[Rant] "Cashier Has Receipt"

[Gypsy In The Palace]

So, with about five minutes to spare on my lunch hour, I pull into fill up with gas. Trying to get back to work, I use the Fast Pay. Everything goes fine until I get to the end, and it says, "Cashier Has Receipt." I let out a big sigh and get several looks from other people pumping gas. I consider just hopping in the car and forgeting about it, but I want to have something in case I got erroneously charged.

So, I run into the store, have to wait on the casheir (who by the way is sitting down on a stool behind the counter acting like she doesn't have a care in the world) to finish a personal conversation with a customer in front of me. Then, I get up there and tell the cashier, "I've got $18.05, and it said you had my receipt." She says, "Which pump?" (Well, gee, I didn't know it was my responsibility to also check for a pump number). I point out the window and say, "The one where that red car is parked." She goes, "Which one?" I tell her the one where the red car is parked. She stares out the window and then finally says "Okay, pump 4." Finally, she prints my receipt, and I go on my way.

You know, I know that occasionally, you're going to pull up there when the pump has run out of paper without the cashier realizing it. That happens, and if I happen to be the first customer after it runs out, I understand that. But, what I hate is the cashier's lack of caring. Not only did she act like it was my responsibility to know which pump I was on, but she seemed to care less that the pump was out of paper. I would have walked out of there feeling fine (and wouldn't be posting this) if she would have sincerely apologized for the pump being out of paper and acted like she cared.

I know that in my office when I make a mistake with a client, my world literally stops until I get it resolved, and I make it a point to sincerely apologize to them. When our receptionist goes to lunch, I sometimes listen out for the front door, and occasionally someone slips in without me hearing them. When that happens, I make sure they don't leave without an apology. And, when I recently messed up on some reports for a client, I took part of my lunch hour to take a corrected report down to her.

What I would be really interested to know is how many more people pulled up to that same pump the rest of the day and got that same "Cashier Has Receipt" message.

[aeroparrot]

Unfortunately, this is the case with any customer service job (when I say that it is the job like the cashier at the gas station or store etc).

[Conolulu]

Unfortunately, this is the case with any customer service job (when I say that it is the job like the cashier at the gas station or store etc).

Have to disagree....I have had wonderful Customer Service ...from Saks, to Dillards, to the corner gas station/convenience store...It isn't all Customer Service jobs ...

What is sad..is that people mostly talk about the bad service...All my years in Customer Service and hardly any take the time to write , or call, the home office, when they get really good service...only the bad gets reported 90% of the time...(yeah yeah..I took all those motivational courses with all the statistics... )

I am a letter writer.....whether it is bad, or really good....When someone not only meets, but exceeds my expectations...I write letters......It's amazing how some recognition motivates people!

You're right..she should have offered an apology, if nothing else....I would have..."Customer Service" seems to be like "Jumbo Shrimp" & "Military Intelligence"..an oxymoron......it is in short supply these days.....




Oh yeah, my ISP HATES me....

I call, and write...every month....they do not KNOW the meaning of Customer Service... (any of you with knology may know what I am talking about....sheeeesh...)

[aeroparrot]

Unfortunately, this is the case with any customer service job (when I say that it is the job like the cashier at the gas station or store etc).

Have to disagree....I have had wonderful Customer Service ...from Saks, to Dillards, to the corner gas station/convenience store...It isn't all Customer Service jobs ...

What is sad..is that people mostly talk about the bad service...All my years in Customer Service and hardly any take the time to write , or call, the home office, when they get really good service...only the bad gets reported 90% of the time...(yeah yeah..I took all those motivational courses with all the statistics... )

I am a letter writer.....whether it is bad, or really good....When someone not only meets, but exceeds my expectations...I write letters......It's amazing how some recognition motivates people!

You're right..she should have offered an apology, if nothing else....I would have..."Customer Service" seems to be like "Jumbo Shrimp" & "Military Intelligence"..an oxymoron......it is in short supply these days.....




