Rude cashier. Stink bomb?

Question

Today I went shopping and the cashier was totally rude and hostile for no apparent reason. I don't think that complaining to the manager would work, I worked in retail before. I think it would be dismissed as a petty complaint from a fussy customer (which I am not, I just expect the BASIC customer service). All I wanted was to receive a copy of my receipt and a minimum of courtesy, like "you are welcome and bye". So, have you ever felt like going in the store next time and hiding a stink bomb? Or what do you do? Should you go in with a cup of coffee (not burning) and spill it in the cashier's face to humiliate him in front of everyone?

Answer 1

Was this at a major chain? If so, you can call, write, or email corporate and report this; try to be as detailed as possible in explaining what happened; give the cashier's name or employee number, it should be on your reciept. Corporate will tell the store manager. For some reason this way seems to get more results than if you contacted the manager directly. You might get a gift card or some kind of freebie for the bad experience. If you don't want to do that, you have a couple options. 1.) You can tell all your friends and family not to patronize this establishment. 2.) You can do something non-illegal to create hardship for the cashier. This doesn't fix the bad manners, but it might make you feel better. Buying and returning things repeatedly, asking nuisance questions, "accidentally" knocking over things and displays that the cashier is supposed to maintain. I'm sure you can think of other things. Please don't try coffee in the face. Knocking coffee off the counter and onto the cashier's lower body would be better. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

As someone who has worked in retail before, I am sure you can understand when someone is having a bad day. I would leave it this time, but if it happens again, I would definately complain.

The stink bomb thing is petty and will do nothing but annoy other customers and the store manager. All that the employee will get out of it is a free trip outside with the customers while the problem is taken care of by a cleaner. Also, the coffee is a silly idea. It is impossible to "spill" it in a person's face, unless they are crouching on the ground, so therefore it would be considered assault. Are you really wanting to face assault charges just cause someone was rude to you?

Answer 3

No matter how insulted you are, there's no reason for revenge in this case. You will only end up getting arrested. What you should have done was complain to the store manager! Regardless of what you may have seen in the past, not all stores managers are that liberal. You must learn to react at the appropriate times and not let people take advantage of you. If she had done that to me, I would have asked her straight up: What did you say?! (In a nasty tone) and then ask HER to call the manager over. Settle the problem right there and then.

Answer 4

If you have worked in retail, then you already know the answer to your questions.

Your cashier was having a bad day. You weren't the first customer in front of her and there might have been 10 rude customers prior to you getting there. The boss may be the pointy haired type.

It doesn't excuse her performance, but try giving her a walk on this one. If it continues in the future, a brief, polite letter to the manager of the store should suffice.

A stink bomb, or other assault isn't the answer. She gets paid minimum wage to deal with rude, passive/aggressive, a**hole, mean, tired and homicidal customers every day.

Answer 5

As long as she didn't physically or verbally harm you, what's the big deal? Maybe she was just feeling anti-social or was having problems at home or something. I've had plenty of cashiers ring up my purchases (usually at the grocery store) without saying hello, goodbye, kiss my @ss, nothing... All I think is that at least they cut the small talk, she concentrated more on ringing up my $300 worth of groceries instead of talking about the weather, talking with the bagger, etc. and the trip was quicker.

Answer 6

Your plans of revenge are very, very childish and immature. Your "stink bomb" idea is TERRORISM, and could end you up in prison for a long time, and might even get you up on a murder charge if a riot ensued and someone was trampled to death.

Why don't you think reporting this to the manager would work? Or are you just too damn lazy to do it, or not really willing to have the guts to complain publicly.

If this is a chain operation, you should complain directly to the district office manager and be willing to stand behind your complaint. Or just stop expecting people to treat you special. No need to treat people "special" if they won't stand up for themselves is the attitude many people have.

Answer 7

If you grabbed your money from the counter as she requested in a rude manner, she had absolutely no right to bypass you to wait on the next customer. You should have reported her behavior to the manager on the spot, instead of allowing her to take someone else ahead of you. She must be a miserable b**** to waste the consumers time and give the business she is working for such a negative image. If I did not report her to the manager, I would surely not return to that place of business until she was removed from that job.

Answer 8

Or you could think that maybe the cashier isn't evil and they were having a rough day (which I'm sure probably happened to you before). If you go to the store again and they are rude again, then they might just be a jerk and you should talk to the manager, but for a one time offense, lighten up. We're all human.

Answer 9

If your initial reaction to being treated rudely is to light off a stink bomb or throw coffee in someone's face, it says an awful lot about you, and it's not good. It could very well be that you had the attitude and the cashier reacted it to it. Not very admirable on his part, but you don't sound like a peach.

Answer 10

Go to the manager if you get a rude cashier. They will help you.