In a past blog I mentioned about my first job had been cashiering in a grocery store. Things sure have changed since my day of standing at the register tallying up the cost of the order and punching in coupons for money off on items.
When I first learned to run a register this is how it went. Tally up the purchase, the register gives you the amount; you tell the customer the amount and they hand you the money but if they gave you more than the purchased amount, you had to calculate the amount of change to hand back in your head. No calculator to assist you, no pen and paper to write upon. Back then there was no putting the amount into the register to have the machine tell you the amount to return to the customer. One had to be pretty good at math to figure this stuff out in their heads. Glad I was half decent at math back then.
Today the cashier swipes your item over the scanner, no punching in the amount on the register keys. Most people now pay with a debit type card so hardly any money changes hand; if money does change hand the register will give you the amount of change to give back.
Sometimes the scanner is temperamental and it might take two or three swipes for your item to register. In that amount of time I could have punched in three items on the register. Technology is great and I am all for change. I recall a few years back where a few stores had an aisle where you could check out the purchase yourself. I don’t know if they are still around as I don’t use them.
I know that cashiers have a hard job. Besides tallying up the order, they have to bag it, deal with coupon issues, sale item problems and of course the person who decides to write a check at the last minute. I have a lot of respect for the cashier believe me. They stand all day on their feet being nice to sometimes miserable people. One store I frequent have the cashiers sitting on a stool; of course this store is one where you bring your own bags. I only wish more stores would go that way to make the job easier.
Of course another issue for the cashiers are the cards some stores give out for getting discounts on items or for points towards other purchases. I have one key ring designated just for this purpose. Cashier have to ask if you have a card for their store before scanning up the purchases. What I have a problem with is those customers who do not have their card ready when they get into the check-out line. Now they know they will be asked if they have one, so why not have it ready. Looking for it in the purse or a wallet holds up the line for those who might be in a hurry to leave the store.
Cashiers are the unsung heroes of the stores we all shop at. Of course let’s not forget the stock personnel who keep the shelves full of our favorite items as well as those who have to go out in the cold, rain, snow and heat of summer to bring in the shopping carts left in the parking lot.
Until next time….I am off to the stores. Need to make sure I have my store card key ring in my pocket, my debit card handy and my pin number correctly memorized in my brain. Hope the scanners are working today.
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