Oh yeah, my ISP HATES me....

I call, and write...every month....they do not KNOW the meaning of Customer Service... (any of you with knology may know what I am talking about....sheeeesh...)

And don't get you started on the cell phone service right?

[Wino you know]

And don't get you started on the cell phone service right?

Me either. I have as much love for Verizon Wireless as you do the Yankees.

I got some REAL crappy customer service at a Subway restaurant yesterday. I'm thinking of calling and reporting this little arrogant snot-nosed geeky pimple-faced punk, but he's probably some college kid trying to earn a few extra bucks (after all, Iowa City IS the home of the allmighty University of F'ing Iowa), and I'd hate to get him fired if he was simply having a bad day, but he really shouldn't take it out on his customers.
I'll probably just blow it off unless it happens again.

[aeroparrot]

And don't get you started on the cell phone service right?

Me either. I have as much love for Verizon Wireless as you do the Yankees.

I got some REAL crappy customer service at a Subway restaurant yesterday. I'm thinking of calling and reporting this little arrogant snot-nosed geeky pimple-faced punk, but he's probably some college kid trying to earn a few extra bucks (after all, Iowa City IS the home of the allmighty University of F'ing Iowa), and I'd hate to get him fired if he was simply having a bad day, but he really shouldn't take it out on his customers.
I'll probably just blow it off unless it happens again.

The Verizon Wireless customer service is known to be shoddy, the 800 number anyway. If you go to their stores, it's better.

I tried to go to my gym Tuesday morning (I get there around 5:30 AM) and couldn't do my workout because the gym didn't open up until AFTER 6 AM. The gym is supposed to open at 5:30 AM. I called up the gym around 9 AM when I got to work and asked person who answered that I needed to speak with a manager. They asked why and I explained that the gym didn't open on time and I couldn't get my workout done because of it, so I was transfered to the manager. After discussing with him, he agreed that this was unacceptable and will review the tapes and "punch cards" to see when the people came in to open up and if they weren't even there at 5:30, then they would be fired on the spot.

[Catch&Release]

For some of us, working those cashier jobs were the start to working our way up the world of the employed. The job I had pushing a broom and cleaning bathrooms at TJ Maxx when I was in high school led to being a cashier and then being assigned a department. That led to TJ Maxx paying for some of my college classes which led to law school which led to a good job.

Unfortunately, it now seems that more of those "entry level" jobs are going to people without the intelligence to view them as stepping stones to something better. Instead, we get increasingly bad service from people with increasingly lower aspirations.

Just my $.02.

[Wino you know]

The Verizon Wireless customer service is known to be shoddy, the 800 number anyway. If you go to their stores, it's better

The customer service people I've talked to at Verizon have been okay-it's all the dropped calls I get upset about. HUNDREDS of them. Lots of times I'll try to call someone and the call won't go through, and there are times when someone will call ME and the damn thing won't even ring. It isn't until later when I see I have voice mail messages that I realize someone has tried to call.

My contract with these fools expires in November.
After that, I'll be with another company. Not sure which one yet, but it WON'T be Verizon.

[aeroparrot]

The Verizon Wireless customer service is known to be shoddy, the 800 number anyway. If you go to their stores, it's better

The customer service people I've talked to at Verizon have been okay-it's all the dropped calls I get upset about. HUNDREDS of them. Lots of times I'll try to call someone and the call won't go through, and there are times when someone will call ME and the damn thing won't even ring. It isn't until later when I see I have voice mail messages that I realize someone has tried to call.

My contract with these fools expires in November.
After that, I'll be with another company. Not sure which one yet, but it WON'T be Verizon.

Yea, it could be the area that you're in. They may not have the towers there (meaning spaced out enough to make sure there aren't any dropped calls).

[Wino you know]

Yea, it could be the area that you're in. They may not have the towers there (meaning spaced out enough to make sure there aren't any dropped calls).

