For the SECOND time, I DON'T work here! (with bonus loss of patience)

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Where I used to work that had grocery, we also had a nifty button that we could hit and type in "12" if someone got 12 of the same item. Managers just had us do that, so the people who came in with more than the express lane limit but most of them were just multiples of one thing took us really not much longer to ring up.

I find it weird that other places don't have this ability on their register, it makes ringing so much easier, OMG.

[Dreamstalker]

Since cash registers nowadays are computers, why can't stores put a "special" program on the express lanes that counts the items, and if there are more than the limit, add a surcharge as a line item - in this case, the line would be "Excess item surcharge 11@$1.00 $11.00"?

I think you missed a zero or two...and each time the SC bitches about it, add an extra one. With 70% of said surcharge going directly to the employee that has to deal with them.

I've been suggesting that for months. One would think it wouldn't be too hard to implement; tie something to the Express lane light that tells the register to start counting (or disallow any action except payment) after 12 scans.

Ambrosia, apparently at one point we used to be able to do quantities for anything not sold by weight, but the official explanation as to why this was done away with was something to do with shrink/cashier tracking. Although I did figure out that you could do this if the hand scanner was working.

[mhkohne]

Where I used to work that had grocery, we also had a nifty button that we could hit and type in "12" if someone got 12 of the same item. Managers just had us do that, so the people who came in with more than the express lane limit but most of them were just multiples of one thing took us really not much longer to ring up.

I find it weird that other places don't have this ability on their register, it makes ringing so much easier, OMG.

The explanation I heard for this was that they wanted 'similar but different' items (such as varieties of cat food) rung up separately, and if they allowed quantity entry, they had a fair number of 'rang 12 cans of cat food' when in fact it was two cans each of different variants. If you are trying to minimize actual inventory taking and rely on the computers, then that mis-quantity really screws things up.

[raudf]

Yup, that was the explanation I got too, except that it was for inventory counting. Someone comes up with 12 cans of cat food, but they are different flavors. Say, 4 fish, 4 beef and 4 chicken flavors.. and with this purchase, we're running low on the beef flavor. With the correct count, the automated ordering system will request more beef flavor for the next shipment.. but if that count is off, we'll have an empty space where the beef flavor should be. (Because corporate assumed their peons wouldn't notice or count or whathaveyou.)

However, we were allowed to use the quantity button on each flavor.. which since most customers aren't nice about it, means we'd have to sort the cans to do it. Takes too long. Just easier to scan it as we come to it.

[EricKei]

I find it weird that other places don't have this ability on their register, it makes ringing so much easier, OMG.

It does indeed, but it seems to me that many places have removed the ability from register systems that once had them, for inventory purposes. Knowing that a store still has to ring up each items separately still doesn't stop me from organizing them on the belt, tho ^_^; ... What annoys me a lot more is when I keep all of the light items together, all of the heavy refrigerated items together, etc, and still end up with bags containing a gallon of milk and a bunch of bananas >_> Or, worse yet, raw meat along with...well, anything else but more raw meat x.x

tie something to the Express lane light that tells the register to start counting (or disallow any action except payment) after 12 scans.

Then the SC's would just split their 80-item orders into eight, ten-item orders, and SCREECH that "I'm already in line and you WILL take care of me!!!" if you dare to object.

[SuperNat]

She could very well have been an SC - or she could've been in a situation I was in once. I was waiting at a normal register and a cashier motioned to me to come over to her lane, which was an express lane.. and of course, as I was loading up my trolley, people started lining up with only a few items. I was apologising profusely the whole time and explaining that I got directed to that register

[raudf]

I have a speech practiced for just such a "request." Never will I take a big buggy of stuff to an express lane. Well, okay, if it was the only working register, but if that's the case, then I shouldn't be shopping there.

"Sir, I hated it when as a cashier, management would dump a big buggy like mine on me when I was on express. It never failed the moment that happened, there would be a flood of small purchase customers and who would they be mad at? ME. Also, as a customer, when I have a small purchase, nothing irks me more than to find a buggy fuller using the express line. Because management put them there. Difference is, I get mad a management. It says, "20 items or less." If you can't follow your own signs, then take the blasted things down and be done with it."

[Draco]

Since cash registers nowadays are computers, why can't stores put a "special" program on the express lanes that counts the items

Our registers do count the number of items. Alas, we're not allowed to punish them for going over. Not even when it's 40 or more items in the express lane (I've seen people try to get around the rules by hiding their cart behind the magazine rack, put one item down, get it scanned, and then bring the cart into sight and begin unloading. By that point, we're not allowed to tell them no).

