Cashiers don't say hello

There are many cashiers (Starbucks, McDonald's ect in US) who just stare at me when I walk up to them to order, I feel very annoyed. What do you feel, think or react when you face those people ?

I initiate the interaction: "Hi, how's it going?"

If they're inclined to not want conversation, I pay and go.

If they're miserable, that's their problem not mine.

They're getting paid minimum wage to deal with customers asking for things like, "Caramel latte with half skim milk, half 2%, light on the cream, 2 sugars, 4 splenda, and exactly 2 dashes of cinnamon on top". I can feel their pain.

lol pain ? Seriously, it's a gross exaggeration. But even if it's true, it's not the excuse to not saying hello to customers.

Those f$%^** cashiers should be fired.

I was being sarcastic, obviously...but what some customers order at Starbux is ridiculous. I take my coffee black; I'm easy.

In all honesty, it comes down to people not caring about doing a good job. A job in retail, like a cashier, pays very little and there's no incentive to do anything above and beyond what's necessary - ringing up a customer, so why should they? Once in a while, you get that personable worker who you can tell cares about their job and enjoys going out of their way to say "hello", but that's few and far between.

I usually have a smile when I walk up to the counter. All the cashiers who have taken my orders smiled back even if they didn't say hello. That's good enough to me.

@Zensword: As long as you get your coffee, and the person making the coffee doesn't spit in it, who cares?

I try to acknowledge people when I'm working, even if just with a nod or a smile, and always say hi when people walk up to whatever desk I'm standing behind.

I've met many miserable cashiers and aim never to be one.


Though the comment made about cashiers/retail workers never being really given the incentive to go above and beyond is true. I do it because I'm a f***ing awesome employee, not because my employer actually notices or cares.

Yeah, I'm usually the one greeting them instead. That's because I know how much of a pain it is to work with relentless customers and know they can ruin anyone's day. Working in retail, you learn these things. But that is not an excuse to be rude, as long as they don't treat me like some asshole, I'm fine, regardless if they greet me or not. If I feel like you're talking to me like an ass though, then I'll just like screw you too, buddy.

...yeah, you want to know who are bigger assholes? People who go out of their way to complain about cashiers not saying hello.

And suffice to say, it IS part of their job to greet customers. That's like the first thing you learn about being in retail. I think saying "hello" takes very little effort, but that little greeting can make a big difference in the overall customer experience.

I remember serving this nice lady at work and she said I had a sunny disposition which she didn't really see much in cashiers. I just think it's nice to be nice, haha.

I fully understand what they're going through and don't let it bother me. 98% of the people they deal with are insufferably stupid self important jerks. I just be sure to tell them to have a good day after I'm done and hope they make it through.

As a supermarket cashier i try to say hello to every customer. Sometimes i hold off greeting them if they don't make eye contact, but i ALWAYS say have a nice day/good night after i hand them their change and receipt.

So can i

They deal with people that treat them like dirt everyday.. Really not a big deal

This is the same thing i do... I don't mind making a friendly effort, but i'm not interested in being a jerk to them if they don't make the same effort.

well, it's hard to be cheerful when you're a minimum wage working peon working two jobs and getting 5 hours of sleep a night just to make ends meet

Exactly.....

are you Ugly or less attractive person ? ... if yes .... that's what triggered the cashier's reaction upon you ....

Insult me just because I have a legit complaint ? This is totally uncalled for. You and LJ deserve that title than me, I'm sure.

So many people here are liars, I'm sure they feel annoy when a cashier just stares at their faces without saying hi, smile or thank you, or don't even tell how much you owe.

With cashiers like those people, I'd prefer a self check out machines. But alas, Starbucks, McDonalds' and many other super market still don't have self check out machines.

I can't say this really happens to me, but if it were to happen I feel like I would understand the plight of being underpaid (by which I mean not enough to live on) to do a job that is not fulfilling in the least.

I would probably just greet them in some manner and move on with my life. At least they wouldn't be trying to sign me up for a damn credit card.

Leave them alone man, isn't it enough that they're cashiers?

met a person that said everyone should have to work retail at least once in their lives. I can recall from my experiences it makes you realize how frustrating it can be to deal with humans as tempermental-spur of the moment traffic.

Not every person is as good at holding fake smiles. Not everyone can hold up our happiness. We have to choose that. Sometimes you catch someone on a bad day. I just want my order correct thats all.

they don't have to fake a force smile or ask me :'How are you ?", just say :"Hello" or "Hi". That's enough. People here give me the impression that saying hello is too difficult.

We can only hope that they're doing their best to advance themselves and move up in society. People who settle for these types of jobs instead of using them as a means to an end are quite silly.

@Zensword: don't get me wrong I'm not arguing that they are being good employees, just that I can sympathize enough to understand why they might be doing only what is minimally required to b adequate.

Dude you need to learn to chill.....entirely too high strung over not be greeted. All that matters is they take care of the sale. Period.

You are only proving my point now. If this topic is such a big issue in your life that it causes you to become this angry, then you really need to live a bit more.

Angry over this topic ? No, Angry because being insulted ? yes.

A guy who complains and 2 guys who insulted that guy, who are bigger assholes ?

GTFO both of you.

Would something like this make you feel better TC?

Insulted? Someone not saying hello to you gets your panties in a bunch?

You seriously need to get out more.

What does getting out more have anything to do with disrespectful employees. I get out a lot, and it is quite disrespectful when you salute someone and they don't reply.

Getting out more and growing a thicker skin because there's more shit to deal with in this world than throwing a pissy fit when someone doesn't say hello.

Wow you really need to man up dude and stop the whining....

yeah i just dont get it not everyone is a social freak. i dont get why people get so angry cause you dont talk to them. maybe i cant think of anything to say! get over yourself! im not a very sociable person and i just get tired of saying it to be honest it just gets redundant. got forced into to cashiering and i really dont like it.

Saying hello is not being a social freak... It's one word and it's to acknowledge someone else existence with respect.

alot of times thats not enough though they want you to talk to them and sometimes i just cant think of anything to say or the right things to say. that shit kills me when you have a line and they want to tell you their life story. i always say hello though or have a good day when im done

@GazaAli: "Leave them alone man, isn't it enough that they're cashiers?"

What's wrong with being a cashier at least it's a job they're earning an honest buck, it's not like people haven't worked their way up from the bottom before? Keep your snobbish comments to yourself.

I was once a retail cashier (in a gas bar mind you). I do not generate any rage towards retail employees. I walked a mile in their shoes.

What you expect from someone making minimal wage?

Not entirely true....

You're interacting with the people lowest on the workforce totem pole when you talk to a cashier. They get paid crap, they get treated like crap at least once a shift, and most people don't enjoy working where they do. I wouldn't worry about cashiers. There's much bigger things in life to worry about.

@Zensword: Yes, so we can use our tax dollars so they stay at home, collecting $ for doing less then what they're doing now. Makes a $#!tload of sense now.

@Zensword: They'll be replaced by robots soon so get used to it.

Looking for attention? You mean, like YOU bumping a three year old thread? ...

@me1yb: So you're saying that the TC is overreacting for complaining about it but you're the one who creates a GS account to reply to a 3 year old thread? Sounds perfectly reasonable.