I would like to know why when as a customer I talk to the shop assistant do they not talk to me?

[Chrizzle94]

Meh, 9 times out of 10 I say 'thank you' as I'm leaving, don't see why I shouldn't.

[Tycho]

A lot of people look down their noses at checkout operators. A lot of young people behind checkouts are actually university students - probably far smarter than most of their customers. Why so many people are condescending towards them is beyond me.

I'm always polite to shop assistants (unless they are rude to me), and I always say thanks and goodbye. I'd never just ignore someone if they said something to me. I must say though that it doest irritate me when they talk too much. I've even had a checkout operator ask me to read her horoscope from a magazine I was buying whilst she put the other items through - which I declined. Other times some of them just talk way too much, and - frankly - get far too personal.

[Pandora.]

If a shop assistant talks to me I'll smile and reply, but in all honesty I'm just too shy to try and engage a stranger in conversation. I don't mean to come off cold, but sometimes I think that's what I might look like.

EIT: Wait, this is about saying thanks/goodbye? I thought that was just common sense to do that.

[DotComBoom]

I think it is rude to not say Please, Thankyou, Have a Nice Day and Goodbye. It's only polite.

However, I will not wish a nice day to rude shop assistants, and in my experience there are a fair few.

[anonperson]

(Original post by Kolya)
Maybe where you're from. Courtesy varies depending on the region of the county. To my ears, saying goodbye to a complete stranger often sounds insincere. Exchanging insincere words would be rude and a very small delay to their work and to the days of the customers in the queue behind me.

That's stupid - 'goodbye' is just the same as 'please' and 'thank you', not a particular issue if you don't say it if you've already said thanks but it wouldn't be 'insincere' to do so.