RHU Discussion: Non-Talking Custys A New Trend?

Hi Retail Hell!

New reader and poster here. You may call me Smackme, since I work there, and I wish to say that to custys and cow-irkers alike sometimes.

I'm back in Smackme Hell after a year hiatus, and have been dealing with a new behavior that's got me miffed. What do you do when custys absolutely will not talk to you?

I'm not talking about cellphone users that mouth words at you as you are ringing them up, or the people with earbuds in their ears (though they equally piss me off); I can deal with those. I was checking out a girl yesterday who REFUSED to say anything to me. She had ear buds in, but it wasn't like they were terribly loud. I just went along with my friendly wage slave spiel and rang out her transaction, but she just didn't say a word, just paid for her stuff and left without a glance at me.

Now this custy had a tag on that identified her as a fellow slave- I presumed she worked a job similar to mine- so what the hell was her deal? She said nothing. NOT A SINGLE WORD. 

The second time this happened was with a cellphone custy and his twig of a girl. AGAIN, they both refused to acknowledge or talk to me, even when I asked them questions regarding their order. They just kept talking to each other. It must have been a-hole custy day, since this happened maybe two or so hours after the first chick.

Maybe I've been out of Smackme Hell far too long, but is this an old thing, or a new trend in custy behavior?

I just brushed it off, but it's really been bugging me.

--Smackme

 

 

Comments

[DXKramer]

I've had those before. I'd also had onces that refuse to make any kind of eye contact with me.

When I used to work drive-thru at Cow Royalty, there was one customer who came through daily, would place their order, and when she got to my window, she would look directly ahead towards the road with their hand sticking out for the money and their food. Again, they would say nothing to me and keep their eyes towards the road.

[Riferous]

It's nothing new. I work in a grocery store and I have always wondered how I could be, at 6'2" and 336 pounds, fucking invisible.

[perky]

I hate those. I get one or two a day.
"HI, How are you today?"
* Silence*
"Did you find everything you need?"
Blank Stare
"Do you have any coupons today?"
Crickets chripping
"Your total is $124.77. Will you be paying by credit or debit today?"
Shoves a handful of cash at me.

Then this jackwad has the gall to get to the door realize that they had coupons, then storming angrily back to customer service and complain how I didn't take his or her coupons.

[RetailBird]

I give people the benefit of the doubt on the silent treatment. I personally have struggled with a social anxiety disorder that at times made it nearly impossible to talk to employees in stores. Oddly enough it hasn't ever effected me with customers when I work, but at it's worst I couldn't walk up to a counter to order food, forget making eye contact. If her only problem was that she wasn't talking or making eye contact, not that she was being actively snotty I would just let it go, who knows, she might have the ear buds in to discourage people from talking to her BECAUSE the interaction makes her uncomfortable.

[L]

I guess they just feel it's beneath them to talk to the peon behind the counter; like they're oh so important! On the flip side, I did have an encounter with a cashier who refused to say a word to me through the whole transaction; I assume she just didn't want to be at work that day!

[melmcl]

There are 2 stores in the area with the signs stating "We will not wait on people talking on the phone. Please step to the side and we will gladly help when you are finished." I see nothing wrong with that.
The only time I was on the phone checking out was with my M-I-L and you DO NOT hang up with her until she is done. I mouthed the words "It's my mother-in-law" and the clerk gave me a I totally understand look but I still felt super rude! Thank goodness it was at my regular gas station and I got to apologize the next day to her.

[Smackme]

Thanks everyone! It's good to know that I'm not crazy, and that this has happened to others. Retail Bird, I hadn't even considered that angle- I was so peeved that I didn't think it could be social anxiety. Which is all the more awful considering that I have had it as well! Thanks for putting that into perspective.

[TechChewToy]

I'm going to second the social anxiety angle. I put in earbuds when I go into the store because I have pretty acute panic attacks specifically in store environments (the aisles really bother me, and the lack of maneuverability of trolleys). I will usually at least try and give a smile to the retail slaves though cause I know it's a tough job, but on tough days when I'm really struggling I'll either hit the self-check aisles or kind of rush my way through with a nod and a 'I need to get out of here' type attitude. It's nothing personal.

