Maybe you should wear a tametag

[Trayol]

Hooray my first post.

At my job, all cashiers have to ask our customers for their names so their order doesn't goes to someone else by accident. It is accually a good policy. Why do I always have problems with customers whenever I ask them for their name.

1. Confused and Slow
Cust: What?, My name it's um.... Blah, blah-blah

Or

Cust: First or last?
Me: It doesn't matter. "internal sigh"

2. Suspicious
Cust: Why?

3. Mumblers
Cust: mumble mumble
Me: David?
Cust: Nick.
Me: Oh.

[Discourtesy Clerk]

Hehehe. That sounds like hours of cheap and simple entertainment to me.

At my job, we have this "thank by name" policy. When the customer uses their discount card, the cashier has to say "Thank you, Mr/Miss/Mrs _____". The bagger is also supposed to do this. We don't. (Unless Boss Lady is lurking around. *shudder*)

Well, what typically happens, is the customer either:
A. has a name on their card that isn't theirs, and freaks out when we use it.
B. has a name that is insanely difficult to pronounce, and freaks out when we can't.
C. has the right name on the card, and still freaks out when we use it.
D. walks away before they get the receipt, so we're yelling "Thank you!" across the store at them.
E. doesn't speak English, and so would not care if we called them Mr. Fishface-Chickenlegs III.

Great fun.

[Mixed Bag]

The OP makes me think of restaurants that require it instead of using a number (which I'd actually prefer). I know it's silly, but I find it annoying when I give my first only to be told I need to give a last initial also becasue of another order with the same name (maybe it reminds of grammar school, despite good school experiences and not usually being one of the kids who shared my name with someone else). Hey society some first names are too common let's lay off them for awhile (yes, I know, they have new spellings and exotic names are all the rage now, except they're no longer exotic they're common...sorry for putting the world to rights, Raps).

Maybe I should just be consistent about using famous/outrageous names and not just do so when I'm out with proper friends.

[karma_gypsy]

E. doesn't speak English, and so would not care if we called them Mr. Fishface-Chickenlegs III.

That's awesome

Many can't pronounce my name, but I don't really care, I'm used to it and at least their trying

[Broomjockey]

I hate that they have to use "my" name after I use my grocery card. First off, I'm way too young to be called Mr. And second, after those stupid Matrix movies came out, all my co-workers at the theatre were calling me Mr. Anderson in a really bad imitation of Agent Smith, and so I really dislike my last name now. And my first. Hmm. Maybe I should file for a change of name...

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I don't like it when they do that, either.

First off, I know they are doing it because their boss told them to in an attempt to help create the illusion that I am receiving personalized assistance. I hate that. It's a fricking checkout line, how much personalized assistance to I really need?

Secondly, I do not like it when people kiss my ass, and the practice smacks slightly of ass kissing. I find it fake and awkward.

Thirdly, I find it unnerving to have someone I did not introduce myself to, and who's name I do not know, address me by name. Especially since 90 percent of those who read my name read it wrong and call me by something else. (my married name, unlike my maiden name, is easy to spell and easy to read and say. There's no reason to mispronounce it, and yet most people do. It's extremely annoying to me to get such a simple name wrong every time.)

I don't get mad or anything, but I sure hope management isn't doing that to make me enjoy shopping in a place more. It doesn't. It's simply a meaningless ritual management imposes on it's workers.

[CrazyCashierGuy]

Thats personally the issue I have with with my employer issuing us a script to use with all transactions, not only are we supposed to thank a guest by name, we're also to ask if their transaction will be on the store's credit card. I dont know of any cashiers that actually follow it (I took one look and laughed, then cringed). I know we're supposed to be all customer-friendly and everything, but its bad enough that management will give anyone that screams whatever they (and a $10 gift card to boot ), but I have problems with asking someone how they are going to pay for their transaction.

[Enjis]

Sigh. The company that bought ours has the 'circle and sign' policy for all of our receipts.
We have to tell the customers that if they would like to comment on the "outstanding service they received", they can visit the website printed on the receipt. (and my fist name is on it, tho the customer is not asked on the website about the name of the salesperson.)
We are also supposed to thank customers by name...even tho we have no way of knowing the names of cash customers, and now that we have PIN pads, customers swipe their own cards, so we can't get their names off of that either. (if I am not looking at the screen the moment the card-holder's name flashes on it, I can't tell at all.)
Frankly, the 'circle and sign' thing slows down the process a bit, and I don't like it.
And using people's names sounds fake to me as well. My name is on my badge, but I still feel odd when customers call me by name, as tho they know me as a personal friend.

But, it's a new policy, so the managers will probably be trying to inforce it for a while.

[Discourtesy Clerk]

That's awesome

Muchas gracias.