I live in a valley with huge hills all around me-THAT could be one reason, but many times I've used my work cell phone from my house and it's worked great.

Who would've thought 20-25 years ago I'd be b*tching about cell phones?

[Wino you know]

For some of us, working those cashier jobs were the start to working our way up the world of the employed. The job I had pushing a broom and cleaning bathrooms at TJ Maxx when I was in high school led to being a cashier and then being assigned a department. That led to TJ Maxx paying for some of my college classes which led to law school which led to a good job.

Unfortunately, it now seems that more of those "entry level" jobs are going to people without the intelligence to view them as stepping stones to something better. Instead, we get increasingly bad service from people with increasingly lower aspirations.

Just my $.02.

I have to agree with you-you're right.

[aeroparrot]

Who would've thought 20-25 years ago I'd be b*tching about cell phones?

Not only that but with any "new" technology that has become standard within the past 20 to 25 years.

[Conolulu]

Garry??

I won't even touch Verizon....let's just leave that stone unturned...

[Wino you know]

Not only that but with any "new" technology that has become standard within the past 20 to 25 years.

I b*tch about my cell phone.
I b*tch about my computer.
I b*tch because the C.D. player in my car skips once in a while.
I b*tch when the power goes out and I have to re-program my V.C.R.
I b*tch because there's no HOOTERS restaurants in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area.

At least the last one is a legitimate gripe.

[aeroparrot]

Not only that but with any "new" technology that has become standard within the past 20 to 25 years.

I b*tch about my cell phone.
I b*tch about my computer.
I b*tch because the C.D. player in my car skips once in a while.
I b*tch when the power goes out and I have to re-program my V.C.R.
I b*tch because there's no HOOTERS restaurants in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area.

At least the last one is a legitimate gripe.

Exactly. I'm with you on the Hooters complaint. There isn't one in Boston, as far as I know. I think the closest one is in Warwick, RI.

[sy]

It really is a shame about customer service these days. I know there are my fair share of places I go where clerks and service people are just downright nasty to me (I really do seem to attract it), and I really try to be kind and courteous to all of them (because heaven knows I'm sure they see their fair share of *ssholes in a day). But I have found that if you look for it, you can pretty much see the difference between the clerk who really could care less about their job and the one who is having a bad day. The bad day ones will usually curb their bad attitude if you smile at them and wish them a happy day. The ones who don't care should just be reported.

Fortunately, around here, the places I go the most have some of the sweetest employees I could ever wish to deal with (thank you Wawa, for hiring kind people at 5am).

[jimsig]

Exactly. I'm with you on the Hooters complaint. There isn't one in Boston, as far as I know. I think the closest one is in Warwick, RI.

I think that one closed too. Closest ones are in CT. The franchise owner for Boston, Warwick, and Hyannis ran into some problems.

I got to the same gas station all the time and they have one pump that does not give you a receipt as it is broken, has been for months. The least they could do is put up a sign, the best the could do is fix it. needless to say I avoid that pump.

[ragtopW]

Garry??

I won't even touch Verizon....let's just leave that stone unturned...

and I (I know I live in the west) have better service from Verizon
then any of the folks at work do from their other carriers.

but the pholks on the phone from those Bastages??

but so are the Qwest reps.. the Bell South Reps...
the Sprint Reps..

[ragtopW]

Not only that but with any "new" technology that has become standard within the past 20 to 25 years.

I b*tch about my cell phone.
I b*tch about my computer.
I b*tch because the C.D. player in my car skips once in a while.
I b*tch when the power goes out and I have to re-program my V.C.R.
I b*tch because there's no HOOTERS restaurants in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area.

At least the last one is a legitimate gripe.

Move to Boise.. we got Hooters..

[Wino you know]

Move to Boise.. we got Hooters..

I don't know about MOVING to Boise, but I promise to be there the next time Jimmy does a concert there.