Why Are Cashiers So Snippy Lately?

[many houseapes]

I am a very pleasant person, so I don't see how I could just tick someone off at the drop of a hat......
I have noticed a trend at the grocery store...the clerks are always so friendly as they ring up my purchases....until I pull out my coupons.
This morning - I kid you not- dd & I dropped by the store & found that they had boxes of hamburger helper marked down to .75 a box....I had 4 coupons $1/2, which made the 8 boxes that I bought $2(.25 each). Anyway, the clerk got really snippy w/me & said that I had "too many coupons" & she called for a manager to do an override...excuse me???!! I only had 4 coupons! Then she acted disgusted that I only paid .25 a box. HELLO!!!!! Hey, I played by the stupid grocery store's policy - I didn't try to use a store coupon w/ a mfc(which they stopped allowing) - the store itself had the items on clearance - I just happened to have coupons for that particular product. & I am kicking myself for not saving EVERY hamburger helper coupon that I had b/c I would have bought EVERY box they had.GGGRRR.
Anyone else notice a change in you grocery store's cashier's attitude? Is it b/c they get mad b/c the customers are making out like bandits or is it b/c they hate dealing w/coupons??

[Ceashels]

She may have been snippy that she had to interupt her "flow" to get the manager to override the transaction, then seeing how much you are saving she probably got a little envious that she isn't savy enough to do the same.

I say WELL DONE!

[imforpeace]

That happens to me when I get a teen cashier. Maybe try to only get in line with experienced cashiers.
The adult cashiers usually laugh and are amazed at how much I save! My local stores onlt allow you to use 3 coupons on the same product at a time. When I have a lot, I go out and come back in and buy more..he he!
Good job on your savings!

[Greebo]

I doubt the cashier knows or cares one bit what the store makes. I have never heard of a grocery store with profit sharing plans.

I suspect that the cashier considers your coupons as simply being "extra work", and resents you for making them think. Far easier for them to be zombies all day, pretend to like you as long as it gets rid of you quickly, and daydream about watching their big screen TV while trying not to think about the late payments they're not making on them.

(Nah, I haven't had similar experiences or formed any unjustified opinions, can't you tell?)

[tbs727]

That happens to me when I get a teen cashier. Maybe try to only get in line with experienced cashiers.
The adult cashiers usually laugh and are amazed at how much I save! My local stores onlt allow you to use 3 coupons on the same product at a time. When I have a lot, I go out and come back in and buy more..he he!
Good job on your savings!

This is exactly what I do, too. I had a cashier at Best Buy...oh, I won't even get started. I feel your pain, just don't let it discourage you.

[janelane]

Meh, what a ridiculous thing for them to get worked up over.

I've noticed a lot of customer service/cashiers/sales people in general seem to be grouchy, pushy, or rude lately. I doubt it's any loyalty to the company re being upset you got a deal, they just don't want the extra step in their job. I think it's a combination of the economy and the things that come with it (personal stress of their own working crap paying jobs, stress dealing with increasingly unhappy customers trying to stretch a buck) and just general decline in manners and attitude.

We always use the self check out.

[C@rol]

I have noticed that the younger cashiers seem to think that you are interupting them by asking them to do the job they are paid to do.

What really pisses me off is when they literally THROW my groceries into the bags as if the groceries are garbage. Now when I shop I try to be very particular about which cashier I go to. Shame.

[Darlene]

They shouldn't act that way. That said, I wonder how many customers are giving them a hard time about the rising prices of groceries. Doesn't take long for grumpy customers to = grumpy cashiers.
Shopped today & tried to spread some smiles. Reminds me, stopped at a farm stand and paid for my veggies, the man said "Have a nice day Señora." I've never been called that before, lol.

[mombottoo]

There are many reasons people get snippy and most of them don't really have anything to do with us personally. Most cashiers are underpaid...and many of them probably only work as cashiers because nothing else available. I have found the people who want to be cashiers are happier at their jobs, than the ones who really don't want to be there.

