Do you do any of these things at the checkout? A Coles cashier shares the most frustrating customer habits

We all know how frustrating it can be to wait in a long queue, whether we're at the bank or at the supermarket. And as much as we might like to believe that everyone is patient and understanding when they're standing in line, that's unfortunately not always the case.

Some people just can't seem to help but do things that drive those around them up the wall – especially cashiers and other customer service employees who have to deal with them daily.



A Coles cashier recently took to TikTok to reveal some of the most frustrating things customers do and say when they're at her checkout, and let's just say, we can definitely see where she's coming from (mostly)!

Sharing her views on TikTok, the cashier listed off her pet peeves, which included asking her to smile more, inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of contactless paywave and using coupons for items that are not on sale.


486eb48895b73ba9295bfd56607e2ad5fc5b95ca-161x229-x0y88w814h1158.png

The Coles employee aired her grievances on TikTok, revealing some of the things that customers should not be doing. Credit: TikTok.



The TikTok user also added the hashtag #cashierproblems and #cashierlife in the caption of her video, urging customers not to do the things she mentioned.

So, without further ado, here are some of the things that checkout employees hate the most:



1. Placing heavy items on the conveyor belt

Heavy items should never be placed on the conveyor belt because it’s a hassle for check-out workers and can even be dangerous. Not only do they have to reach over the item to scan it, but they also have to lift it up to place it in a bag. If you are buying a lot of heavy items, it is best to leave them in your trolley so that the cashier can easily scan them from there.



2. Inserting their card into the EFTPOS machine

Some customers, instead of tapping their cards when checking out their items, insert their cards into the EFTPOS machine. They then have to wait for the machine to read them and process them, as well as enter their pin.

This makes the whole process longer.

3. Asking them to smile more

Some customers, besides asking the staff to give them a discount, also like to request some ‘emotional labour’.

Apparently, some shoppers want the staff to be ‘happy’, so when checking them out, they ask them to ‘smile more’. I’m sure any ladies reading this right now know exactly how it feels to be on the receiving end of that.



Other habits that were mentioned include:
  • Overpackaging your bags with your purchases
  • Going through a checkout that says ‘closed’
  • Not removing your card from the EFTPOS machine when it says to
  • Putting your Flybuys through at the end
  • Saying ‘You look bored, I’ll give you something to do.’
  • Paying for groceries and handing over cents at the last second after the cashier has entered the amount you tendered
As customers, we should be mindful of the supermarket employees as well. They are working in difficult environments, managing and stocking shelves, dealing with the public and keeping their colleagues safe. We need to respect their efforts and make their jobs a little bit easier.

Key Takeaways

  • A Coles employee has revealed the most frustrating things customers do and say when they’re at the checkout.
  • Some of the most frustrating things include asking the employee to smile more and inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of tapping.



There you have it, folks! For those of you who worked in retail before, do you share similar sentiments with the Coles worker? Better yet, have you experienced similar stressful situations in your retail shift before? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
 
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We all know how frustrating it can be to wait in a long queue, whether we're at the bank or at the supermarket. And as much as we might like to believe that everyone is patient and understanding when they're standing in line, that's unfortunately not always the case.

Some people just can't seem to help but do things that drive those around them up the wall – especially cashiers and other customer service employees who have to deal with them daily.



A Coles cashier recently took to TikTok to reveal some of the most frustrating things customers do and say when they're at her checkout, and let's just say, we can definitely see where she's coming from (mostly)!

Sharing her views on TikTok, the cashier listed off her pet peeves, which included asking her to smile more, inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of contactless paywave and using coupons for items that are not on sale.


486eb48895b73ba9295bfd56607e2ad5fc5b95ca-161x229-x0y88w814h1158.png

The Coles employee aired her grievances on TikTok, revealing some of the things that customers should not be doing. Credit: TikTok.



The TikTok user also added the hashtag #cashierproblems and #cashierlife in the caption of her video, urging customers not to do the things she mentioned.

So, without further ado, here are some of the things that checkout employees hate the most:



1. Placing heavy items on the conveyor belt

Heavy items should never be placed on the conveyor belt because it’s a hassle for check-out workers and can even be dangerous. Not only do they have to reach over the item to scan it, but they also have to lift it up to place it in a bag. If you are buying a lot of heavy items, it is best to leave them in your trolley so that the cashier can easily scan them from there.



2. Inserting their card into the EFTPOS machine

Some customers, instead of tapping their cards when checking out their items, insert their cards into the EFTPOS machine. They then have to wait for the machine to read them and process them, as well as enter their pin.

This makes the whole process longer.

3. Asking them to smile more

Some customers, besides asking the staff to give them a discount, also like to request some ‘emotional labour’.

Apparently, some shoppers want the staff to be ‘happy’, so when checking them out, they ask them to ‘smile more’. I’m sure any ladies reading this right now know exactly how it feels to be on the receiving end of that.



Other habits that were mentioned include:
  • Overpackaging your bags with your purchases
  • Going through a checkout that says ‘closed’
  • Not removing your card from the EFTPOS machine when it says to
  • Putting your Flybuys through at the end
  • Saying ‘You look bored, I’ll give you something to do.’
  • Paying for groceries and handing over cents at the last second after the cashier has entered the amount you tendered
As customers, we should be mindful of the supermarket employees as well. They are working in difficult environments, managing and stocking shelves, dealing with the public and keeping their colleagues safe. We need to respect their efforts and make their jobs a little bit easier.

