Just wanted to see if you were awake!

[groceryhorror]

So I was busy ringing up peoples grocery's, and was in a "You Bag" lane, so the customers were at the end of the belt bagging their own groceries. I noticed the next customers first item was alcohol, so I flipped my flashing light on to call for a manager so he could scan it for me (under 18=can't sell booze), and then walked down to the end of the belt to give the previous customer their receipt. As I'm standing off to the side so the manger can do his thing, an old guy in the next lane hits me right in the butt with his cart..and says "Just wanted to see if you were awake"

WTF?

And then laughed about it and went to the end of his lane to give the bagger his cart. The manager was preoccupied with the customer purchasing the alcohol, so he didn't see what happened. And I of course didn't want to make any trouble, since I was relatively new...but SERIOUSLY?


And another thing....at my register, and every other register, there are about 5 signs that all say "ALL ITEMS MUST BE PLACED ON THE BELT TO BE SCANNED" or "ALL SODA MUST BE ON THE BELT TO BE SCANNED"...they are printed on neon paper with big letters, yet I still have people that will hand me one case of soda and expect me to scan it 10 times. The reason we have people put everything on the belt is because we don't know if you have anything underneath all that soda that you either forgot about or are trying to steal. Also, if we don't scan everything, the inventory is off because even though Diet Coke, Classic Coke, and Mountain Dew are all the exact same price, they are completely different items. Of course, these are the same customers that bitch about us being out of a particular kind of soda; this is usually why.

One last rant: There is a BIG sign on my register that says "YOU BAG". Don't come up to my register, throw all your stuff up on the belt, and say, "Ugh I really don't want to bag, but I don't want to wait in that big 'we bag' line" and ask me to page a bagger from you. Because usually one of the big-wigs from management end up having to do it, while you yack on your stupid cellphone, and they don't like that.

Oh and the cardinal rule of grocery shopping: Unless someone is dead or dying, you don't need to be on your cellphone while checking out.

[MrSunshineState]

As I'm standing off to the side so the manger can do his thing, an old guy in the next lane hits me right in the butt with his cart..and says "Just wanted to see if you were awake"

So he intentionally committed assault. I would have said something. But then again, I tend to be "Gleeful in pointing out customers mistakes."*


*=Actual line in one of my performance appraisals back when I worked at the movie theatre

[wagegoth]

The Costco set-up has one good thing going for it. Since they take the carts behind the register, the checker scans everything in the basket, nobody has to lift heavy stuff onto the belt and off, and the checker can check for any hidden items.

That jerk with the cart needs a wake-up call. Tell your manager what happened, the guy may have a reputation for that kind of thing. It's assault and battery, he shouldn't get away with it.

[aurelemsrealm]

Oh and the cardinal rule of grocery shopping: Unless someone is dead or dying, you don't need to be on your cellphone while checking out.

AMEN!!!! Cell phone people drive me absolutely insane! I especially want to choke them when they get all huffy because I'm interrupting their phone call. Well, why the hell are you in my line, then? Of course, it's fun to make off hand remarks at their expense, and they don't even realize what you're saying because they're too busy yaking.

[mariamousie1]

I've heard people say that before, but usually after saying something weird "just wanted to make sure you were paying attention". This sounds like the same kind of thing, but much more inappropriate. This guy probably didn't intend assault, but is under the impression he has a sense of humour and nobody has let him know the sad sad truth. Still, that's no excuse. I'd have complained to someone. Maybe not my boss if I was new, but a co-worker at least, and asked their opinion on what to do.

[BookstoreEscapee]

So he intentionally committed assault. I would have said something. But then again, I tend to be "Gleeful in pointing out customers mistakes."*


*=Actual line in one of my performance appraisals back when I worked at the movie theatre

This was considered a good thing, I presume?

I'd have yelped and yelled, "OW my back!" and let him think he hurt me....

[Pagan]

at my register, and every other register, there are about 5 signs that all say "ALL ITEMS MUST BE PLACED ON THE BELT TO BE SCANNED" or "ALL SODA MUST BE ON THE BELT TO BE SCANNED"...they are printed on neon paper with big letters, yet I still have people that will hand me one case of soda and expect me to scan it 10 times.

Well, welcome groceryhorror!! A-n-n-n-d now you have just learned one of the most important things about SCs....THEY DON'T READ SIGNS! EVER EVER EVER!!!

And about the old fart running his cart into your posterior. When something like that happens, go ahead and interrupt the manager! They're supposed to be providing a safe environment for people to shop and work in (even though some managers seem to forget ensuring the employess safety). But, I understand why you didn't. Most people, when they're young and new somewhere don't want to make any waves. Believe me, the older you get, the bigger your mouth gets!

Oh, and check out the "Canonical List of SC's" sticky thread. Cell phone yakkers feature heavily!

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

*punches old geezer in the gut as hard as I can

Old geezer: "Oof! ooh! Uggghhh! What did you do that for?"

Me: "Just wanted to see if you were awake!"

[HALFHUMANHALFZOMBIE]

Oh and the cardinal rule of grocery shopping: Unless someone is dead or dying, you don't need to be on your cellphone while checking out.

I've been told by a Co-worker that someone is at your line with a cell phone. You try to talk to them and they get rude at you. You have the right to not serve them.

[Seshat]

I'd have yelped and yelled, "OW my back!" and let him think he hurt me....

He's going to hit someone disabled one day, and do some serious damage. He needs to be told just how not-funny he is, before then.

[powerboy]

Maybe he hit you by accident, and the only thing that came to him, was that little joke, to keep face.

[TWOLF]

Probably you may never know. And I bow to you sir for the comment of cell phones. I hated that and even more as someone who works on the phones.

[katie kaboom]

Maybe he hit you by accident, and the only thing that came to him, was that little joke, to keep face.

I don't buy it. A simple "sorry i bumped into you" would be the appropriate response. It sounds like this guy just wanted to be an ass.

[digilight]

He's going to hit someone disabled one day, and do some serious damage. He needs to be told just how not-funny he is, before then.

Or he's going to do this crap to someone with anger management problems/issues and get his old ass "Knocked the fuck out" as Smokey would say.

[XCashier]

*punches old geezer in the gut as hard as I can

Old geezer: "Oof! ooh! Uggghhh! What did you do that for?"

Me: "Just wanted to see if you were awake!"

That's just what I was thinking! Give the old jerk a taste of his own medicine.

Seriously, you should let your boss know what happened. Reporting an assault is not "making waves". Plus, it would be a good idea to know what to do if it happens again, and what your job's policies about that sort of thing are.