Yeah, we all hate thanking by name. It weirds out the customers, and I can only think of two of my co-workers who are somehow perfectly comfortable with it. (That would be the ADHD girls.) I was talking to one of the cashiers about it the other day, and I was happy to find out I wasn't the only person that's actually intimidated by doing it...

[jnd4rusty]

In my store we have to take the names of customers for their orders. After they are done paying we ask for their first name and write it on the ticket. After their order is ready we call their name out on a microphone and when they come up to the counter we repeat their name to make sure the right person recieves the order. This is mandatory. I will take peoples names from their checks or credit card reciepts instead of asking and let me tell you, people are extremely pleased when I do this..they think it is cool that I do that. I always get compliments from my customers because of this, they will say "don't you need my name?" and I respond that I already have it, makes them smile.

Also our company policy states that we have to know 100 customers by sight and name and something about them..such as where they work, what their regular order is..etc by the time we have worked there 6 months. We write this down and hand it in to the store manager. For any 100 after the first that is handed in we get presents..gift cards to the mall..up to the 500 mark..at 500 you get a Store Jacket, 600 to 900 is gift cards to the mall and if you hit 1.000 customers then you get a choice of a jacket or $50. cash.

You actually have to know the customer too. It is not hard at all for us because we have tons of repeat customers, some that come in every single day to eat. You learn pretty fast on who your regulars are. I also have many of my customers orders memorized so when they come in I will already have it into the register and they just have to pay. I am already at the 1,000 customer mark too. I know more than that but I stopped writing it down at that point. I don't have a problem with it at all..it is personable and the customers expect it from us as this has been that way since the stores were started in 1969. Ours was the third store in the nation to be built and there are now over 475 stores nationwide. The owners have three other stores in our city also.

Sorry didn't mean to take up so much of the thread!! But knowing your customer's names is part of my job and I love it. I know so many people since starting there 12 yrs ago, which comes in handy when you need something. I get the best of service at other establishments because those same who are waiting on me are the ones I have waited on.

[Trayol]

I wish my job had a microphone. It's really annoying when you call out the persons name, while looking right at them, in a nearly empty store and they don't realize that they're being called for several wasted minutes. This forces us to hand deliver their order to their table instead of making the next customers order. And it's never the one's with common names either.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

About the having to know 100 people thing.

I find that a little creepy. While I do indeed appreciate genuine friendliness, and if a cashier strikes up a conversation with me (which they do all the time...I live in south) I am more than happy to chat with them, I find the fact that you all MUST do this creepy.

I like people, and I am interested in learning about them. However, when I am in a store, I do not like this trend of management trying to perpetrate the idea that I have some sort of relationship with the store. We are not family, nor are we friends, and I'm just not so lonely I need to pretend I'm doing anything more than purchasing crap from a vendor.

I don't care for greeters for the exact same reason. I'm not entering somebody's house. I don't need to be made to feel welcome. I know I'm welcome, I'm a laid-back customer with money in her pocket. I am always friendly...greeters are somebody's grandma, after all...but the whole thing is kind of creepy and presumtuous to me. What I really want is to be left alone so I can shop in peace.

[Becks]

And using people's names sounds fake to me as well. My name is on my badge, but I still feel odd when customers call me by name, as tho they know me as a personal friend.

Oh, I feel the same way!!!!! I really really REALLY dislike people I don't know calling me by name, especially if I don't know who the heck they are. It always makes me feel weird, and slightly creeped out, as if I have my own personal stalkers/cult following/fan club that I don't know about. I think I'll start wearing my alternate name tag more often at work.

[batmoody]

At my job, we have this "thank by name" policy. When the customer uses their discount card, the cashier has to say "Thank you, Mr/Miss/Mrs _____". The bagger is also supposed to do this. We don't.

Maybe we work for the same place???? I hate thanking by name. I don't even care if I get the name right. Half the time I know I don't. Most of the time customers don't care. Some of them really flip out when you say their name wrong. There are some names that I flat out wont even say, because they are....well...um...heres some examples. Please dont be offended if any of these are you....
Fuchs
Dickey
Butts
Bowels
Klitguard
I am just uncomfortable saying them, mostly cuz I will probably screw it up and secondly, I dont want snickers from the people that are next.

[Imogene]

I hate that they have to use "my" name after I use my grocery card. First off, I'm way too young to be called Mr. And second, after those stupid Matrix movies came out, all my co-workers at the theatre were calling me Mr. Anderson in a really bad imitation of Agent Smith, and so I really dislike my last name now. And my first. Hmm. Maybe I should file for a change of name...

I can just imagine it when someone attempts to do that to me for the first time.
"Thank you for shopping _here_, Mister *last name*."
M: "Nope."
"Huh?"
M: "Not 'mister'."
"I'm sorry, Miss."
M: "Still wrong."
"What?"
M: "No masculine or feminine titles, thanks."
"Then what?"
M: " 'Juwl' will do just fine."