My Rant (and then I'll feel better)

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 02-26-2014, 10:43 AM
Cedwards38's Avatar
Cedwards38 Cedwards38 is offline
Platinum member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Village of Sanibel
Posts: 1,784
Thanks: 0
Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Default My Rant (and then I'll feel better)

OK, I have to mention this pet peeve in hopes that some offenders will read it and maybe be a little more considerate of others. Several times in the last few weeks I have been in a situation where I am in a line to check out (Target, Barnes and Noble, Arden's Jewelry, Lowes, and Citizens First Bank where there were a number of people waiting to do business but one customer was obliviously engaged in a conversation with the clerk or teller that was completely inconsequential to the business at hand. Examples are: telling the clerk about a problem with another business, telling the clerk about how hard they had looked for the item they were purchasing, telling the clerk about the books they had read lately, etc. They were telling some story while a number of us were waiting(some more patiently than me I'll admit) for service. This is not the worst thing that can happen to someone, but please, notice when you are inconveniencing others and move along. Thanks. I feel better now. Comments?
__________________
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

Last edited by Cedwards38; 02-26-2014 at 11:45 AM.
  #2  
Old 02-26-2014, 10:48 AM
marianne237 marianne237 is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Poinciana
Posts: 790
Thanks: 0
Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts
Default

Amen.
__________________
So much to do...no desire to do it!
  #3  
Old 02-26-2014, 10:55 AM
ilovetv ilovetv is offline
Sage
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,100
Thanks: 0
Thanked 11 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Amen.

If people need more social contact, which many do, TV is perfectly designed for socialization and conversation at 3 town squares and dozens of beautiful recreation centers where a person can go and chat all day long, with different people every day of the week.

Of course a cashier has to be friendly and courteous, but they should be doing their job, first, for all customers in line, not just the needier one.

A grocery store, bank or post office line is a place of business, not a social hall.
  #4  
Old 02-26-2014, 11:22 AM
justjim justjim is online now
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Illinois, Tennesee, Florida, Village of Caroline, Sanibel, LaBelle
Posts: 5,622
Thanks: 61
Thanked 1,300 Times in 536 Posts
Default

OP, I hear you. There is a time and place for "long" conversations. Occasionaly I see something similar in restaurants---"long" conversations with the Server who needs to be getting our order and somebody's food.

This time of the year it's especially frustrating---but don't let it ruin your day. Patience is a virtue---good to remember.
__________________
Most people are as happy as they make up their mind to be. Abraham Lincoln
  #5  
Old 02-26-2014, 11:34 AM
Rango Rango is online now
Veteran member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 728
Thanks: 244
Thanked 106 Times in 47 Posts
Default

Been there. Too much Jibber Jabber!
  #6  
Old 02-26-2014, 11:42 AM
quirky3's Avatar
quirky3 quirky3 is offline
Platinum member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,696
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

Part of it may be a southern cultural thing. The very first week I moved to Florida from New England, I was in a line at Walmart and several people in front of me, the lady checking out was busy showing the cashier (whom she didn't know) multiple pictures of her grandchildren. No one else seemed surprised or annoyed. I'm not saying it's "right", but I think it goes with the territory.
__________________
"Carpe the heck out of your Diems- with joy!"

"Do no harm" (but take no sh**!)
  #7  
Old 02-26-2014, 11:42 AM
SusanOfWoodbury SusanOfWoodbury is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Woodbury
Posts: 231
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Did you talk with the manager of the store? Because if these clerks are talkative with one person and there are long lines, they will continue the behavior until someone steps in.

Just saying
  #8  
Old 02-26-2014, 11:43 AM
jhrc4 jhrc4 is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 357
Thanks: 0
Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Default

Love this posting: How about this.

Waiting in line at Dunkin Donuts, Panera Bread et. etc. plenty of time to view what the choices are ...Then comes decision time when the clerk says the Magic Question, what would you like ?

And the reply is ummmm, aaaaa, ummmmmm aaaaaaa, oh gee, ummmmm, aaaaaaaaa, turns to the child and magically asks what would you like Johnny, Billy, Susie, etc. whatever, and there is more ummmmmmm, aaaaaaaa, gee I don't Know....Mommy, or Grandma, Of course most of the time without children and there is the same...ummmmmm, aaaaaaaaa, etc.

Please look at what is on offer, decide, make your choice before it is your turn and ORDER !
  #9  
Old 02-26-2014, 11:44 AM
Cedwards38's Avatar
Cedwards38 Cedwards38 is offline
Platinum member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Village of Sanibel
Posts: 1,784
Thanks: 0
Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SusanOfWoodbury View Post
Did you talk with the manager of the store? Because if these clerks are talkative with one person and there are long lines, they will continue the behavior until someone steps in.

