Why do some customers expect cashiers to throw away their trash for them?

Question

I have worked as a cashier for the past 5 years. On more than one occasion, customers have given me little bits of trash to throw away for them. To say the very least, this is insulting, because it seems as though they not only look at us cashiers as the people who take their money and give them their change, but also as little more than maids. Not only does it show that these people are arrogant, but it also shows that they are too lazy and/or stupid to find the nearest trash can and throw away their own garbage!

Answer 1

Don't you just love customer service! I too have had that happen many times and it really annoys me. I will do my job but I am nobody's b**ch!

Answer 2

Well, would you rather they leave the garbage on your counter? For example: You buy a Slurpee at the 7-11 and don't unwrap the straw until you get to the cash register, where you can set your purse and your drink down and have a free hand. I always ask for a trash can and I'm very nice about it...but I would think your job as the cashier is to also help keep the store clean, and it's not the end of the world for you to give me the trash can to toss my own garbage. Most cashiers will take it for me and throw it in the can...

I am quite sure those people don't think you are being their maid. They are trying to keep your store clean too. I bet it makes you more angry when you have to bend over and pick up somebody's trash they dropped on the floor, doesn't it?

The moral of this story is: Stay in school and get good job training, so that you don't have to be a cashier for the rest of your life.

Answer 3

You dont think that taking a small piece of trash from a customer falls under the mantle of customer service?

You wouldnt last long working for me or any of the companies Ive been with in the past. It is such a trivial thing to get upset about. To the customer, taking the trash is no big deal, and I dont see how it can be a big deal to you, if its gross hold up the can, otherwise just take it and know you are giving yourself job security. If a cashier refused to take a small piece of paper and put it in her trash can (usually the only one around, and guarded by the cashier so its not accessible any other way) I would either say something to the manager or just never go back to the store.

Customer service sells, if you cant see that then perhaps you need a different job.

Answer 4

If a customer asks you what time it is or if you know where the nearest bus stop is, do you get annoyed too because it's not in your job description? Is it really that hard to do people little favors now and then, whether you're at work or not?

I've worked as a cashier in the past and sometimes customers, knowing that I had a garbage bin right next to me, asked me if I could throw something away for them. I just did it and didn't waste my time getting annoyed over it. It was certainly annoying if they just left it lying there on the table without saying a thing because that's rude and slobby, but I never saw a problem with it when asked politely. It's really no big deal to me.

Answer 5

Having worked in retail many years ago, what I would do for a customer would depend on how respectful they were. If they asked politely if I could throw something away, I would pick up my trash can and let them throw it in. If they just handed me something, I would direct they to the nearest receptacle.

Few people realize that most in the service industry have very stringent job duties and strict sanitation guidelines to follow. Accepting "dirty" trash from one individual could transfer germs from them to the people you give change to after them.

I wouldn't want the person who just disposed of a tissue, for example, from the last customer handling my produce or meat.

Answer 6

My question is why is the customer carrying trash around? And why is it imperative that they throw it away in the store? Can't they wait til they get home?
I'd never ask a cashier to do this. I'd stick it in my purse and throw it away whenever I found a trashcan.
People shouldn't be cleaning out their purses at a cash register. That's just rude in itself.

Answer 7

It's really a matter of you (the cashier) having a trash can near you. So if there's trash to be thrown, it would be polite to ask if they can throw it in your trash can. I would see no reason for you to say no since trash is trash and it goes in the bin and you're the one nearest to it. Customers know better than to walk in side your "counter" and throw it themselves. That would put you in an awkward position at work. Don't get so offended. Think of it as help towards keeping the surroundings cleaner.

Answer 8

Get off your high horse, you are an employee of whatever type of business hires you. YOU have a trash can behind the counter, and there usually isn't one in front of the counter. Perhaps your boss would enjoy you telling them to throw the trash on the floor for the servant girl to clean up later.

If I were your boss, and I've supervised a LOT of people, you'd be in my office pronto for an *** chewing if I ever heard you say anything like that in my business.

I have done this myself and THOROUGHLY appreciate the help from the workers. I have also been the person on the other side of the counter, and never once was insulted by helping toss a little trash out. I give you NO sympathy on this one at all. You ought to be very ashamed of yourself.



This is just about the worst question since the lady wanted to confront her elderly neighbors for sending out the same Christmas card two years in a row.

Answer 9

I don't find this rude at all - it's better that these customers are taking the initiative to even throw out their trash - rather than being pigs and leaving their trash in the aisles of your store. And usually there ARE trash cans right by the cashiers anyway as a convenience for customers.
The only time I ask is when I have a return and I don't want the bag, they kindly take it from me and throw it out - the trash is typically one foot behind them anyway, it's not like I'm asking them to do some hard task!
That is what you are getting paid to do anyway!

Answer 10

I don't find it rude at all. I've worked in retail for over 6 years now. It's customer service, deal with it.
If the customer has something "iffy" to throw away, I pull the trash can from under the register and allow them to throw it away themselves. No biggie, it takes less than five seconds.
If this bothers you soooo much, maybe being a cashier isn't where you need to be.

Answer 11

I always ask if there is a garbage can around...usually the cashier will say "Oh, I'll take it." I hate to hand over garbage to someone else, so I always look for an alternative, but more often then not they say they will take it instead of pointing to the nearest can.