Why Do Customers Yell At Cashiers?

Question

Were you a cashier and was verbally abused by other customers?
OR
Did you witness customers verbally abusing cashiers?
If so, share your stories.

especially during the Holidays

Answer 1

Its like yahoo answers. Notice how half the time people give rude, aggressive responses to questions that don't deserve it? That's how it is with the poor cashiers. The customers (and people responding to questions in Yahoo answers) fell they can talk to these strangers however they feel cause they're untouchable. A cashier ( in most cases) wont tell you off in fear of losing her job so the customer takes advantage of that and speaks their mind. In Yahoo the people responding to questions know that nobody can see them and nobody knows who they are so they go on a rude spree hiding behind their monitors "untouchable." Something they would most likely never do to someone on the street.

Answer 2

I think that people who are shopping can be inconsiderate and impatient with cashiers . . I worked as a cashier for a year and was never verbally abused, but I have come across people with major attitudes and even racist people . . . one day, an elderly white man came through my line and I held my hand out to take his money and he threw it down on the counter . . . it took all I had in me to not say something to him . . I just bit my tongue, handed him his change, and said "have a nice day" . . .

Answer 3

Ignorance. People tend to forget that cashiers are human.
When I worked at McDonalds, I witnessed that many times.
Fortunately, when I worked in retail, I was allowed to tell customers when they crossed the line.
I was able to tell one customer, when she was complaining about how long it was taking (I was running the store alone), that I was doing the best I could, but I only have two hands.
I hate rude people.

Answer 4

Yes I have been, and I have definitely wondered what would possess someone to be a b i t c h to a total stranger.

My very first day working at a fast food restaurant, I was still learning, and struggling taking an older womans order. Finally, she got really angry, and asked someone else to help her, and said loudly to everyone, how "stupid and imcompetent" I was. She was SO mean to me. I mean, it was my first day. Anyone could see that. It honestly made me cry.

Now, I have a friend who does that. I mean she is just plain RUDE to food servers and cashiers. And I now refuse to go to eat or anything with her because I get embarrased when she treats people badly.

Answer 5

Plenty of times. Both as a cashier and as a manager of people being abused.

Because someone was in a hurry. Because someone wasn't getting their way. Because someone decided to take the stress of holiday shopping out on me. Because they don't understand a basic concept that the cashier is trying to explain to them.

I've been yelled at for trying to *save* people money because they thought I was trying to cheat them or decieve them in some way.

I've been yelled at because my store was "too crowded" for a woman pushing around a giant stroller and complaining that she couldn't shop with her kid, whom she was obviously resentful to.

I've been yelled at because one of my co-workers or managers didn't handle something the way the customer would have preferred, and I was the only one they could get to listen.

I've been yelled at because people were going against a store policy that was clealy and visibly printed at the cash register and on their receipt but they thought they were somehow special enough to bypass that because "the customer is always right"

I've been berated by a customer for following a company policy that would have cost me my job had I disobeyed it, simply because *he* thought it was "rididculous"

And so on, and so on and so on.

I think people assume that because you work a simple job, that you're a simple person with simple feelings and therefore don't deserve to be treated like a human being.

But mainly, I think it's just that cashiers are easy targets for misplaced anger. People get stressed when shopping, especially around the holidays. Anger builds up and rather than deal with it appropriately, they blow up at someone innocent over something completely unncessary.

It sucks, but I like to think there's a special place in hell for those people. They've obviously never had to practice customer service themselves or they'd know better.

Answer 6

I worked part-time at Christmas about 4 years in a row. I was screamed at by a woman over a $1 toy. It's wheel had come off. I worked at the Dollar Store then. I threw a dollar at her and the boss laughed(it was Christmas Eve). I think it is mainly frustration! Christmas is very stressful for some people!

Answer 7

I worked one year at Christmas time, and I swear I will never do it again unless I direly need to. At the same time , I think everyone should have to work in retail one Christmas season or even one week of the holiday season - it really gives you more respect for those who have no choice but to work at that time of the year - maybe then there would be less irate people running through the malls being rude to everyone.

Answer 8

I'm a cashier and i've had verbal abuse.

i don't just run the register. i have to sell lotto,money orders,cigerettes, and rent videos to people also.

they can get down right rude because i'm not waiting on them. I have to go to the person i saw there first. it may not be the right person. And some people get mad and yell at me for it.

Answer 9

I guess they are easy targets--it's easy to pitch a fit when you are frustrated at someone you don't know than address what's bothering you directly. That's not right, obviously. However, it can be irksome when two cashiers are shooting the breeze while there are two long lines of people who want to pay for their stuff and get the heck out of there. Hmm, do unto others and you would have them do unto you.

Answer 10

~~~
"The Customer"
I am your customer,,,I am the reason you have a job, if you have no customer,,,you have no job,,,no paycheck,,,please treat me with a little respect, acknowledge that I am in your check out line,,,please great me with a hello. When you give me my change back,,,please count it back to me, dont just hand it to me in a big wadded up ball,,,,look me in the eye and say thank you. That is all I ask as your customer.