no ice cream for me.....

[NotMyProblem]

*sigh* Another long workday. I made the mistake of stopping by an ice cream shop after running errands.

There was another customer, who had already paid before I entered the store. That customer stayed to chat with the store employee. I learned how old the store employee was and which college she's attending.... I had more than enough time to verify which flavor I wanted now and what I'd like to try in the future. The employee eventually acknowledged my presence, and promised to be with me shortly, however she did not end the conversation (which continued onto facials and manicures). I waited to order. And waited. Finally I left without anything. They both appeared shocked that I left.

I decided to pick up dinner and greatly enjoyed my Pho

[Food Lady]

How rude! I always stop for a customer, and my friends know that.

[morgana]

Somebody's boss needs a heads-up; his employee needs some retraining. Customers first, socialize later.

[XCashier]

Somebody's boss needs a heads-up; his employee needs some retraining. Customers first, socialize later.

Agreed. She's not going to learn if she isn't taught. And if she won't learn, the boss needs to hire someone who will do the job properly.

[MadMike]

I had to deal with a cashier like that at the grocery store a few years back. She was trying to socialize with her friend while she was ringing up groceries. It was slow-going because she wasn't paying attention, and then she forgot to ring up the coupons of the customer in front of me. The other customer apparently didn't notice, because she paid for her order and left.

When the cashier went to ring up my order, she noticed the coupons and asked if they were mine. I told her they weren't, and she just kind of shrugged and put them aside. Then she started ringing up my order, again very slowly, because she was busy yakking with her friend. She forgot to ring my coupons too, but luckily I was paying attention and told her about it. When I left, she was still with her friend.

I probably should have gone to the service desk and complained, but I just wanted to get the hell out of there. Not surprisingly, I never saw her again after that. No doubt other people did complain.

[Caffienated_Caramel]

decided to pick up dinner and greatly enjoyed my Pho

Woohoo for Pho 79

[sms001]

The employee may even think she IS giving good service, by being friendly and socializing with the other customer. Maybe a hint about prioritizing will do the trick. Sorry you missed your ice creamy goodness.

[Sparky]

Hope you won't find my behavior sucky, but...

Once I was going through the check-out at a grocery. The customer in line behind me was, I guess, a friend of the checker. She greeted her enthusiastically and they began a conversation.

The checker didn't completely ignore me; she did scan my items and take my money. She didn't make any mistakes and she was as fast as usual. But she never greeted me, never made eye contact with me, and I honestly can't remember whether she told me the total or I just read it off the register. She just never really acknowledged me, even during payment.

As I left I turned to them and said, sweetly, "I'm sorry if my buying groceries interrupted your conversation." Then I walked off, but they were

[Engmfj]

I was in my local shop yesterday, but there was no cashier, and noone came out even though I waited. They usually sit in the back room if there's no customers, but they'll come back as soon as they hear the bell at the door or see a customer come in on the cameras.

This one didn't - so I waited quite a while, and finally she comes out, talking on the phone and barely noticing me. I don't know, who she was talking to - ie. work related or not - but she just stayed on the phone, looked at me and then looked away again. So I decided to walk the ½ mile each way to the service station and buy my stuff there instead - I don't even think she noticed me leaving ..

[PepperElf]

As I left I turned to them and said, sweetly, "I'm sorry if my buying groceries interrupted your conversation." Then I walked off, but they were

Personally I think that was a perfect response. Sounds like they needed a wakeup call.

[Pixilated]

Hope you won't find my behavior sucky, but...

Once I was going through the check-out at a grocery. The customer in line behind me was, I guess, a friend of the checker. She greeted her enthusiastically and they began a conversation.

The checker didn't completely ignore me; she did scan my items and take my money. She didn't make any mistakes and she was as fast as usual. But she never greeted me, never made eye contact with me, and I honestly can't remember whether she told me the total or I just read it off the register. She just never really acknowledged me, even during payment.

As I left I turned to them and said, sweetly, "I'm sorry if my buying groceries interrupted your conversation." Then I walked off, but they were

Good comment. I'll keep that in mind the next time I have to go to the jumbo DoorMart here; I've often seen cashiers (and we're not talking young things, either) yakking it up with fellow employees with the same results: no greeting, no eye contact, nothing, because they're too busy chatting.

[MoonCat]

There's a donut shop that has a franchise inside of a supermarket here. Just try and get coffee there...or anything else. 9 times out of 10 they are out of donuts, and the employees, I swear, are invisible. The person is usually in the back somewhere (you can sometimes hear clunking around back there) or under the counters doing god knows what. I swing by---nobody there---go do some shopping, come back--still nobody there. Beats me how they make any money.