Not noticed that before!
I don't think I've seen a standing cashier here.
Status report Page 1,049
Quote: RubyMae - Glamourous Snowdrop at Large @ August 21 2009, 2:08 PM BSTI know what you mean! The staff at sainburys for example always lobs my stuff down. It takes a lot for me not to tell them smiling won't break their faces.
You should shop at Waitrose or M&S, they're always really friendly. 
My local shops have a village-y feel; everyone says hello when you enter the shop. The local butcher always gives me a free rashers of bacon and the local fich and chip shop often give me an extra piece of fish.
Quote: EllieJP @ August 21 2009, 2:09 PM BSTYeah. But to be fair - if it went private we'd probably get better service.
Some U.S. cities still have their own garbage collection agencies, but most places contract the work out. My homeowners association recently switched from one company to another because of poor service that was also too expensive. It's nice to have a choice.
Quote: DaButt @ August 21 2009, 2:13 PM BSTThe staff at U.S. supermarkets are always polite and smiling. Some places will even give you free groceries if the cashiers don't say thank you, etc.
One thing that Americans always find unusual about European cashiers is that they're always sitting down. I've never seen a seated cashier in the United States.
I know from my friend who works in ASDA they have a policy that they HAVE TO smile and give eye contact for every customer and if a customer asks them something, they must help not matter what. They get tested on it too with one of those mystery shopper things.
I've done mystery shopping when I was a student. It's actually not bad!
Quote: RubyMae - Glamourous Snowdrop at Large @ August 21 2009, 2:16 PM BSTI know from my friend who works in ASDA they have a policy that they HAVE TO smile and give eye contact for every customer and if a customer asks them something, they must help not matter what. They get tested on it too with one of those mystery shopper things.
LOL! That is crazy.
As part of your job description we have down as point 5, be happy.
And if you fail we'll be putting you in "THE DOME!!!"
Having said that though, I did find some of the stuff I had to check for was really harsh on the staff. For example, one place, they are expected to clear a table within two minutes once it is vacant. If everyone is really busy and it's a big place, that can be tough to do and many couldn't do it so had to have a bad score just because it was busy.
Quote: RubyMae - Glamourous Snowdrop at Large @ August 21 2009, 2:21 PM BSTHaving said that though, I did find some of the stuff I had to check for was really harsh on the staff. For example, one place, they are expected to clear a table within two minutes once it is vacant. If everyone is really busy and it's a big place, that can be tough to do and many couldn't do it so had to have a bad score just because it was busy.
Idiot managers. Middle management are the worse making them selves work to make themselves feel important.
I use to do various places and they all have mad stuff like that. Like at this fashion place, they must show you the sale items located at the till and see if they can get you to buy, even if they have a massive queue of people waiting!
And another place, you must not have more than three people waiting at a till at any time. Yeah, like you can control that!
And most of these places have harsh pass marks. Usually between 90%-95% is the minimum you can have without it being a fail.
Quote: Gavin @ August 21 2009, 2:11 PM BSTTo be fair retail is a hellish job. Putting up with them big faced brainless chimps everyday (shoppers) is infuriating, whining that they can't find stuff when they are right next to it.
I love Tescos too.
Luckily for me I no longer work in retail...not really.
Quote: Paul W @ August 21 2009, 2:30 PM BSTI love Tescos too.
Working in Tesco was awesome Pushing each other round in cages, using the hydraulic dollies to skii 
Quote: RubyMae - Glamourous Snowdrop at Large @ August 21 2009, 2:28 PM BSTthey must show you the sale items located at the till and see if they can get you to buy
Our local supermarket does this, but it's just a quick "Would you like some toothpaste? It's 50% off."
Quote: EllieJP @ August 21 2009, 2:05 PM BSTWe don't pay!
Well we do actually!
We pay Council Rates, which the USA probably call property tax.
Though waste collection here now is often done by private contractors; they are contractors to the Council, so there is no low-level competition to keep the actual bin-men on their best behaviour.
Quote: billwill @ August 21 2009, 2:51 PM BSTWell we do actually!
We pay Council Rates, which the USA probably call property tax.
Yes, I know.
Did you mean we don't have the fun of receiving a bill at the end of the month?
It's all nicely consolidated into one nice easy payment
Quote: Leevil @ August 21 2009, 2:57 PM BSTDid you mean we don't have the fun of receiving a bill at the end of the month?
It's all nicely consolidated into one nice easy payment
...oh wait your serious.