Just because I am at the Register does NOT mean it's open!!!

[Becks]

I have mentioned to my store manager that they should either send us some "REGISTER CLOSED" signs or allow us to set up a computer terminal in the back room to help with this

But...that would make sense.

You KNOW that's not allowed!!!

[Gabrielle Proctor]

I can't stand it when people try to use "It's the law you HAVE to do it!" They are so wrong everytime, but don't seem to realise it.

Reminds me of this fail...

[Skeksin]

Maybe put a couple of sensors in front of the register? Like the one found in the big retail chains that yell at you if you haven't deactivated the security sensor. Only for this version if the system is armed then anyone who walks up will get a voice telling them that "the register is closed. Please use another register". Hopefully not in as distorted of a voice like what seems to happen to the system in the stores.

Of course it will still be ignored....

[bainsidhe]

If the OP's store is similar to mine (policy-wise, I mean), the company doesn't want signs stating that a register is closed, because customers somewhere will complain about it. They want registers to appear friendly, welcoming and open for business, even if they are closed. Same reason why our store's self-checkouts go from having signs stating 20 items or less to having no signs to having signs again, etc... Corporate can't make up their mind between what makes sense and what customers want to hear/read. It would be great to have signs and hopefully someone in corporate will have the common sense to get some. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

[RayvenQ]

...the SC reached over the counter slightly and hit the ESC button a bunch of times and said "There, now you're not in the middle of anything, ring these up"

I think I'd have reenacted a scene from wanted right about then, if you've seen it, you can probably guess which one.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

If the OP's store is similar to mine (policy-wise, I mean), the company doesn't want signs stating that a register is closed, because customers somewhere will complain about it. They want registers to appear friendly, welcoming and open for business, even if they are closed. Same reason why our store's self-checkouts go from having signs stating 20 items or less to having no signs to having signs again, etc... Corporate can't make up their mind between what makes sense and what customers want to hear/read. It would be great to have signs and hopefully someone in corporate will have the common sense to get some. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

It is and they don't, in response to your first two points.

Also I think my CW was so shocked that the guy actually hit buttons on her register she didn't immediately have a more vicious response to it.

[Dreamstalker]

In my case, some dork reached over the counter (the reason I didn't think much of it at first is that the store has counter displays not far from the keyboard) and knocked a box of cards onto the keyboard which caused bad things to happen. Given how the boxes were arranged (hard to knock one over unless you really work at it), I don't quite think it was accidental.

[Kirkygirl]

...the SC reached over the counter slightly and hit the ESC button a bunch of times and said "There, now you're not in the middle of anything, ring these up"

!

I think that about says it, right guys?

I'm pretty sure that I would have used a very painful (but harmless) pressure point on this guy to make sure that he wouldn't do this again. Buuut I wasn't there. Kudos to your CW, I'm pretty sure I would have blown up at the guy and would have even made my marine engineer dad blush.

[Chromatix]

The supermarkets around here have a little sign which says the equivalent of "Please use the next cashier, thanks." It's friendlier than "Register Closed", if that's what management are concenred about.

[JLG]

[QUOTE=CrazedClerkthe2nd;476217]

Translation: If someone is at the register, that doesn't necessarily mean they can process sales.

Unfortunately most SCs seem to not/notice or care, even when someone is standing at the other register, waiting to ring people out.

If a person was standing there doing nothing, I can understand a customer expecting to be served, but when the person there is obviously in the middle of something, it should be common courtesy to ask if they can do sales. Sadly, common courtesy, as this site will tell you, is severely lacking in today's society.



I often need to change out registers and I am standing there with another associate taking out money and putting it in a bag with a reigster closed sign and receipt tape coming out the top of the register and people still walk over and put stuff on the counter. The other day as I was walking away with another associate with the till bag in my hand a man walks over and puts his stuff down and says "Where is that lady that was just here?" I turned around and said sorry I was never open just changing out registers for the closing shift. He rolled his eyes and moved to the cashier that was standing there behind his register with nobody in line.

[Dreamstalker]

I've had people plop their stuff down and glare at me while I was changing register tape...ok pal, I can technically ring you out but you won't get a receipt until I'm done. You probably do want a receipt, so let me finish what I'm doing.

"Work faster!" is amusing when a family-friend boss does it (the humor there is that we both know I can't go faster), but the same crack when I'm dealing with a finicky receipt printer (I could go faster, but doing so would likely get me a few injuries and break the printer worse than it already is) will get you growled at.

[Dips]

...the SC reached over the counter slightly and hit the ESC button a bunch of times and said "There, now you're not in the middle of anything, ring these up"

I bet that idiot thought that he was being clever and he'd later be able to brag to all his friends about how he put one over on the "lazy" clerk and beat the system.

Instead he got himself kicked out without his games. Brilliant!

I wonder what he tells his friends now? Probably bores them to tears with rants about the terrible "injustice" he suffered.

This is along the same lines as to why I always wait for the bank teller to say "May I help who's next?" before approaching.

That reminds me of something that happened at the book store last Saturday that illustrates why that is a good idea.

The lady in line in front of me swooped into a register the second the last customer left instead of waiting to be invited. The cashier politely said she would be with her in a moment and finished up whatever she needed to do.

In the meantime another cashier invited me over as I was next in line.

Guess who got out of the store faster?

[MTNLaurelPoacher]

One of the game stores I frequent had a novel approach to closing off any and all approach to one of their registers. They put a 36x72 folding table loaded down with sale items in front of the register they were using for office use and trade-ins. Not only did it showcase the stuff they had on sale for Christmas, it also gave the customers who were checking out a place to form a line. The customers now had a direction and shape for the line, instead of the usual blob shape people tend to form in front of registers. The register didn't have a closed sign on it, but there was no approach to the person standing behind the computer terminal. Genius! (forgive me for the rough illustration) I don't know how it did closer to the holidays, I tend to stick away from stores as much as possible during Christmas time.

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[fireheart]

I can relate on this issue in more than one way.

-At my work, the supervisors are often required to count the registers, do pickups, change orders and so forth on closed registers. This often results in people asking "Excuse me, are you open?" Even though there is a closed sign there and/or a trolley in the way.
-I've seen the odd customer simply walk up and plop down their groceries on an empty belt, believing that someone will magically appear and serve them. :eyeroll:
-Our registers at work are thankfully touchscreens. If anyone tries what was mentioned above, I am ready with a divider "No! Bad SC! Bad!" They treat us like dogs, I can too if you touch my screen!
-And finally, our main competitior is now owned by another group. They've changed a few things. Two of them stick out in my mind: 1) their closed signs now say "Let us serve you on another checkout." and 2) they can no longer check bags. Wonder how long that ruling will last? (they don't usually post security guards around, my cousin works for them)

[Nyoibo]

Back when I was working for the illustrious Mart of K I used to cash out the registers on evenings when I was there 'til close of store, 20-30 minutes before the store closed I'd log off my register and go cash out other registers, with out fail I'd just start a register and some twit would come up, ignoring the fact the light was off and there's a steel gate across the lane and start unpacking their cart/basket, eventually it'd get to the point I'd just let them keep unpacking oblivious to the fact that the money draw is on the counter and I'm ignoring them and let them realise I was not open and watch them pack up and go to an open register.

Wow, run on sentence.