...and a group of customers got $5 off their order yesterday for being "inconvenienced" when the express lane told she couldn't take them because they had over the 15 item limit (a relatively full cart and two motorized carts for 60 items). So they demanded to speak to someone and management caved and gave them $5 off.

The express cashier was livid. The supervisor who had to give them the $5 off was livid, and I was livid because I saw it happening.

Where I used to work that had grocery, we also had a nifty button that we could hit and type in "12" if someone got 12 of the same item. Managers just had us do that, so the people who came in with more than the express lane limit but most of them were just multiples of one thing took us really not much longer to ring up.

I find it weird that other places don't have this ability on their register, it makes ringing so much easier, OMG.

We had it. Corporate took it away, for the reasons Eric and others stated. "Inventory". Only the Service Desk still has the ability to use the quantity key.

[EricKei]

She could very well have been an SC - or she could've been in a situation I was in once. I was waiting at a normal register and a cashier motioned to me to come over to her lane,

No worries ^_^ If a cashier is redlining like that and calls you over, there's no legit reason for anyone to be mad at you

[Dreamstalker]

(I've seen people try to get around the rules by hiding their cart behind the magazine rack, put one item down, get it scanned, and then bring the cart into sight and begin unloading. By that point, we're not allowed to tell them no).

Same here. The cashiers at another store nearby are allowed to refuse to ring people up if they have more than 12 items in an express lane, and management will back them (I have seen this).

...and a group of customers got $5 off their order yesterday for being "inconvenienced" when the express lane told she couldn't take them because they had over the 15 item limit (a relatively full cart and two motorized carts for 60 items). So they demanded to speak to someone and management caved and gave them $5 off.

I witnessed the tail end of something like that the other day. Why even have express lanes then?!

Some of us know how to get quantities to ring correctly, but it doesn't always work on all the registers all the time and definitely not on self-scam. Some of the tantrums I've been on the receiving end of...oy. I know your 20 yogurts are the same kind and they won't scan, I have to type each one in by hand. No, I can't bypass that.

The explanation I heard for this was that they wanted 'similar but different' items (such as varieties of cat food) rung up separately, and if they allowed quantity entry, they had a fair number of 'rang 12 cans of cat food' when in fact it was two cans each of different variants.

I once dealt with a woman who had already put her catfood cans in a reusable bag, and flipped her shit when I began taking them out to scan each one individually (I find it faster to scan each can rather than try to count how many of each type). "But the other cashiers just scan one twelve times!"...we had just gotten chewed out about inventory being off due to people doing just that.

[Rock Lobster]

I worked retail for 15 years (not anymore) but people seem to sense the vibe that I have that tells them that. I always get people asking me where stuff is. If I am in a good mood I will help them otherwise it's 'sorry I don't work here'. I took pity on one man when he asked me where did I find the toilet paper cause if he didn't take any home with him then his wife would yell!

[Dreamstalker]

When I'm in the store and not on the clock, I'll help people find stuff if they're nice about it and I can do it in such a way that doesn't peg me as an employee; if one other person sees me do it, they may all descend and I won't be able to get my own shopping done (also if I'm too helpful it might be seen as working off the clock, which tends to piss off the union).

I've been able to do this at my dad's local store as well, which amuses the employees One of the stockers once thanked me, saying "You just saved me ten minutes, if I help one person everyone else sees me and I'll never get back to the shelf."

Then the SC's would just split their 80-item orders into eight, ten-item orders, and SCREECH that "I'm already in line and you WILL take care of me!!!" if you dare to object.

This happened yesterday. A guy came up with about 6 items; behind him was a woman with a full cart. I was about to turn the woman away (there were other lanes open, the cashier next to me was actually trying to bring her over there) when the man tells me after I subtotal his order "Oh no she's with me" As she had already started unloading I couldn't do anything. The rest of the line was highly annoyed, but most of them knew it wasn't my fault. The one SC who did start bitching at me promptly got cut down by a regular

[raudf]

I'm fast coming to the conclusion it's the "I don't give a f*bleep* attitude," that makes most SCs think you work at a completely unrelated store. I'm not sure why they'd want to be served by someone with that attitude, unless it's to have a reason to bitch, but...

So, I've learned to look up and smile at people, which totally confuses the SCs and makes the non-SCs smile in return. I could dress exactly like a Mart of Fail employee now and not be pegged as one

[EricKei]

raudf -- Well, I don't think doing the "I don't give a..." thing at WalpurgisMart would work -- it wouldn't really do much to differentiate you from most of the employees there

[XCashier]

... WalpurgisMart ...

Another good name for it! I think I like this one even better than VoldeMart!