Are retail clerks overly friendly there? (felons, neighborhood, live)

[nslander]

Originally Posted by Senshi

They are doing it because they think you're a thief. If you work in retail you are taught to harass a customer so they know "you're watching them" which will, in theory, prevent them from stealing.

Still, they're doing their jobs.

[nslander]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

I tend to get annoyed when the checker is engaging in friendly banter with a customer, especially when it crosses over into taking time away from doing their job. Keep the line moving, chatterboxes. I've got ice cream melting.

Yeah. But I do get even more annoyed when they are enagaged/distracted with other employees. To me, that's rude.

[Fontucky]

Agreed. That happens at my local Stater Bros (I seldom shop there). The employees there tend to be very young and very rude.

[saybanana]

I was a retail clerk at a large store many years ago. When someone asked me where something is located, I would lead and show them the product and ask if they needed anything else. Other employees just tell you the aisle number and walk away. If something is not on the shelf, I would find out if there is any in the backroom. Other's just say there isn't any more without checking. It really depends on the clerk's personality. It also depends on the customer's attitude. Friendly customers = friendly clerks. "Hey you! Do you work here? I need help."(from across the way) vs. "Excuse me, can you help me?"(Up close), being nicer goes a long way. But being paid slightly above min. wage ,( compared to being on commission), one shouldn't expect the workers to be at your beck and call.

[bigdumbgod]

Beware, unruly workers: Undercover Boss might be right under your nose, and you don't even know it!

[readymade]

When first I moved here from Boston, this guy working at Vons asked me if he could help me find anything. I thought he was coming on to me. Seriously. "Why is he talking to me?! How awkward!" I thought.

I soon learned that store clerks are friendlier and more helpful here. Soon after I'd moved here, I was again at Vons trying to find this certain pie crust, and it seemed they were all out. Someone asked if I needed any help so I figured "OK... why not!" and said that I wanted the crust they were all out of. The dude helped me look and then went into the back and found it for me!

I was seriously flabbergasted. Nothing like that had ever happened to me in Boston before.

The MOST you will get there is "Find everything?" in an incredibly irritated & bored voice. God FORBID you reply with "Actually... no!"

[jackie100]

I don't like making small talk with strangers and don't chat with the cashiers. At Trader Joes they tend to be overly friendly and talk to customers; however I avoid that by not making eye contact and pretending to glance down at my smart phone or look give off a strong "do not talk to me vibe" and it works every single time. I am there to shop and buy food; not tell random strangers how I'm doing or how my weekend is. I like to be left alone. Overly friendly cashiers irritate me but they know not to talk to me because I know how to give off that vibe.

[JanND]

Originally Posted by readymade

When first I moved here from Boston, this guy working at Vons asked me if he could help me find anything. I thought he was coming on to me. Seriously. "Why is he talking to me?! How awkward!" I thought.

I soon learned that store clerks are friendlier and more helpful here. Soon after I'd moved here, I was again at Vons trying to find this certain pie crust, and it seemed they were all out. Someone asked if I needed any help so I figured "OK... why not!" and said that I wanted the crust they were all out of. The dude helped me look and then went into the back and found it for me!

I was seriously flabbergasted. Nothing like that had ever happened to me in Boston before.

The MOST you will get there is "Find everything?" in an incredibly irritated & bored voice. God FORBID you reply with "Actually... no!"

I was born and raised in So. Cal. I was the retail clerk that everyone cit chatted w/ as i checked your items out. I loved my job, and never had anything but happy customers, even to the point of their coming to shop where I was if I filled in at another location. To me, customer service is genuinely caring people, that appreciate your business enough to be courteous and caring. The smile you give that customer may be the only one they get that day.

I hate hearing so many people that want to "interact" w/ an automaton. I personally don't shop, eat or invest where I've been treated like I'm bothering you to be there. Now, I wouldn't follow folks around the store, there is an art to being friendly, w/out being subservient. Lets hear for the genuine folks in every profession.

[CALGUY]

When Wal Mart started with it's greeters at the door, it didn't take ;long for Home Depot to jump on the bandwagon.
The one big difference is, the Walmart people seem to be generally interested in the customer.
On the other hand, these phony greeters at Home depot seem like it something they NEED to say in order to keep their job.
They always say the same thing, like they were robots.
"hello, how are you today?".
Like they really care how I am.
It is do dammed phony, that it really pisses me off.
Bob.

[jackie100]

When I shop at Ralph's, I always use self check out because I don't want to speak to or deal with a cashier. I'd rather just do it myself. Self check out is the BEST invention EVER because you don't have to talk to the cashier or deal with them. Some days, or for some people it's most days, you just want to be left alone! So much less stressful to use self check out! However, too bad Trader Joe's doesn't have it.