Just saying
I did not talk to the manager because I really believe the clerks were just being polite and the customer was the one initiating and sustaining the conversation.
__________________
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
  #10  
Old 02-26-2014, 11:56 AM
CFrance's Avatar
CFrance CFrance is offline
Sage
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Tamarind Grove/Monpazier, France
Posts: 14,480
Thanks: 388
Thanked 1,922 Times in 783 Posts
Default

It's called lack of situational awareness--many people are just oblivious to what's going on around them. Same thing applies when there's a checkout line and the person waits till the total is rung up to get out their checkbook and start writing.

So many of us are too self-absorbed, as well.

I think the cashiers should be trained in a polite way to fend off the grandma showing pictures, etc., and keep the checkout line moving.
__________________
It's harder to hate close up.
  #11  
Old 02-26-2014, 11:58 AM
Bonnevie Bonnevie is offline
Platinum member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,537
Thanks: 12
Thanked 732 Times in 240 Posts
Default

I, too, have bristled over this and also people not making choice before getting to order taker at Panera, etc. I try to take a deep breath and tell myself I'm retired now and a few extra minutes are not going to matter to me.
  #12  
Old 02-26-2014, 12:15 PM
perrjojo's Avatar
perrjojo perrjojo is offline
Soaring Eagle member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Mission Hills
Posts: 2,294
Thanks: 226
Thanked 321 Times in 78 Posts
Default

I was checking out at Radio Shack when two separate people came up, and asked a question which required a bit of time to answer. This took the cashier away from my transaction while I just stood there. My peeve, people who think it's ok to butt in because they are more important.
  #13  
Old 02-26-2014, 12:15 PM
justjim justjim is online now
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Illinois, Tennesee, Florida, Village of Caroline, Sanibel, LaBelle
Posts: 5,622
Thanks: 61
Thanked 1,300 Times in 536 Posts
Default Laid back culture

Quote:
Originally Posted by quirky3 View Post
Part of it may be a southern cultural thing. The very first week I moved to Florida from New England, I was in a line at Walmart and several people in front of me, the lady checking out was busy showing the cashier (whom she didn't know) multiple pictures of her grandchildren. No one else seemed surprised or annoyed. I'm not saying it's "right", but I think it goes with the territory.
The region of the country you come from does make a difference. Coming from a small Midwest town not that far from Kentucky---life generally was pretty laid back. When we moved north to a big big city---"things" were different.

We might as well get over it---Florida is not New York, Jersey or Chicago. Thank God for that!!
__________________
Most people are as happy as they make up their mind to be. Abraham Lincoln
  #14  
Old 02-26-2014, 12:17 PM
MikeV's Avatar
MikeV MikeV is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Village of Charlotte
Posts: 1,380
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jhrc4 View Post
Love this posting: How about this.

Waiting in line at Dunkin Donuts, Panera Bread et. etc. plenty of time to view what the choices are ...Then comes decision time when the clerk says the Magic Question, what would you like ?

And the reply is ummmm, aaaaa, ummmmmm aaaaaaa, oh gee, ummmmm, aaaaaaaaa, turns to the child and magically asks what would you like Johnny, Billy, Susie, etc. whatever, and there is more ummmmmmm, aaaaaaaa, gee I don't Know....Mommy, or Grandma, Of course most of the time without children and there is the same...ummmmmm, aaaaaaaaa, etc.

Please look at what is on offer, decide, make your choice before it is your turn and ORDER !
You hit the nail on the head. This is one of my pet peeves.
__________________
New Jersey, Texas, Mississippi, Delaware, Mississippi, Viet Nam, New York, Guam, New York, Massachusetts, New York, The Villages.
  #15  
Old 02-26-2014, 12:21 PM
graciegirl's Avatar
graciegirl graciegirl is offline
Sage
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 40,004
Thanks: 4,850
Thanked 5,493 Times in 1,903 Posts
Send a message via AIM to graciegirl
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CFrance View Post
It's called lack of situational awareness--many people are just oblivious to what's going on around them. Same thing applies when there's a checkout line and the person waits till the total is rung up to get out their checkbook and start writing.

So many of us are too self-absorbed, as well.

I think the cashiers should be trained in a polite way to fend off the grandma showing pictures, etc., and keep the checkout line moving.




What an astute observation. So correct, and quirky3's as well. We are a little more social here sometimes in certain situations than we should be.


But mostly, it is a nice kind of interaction. Sometimes it is a lapse, not thinking of others.
__________________
It is better to laugh than to cry.
Closed Thread

Thread Tools

You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:25 AM.