Some People Just Want To Watch The World Burn, Part 38

At The Checkout, Bad Behavior, First Day, Grocery Store, Jerk, New Hires, Training, USA | Right | December 11, 2025

I’m being trained at the checkouts. My trainer is working with me (acting as the bagger while I learn the ropes). My trainer points out a woman who has just entered my line, a few customers back.

Trainer: “That woman will complain if you literally say anything to her. Don’t ask her how her day is going, if she has a rewards card, if she found everything in the store she was looking for. Anything. Remain silent, scan her groceries, and only respond if spoken to.”

I look at him for a second to see if he’s joking, but his tone and body language indicate he is being very serious.

When I get to the aforementioned customer, I do as I’m told and I start scanning her groceries in silence. After scanning about three items, she says:

Customer: “What?! No hello? No greeting? How rude!”

I stop scanning for a moment and look to my trainer. My eyes are saying ‘WTF?’

Trainer: “Ma’am, you have made it quite clear in the past that you do not wish us to speak to you in any manner unless spoken to first.”

Customer: “Yes, but this girl is a trainee! It says as much on her name tag! How else is she to learn how to treat me?”

Trainer: “Are you saying you wanted her to greet you, so that you would have a chance to reprimand her when she does so, so that she can learn?”

Customer: “Yes! She needs to learn from her mistakes!”

Trainer: “Ma’am, I am her trainer, and I informed her when you got in the line how you prefer to be treated. There was no need to create a situation where you would feel compelled to shout at one of our cashiers… again.”

Customer: “Well… It’s still not the best way to learn.”

Trainer: “Ma’am, you’re making it sound like you wanted the opportunity to shout at a teenage cashier.”

She glares at him; he glares at her. The world pauses for a moment.

Customer: “…still not the best way to learn.”

You could tell she was sooooo disappointed. That was the day I learned customers who cause scenes do so because they WANT to!