[The Last Archimedean]

I'd much rather have a silent customer than a screaming one.

And sometimes as a customer I'm exhausted, have just had a horrible day and want to finish my shopping and get home. I'll nod and smile at the clerk but won't actually say anything.

[Hopea]

I'll third the social anxiety. Sometimes I'm almost capable of functioning like a human being among crowds, sometimes a single person can cause me to want to curl up in a fetal position in a corner.

[Ali627]

Im gonna go with S.A.D too..my sons dr even tried to say i act like im on the autism spectrim because i cant listen and make contact

[trekkiebabe]

I don't mind if people are shy or suffer from social issues but it's the ones that come up in a bad mood, grunt(yes, I have had people actually grunt at me), or are too busy chatting with their friends or family, that annoy me. It's not that I want to be best buds, although I do love when I can actually talk with the custys about books and stuff, but don't just flat out ignore the cashier!

Since I work at a B&N, I also wonder if maybe they don't talk because they think that will get them out of having to decline the member card.

[Thorkun]

I dont see this as a problem, if the custys dont wanna talk, dont force them to, thats just rude. Now, if they are ignoring you thats a whole other story. But sometimes when you shop you dont wanna be superfriendly with the cashier, and im fine with that.

Custys talking amongst themselves or on the phone, making me sit there and just wait for them is way worse.

On that note, custys coming in and saying 'oh here you are doing nothing behind your computer' - now that irks me. I have a million things to do behinf the computer when i dont have customers. But the worst ones are those who think im playing computer games. Just because im rattling away at my kb with no customers around doesnt mean im not doing anything useful. Ugh. Anyway, this post got a little too long and a little off topic :p

[Toni]

I had a cashier completely ignore me one time. No eye contact either and I don't think she even told me what me total was. It was really weird, I have also been ignored in restaurants and that just pisses me off to have the server walk around the table with their back to you and not stop by to check, etc.

[The Last Archimedean]

When I get ignored in restaurants is when I leave a slightly smaller tip. If it's *really* bad, I'll speak to the manager afterwards. But if it's particularly busy, I'll leave my usual amount, or even a bit more, and assume they were overwhelmed by having to deal with 20 tables at once.

[Book Baby]

I hate it when I say, "Hi!" to a patron and they act like I don't even exist! I work in a LIBRARY; it's not like I am trying to sell you something!

The worst folks are those who look through me. Now, I am plus-sized, so I am hard to miss. Some people manage to make it seem like I am not there. I am sorry, but this hurts my feelings! I am not asking for a twenty minute conversation--a simple "How ya doin'?" will suffice!

[WMDKitty]

Social Anxiety is a real bitch, man. Just... please be understanding, we're not being all Silent Bob to annoy you, it's because we're silently panicking on the inside and trying desperately to hold it together.

[Madrias]

I'm generally quiet as a customer, but I'll at least acknowledge minor small talk if it's offered. However, I don't push for it nor will I ignore the cashier.

[Concoction]

I myself have where I get extremely anxious over social interaction (phone calls, being in public, talking to employees/waitresses, etc.) and I've just recently been getting over the hurdle. I often get so flustered with my own panic I don't hear what the other person is saying and have to ask them to repeat themselves or just smile and nod while feeling ridiculous. I don't think I've ever just all out not spoken to a cashier, but I've fumbled over myself a lot and dropped money/clambered around trying not to panic and holding up the line.

I apologize to all staff people that I've ever made a mess out of our interactions, or felt like I was rude because I couldn't bring myself to talk.

[candieaddict]

I've always been a silent person. I don't have social anxiety, I just don't like talking when I just want to get something done.

Sure, I'll say "Hi" and "Yes" to if I found everything okay, but really, I just want to get through the line and go home. I don't want socialize.

[Mollywobbles]

I'm socially anxious, too, but I at least answer questions that are posed to me, and say "Hi" when I'm greeted. I've been there, I know what it's like to be completely ignored.

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