Dear Cashier:
I like you. I really do. I know that yours is usually not a fun job. I know that you often have to deal with people who you would like to strangle: the woman who waits until her order is rung up to search through her wallet for that third-party check from Nigeria...and then asks you for a pen; the people who try to give you expired coupons or Banquet coupons when they are buying Tyson because it is "close enough"; the ones who look down on you because they are obviously so much better than you (and I just bet you can't stop laughing when their credit card is declined. Go ahead - you can admit it!).
I've worked retail. My husband is in the retail industry. I know your pain.
That being said (and having spent the last 2 minutes sucking up to you), there are a few things that need to be said:
1. Using coupons is not "robbing the store"....not even when we use them so carefully that we end up spending $5 for $100 worth of groceries. Your employer is getting reimbursed the face value for every coupon. Hey - I'm a nice person! If you are worried about getting in trouble, I understand. Go ahead and call the manager over if you need to cover your butt. As long as everyone is nice about it and nobody tries to accuse me of fraud, I have no problem with that. I am doing nothing wrong.
2. Coupons do not come out of your salary. They generally don't even come out of the salary of your boss (although I hear that CVS is docking the bonuses of managers for any manually entered coupons). Please stop acting as if they do.
3. If you learn nothing else in your retail career, please learn this: purchase = "item" and transaction = "group of items". "Limit one per purchase" does not mean that I am limited to one coupon for the entire transaction. It just doesn't. Case closed.
4. A beeping register, in most cases, is not a sign that SkyNet is becoming self-aware. Registers beep for many reasons. At Target they beep if you look at them the wrong way. Your reaction to a register that beeps should not be to wave my coupon at me and say "What are you trying to pull?!?!?!"
5. Unless you moonlight as the CFO for the manufacturer, please don't try to analyze what they "meant" when they issued the coupon (especially if the coupon scanned just fine). If the coupon says "$.75 off ANY 2 Ortega products", then that means ANY. If they wanted to exclude the $.58 taco seasoning packets, then they would have.
6. Lastly (and just as important as #3), please learn how to say this sentence: "I don't know why it won't go through, but let me find someone who does.". You are not speaking to an idiot. Telling me that the coupon won't go through because the item is on sale (or producing ECBs) will send me in to fits of laughter. Telling me that "expires 10/26/08" means that it IS "expired on 10/26/08" will have me laughing harder. I don't expect you to know everything and it also possible that the mistake is mine and that I grabbed the wrong item. But please don't just make up an answer on the spot and hope that I "buy it".
And you know what? If you do these things, not only will I treat you with the respect that you so richly deserve (and often don't get)....I'll even teach you how to save as much as me! I really do enjoy helping people, so throw me a bone won't ya?
Thank you,
Mindi
(P.S. - my retail manager husband agrees with everything I just typed)
Tara R.
Excellent tips. I even learned a few things, thanks!
Tara R.s last blog post..Smörgåsbord Sunday~ life is good.
Fae
Sounds like you had a really bad cashier. I've run up on a couple of coupon issues before, but a manager usually straightened them out.
Karla @ Ramblin' Roads
Nothing infuriates me more than an employee who makes up a lame answer in hopes that I will just go away. I'm not stupid. Say you don't know. But don't lie to me!
Karla @ Ramblin' Roadss last blog post..NaNoWriMo
erica m
I must be very fortunate to have the nicest cashiers a gal could ask for in all of my drug stores! I've never had a problem bargain shopping!
Walmart is quite another story...
I loved this post!
erica ms last blog post..October Coupon Giveaway
Mindi
Fae: actually - they are all tied to separate cashiers on separate days at separate stores. The "expired on 10/26 means that it IS expired" happened today. And I no longer have as many problems as I used to with coupons...mainly because I have learned which cahsiers work which shifts at which stores.
And I shouldn't have to be stuck dragging all 3 of my kids to the grocery store just because my husband is working when the "good cashiers" are working and if I wait until he gets home I will have problem after problem with the cashiers who are on duty at that time.
