100%
I’m at an old-fashioned hardware store here named Salk’s Ace Hardware. It has aisle upon aisle of tools, lightbulbs, screws, barbecue accessories, garden stuff, etc. And there are a dozen people in red shirts to help you. It’s far more accommodating than Home Depot or Loew’s.
However, their weak point is checkout. There are only two stations, one staffed by a young woman and the other by a woman older than I. They are clearly the regular cashiers.
On this day I am second in line and there are two people dealing with the two cashiers. The younger one is having trouble with the computer, and has to get assistance to figure it out. The older one is laboriously writing up an order to give a copy to the customer. Both customers make comments that I cannot hear upon leaving.
The man in front of me goes to the younger woman, I to the other. She slowly scans my seven purchases. She asks if I want a bag! “How else would I get them to the car?” I ask, actually curious. “I don’t know, but I ask everyone if they want a bag.” “Maybe I could juggle them, but let’s go with a bag,” I reply.
She watches the machine for what change I’m due and begins slowly counting out 97 cents. I said, “Here’s a dime, please give me a dollar.” She stared at that, then said, “Oh,” and gave me a dollar while putting her change away. She saw me smiling and said, “Is something wrong?” “Well, you actually owe me 7 cents, but it’s not important.”
With that, she opened the register yet again and counts out a nickel and two pennies. “I don’t know why you people do that,” she says, “it creates such confusion.” “Maybe it’s an occupational hazard of being a cashier,” I suggest. With that, the customer at the other counter makes a clearly unhappy statement to that cashier, and departs. As I pick up my bag to leave, the other cashier asks her colleague, “What are the odds of four consecutive customers being sarcastic?”
Well, here, it’s 100%!!
If you find four consecutive buyers demanding a “deal,” it’s because you’ve compromised continually on other matters. If you find four consecutive people calling you “pushy,” it’s because you’re being too aggressive. If four consecutive people call you “sloppy,” check your clothing for food stains.
I’m not a fan of unsolicited feedback, but when you’re receiving a consistent pattern the problem ain’t with the senders, it’s with you!
