Do you even know how many germs are on all the stuff you touched today??

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

If I were cashiering (and thank God I don't), I wouldn't lick my fingers before opening bags just because that would be happening after I touched somebody's money, which for all I know was in somebody's ass crack or cleavage or sweaty socks.

And don't get me started on the counters and conveyor belts. Yeah they get sprayed down, but only every so often.

[jnd4rusty]

I agree that the customer could have handled it in a better way. I have to say that when a cashier lick's his or her fingers before counting out my money or opening my bag I will also cringe! I do not say anything but to me it is instantly a gross factor. I prefer not to have their saliva on my money or merchandise. I am not germophobic but I feel it is unprofessional for the cashiers to do that. I had this happen at a couple of fast food restaurants and I was instantly disgusted that someone who was handling my food was licking their fingers prior to that. I have noticed that cashiers at certain places have started to wear gloves and I know from experience when I worked in the restaurant business that having gloves on really helped with opening plastic bags. I do not know if that is an option for you but just a thought.

[Pixilated]

I used to have a technique for opening plastic bags which involved opening the narrow side part and then working the rest of the bag open (sorry if it makes no sense; I'd probably have to demonstrate it ...) and used to try to get maybe a dozen bags open ahead of time. But of course that is not always possible.

A sponge is eventually going to have just as many germs on it as licking your thumb.

Agreed, but you are arguing with the customer's perception of reality, and it is an argument you will lose everytime. If they think the sponge is cleaner (which it will be, for maybe the first half an hour), then hopefully your manager will get you a nice little sponge in a nice little holder and this customer will quiet down.

Personally, I would prefer the sponge for precisely the opposite reason: all the germs coming my way from the cans, produce, cereal boxes ... e.g. everything that every single customer has touched.

[Gizmo]

Depending on the bag's shape, one trick I've learned is to grab the handles & pull them apart. This stretches the centre & can release the front/back from each other.

I put my finger and thumb either side on the main bag bit (not the handles) about an inch down. Then push thumb down and and finger up. since your not trying to pull the bag 'apart' but move it up and down it seems to do it easier.

[Grendus]

So, instead of your thumb which get washed regularly throughout the day she would prefer a sponge that sits damply for weeks in end?

This. Sponges hold onto water and get dirty very quickly (they're far more disgusting than anything else in your house). The human mouth is a breeding ground for germs because there's a lot of food there, but it's also fairly antimicrobial. There are a lot of germs, but the amount stays fairly constant as your immune system keeps them in check. The sponge would get gross pretty quick, your mouth will stay about the same.

[RealUnimportant]

Depending on the bag's shape, one trick I've learned is to grab the handles & pull them apart. This stretches the centre & can release the front/back from each other.

[drjonah]

We have a customer who insists on scanning her own items and demands the cashier cover herself with hand sanitizer before starting the transaction

[Food Lady]

BrenDAnn, I can get some sortkwik, but they move me from station to station so often that it would be ridiculous to have to keep going back to grab it. We're just too busy and understaffed to worry about that. We have a semi-regular customer who has the same issue. She comes in wearing a mask over mouth and nose and gloves, and has never complained about this. Not to mention that even if I didn't lick my thumb, I handle dirty money all day long and then handle their bags and merchandise. My hands are dirtier than my mouth.

[Lyse]

So, instead of your thumb which get washed regularly throughout the day she would prefer a sponge that sits damply for weeks in end?

[Monterey Jack]

A sponge is eventually going to have just as many germs on it as licking your thumb.

[BrenDAnn]

The SC was way out of line here, I agree with that. Is it possible for you to keep a damp cloth or one of those little things of finger slicker stuff at your register with you at all? If not then yeah... how else are the bags going to open? I've worked with plastic bags myself, and they truly are a pain in the backside!

[Food Lady]

I have carpal tunnel, so I am constantly licking my fingers to open bags. This SC told me I shouldn't do that and I asked why. She instantly jumped down my throat with "Because I don't want to touch that [or something blah blah]..!" I get what she's saying, but, as I told her, bags aren't going to get opened any other way. I actually said "That isn't happening." She replied that most people have sponges, or some such, so I said I'd ask for something like that. What else could I say? As she walked away she said it was gross. Thanks for calling me gross. Uh, do you have any idea how many people touched that merch before your hubs did? (He has supressed immune system). Do you know money has e. Coli on it?? I sympathize w/ his health issue, but come on. You're out in public. Think about it. And tell a manager. Don't jump down my throat.