A little while ago, we came across a news item: our kids’ favourite store-brand breakfast item had been recalled due to possible listeriosis. We checked our freezer, and sure enough, we had two boxes within the affected expiry dates: one opened and one not.

My husband called the store where we bought them. They said to bring them in and go to any cash register, as all cashiers had been trained on product recalls. So, he took them in. But, of course, when he got there, the cashier had no idea what he was talking about, even after he showed them the news story about the recall. So, the cashier called their manager.

Manager: “Why do you want a refund?”

Husband: “Because the product has been recalled due to the possibility of listeriosis.”

Manager: “But this box is opened.”

Husband: “Yes. This news story is from this morning. We didn’t know about the recall when we opened the box.”

Manager: “I can’t give you a full refund for a partially eaten product.”

Husband: “It’s been recalled. It’s not safe to eat. Your company is quoted in this news article saying we can bring it back for a full refund.”

Manager: “But you’ve already eaten some of it. Did you get sick?”

Husband: “Not yet…”

In the end, they did refund my husband, but both the cashier and manager clearly thought my husband was trying to scam them somehow. I have no idea how they didn’t know about a product recall that had already hit the national news… or about food recalls in general.

I work as a cashier in a store that has a credit card. We used to be prompted by the register to offer it to specific customers, but now management wants us to ask every customer who doesn’t already have one, without exception, and they expect us to have a high success rate. As you can imagine, all this achieves is annoying customers and making us cashiers dread an already dreadful job.

My manager watches me finish a transaction.

Manager: “Why didn’t you encourage that customer to sign up for a card?”

Me: “They’re a regular here. I saw them yesterday, and I asked them then. They said no.”

Manager: “But today is a new day.”

Me: “I think I would just end up annoying them if I asked them again today.”

Manager: “There’s always a way if you’re passionate enough about the product.”

Me: “I don’t think that’ll work.”

Manager: “I want to see you try it again on this next customer walking over.”

Me: *Looking over* “I don’t think so; that’s another regular. They’ve already told us quite clearly they’re not interested.”

Manager: “Here, let me show you how I would do it.”

This next customer comes over, and I ring up the items and state the total.

Manager: “Hi, sir! Would you like to save 20% on your order today by signing up for a [Store] credit card today?

Customer: “I’d rather s*** in my hands and clap.”

Manager: “…well, all righty, then! You have a great day!”

The customer pays and leaves. I am staring at the manager.

Manager: “…not a word!”

My local gas station has a self-checkout system. It also takes food stamps. The rule is that you have to go to the regular register, not the self-checkout, to use the food stamp card. I was there today with a food stamp card getting some lunch. As I was waiting in line, the guy manning the self-checkouts called me over as no one was using it.

Cashier: “Come on up.”

Me: “Oh, I’ve got to use the register. I’ve got—”

Cashier: “No, you can use the self-checkout. Now come up. You’re wasting time.”

Me: “Sir, I have a foo—”

Cashier: “You must use the self-checkout. Come up now or leave!”

Me: “Yes, sir.”

I walked up and scanned my items. I tried to use my food stamp card, and like I knew it wouldn’t, it did not work.

Cashier: “What the h*** is going on with this dumb thing?”

Me: *Showing him my card* “Sir, I was trying to tell you that I have a food stamp card. I have to use the regular register.”

Cashier: “Come over here and let’s get this over with. Next customer can use this one!”

I walked over, paid for my items, and left. All I could do was walk out the door and laugh.

I’m autistic and a cashier in a grocery store. I like that most of the social interaction is scripted, but I try to chat a bit with customers while I scan and bag their items, if only to keep them happily occupied if their order takes a while.

A man comes through my line with a tea strainer shaped like a turtle, among other things.

Me: “Oh, this is cute! Do you drink tea?”

Customer: “No, it’s for my girlfriend. I hope she likes it.”

Me: “She definitely will. The kind of loose-leaf tea you need for these is almost always a higher quality than bagged teas.”

Customer: “Really?”

Me: “Yeah, the lower-quality stuff gets bagged so you can’t see it. Since everyone can see loose-leaf tea, it’s usually better quality.”

I happily info-dump more tea facts until I’m done scanning his order, at which point I realize what I’ve been doing.

Me: “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to talk so much about tea.”

Customer: “No worries. I’m gonna go home and tell all that to my girlfriend, and she’s gonna ask me, ‘Where did you learn so much about tea?’”

I hoped that she liked her turtle strainer and wasn’t too confused when her boyfriend came home spouting random tea facts!

I was visiting another state when I decided to go to a local retailer. I am an associate at the store closest to my home, so I know how things work overall. I was in line behind a man at the only open register.

Cashier: “Do you have a rewards account with us?”

Customer: “I don’t believe I do.”

Cashier: “Do you want to?”

Customer: “Well, what does it do?”

Cashier: “You get rewards. That’s why it’s called a reward account.”

I looked up from my phone to see if that was a joke. It was not. The cashier looked genuinely annoyed, and the customer reacted in kind.

Customer: “No.”

Cashier: “Why? It’s free.”

Customer: “Because a vague response like that does not earn my business.”

He walked away without buying his items, leaving the cashier to gather his order.

Cashier: “Jesus. What a baby.” *Laughs*

Me: “Is your manager around?”

Cashier: “What?”

Me: “I’d like to speak to your manager.”

Cashier: “Over him? I was joking.”

Me: “I want to talk to your manager.”

Cashier: “Okay, good for you. I want a million dollars.”

Me: *Louder* “I need a manager here, please! Hello!”

A manager approaches.

Manager: “Hi, how can I help you?”

Me: “Hi. I am a store manager at [store number] in [Town]—”

Cashier: “Oh, my God. You aren’t—”

Me: “If any of my associates acted like…” *reads the cashier’s name tag* “…did just now, they would be terminated.”

Manager: “Um… I-I’m sorry. Do you have a minute to talk with me?”

Me: “Yes, I do. Thank you for your time.”

We went to the office where I told him what had happened. He put his face in his hands and let out a frustrated sigh.

Manager: “She knows better. I will handle it. Would you like me to ring you out on another register so you don’t have to go through her line?”

Me: “No, I’ll go back. I’m not concerned.”

I got back in line. [Cashier] saw me and rolled her eyes before turning off her light. When I got to her, she walked away.

Me: “Excuse me?”

Cashier: “This job is f****** stupid. I will not be berated by some b**** from another store because she doesn’t like how we do things here.”

She walked out of the store, leaving them with no one to run register. I went and told [Manager] what had happened, and he had to get on register and fill in.