Please know what you want!

[Gaki]

SC: I need cigarettes?
Me: What kind?
SC: The kind I always get.
Me: This is implying that you are somehow memorable.
SC: ...USA. Lights. Hundreds... *sulk*

[Racket_Man]

When I worked at the gas station/c-store there were only a few customers who I remembered what exactly what brand/style/type of cigarettes they always bought.

It was either because they bought an offbeat brand that only THEY bought, someone who joked around about quitting (multiple times), or they struck up a conversation with me.

[VenomX]

ummm... Then I apologise for what I used to do (back when I smoked)

I used to ask for 20 cheapest (and got some blank looks, and had to explain all I wanted was the cheapest cancer sticks they sold)

Left out the regular, light, menthol, kings, 100's but other than that... LOL

When I worked at the gas station/c-store there were only a few customers who I remembered what exactly what brand/style/type of cigarettes they always bought.

It was either because they bought an offbeat brand that only THEY bought, someone who joked around about quitting (multiple times), or they struck up a conversation with me.

There is a few that I remember what they smoke.
Why? Because they talk to me like I am human, actually seem to care when I am sick or whatever and just seem like real nice people.

I even have some that I look forward to coming in. They will come in and buy something and stay and BS unless I let it be known I have stuff to do.

One guy comes in after he gets off work and will buy a can of snuff and talk with me for hours. There is a police officer that if he is working when I am he will once in a while take his break BS'ing with me. If extra calls or a serious call comes in he will leave and come back.

[Headset Hellion]

I started working at a c-store very shortly after the cigarette companies changed the packaging from lights, ultra lights, etc to gold, silver, etc. I'm a smoker, so for some brands like Marlboro this was not a problem because the overall appearance of the box was the same. Then you have brands like Pall Mall where the box is blue or orange, or IIRC Misty's where one of their boxes is pink? Now we're in trouble, cuz I don't know which one is the "ultra lights" any more!

As far as the customers who would respond to my friendly greeting with a snippish, "Marlboro Reds, box!" I would suddenly become a complete airhead who had a very hard time finding their cigarettes.

[EricKei]

If I were working at a cig counter -- I wouldn't mind someone bringing the actual box to show me, as long as they were polite about it. If they're being a dick, on the other hand...

[cashierbex]

Marlboro is hard to remember these days. Here is what I sell:
Red/100s/72, special blend red/100s, red 85, light/100s/72, special blend light/100s, blend 27, edge, nxt, red black/100s, red label/100s, southern cut, silver/100s/72, menthol/100s/72, menthol light/100s, menthol silver/100s, menthol blue/100s/72, menthol black/100s, skyline/100s, blend 54/100s.

The cashier is bound to get it wrong if you don't specify the first time.

[xxscooterxx]

love the ones that come in and bark what they want, but don't tell me that they want 100's. I grab the shorts then they yell how they wanted 100's. I then say very nicely that I would have grabbed 100's had they asked for them!

[Kheldarson]

Ah, the Cigarette Game. Ask Blas about that. Or anyone who's ever sold cigarettes.

SC: Gimme mah smokes!
EMP: What brand, sir?
SC: MARB'RO!
EMP: *grabs Marlboro Reds*
SC: NO! 100s!
EMP: *puts Reds back, grabs 100s*
SC: NO, DAMMIT, MENTHOL! YOU STUPID OR SOMETHIN'?!
EMP:

Oh god, I used to have that exact conversation all the time.

Worst one was with the guy who started with "Cowboy killers in a box!" like that was supposed to tell a nonsmoker anything.

[VComps]

I'm surprised how often this tactic works without having the customer scream for a manager because you were "rude" or something. I used to do this in computer sales. SC: "I want to buy a computer." Me: "Sure! Which one?" SC: "The one that's on sale." Me: "We've got at least ten of those. Which one?" SC: "The one in your ad." Me: "That would be all of the sale computers. Which one do you want?" SC: "The one that's ON SALE!" Me: "Oh, right! The $2,149 Gaming Rig with Blu-Ray burner! Right this way." SC: "No! No, the... uh... the $399 Glorified Typewriter."

This! Oh my god this!

Or "what's the price on an iPad?"

"Which one?"

"The Apple one."

Pause for face palm...

"Well, I have the first generation iPad mini 16gb in black or white, the second generation iPad mini in 16, 32, 64, and 128, black and white, wi-fi and cell, the iPad 2 16 in both black and white, and the iPad Air 16, 32, 64, and 128, wi-fi or cell, black and white."

Cue the moment of stunned silence.

[BlaqueKatt]

If I were working at a cig counter -- I wouldn't mind someone bringing the actual box to show me, as long as they were polite about it. If they're being a dick, on the other hand...

I'll pull out the box if the csr looks to be having issues, seems presumptuous otherwise

[pinky]

It happens all the time, even when customers order from fast food. I don't know why. maybe they expect us to be mind readers.....

[cindybubbles]

Just offer them the most expensive item on the list, and they will be more specific in a few seconds.

[Desk clerk knows all]

Maybe as smokers they have less time to live so they can't take the time go be polite and speak in complete sentences

[EricKei]

maybe they expect us to be mind readers.....

*Attempting to read mind:Customer*

...

...

...

*404 Error:Mind not found*

[Firecrackers Not Included]

I'll pull out the box if the csr looks to be having issues, seems presumptuous otherwise

FOR SURE!!!
That's the part I didn't get to (I meant to in my mind)....
If the cashier looks stumped, then by all means, give them the needed clue they seek.

I don't go into places and expect the hired help to not know what they sell.
That's why it offends me when I play cashier. I also hate when I have scanned the
smokes and even given the customer a total, some people will pick them up and
examine them and say, "yep, those are the ones."

Thank you, customer. I needed that confirmation of what you asked for.
The total is still the same.