Input from the other side of things

Read this article first: Link its short and sweet so it wont take forever don't worry ^^.

After reading this I just have to say some things in your cashiers defense. Because I happen to be one of them. ^^

#1. (Not making eye contact) I always try to make eye contact. In fact I hold out big long conversations with most the people I ring out.
Sometimes I don't always do this though, the fact is, I'm a rather shy person and random people can be intimidating for no reason at all!
In other instances I just get in the groove of things, especially when it is really busy. I will hardly notice when I go from one customer to the next. It really helps if you just say, "hi!" I always respond!
Keep in mind that your cashier is a person to, we may have something on our mind that is upsetting us and are really not in the mood to talk to anyone. I know this has happened to me a few times. And I know you really don't want me blubbering all my problems to you, because that's likely to happen if I open my mouth when I feel like that, so in those cases, better to keep it shut for the most part. I will still say hi if you say hi to me, and more often then not what has made me feel better is my friendly costumers striking up a fun conversation with me. ^^

#2. (Answering the phone) Where I work no, this is not a problem with me. Our phones are someplace else. But I can say that where I use to work, it was!

Where I use work though we where required to answer the phone after 2 rings, regardless of how many costumers where in out line. I would have to stop mid-sentence to answer the phone and help someone else, and I hated it to. Do you know how hard it is to juggle a phone while trying to ring someone out? Not to mention I felt rude, because I know its rude! I would try really hard to get the conversation over with as fast as I could, but sometimes you just cant.

What can you do to help? Well there is nothing really, all you can do it be patient and wait. Now when I answered the phone I was sure to still ring people up, I just wouldn't be able to hold as good a conversation with them as I would have liked.
If it seems as though the cashier isn't able to help you with what you need though, maybe ask them if they can page someone who can help you, or ask if they can get someone else to take the phone call. If they give you a dirty look and ignore you then they are just being plan rude, the person on the phone isn't going to mind if the cashier quickly pages another person to help them generally, or if they pause the conversation to tell you that they are the only one available at the moment.

#3. (Chatting to other clerks) No defence from me here. It just shouldn't be done if your standing right there trying to get some help. If they are helping you and chatting a bit then that's not so bad, but they should at least try to finish it up and turn there full attention to you.

#4. (Not counting change back) I admit it, I'm not the perfect cashier, but at least I didn't read the article so closed minded that I tried to justify things even I know are a fault. From now on, I will try to start counting my change back. Especially the larger amounts. Not the costumers job, but keep in mind, it never hurts to double check. And always look at what the screen says your total/change due is, not what the words coming out of your cashiers mouth are. We have been looking at numbers all day and allot of times especially in my case, I will read them wrong or backwards or what have you!

#5. (Walking past costumers who need help) I cant really defend on this one ether, I try to stop if I can tell help is needed. But sometimes its hard to tell, don't be afraid to ask for help! That's what we are there for ^^. The polite cashier will ask if you need help with something but depending on where you are shopping they may have been trained to not ask you! So in those cases its up to you, to ask them sadly.

Well that finishes it up. Now just a quick little thing: 5 ways costumers can help there cashiers/ sales associates (but mostly cashiers) ;P.

1. If you don't want something don't just set it some random place. Guess what? You don't have to walk all the way across the store to put it back ether. Just hold on to it and hand it to your Cashier when you are checking out and let us know you don't want it. We would love to take it off your hands.

2. If you kids want candy or a drink make sure they pick it out before you start ringing stuff up. A lot of people don't know that cashiers are timed on how long it takes them to help you, and the longer it takes you kid to pick out that candy the more its hurting there score. Kids are indecisive though and one thing you can do is ask the cashier is they can suspend your transaction or put it on hold for a moment.

3.Don't get upset when we have to do the worst part of our jobs. When you Cashier has to have someone do a price check on an item that isn't ringing up right. This is just part of our job, its not that we think that your a lire and a thief we just have to do it for everyone. Even if you where our mother. ;P

We have to ask you those annoying questions at the end or the begging of the transactions. The, "Do you want to sign up for our credit card?" or "Can I get your Zip code?". The best response to give if a very clear, "No, thank you."

4. Understand that accidents happen. Always check your receipt when you are done and make sure that no items where scanned twice. We didn't mean to do it, the scanners can just be overly sensitive at times. If you notice an item getting scanned more then once wait a moment to see if we noticed to void it out, if we start scanning up the next item we probably didn't notice, and feel free to say something. If you can tell also feel free to say something, better safe then sorry. ;P

5. Be loud and clear. It never helps us out when you talk to quite. I understand that like me sometimes you don't want to talk. But if I say, "Hi." at least say "Hi." back in a somewhat audible voice. If you act like your busying your self with something else after that, Ill get the hit. Its very disheartening when people just ignore you when your just trying to be friendly.

Now just remember and keep in mind that we are all human beings and courtesy goes both ways. Things will always change a situation however, and there will always be a case where something could have been done or handled better.