Manisha
I actually just had a very pleasant experience at my Acme. I have started going on Sunday nights really late because there is a really great guy who works the one and only register at this time of night. He didn't question me, didn't argue, and wasn't annoyed with me. He even commented "you saved over 50% AGAIN" and smiled.
I get irritated with people who assume I'm stealing because I walk out with a lot of groceries for next to nothing. I don't used expired coupons, and I don't try to cheat the system, so don't treat me like a criminal!
Bonnie
Love your letter, made me laugh because I think that we have all experienced the "bad cashier" at one time or another. I got one today that told me I couldn't use my RR at Walgreens. The ink from when it printed was to light to scan, I found that out from a previous trip using another light one, where they politely "keyed" it in. She insisted it was not scanning because I had exceeded my limit with the RR's. I checked my items purchased vs coupons used before I got in line, but it just wasn't worth arguing about. I love it when I get a cashier that compliments me on "knowing how to shop."
MI
P.S.
If you work for WalMart, and are not sure if a coupon applies to an item and ask for help, please make sure that it is a salaried manager as they, according to corporate policy, are the only ones who can refuse a coupon.
Also, salaried managers, please remember what the picture is on the coupon does not mean the coupon is limited to that specific item, especially if the coupon states ALL. And if I ask you to scan the coupon, as I know it is on the correct item since I just used the same coupons doing the same deal at another WalMart five miles away and told you so and showed you the receipt, why not try it first before saying no? The register will tell you the truth.
And if you are a salaried manager of WalMart, and you are asked by the cashier if you can take the coupon, and you say no, then when I ask you, the manager, if you are refusing my coupon do not say that only the cashier has the right to do that as she is accountable if the coupon is for the wrong item and point back at the cashier.
And then when I ask you the cashier if you are refusing to take my coupon, and/or you are refusing to scan the coupon do not say no, that you were just asking the manager if the coupon could be used on the item. And when I ask for your name because you have your badge turned backwards, do not turn to the manager to ask if you have to give your name.
Also, please remember that just because an item is marked down from $11.97 (with a sticker on the package saying over a $15.00 value), to $5.00 and I have $4.00 coupons, I am not stealing from your store. Don't be jealous because I am being thrifty and saving money and you can't get the same deal.
Also, Walmart cashiers and managers, try to listen to your customers and not be stupid and rude, as you never know the person in front of you. Because if you are like the above to me, and work for WalMart, I know I will be asking for your name, and not only calling Bentonville, I will also be calling the District Manager, since he gave me his personal cell phone number from a previous complaint, with a "call me anytime you have a problem....."
MIs last blog post..Happy Black Thursday - 1929 Stock Market Crash
jmisgro
Ha Ha I love #4 - Skynet!
I had the manager at CVS give me a hard time about using an ECB that was printed a little light. She said it wasn't the same paper as the others. Like I could fabricate an ECB?
jmisgros last blog post..Have you read any of these books?
Darla
My advice is to avoid Wal-mart as best you can. In rural areas that is hard, I know.
The more 'expensive' stores (where you shop loss leaders) in our area tend to be the most knowledgeable and helpful when it comes to coupons. Go figure!
Melissa
and please add to that "if I have to give you cashier 101, please don't be offended because I had to school you in what you already know"
seriously I have one cashier that won't even say hello to me now when I come through his lane because he didn't understand the meaning between purchase and transaction.
Heidi @ GGIP
It seems to me that the only coupon training cashiers get is about fraudulent coupons. So they do jump to conclusions about that rather often, although I do as you say and just ask them to get a manager.
Heidi @ GGIPs last blog post..Bummers
Mindy Said
Amen! I am so tired of getting the stink eye just for using coupons.
Jennie
Well said!!
Shan
I LOVE this! I spent 6 years as a cashier and a supervisor of cashiers. I have to agree that registers beep for many reasons! I found that where I worked, the younger cashiers didn't tend to scrutinize everything (unless they were new) and the older ladies had to get their glasses out, examine everything, ring me over just for me to tell them it was fine. I haven't had a bad couponing experience yet, but I'm new so I'm sure it will happen.