Express Yourself At The Express Checkout, Part 2
A customer gets into my lane with a full basket, behind the customer I am about to start serving.
Me: “Ma’am, this is the ten-items-or-less lane.”
Customer: *Looks anywhere but me in an attempt to ignore me.*
Me: “Ma’am.”
Customer: *Suddenly finds the ceiling very interesting.*
I start serving my current customer, and basket lady starts unloading her items onto my belt. I sigh.
When I get to serving basket lady, she’s no longer able to ignore me.
Me: “Ma’am, just so you know, for next time, this is the express lane. Each customer can only bring ten items to checkout.”
Customer: “Where does it say that?”
Me: “There is a sign at the entrance to this lane, and another hanging from the ceiling.”
Customer: “Well, they should be clearer! The text is too small! Not every customer can read those!”
I sigh and just scan her items out to get her away from me. After she’s paid and walked away two steps.
Customer: *Scrutinizing her receipt.* “Hey, the Pop-Tarts are 30% off!”
Me: “Oh, now you can read?!”
I admit, it came out of nowhere. Usually, my inside voice stays inside, but something about this customer just made me snap. I was sure I was about to get into trouble, but the customer was just as shocked with my outburst as I was, and hurriedly left without saying another word.
I wish customers read signs the same way they read their receipts for mistakes.
