"How Rude.."

    I don't know about you, but I was always a kid who imagined.  At times, me and my older sister would put our toys on display and create our own store.  I always did want a job for reasons I still don't understand.  It was about four years ago when I said hello to the working world.  This world was, of course, much more carefree compared to the one I deal with now.  I didn't have many complaints serving the screaming children of the YMCA pool their ice cream and goodies.  In fact, I miss having a job with no rules, free use of a swimming pool, no dress code, and plenty of attractive lifeguards to look at from a distance (one of which I am currently dating).  But let's get real, a college education can't be financed with a summer job at the local pool.
     After realizing this, I was thrown into the real workforce by none other than my best friend.  Okay, I'll stop boring you with the history of it all now.  Needless to say, I am now a cashier/stocker/bitch of Gordon Food Service marketplace.  By bitch I don't mean the stuck up employee who doesn't give a damn.  This definition is more along the lines of "you do what I want, when I want, and how I want.  Yes, everyones favorite definition.  But of course, I suck it up and do the work.  I said hello to my tan work pants that go great with my three color choices of polos to match.  If the polos don't make me look hot, my bright red apron definitely does the trick. That's right, an apron.  This apron separates us from the rest of the world who think that they are superior to us.  After all, "customer is king".   See, me and the customers get along great on the surface.  Perhaps because I force myself to bite my tongue when I really want to say:  "You couldn't take three more steps to put something back on the shelf  that you didn't want?!? Instead you place it on the counter next to mine waiting to be put back in place by me."
     Which brings me to the topic of the night.  Rudeness.  I believe some people are immune to it, some don't realize they do it, and other just don't give a damn.  Now I don't know if I was raised wrong or something, because more times than none I come across people who are just plain old rude.  Here's a tip for you; treat others the way you want to be treated.  Cliche I know, but this expression we have been told for years is anything but false.  It amazes me the audacity of some people these days and how dead chivalry really is.  Wahh.  If something isn't up to their standards, it's our fault.  If we don't carry something in the store, we get blamed.  We just smile and say, "I'm sorry we don't carry that in the store but I would be happy to make a suggestion to make that a product here".  All of which is a complete lie.  I'm not sorry we don't have it, I will not be making any suggestion, and settle for what we have and move on with your life.

    You might be wondering what inspired my anger this evening, and you're lucky because I am going to tell you exactly why.  Our store supports many businesses around the area.  From the local Applebee's, to the self owned, self managed, family restaurant.  We learn to build relationships with these customers and have some appreciation for them as they do for us.  I was checking out one of these customers and like always, we create small talk.  She always comments on my Pandora bracelet and how she makes her own beads, so of course I appreciate that.  haha.  Anyway, she was done with her purchase and fumbling through her purse to get organized to leave.  It was only two seconds after the receipt printed that the customer behind her proceeded to shove her armful of turkey in front of the lady who was organizing her purse.  We'll call her Impatient Turkey.  Impatient Turkey gave me a look like, "Can you believe this lady, why won't she move out of my way." Surprised by her action, the lady in front of her turned to her, then turned to me with a disgusted look on her face.  Impatient Turkey responded, in a very rude tone, "Oh no no, you just take your gooood oldd time." As a result of this, I did not scan this lady's turkey until my counter was clear.  She proceeded to ramble complaints through the entire purchase, rolled her eyes when I asked if she wanted to make a donation    for the March of Dimes, and didn't even thank me after the purchase.  She left, with her ignorance, out the door without one word or a thanks.  Lesson number 2: Cashiers get treatment like this all the time and all we ask is a little respect.
    So that's the story.  I'll leave you with this...

Attention Customers,
     We do the best we can being cashiers and stockers of your local grocery store.  We clean your messes when you leave them unattended and we put things back that you were too lazy to put back yourself.  We ask you this, put stuff back.  Have respect. Be polite.  We do get paid to stand there and complete every transaction, but it's our choice to be nice to you.  You are the people that make or break our days.  So smile, make conversation, or hell, just fake it.  It's enough that we have to listen to the same 25 songs on "GFS radio", so do us a favor and have a little r.e.s.p.e.c.t.
love,
Nikki