Your cashier would have had a heart attack if I would have been in her lane the other day...$32.35 worth of coupons...39 of them to be exact !

[della92]

At CVS, there is a cashier there that is the coupon police, she is huffy everytime I come up with my coupons, she will not let me use a $off/2 on a BIGIF sale (but the manger there will)-the store is reimbursed by the manufacturer for the coupons. I'd rather avoid conflict and shop when some one else is the cashier-all others there have been very friendly.

But my biggest pet peeve is when there are two employees discussing their personal plans while ringing me up. I don't mind a little chit chat, but I don't want to hear what party you are going to this weekend or what your ex-bestfriend done to you. I don't work in retail but when someone comes in my office, I drop everything to help them with their needs, if I am on personal call-I end it-and l smile and ask in a friendly voice "How can I help you?"

But there are still many good cashiers out there, yesterday, I was at Krogers and I should have gotten a $2.50 credit back for buying $10.00 worth of Hillshire Farms Sausages, it did not come up, so I went to customer service and asked about it, and she gave me the credit back no problem, whatever she thought about it personally I don't know, but professionally she was courteous and helpful!

[Jellybeanz]

Good for you on getting such a great deal!

I have on occasion gotten someone with an attitude, but I chalk it up to them having a bad day or getting upset at the extra trouble they have to go too. I don't use coupons much, but it does seem that the older ones are more patient with me using them.

Just shrug it off and be proud of yourself. That's a sweet deal :-)

[McD]

I always get told I have to many coupons and need an override, but that's just part of how their systems works.

I imagine that they are hearing a lot of griping about the increased costs of groceries and as a result, it's making them feel more 'on guard'. It's not right, but that may be part of it.

I know I tense up anytime someone calls the bank I work at and asks for c.d. rates b/c 9 times out of 9 the customers yell and scream at me abotu the suckiness of the rates. Because apparently....I set the rates. And yes....the rates SUCK for us employed by the bank too... Anyways, I digress. It could be something similar.

[Nishu]

A lot of people do get uppity and take it all personal when someone tries to scam or take advantage of the store they work at. And for some reason, a lot of people see the really successful couponers as doing just that.

I know, it makes no sense whatsoever, but I can't tell you how many time I've encountered it both as a customer and as an employee. People seriously take it personally for whatever stupid reason. I've returned things like ice tea that was so bitter it was undrinkable and sprite that had no syrup, only to get attitude from the employee.

My little brother went to pizza hut recently and complained to the manager about it taking 45+ to get his simple order when he was one of 2 or 3 customers in there. She basically told him to shove off and announced to one of her subordinates (quite loudly) that she was sick of people trying to get free food off of her. Would it affect her pay at all to apologize at least, or even offer a free coupon? Nope, she was just an idiot.

I know it's not exactly the same thing, but a cashier who doesn't get it often sees excessive coupon use as scamming and they take it upon themselves to be the cops. It's stupid, really, really stupid but some people really do take it personally when you get out of there with cheap stuff. I know those companies don't participate in profit sharing, but try to tell these employees that. They're like the Dwight K. Schrute of customer service.

[yankeegal]

I agree with whomever posted about the cashier's getting all of the unhappy customer's complaints about the rising food prices. My DS (age 17) runs the front end of a local grocery store and has been commenting lately about how much more unhappy the customers have been.

[itsahumanzoo]

Once I had a cashier completely embarrass me for using coupons. There was a big sale on peanut butter, and I had $1/2 coupons, which doubled, making the pb free. I bought a big jar of jam for $0.97 (big sale too!) and then got the pb. I took my stuff to the car, and decided I would go back in and get some more, since it was the last day for that sale. When I got to the cashier she said "Didn't you just come in here and buy peanut butter?" And I said "Excuse me?" Then she said "You went through that line and bought peanut butter already." And I said, "Yeah, okay?" Then she said "Well, you can't do that! It's one deal per household. If we let everyone do that there would be any left for the other customers." I left my stuff at her register and just walked out. When my husband came home I just had him go and get some more. I have never gone to that Vons again!