50 Annoyances of Being a Cashier at Safeway

1. Customers sliding their card BEFORE selecting payment type.  People complain that the machines are different, but here's a rule to go by.  READ, DAMNIT.  If you follow what the PIN PAD tells you to do, you shouldn't have any problems.
2. People who invade the personal space of the customer I'm helping.  WAIT YOUR TURN!
3. People who don't put a divider down and set their items fairly closely to the previous customer's.
4. Not getting a day off that you needed off just because someone had slightly more seniority than you and their need was not as great as yours.
5. Coming to a checkstand that has no 20's, and someone instantly asks for $60 or more cash back.
6. Coming to a checkstand that's filthy (Trash everywhere, money and coupons not organized, etc.)
7. People asking me if I'm open when my light is on and I am either A) helping a customer or B) Waiting patiently for a customer
8. People NOT asking me if I'm open when my light is off.
9. People leaving their receipts and coupons at the end of the checkstand.
10. People leaving their baskets on the floor (tripping hazard!)
11. People waiting in my line for cigarettes, stamps, a question, or a price check, when customer service is open and not busy at all.
12. Customers not putting their leaky and juicy meats in a plastic bag.
13. Customers who don't even respond to "Hi, how are you today?"  Not... a... word.
14. Customers on their phone when I need to ask them something (price they want on a gift card, if they want help out, etc.)
15. Customers who complain to me about ANYTHING that is not my fault (selection or lack of helpfulness in a department, price of a product, etc.)
16. Customers who come to me with several (and by several I mean 4, 5, or more) problems and/or returns.  GO... TO... CUSTOMER... SERVICE!
17. Customers who don't get WIC right and then get upset when they can't get that particular product.  BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS!
18. Getting a lunch 2 hours into an 8 hour shift (yes, that has happened to me before).
19. Not getting a lunch for an 8 hour shift.
20. Only getting one 15 minute break for a 6 and a half hour shift.
21. Customers asking me questions when I'm on break/lunch or off.
22. Customers asking me if we have extra stock of product in the back, holding my line up
23. Customers not seeing "Must by 4 or more" type labels, and then complaining about it.
24. Customers who eat their groceries in front of me when I'm hungry myself.
25. Customers who return and try to get my help (buy something, price question, etc.) from the end of the checkstand rather than returning to the line
26. Customers who try to type in their phone number or swipe their card before I've even signed on or scanned an item.  Does the PIN pad look like it's ready for you?!
27. Customers who swipe their payment card on the Safeway club card screen, and then say that it didn't ask for their Safeway card.
28. When I need to go to the bathroom, go on break, go home, etc., and I have my light off, yet people continue to show up.
29. Customers asking for products that a regular grocery store wouldn't carry (electronics, car supplies, etc.)
30. I love you baby! :}  <--- Amanda put this in while I was away... how sweet of her :)  I love you too sweetheart
30. Customers who ask me to use my own club card.  You think I'm allowed to do that?  Really?
31. Having a customer who needs a carryout but no courtesy clerks around <--- This is the worst.
32. Having to bag all of the groceries for a few hours because the store short-staffed a certain period or a courtesy clerk didn't show up to their shift.
33. Having customers complain about the lack of help.  Don't you think I'd want the help?  I should be the one complaining!  At least you get to leave!
34. Having to deal with some people you can't stand on a routine basis (the regulars)
35. Customer service/the office not responding to your office calls when you need cash the most.
36. Checkstands freezing on you at the worst times.
37. Slow and incompetent baggers.
38. DAMN... PLASTIC... BAGS!  Put a slightly sharp item in it, pokes straight through the bag.
39. Bags sticking to one another when you pull one off.
40. Bags not pulling the next one forward a bit when you pull it off.
41. Customers putting money on one of the belts... THAT'S WHAT THE COUNTERS ARE FOR!
42. Customers whose cards don't work (TENDER DECLINED) and get frustrated at you/the machine when it's clearly their bank or them.
43. RUNNING OUT OF PAPER BAGS!  I know they cost more to make... but less than 10% of customers ask for them.  Stop being so cheap, Safeway.
44. Being recognized at other places by regular customers.  "Hey, you work at Safeway!"  "Yeah, I know... (Don't remind me)."
45. Something like the belt, screen, scale, or scanner not working properly (Had all 4 malfunction on me).
46. Customer forgetting some of their groceries and having to chase them down (Especially when they only have 1 bag)
47. Customers who pay with EBT and either A) Think that something can go on EBT when it can't, B) Don't have enough to pay for their groceries and have to take something off or C) Can't figure out their PIN or balance and request a balance without a purchase.
48. People who write checks for a bunch of money over the total and their check doesn't go through.  Checks are not forms of money; they are statements to a bank!
49. Customers who wonder why their total is so high and question almost every price.


AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST

50. Having to bite my tongue at customers and at my managers so that I have to vent here.