When the Cashier Begins Speaking in Spanish (store, cashiers, used)

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Does anybody else get annoyed when a store employee is the one who starts speaking to a customer in Spanish? It's bad enough when customers begin jibber-jabbering in non-English, but when a store employee is the one who starts it all, that's really pushing it for me.

[TumbleBug]

When I was visiting Vegas I felt a bit uncomfortable that all the staff at one store were speaking in Spanish - I got the impression that they were talking about the customers.

They could all speak english too - as we had asked them some questions, so I felt uncomfortable when they were pointedly talking in another language that I couldn't understand.

Aside from thatI don't mind if people speak in their own language - but it shouldn't be used as a secret code to gossip in front of people or to leave people out of conversations.

Because that's not nice.

[TheCaliforniaBear]

Who cares?

Learn some spanish then......

[miamiman]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

Does anybody else get annoyed when a store employee is the one who starts speaking to a customer in Spanish? It's bad enough when customers begin jibber-jabbering in non-English, but when a store employee is the one who starts it all, that's really pushing it for me.

No. Maybe you should learn some Spanish so you won't get so uncomfortable. There are plenty of people who feel more comfortable speaking in their native language. That's fine. If you don't like it, leave their business.

[plaidmom]

Originally Posted by TumbleBug

When I was visiting Vegas I felt a bit uncomfortable that all the staff at one store were speaking in Spanish - I got the impression that they were talking about the customers.

They could all speak english too - as we had asked them some questions, so I felt uncomfortable when they were pointedly talking in another language that I couldn't understand.

Aside from thatI don't mind if people speak in their own language - but it shouldn't be used as a secret code to gossip in front of people or to leave people out of conversations.

Because that's not nice.

Don't ever get your mani-pedi in one of those strip-mall nail salons then either. Same creepy feeling.

And yes, using another language expressly to gossip or exclude people is rude.

If, on the other hand, someone is using another language in an attempt to be helpful and friendly? I have no problem with that.

I've been known to whip out my rusty college-French when meeting visitors from France from time to time. So far no one has laughed or spit in my face.

[scarletneon]

were they speaking it to you?
then don't worry about it.

i go to Thai restaurants where they speak Thai.
i go to Mexican restaurants where they speak Spanish.
sometimes, I go to the store and have the cashier serve me with flawless English then help the person behind me with Spanish, or Polish or whatever ethnicity is prominent in the neighborhood I'm shopping in.


i really love the bias against being smart enough to know more than one language in this country. it's really something to be proud of!

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

Does anybody else get annoyed when a store employee is the one who starts speaking to a customer in Spanish?

Nope!

That doesn't happen here at all.
Seriously.

[B4U]

It has been a rule in our supermarkets for employees to speak only english. But often I hear Russian, Haitan (I don't really know what language that is, as it's a conglomerate), and Spanish.
I took spanish in school for 2 years and french for 3 and did terrible and don't remember a thing.
I did want italian so I could talk to dad and his family in their native tongue, but it wasn't offered.
And I've found I just don't have the nack.
I marvel at how people can talk 2+ languages simultaneously, as I was told you have to think in the language.
All this being said, retail is not about a particular product, per say, it's about CUSTOMER SERVICE.
If I need english spoken for that, and someone else needs different, I say job well done. More power to the business that can serve more. It's just good business.
But if employees are gossiping with whomever(but how would I know if I can't understand them) when they should be serving customers, that's not a language thing, but poor customer service.
That should be addressed with management.

[Ketabcha]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

were they speaking it to you?
then don't worry about it.

i go to Thai restaurants where they speak Thai.
i go to Mexican restaurants where they speak Spanish.
sometimes, I go to the store and have the cashier serve me with flawless English then help the person behind me with Spanish, or Polish or whatever ethnicity is prominent in the neighborhood I'm shopping in.


i really love the bias against being smart enough to know more than one language in this country. it's really something to be proud of!

I sure didn't read anything nerdy in your post, Supernerdgirl. I totally agree with you. Plus, Chicago has always been the mecca for sociologists due to the wonderful ethnic blend in the city.

I speak Spanish so it never bothers me if someone is speaking Spanish. Plus it gives me the opportunity to practice. However, I think it is bad business practice to exclude customers by speaking something other than English when waiting on them unless the customer indicates a preference for another language.

[eggalegga]

What I hate is when the cashier at the checkstand I'm in line at, and the two cashiers on either side of me, and all the customers being waited on are ALL speaking spanish. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone and wonder, "What the hell happened to my country?"