Snappy answers to stupid questions, SC style

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

On this first Wednesday in March, and thus another damn Senior Day, one of the cashiers relayed to me this encounter she had with some old codger:

Cashier: (scanning his items and doing the usual cashier-y things) Did you find everything you were looking for today?
Customer: Geez, you ask the stupidest questions, you know that? There were plenty of those ugly green shirts (meaning employees) walking around I could've asked and I didn't need to ask any of them.
Cashier: ...I'm just doing my job.

That was a new one on me, I have to say.

[SnapAddict218]

Wow. Um. Someone peed in his prune juice.

[Fiyero]

See I always reply "yes thank you" to that question. I agree it is a bit of a silly question but I wouldn't take offense to it.

[Sheldonrs]

...Cashier: (scanning his items and doing the usual cashier-y things) Did you find everything you were looking for today?
Customer: Geez, you ask the stupidest questions, you know that?

Cashier: :Just playing to my audience sir.

[katie kaboom]

This is why i rarely ask that question. And if i do, i word it differently. I'll be damned if 'm going to take the abuse from people who can't answer with a simple yes or no.

[wagegoth]

That question bugs me, because by the time I'm in line at the register I've either found the item or I've asked someone and they don't have it, but I'm not rude about it. Even if I told the cashier that I couldn't find something, I wouldn't hold up the line to have it brought up.

[Broomjockey]

That question bugs me,

I love that question. The number of times all the on-floor sales associates have ignored the hell out of me (Am I invisible or something? ) or just not been around, and I just couldn't find something, the cashier's usually able to tell me quickly if it's there or not, and sometimes (if it isn't busy) will even go quickly grab it, or let me get it.

[bainsidhe]

It's a standard question, because it's a way to promote customer service (it shows you care ) and because the store may make a few extra dollars. During my tenure at the now-defunct Media Play, it wasn't unusual for a customer to tell me they were looking for DVD XYZ but couldn't find it. Well then, let me look that up to see if it's in stock and I'll also find a floor associate for you. The customer was happy and the company was happy.

Yeah, this guy was having a bad day...or life

[Apathy]

it shows you care

I most certainly do not!

[BookstoreEscapee]

That question bugs me, because by the time I'm in line at the register I've either found the item or I've asked someone and they don't have it, but I'm not rude about it. Even if I told the cashier that I couldn't find something, I wouldn't hold up the line to have it brought up.

This is why I never asked that question when I was cashier. Usually there wasn't much I would be able to do, anyway. I usually just stuck with a pleasant, "Hello, how are you today?"

[MadMike]

For some reason, I thought this was going to be about snappy answer to the customers' stupid questions. Something like:

"Do you work here?"

"No, I'm just showing off the latest (name of store) fashion wear!"

[Keiara]

I never ask that question because I don't care. I work in a hardware store that moved from a small,cramped location to a big,spacey location. I've noticed that it uses gives them an excuse to bitch about how they liked the old store better because they could find stuff there... *internal eyeroll* Or they couldn't find someone to help them...deal with it people

[LibraryLady]

I never mind when I'm asked that and always say that I did.

Sometimes, I didn't find everything but, what I didn't find wasn't all that important.

BTW, In reference courses Library students are always told to ask the patrons if they found the information they needed. It's considered a follow-up to the reference interview.

[InaHandbasket]

They always ask me that as I check out at Trader Joe's (my FAVORITE grocery store). I try not to be sucky about it, but I've been irked for over a year that they discontinued an addiction item of mine -- Trader Joe's Espresso Coffee Soda. So, my answer usually is:

"I found too much chocolate stuff I love, but I'm still hoping to find the Espresso soda back on the shelves someday."

Well, they asked!

Seriously, though ... love me my Trader Joe's and they have a great staff there, too.

[sms001]

Customer: Geez, you ask the stupidest questions, you know that?

"That's what they pay me for sir!"