I threw a tantrum in a store

[Blueberry]

Yes I freely admit I had a tantrum.
Yes I was an SC.
But damn it I was PISSED off!!!!!
I needed a chocolate fix and went to one of 2 mall pharmacy types places to get me some before my shift started.
I didn't go to the one I usually frequent, I went to the smaller one closer to my work. This is lunchtime downtown, and if anyone has ever been in a downtown mall during a weekday lunch period, you know how busy it is.
I joined the line behind maybe 5-7 people. Maybe 3 other people then joined the line behind me at the same time.
They had 2 cashiers. There were 2 other empty tills.
One cashier looks up at the growing line. She finishes with the customer she was helping AND PUTS UP A CLOSED SIGN. With a lineup of 10 people which was still growing! She just looks at us, and walks away!
Meanwhile, the line grows, but the line DOESN'T MOVE.
Why?
Because the one cashier left is having a conversation with an customer!
I can't hear the full conversation, but it sounds like the customer is complaining about how the bills have changed and the cashier is sympathizing with her.
She looks at the growing line of people, many of whom are starting to look anxiously at a clock. Then she turns back to her conversation.
She never even pages for an extra cashier.
I ask 'Aren't you going to call for help??!?!'
She ignores me.
Customer says she liked the ways the old bills looked. Cashier agrees.
Some people drop their stuff on shelves and leave, but other people unwittingly join the line.
Finally another cashier meanders to the front and opens her till.
At this, the other cashier CLOSES!!!
I let out a frustrated 'GAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!' and drop my chocolate on the floor and leave.
I don't even know how much time passed in there but I think it may have 10 minutes.
I go to the other pharmacy place, on ewhich gives out Optimum points.
I join a line of 6 people. Cashier has me out in under 2 minutes.
Yes I should not have dropped the stuff on the floor.
Yes I was a SC.
I probably should have put stuff back on the shelf.

[Bella_Vixen]

I don't blame you one little bit.

[chainedbarista]

tantrum aside (i can feel the frustration), i'm wondering why they didn't open up a second till, and why ms. chats-a-lot didn't terminate her discussion. when the line grows, it's time to turn professional, not personal to the point where the line becomes a living, seething beast.

[Ree]

That wasn't exactly a tantrum.
Yeah, you probably shouldn't have thrown it on the floor, but I can certainly understand the frustration that brought you to that point.
That was a pretty lousy example of customer service.

It's sad that we have come to this, though.
We are so afraid of coming off as sucky customers that we apologize for not tolerating sucky behaviour on the part of customer service workers.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

At my store, we are required to call for backup cashiers when the checkout lines reach a certain length.

However, that does not mean you are actually going to get people up to the lanes to check people out. Some people (particularly the ladies in softlines) are known to beg out of backup cashiering when called, saying they are "with customers" when they really aren't. Then somebody from hardlines has to go up. But there already is somebody from hardlines cashiering, so if that person went up to the lanes there would be nobody on the salesfloor to help customers or answer calls.

The obvious solution to the problem would be to schedule more cashiers so you can have more than 2 or 3 lanes up and running at a time. But that makes sense, so......

Obviously the cashier in this story was an inconsiderate cow and I definitely think the OP's frustration was justified. Just saying that getting more people to the checkout lanes to shorten the lines is easier said than done sometimes.

[BookstoreEscapee]

On the other hand, sometimes you KNOW there is no one else to help ring, but you call anyway. It at least lets the customers know you are trying to get some extra help. (Along with ending your conversation and moving your customer along, of course!) A line of ten people wouldn't bother me too much, provided things are moving smoothly (though the company standard is 5 customers per cashier; more than that you call for more help), but I would still page someone to help me even if I knew there wasn't anyone available. At least the more reasonable customers are soothed somewhat, and hey, sometimes you are pleasantly surprised and someone actually shows up!

These cashiers, however, were entirely unprofessional and I don't blame you one bit, Blueberry (though I probably would have left it on a table or counter rather than throw it on the floor, but I wouldn't quite call it a tantrum either).

[Ree]

On the other hand, sometimes you KNOW there is no one else to help ring, but you call anyway. It at least lets the customers know you are trying to get some extra help.

Exactly! Then it's the person not responding to the page who gets the anger, rather than you, because you, at least, looked like you were trying to do something.

[the lawsmeister]

I have to admit I have a similar confession.

I was picking up some stuff from the supermarket on the way home for my wife. She was sick, I was getting over being sick and had a really shitty day at work. I got all my stuff no problems and then joined a mammoth express line. After about 5 minutes the supervisor calls out that there was no waiting at lanes down the other end. I couldnt see them but I took her word for it and leave the line and head down there and find people with trolleys overflowing with stuff and an even longer wait than before. I look back and more people have joined the express lane so I'm equally stuffed there. As I realised this I kinda snapped. Thankfully I didn't yell, scream or swear at anyone but I carefully deposited my basket in the fresh produce display and left.

[protege]

I went off on a Walmart cashier not too long ago...

Why? Rather than wait in line, I went over to one of the self-checkouts. I hate them, but thought it was better than standing in line for who knows how long. The light was on, so I started to put my stuff down, when the cashier mumbled something. I asked her to repeat it, since I couldn't hear her. Got the same mumbled reply, before she came over and *again* started the mumbling crap. At that point, I was pissed, and told her to speak the hell up. Why? If the line is closed, tell me--don't pull the "mumble" crap, and get pissy when I can't hear or understand you. I don't speak Mumbleage, moron, or any dialect therein, and I *refuse* to try.

[Blueberry]

As odd as it sounds, this really was a tantrum for me. I don't get mad easily and this incident was the worst outbreak of temper I've had in years.
I'm normally very patient, but this just was too much for my patient self to handle.
I would have been perfectly fine to continue waiting if she had just called someone!!!
I also talked to a couple people at work and they usually have the same problem at this store (Huge line, no one being paged to help).

[chainedbarista]

has anyone complained to the management (unless they're of the same mindset... ) to let them know about this? i have patience too ( even though, from my posts, it doesn't sound like it), but a person should only wait so long for service, after all.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Exactly! Then it's the person not responding to the page who gets the anger, rather than you, because you, at least, looked like you were trying to do something.

And if you adopt a flustered expression, it makes them feel sorry for you, too

/big sigh
/glance apprehensively at the line every minute or so...
/crane neck as if looking to see if another employee is coming your way....
/

[wagegoth]

I agree with CB, you definitely need to contact the management. And be sure to tell them that other people you know have had the same thing happen, so it's an unacceptable pattern. You should also tell them how many people left without buying anything and will probably not be back, especially as there's a competitor's store nearby that is helpful, fast and friendly.

There may be an 800 phone number on the window. If not, call the store number and ask for the manager during a weekday.

[BusBus]

Anyone else think that the "I like the old bills better" lady was kinda sucky too? There's a long line and she feels the need to have a lengthy chat with the cashier? Just pay for your stuff and go!

I bet that the lack of cashier was due to someone calling out and them being unable to find a replacement.