Sometimes, trips to the grocery store can become more and more hectic. Especially on holidays. Some forgot to get a card for their significant other and decide to get it at 9 p.m. on Valentine’s Day; others remembered that they just HAD to go out and buy a turkey at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving; or shoppers realized that their Christmas Eve would be much more fun with a twelve pack of Bud Light. People get upset and irritated that there are not enough cash registers running; there are not enough baggers and they have to bag their own groceries; they give the cashiers dirty looks because, apparently, they are just not doing their job fast enough. But let me tell you a little something, the people working at Price Chopper, at Walmart, or any other store, are doing their best in order to please each and every customer that comes through their line. As a cashier I can honestly say that, when it comes to customers, a little bit of kindness goes a long way.
Now, I’m not accusing any of my fellow SUNY Oz students of being one of the many people that give those who work at grocery stores a hard time, by any means. I just figured, hey! Let’s talk about something these students can possibly relate to. I’m sure that some of you have worked in customer service and have had to deal with some pretty rude people. And if you haven’t, take this blog post to heart: cashiers, baggers, etc. are people just. like. you. They’re doing their job. They don’t make the prices — if they did, wouldn’t you think they would make the price of a gallon of milk less than $4?
I guess all I am trying to say is just be polite to the people who are waiting on you when you go shopping. Don’t give the cashier a hard time when they won’t sell you alcohol because your ID says “UNDER 21” on it. They simply can’t accept it, it’s store policy. If they do, they can lose their job. (I mean, c’mon. Is a six pack of Smirnoff Ice really THAT important?) If they don’t bag an item, don’t give them an attitude. Ask them nicely to bag it. If you’re on the phone, don’t ignore the cashier and throw your savings card/crumpled up money/etc at them. Giving a cashier crumpled up money is the worst.
In the end, think of it this way: You never know what kind of day that cashier is having, so always treat the people waiting on you with the respect and kindness that you want others to treat you with. Because minimum wage definitely isn’t worth being treated like a piece of garbage.