ID please

A story appeared in today's tabloids that told of a Checkout Operator in Tesco's who asked for ID when a young girl was buying a quiche. I think that was a case of common sense gone wrong because I could think of nothing in a quiche that would require the buyer to be over 18 - having said that we have prompts on out tills when customers buy The Sunday Times. I don't know what that is about?

However, while age ID is an important issue it does require common sense.

I had a case a few months ago where I ID'd a young looking chap because I thought he looked young. He gave me a hard time and I called a Duty Manager who disgarded what I told him about the incident and made me look a complete idiot. Needless to say, I was so upset and would have left if I could afford to leave. It was terrible. No back-up. Never again.

I suppose I thought, for a fraction of a second, that management especially senior management would back me up - silly woman I am!

10 ways to speed up your shopping

Have you ever wondered how to speed up your trips through the supermarket checkouts?

Simply follow the following rules:

1. Smile at the checkout assistant – remember even checkout people are human.

2, Don’t forget the checkout assistant is always right.- when they tell you
something listen, absorb and remember!

3. Don't stress them more than they are already. Checkout operator have targets to meet and trust me, they are doing their best to process your order as quickly as possible.

4. If an item is unknown – don’t fret – it is not the end of the world. Unknown items, items that don’t scan or disappearing bar codes annoys checkout operators more than you. So don’t get annoyed with the checkout operator it isn’t their fault. If you are in a hurry either accept it and or politely say "never mind, I'll leave it."

5. When you forget to hand over your coupons or vouchers, take them to the Customer Services Desk to refund your money. Don't argue!

6. Pack yourself - if help is offered and you want to pack – ask the assistant to put your shopping from the trolley on the belt.

7. Don't distract the checkout operator they will probably have more important things to think about than processing your order.

8. If you have a problem, ask to see a manager and suggest they spend a week on the checkout.

9. Id you lose your temper with a manager - you will probably get a voucher!

10. Take an interest in the life of your checkout assistant - it will probably be the first time someone has.

Good Luck Wellworths, I hope you succeed!

It's nice to see the passion that the new boss of WellWorths has. It's also good to see that someone has the courage of their convictions and "went for it".

Chris Evana made a passing comment that this story was going to be made into a movie, I hope so because it would make a brilliant story - wish I thought of it.

Perhaps others will follow and do what they feel passionate about. Including me!!!

10 ways to speed up your trip through the supermaket checkout

Have you ever wondered how to speed up your trips through the supermarket checkouts? Simply follow the following rules:
1. Smile at the checkout assistant
2, Remember the checkout assistant is always right.
3. Don't rush her/him - they have plenty of time - let them process your order at their own speed.
4. If something is unknown, doesn't have a bar code, is or gets damaged don't lose your rag with them - just accept it and say "never mind, I'll leave it."
5. When you forget to hand over your coupons or vouchers, take them to the Customer Services Desk to refund your money. Don't argue!
6. Pack yourself - if help is offered ask the help to put your shopping from the trolley onto the belt - they can't get that wrong.
7. Don't distract the checkout operator they will probably have more important things to think about than processing your order.
8. Ask to see a manager and suggest they spend a week on the checkout.
9. Lose your temper with a manager - you will probably get a voucher!
10. Take an interest in the life of your checkout assistant - it will probably be the first time someone has.

Good shopping!

Mega Mouth is Back

These past three weeks have been bliss - no Mega Mouth (outwise known as my supervisor). It has been so quiet. None of this, I can't talk to you because she doesn't like you and will not like me if I talk to you. I know what you are thinking how childish. It is! She is chronically an adult but mentally a 10 year old and she is our supervisor who we have to take orders from. It's not fair but life is not fair, is it?

However, it does make you wonder what hold she has over the company because anyone else who upset customers with her very loud foul mouth, she gets away with it. She also gets away with being off sick at the drop of a hat. Passing germs are attracted to her like a magnet.

Having said that she does have her good points - the only trouble is that I don't know what it is? But it takes all kinds of people to make up a world. It is just ashame she is in my world.

Who said being a shop assistant is easy? I think it takes a lot more than just going to work to survive. You have got to be polical otherwise you get eaten alive. And it seems that unless you milk the system, no one wants to know.

IF YOUR FACE FITS

It is amazing the affect that the absence of one supervisor can make. If this Supervisor doesn't like you she makes your life hell. Complaining to managerment, personnel and the union makes no difference - for some reason she has a hold on them. Although she is always off sick, ill or otherwise she gets away with it - anyone else would be given warnings and fired. Yet she is the person we take orders from - someone with NO interpersonal skills!.To look on the bright side of things she is away for 3 weeks during the summer holidays and it is bliss. There is none of this - I can't talk to you because she won't speak to me; or she doesn't like you so I can't either. It is sad that in this day and age people will not stand up for themselves. However, having said that I appreciate the difficulty in standing up for yourself because no on will take action nor will anyone in authority support you. All you end up doing is upsetting yourself and she goes onto bully you even more. I suppose that is what it's like working at the check-outs - there is one rule for one and another rule for everyone else. The only winners are those people whose face fits!

The best ways to get served - your guide to being a successful customer

The following are ways to ensure that you get served when you go into shops:

Smile at the assistant
Remember to say please
Treat the assistant like a member of the human race
Don't be demanding
Don't be patronising
Take your time, there is no need to rush
Leave your anger at home
Don't be abusive - language or actions
Treat assistants as though they have some intelligence
Don't be rude
Remember shop assistants have a life too!