Turn your light off then

[Kogarashi]

In her defense (about the light, I mean), I've had an issue at my store when I go on break and my manager tells me NOT to turn off my light, just in case...it does create a lot of issues.

If that is the case, then I shall gladly shift the Blame of Stupid to the managers. ::nod:: Unless there's another cashier coming to cover, leaving the light on is just asking for all sorts of trouble.

but I've noticed a trend when I work. When my light is off, I still get a steady stream of people coming to my line who don't see my light is off...BUT when my light's on and I'm waiting for the next customer I always get "are you open?". Is there a parallel universe??

Must be. I got that all the time too, including one lady who seemed to think I had it in for her personally. She got in my line after I'd turned the light off, and got all huffy when I told her politely that I was closed and she'd need to go to another line. She went to the next line over, but when another customer got in my line not two minutes later, and before I had a chance to explain to the new customer, she sniped from the other line, "Oh sure, now she's open!" in the most sarcastic tone imaginable.

[fireheart]

at my old store, I always used to bleat repeatedly at my coworkers to TURN OFF THEIR LIGHT whenever they left the register for ANY reason. This included short jobs on the front end.

At my new store, because there's usually only me or another coworker on the floor, I'll keep my light on so customers know which register. (smaller store) I can usually spot them pretty well, so if I see them lining up, up I go.

[Magpie]

I try to go by lights, but my current grocery store doesn't seem to care about if they're on. I've never seen a light on with an empty lane, but there will be three lanes open, one with a light, and no line at the other two, which implies to me that they're open, just without a light.

[Kullervo]

for the short period in which i actually worked a register i cannot recall actually touching the light switch.
the manager would simply shut it off when they were telling me to go on break next.

[Plaidman]

There are two times in a day when our company will have two workers on duty. 1:30pm-2:30 pm, and 9:00pm-10:00 pm, as it allows the workers on duty to have the workers to each get the required ten minute break.

There are also two people when someone is training obviously .

However, I went into a different store wanting some chips and soda for my game. There was one guy out smoking, and I saw another worker inside. I get to counter, and ask to get ring up by the worker inside. He looked over to me from his seat and told me flatly he was on break, and went back to reading his magazine.

Fine. Whatever. I know not all stores break the rules by waiting on people on their paid breaks like we do at our store. Hell, we even ring up people when we're not even clocked in.

I go outside and ask the guy smoking to ring me up. He flatly told me he too was on break.

When I remakred that's what the guy inside said, he shrugged and went back to smoking and talking on his cell.

Back inside, other people are lining up. The guy is ignoring them, shouting out he is on break and he cannot for ten minutes.


Fine. You want to play that game with ME? You want to fuck with a guy who really does know people higher up then you ever could? You wanna be rude to customers and cause the company lost money? Fine. I can't wait to see the look on your face when I pull this trick on your ass. I pull out my cell. Call my area manager. Tell her whats up. What store.

Like four minutes later as I waited in funness, as both clerks seemed to enjoy the game of not ringing people up, and just saying on their breaks, and smirking as people stormed out yelling at them, their phone rings. I don't know who called, but I'm assuming it was some type of manager.

Strange how quickly the guy inside pounded on window to get other guy. He waited on customers while the guy outside who was smoking kept saying sorry on phone. I told the clerk that I was a type of manager at another store, and you just don't do that shit. Its ONE person on a break at a time, so that people can be rang up. You don't just ignore others.

[simplyanother]

I can't stand the damned light that no one ever pays attention to ever ever ever.

If I'm running backup (and therefore...NOT staying), I usually leave the light off, and call the next person in line as I finish with customers. Somehow though, the customers at Glitter Hell don't understand that concept, and they go wherever the hell they see people, regardless of the light. And god forbid you tell them "I am open, but I'm taking the next customer from THAT line" (Lately, the lines in our store have been forming one long line), cause you know they can't wait. @@

But I do it anyway.

Or I get the ones who get pissed when I DO call them over "Well you should have your light on". Gah, no. NO NO! Also, bite me.

When I DO have the light on, and there is a line--and I'm closing--I always tell the last person in line that they're my last customer. Anyone who joins up AFTER them gets told that I'm closed.

Then you get the people who don't understand that you're going to take them, and start to get all huffy and bitchy. Flip off the light, and you hear the "guh" from the back of the line. EVEN AFTER you tell them you're going to take them.

And I swear, Customers? I KNOW MY LIGHT ISN'T ON. Stop telling me, like it excuses anything. If I wanted a long assed line to form at my register, then I'd turn it on. If I have it off, I HAVE A REASON FOR IT BEING OFF.

Unless it's burnt out.

Which I actually love. When they're burnt out AND there aren't any replacement bulbs. That's awesome. When it's burnt out and there aren't any replacement bulbs AND we can't steal the bulb from an un-used register because there aren't any unused registers, it's even more awesome.

But yeah, the cashier in the OP probably should have turned her light off as soon as she was told she was leaving the register. And I also wouldn't doubt that management has some asinine reason for leaving the lights on. You really can't win, in retail, on either end (customer, nor worker), because of all the bull involved.