Why Do Customers Yell At Cashiers?

Question

Were you a cashier and was abused by customers?
Or did you witness customers abusing cashiers?
If so, share your stories.

Answer 1

I worked at wendys this time last year for some extra cash when the kids were in bed and hubby was done with work. We had this really nice lady from ehtiopia working there ( her 3rd job no less ) she asked this guy if he wanted a combo ( was cheaper ) he yelled, DID I SAY I wanted a combo ? He kept yelling and I was over in the drive thru and I heard him and went over there ( the manager was doing something else of course )
I was like sir is there a problem. He starts raving like I didnt say I wanted a combo and on and on ( the dining room was packed! )
Finally after about 1 minute or 2, he stopped yelling and said "What do you think about that ? "
I politely smiled at him and said, " dang mr, if this food wont give yiou a heart attack your ugly attitude will."
EVeryone in line started laughing, hes screaming he wants my manager and my name, I said my name was juanita( it isnt,,lol )
The manager came over and said sir we don't want your business and please leave.
He called and made a big stink but you know what, that ethiopan woman was JUST DOING what she was trained to do. As my pastor says, some people have to act like that cause its the only power they have in their life.

I gave my friend a hug and told her to chin up cause she was really upset.

Answer 2

Yep, I've been on the receiving end of a customer's bad day.
I used to work at a fast food joint as a cashier, We are halfway between LA and Vegas, so every weekend was the same, Friday and Saturday, customers were so distracted that sometimes they didn't even know what restaurant they were in (seriously!) so they'd get pissed that we didn't have big macs or whatever the hell they thought they wanted... On Sunday when they're all coming home, 99% of them are angry because they spent too much or lost too much, so every little detail pisses 'em off, like "excuse me, but this tomato isn't RED ENOUGH!"
I also got yelled at once because a man gave me a $50 bill for a $2.73 tab, so when I count out his $47.27 change (2 pennies, 1 quarter makes three, 2 ones make 5, one 5 makes 10, 2 20s make 50) he insists that I am wrong, so I show him the receipt, do the math on the back of the receipt, re-count the change, even bring out a calculator, and he still insists I'm an idiot.

Answer 3

Why do they yell? Because the public sucks. I do not like working with the public.
The cashier is tired of listening to cranky people, and the cranky people just want to finish and get home, so they take it out on the cashier when they have to wait for a "price check". News flash...make sure everything has a price tag! I'd appreciate it since I am always behind you in line.

Here's a McDonalds story.
My first job. Back in the day before the registers had pictures and did all the math for you.
If you wanted 3 burgers etc. I had to WRITE DOWN ON PAPER how much they were, add it all up, use the push button register and figure out your change IN MY HEAD! And when the corporation came around they would time you for 1 hour, and your average time should be 1 min. per customer. All for $1.80 per hour.
Anyway, this guy comes in high as a kite! Didn't know what the f**k he was doing. Orders all this food, WATCHES me write it down and add it up. It was a little over $10. He had a 10 dollar bill in his hand. I knew he didn't have enough. But instead of just saying " oh man, I don't have enough, can you take something off?". He looked at the list and accused me of making a mistake, because he didn't order the Big Mac.
My reply? " you're full of **** too because you stood right there and watched me write it down!".
I didn't get fired, but the next day the boss told me I "better shape up or ship out"
The place was packed, I was in the middle of an order, I said "excuse me" to the customer and punched out!
Boss said " where are you going?" I said "I'm shipping out."
My best friend worked there also, she said "wait for me." And punched out.
Anyway, . If I find myself taking my anger out or just getting rude to someone I always check myself and apologize. I let them know that while I may be upset I know it's not their fault and I don't mean to take it out on them.

Answer 4

Cashiers are the last person they see in any shop. Most customers won't complain to staff members from around the store, because most will just say sorry and walk off.

But being at the end of the customers experience, some are so steamed up, that it's usually the cashier that cops the brunt of their frustration.

So most times, it's up to the cashier to try to change the bad experience into a positive one, by being friendly and courteous to everyone. And wish them a good day.

Answer 5

Some customers do it because they are jerks. Others do have a good reason to do it. For instance if a customer is upset because he didn't get the right amount of change back, that's one thing. But if he yells at the cashier because the shake machine is broken, that is the customer just being rude because the cashier can't control that. I am a cashier and have been yelled at. Some have a right to be upset. Others do not.

Answer 6

Just last week while paying the cable/internet bill the lady in front of me went up to the window with a full on attitude. I mean at least start off nice & see if the person can assist you. If not, respectfully ask for the manager. They get paid to take customer complaints, not the cashiers.

Answer 7

Because they can!
I am serious. People may be fed up with their jobs, their wives, their lives.
They may lack power and buy pushing around a cashier (or waitress), it gives them a feeling of power, which is unobtainable in their sad lives.
Then you have some truly powerful people, who just are miserable people and enjoy it.
The cashier is defenseless. They can't fight back. If you talk back to the customer you will get in trouble, or even fired. The people know that, and that is exactly why they do it.
They have a name for those people, LOSERS!

Answer 8

I was a cashier for five years, and while I liked it for the most part, there were some days and people I could do without. I've been accused of making mistakes on the receipt on purpose and cheating a kid out of her money when I refused to cash a two-party check, had someone raise their voice to me because he was obviously buying beer for a kid, (the kid gave him money to pay for it right in front of me), been yelled at for the store policies of always carding people, asking their birthday, (IT's none of your damn business when my birthday is), been accused of being in a conspiracy to raise prices (you know, when the shelf price and the scanning price don't match--that's my doing) and had paper money and coupons crumpled up and thrown at me. Oh, yes, a customer came in one time and dealt with the service counter person over some moldy cheese and she was told to go and get another package, and she found some more moldy cheese and THREW it at ME. And every time during the summer when someone brought back a spoiled gallon of milk, I wanted to ask just HOW LONG it was in their trunk.
And people asked me why I don't SMILE all day.

Answer 9

I was a cashier for almost 3 years and got yelled at daily. Why these people think A)that it will make a difference and B)that it will make me want to help them more is always going to be a mystery to me.

Answer 10

I am a cashier(UGH) and I can tell you that I believe that most people that yell at us probably have nothing better to do than yell. They probably have had a really bad day and decide to take it out on us. Or that is just how they treat everyone in their lives.