Barely any of these are irrational
but I'm happy to vent.

I work in a supermarket. Customers are, on the whole, lovely. Then you get the wankers: those who lean on my till and invade what little personal space a metal box with a conveyor belt gives me. The people who think they're being *so* witty when they go 'Well I can't carry it' when I ask if they need a bag. What do you want me to say? 'Bring a bag, fuckwit'?

The understandably stressed mothers with three screaming children who then take it out on me because I ask if they want cashback. (Look, lady, it's not my fault you have kids.)

Being called 'darling', or 'love' or the like. Over 60? Fine. I was called 'luv' by a fucking teenager last week. How can you be patronised by someone nearly half your age?

Customers who don't come back when their card is declined. Look, I don't work at Waitrose, I know what it's like to be poor. I hate it too. Don't lie to me and run away leaving £100 worth of shopping - the cold stuff goes straight in the bin and the rest of it takes at least an hour to put back.

No, I will not give you a bottle of vodka for four 'healthy start' vouchers. They are for fresh/frozen veg and fruit, milk and baby formula. Not for you to get pissed.

Your trolley is not a battering ram. I am human and it *hurts* if you go into the back of my legs. The same applies to buggies/prams. (Also, those mothers who don't know the difference between a trolley and a pram. People's *food* goes in there and your kid just spread mud everywhere! It's a food-carrying device, not a portable creche.)

Don't use my name just because it's on my badge. If you feel the need, introduce yourself first. It's rude, and you can't pronounce my bastard name anyway.

But... nevermind.
( Bats, Wed 6 Apr 2011, 13:27, 9 replies)

I am so locked into my own misery
when supermarket shopping that the plight of the staff has hitherto
passed me by. Your post has given me pause for thought. I can't blame customers who leg it when their card gets declined though. It's likely to be stolen and they're not going to want to wait around for plod...
(Happybara The jungle came alive and took him, Wed 6 Apr 2011, 13:41, closed)

I'm not saying they should leave the card
just that if they go out (with card), check their balance and they haven't got the funds, they come back and say 'Sorry, gonna have to leave it' if only so about £30 worth of frozen veg and cheese etc isn't binned for the simple reason that it's a bit melty and thus unsellable.
( Bats, Wed 6 Apr 2011, 18:54, closed)

I sympathise with everything
Except the name badge thing. If they're not there to allow people to call you by the name printed on the badge, what are they there for?

Mind you I'm too repressed and British to dare call someone I don't know by their first name merely because their name is printed on a bit of plastic attached to their clothing.
( shinyshinyscalp less a man, more a way of life, Wed 6 Apr 2011, 14:46, closed)

They'd be better off with nicknames on badges.
It'd be a better ice-breaker
( Extinct Jesus Dossier "...I think it counteracts Hitler's magic...", Wed 6 Apr 2011, 15:02, closed)

I want 'Trouble' on mine.
Wouldn't get it though, no sense of humour these people!
( Bats, Wed 6 Apr 2011, 18:57, closed)

If you work there, you have to wear a badge. There's no choice.
It's a first name or nickname you can have, but it must be shown. I always get confused when people say my name. I start wondering if I know them and made them sad that I didn't say their name back or recognise them... Hehe.
( vix0r was not Matthew on, Wed 6 Apr 2011, 15:30, closed)

That's one bonus.
If they can't pronounce my name, they don't know me :D
( Bats, Wed 6 Apr 2011, 18:56, closed)

It's to create a false sense of intimacy for customers
and so managers don't look like they've forgotten your name when you're the 33rd person that day to ask about shifts/holiday etc.
( Bats, Wed 6 Apr 2011, 18:56, closed)

Get a better job

( emvee cruor deo cruoris, Wed 6 Apr 2011, 14:58, closed)