Key Takeaways

  • A Coles employee has revealed the most frustrating things customers do and say when they’re at the checkout.
  • Some of the most frustrating things include asking the employee to smile more and inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of tapping.



There you have it, folks! For those of you who worked in retail before, do you share similar sentiments with the Coles worker?l Better yet, have you experienced similar stressful situations in your retail shift before? Share your stories with us in the perhaps thecustomers complain a
Perhaps the Cashier should concentrate more on her own English and grammar rather than worry about her customers' bad habits 🙄
 
We all know how frustrating it can be to wait in a long queue, whether we're at the bank or at the supermarket. And as much as we might like to believe that everyone is patient and understanding when they're standing in line, that's unfortunately not always the case.

Some people just can't seem to help but do things that drive those around them up the wall – especially cashiers and other customer service employees who have to deal with them daily.



A Coles cashier recently took to TikTok to reveal some of the most frustrating things customers do and say when they're at her checkout, and let's just say, we can definitely see where she's coming from (mostly)!

Sharing her views on TikTok, the cashier listed off her pet peeves, which included asking her to smile more, inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of contactless paywave and using coupons for items that are not on sale.


486eb48895b73ba9295bfd56607e2ad5fc5b95ca-161x229-x0y88w814h1158.png

The Coles employee aired her grievances on TikTok, revealing some of the things that customers should not be doing. Credit: TikTok.



The TikTok user also added the hashtag #cashierproblems and #cashierlife in the caption of her video, urging customers not to do the things she mentioned.

So, without further ado, here are some of the things that checkout employees hate the most:



1. Placing heavy items on the conveyor belt

Heavy items should never be placed on the conveyor belt because it’s a hassle for check-out workers and can even be dangerous. Not only do they have to reach over the item to scan it, but they also have to lift it up to place it in a bag. If you are buying a lot of heavy items, it is best to leave them in your trolley so that the cashier can easily scan them from there.



2. Inserting their card into the EFTPOS machine

Some customers, instead of tapping their cards when checking out their items, insert their cards into the EFTPOS machine. They then have to wait for the machine to read them and process them, as well as enter their pin.

This makes the whole process longer.

3. Asking them to smile more

Some customers, besides asking the staff to give them a discount, also like to request some ‘emotional labour’.

Apparently, some shoppers want the staff to be ‘happy’, so when checking them out, they ask them to ‘smile more’. I’m sure any ladies reading this right now know exactly how it feels to be on the receiving end of that.



Other habits that were mentioned include:
  • Overpackaging your bags with your purchases
  • Going through a checkout that says ‘closed’
  • Not removing your card from the EFTPOS machine when it says to
  • Putting your Flybuys through at the end
  • Saying ‘You look bored, I’ll give you something to do.’
  • Paying for groceries and handing over cents at the last second after the cashier has entered the amount you tendered
As customers, we should be mindful of the supermarket employees as well. They are working in difficult environments, managing and stocking shelves, dealing with the public and keeping their colleagues safe. We need to respect their efforts and make their jobs a little bit easier.

Key Takeaways

  • A Coles employee has revealed the most frustrating things customers do and say when they’re at the checkout.
  • Some of the most frustrating things include asking the employee to smile more and inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of tapping.



There you have it, folks! For those of you who worked in retail before, do you share similar sentiments with the Coles worker? Better yet, have you experienced similar stressful situations in your retail shift before? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
We all know how frustrating it can be to wait in a long queue, whether we're at the bank or at the supermarket. And as much as we might like to believe that everyone is patient and understanding when they're standing in line, that's unfortunately not always the case.

Some people just can't seem to help but do things that drive those around them up the wall – especially cashiers and other customer service employees who have to deal with them daily.



A Coles cashier recently took to TikTok to reveal some of the most frustrating things customers do and say when they're at her checkout, and let's just say, we can definitely see where she's coming from (mostly)!

Sharing her views on TikTok, the cashier listed off her pet peeves, which included asking her to smile more, inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of contactless paywave and using coupons for items that are not on sale.


486eb48895b73ba9295bfd56607e2ad5fc5b95ca-161x229-x0y88w814h1158.png

The Coles employee aired her grievances on TikTok, revealing some of the things that customers should not be doing. Credit: TikTok.



The TikTok user also added the hashtag #cashierproblems and #cashierlife in the caption of her video, urging customers not to do the things she mentioned.

So, without further ado, here are some of the things that checkout employees hate the most:



1. Placing heavy items on the conveyor belt

Heavy items should never be placed on the conveyor belt because it’s a hassle for check-out workers and can even be dangerous. Not only do they have to reach over the item to scan it, but they also have to lift it up to place it in a bag. If you are buying a lot of heavy items, it is best to leave them in your trolley so that the cashier can easily scan them from there.



2. Inserting their card into the EFTPOS machine

Some customers, instead of tapping their cards when checking out their items, insert their cards into the EFTPOS machine. They then have to wait for the machine to read them and process them, as well as enter their pin.

This makes the whole process longer.

3. Asking them to smile more

Some customers, besides asking the staff to give them a discount, also like to request some ‘emotional labour’.

Apparently, some shoppers want the staff to be ‘happy’, so when checking them out, they ask them to ‘smile more’. I’m sure any ladies reading this right now know exactly how it feels to be on the receiving end of that.



Other habits that were mentioned include:
  • Overpackaging your bags with your purchases
  • Going through a checkout that says ‘closed’
  • Not removing your card from the EFTPOS machine when it says to
  • Putting your Flybuys through at the end
  • Saying ‘You look bored, I’ll give you something to do.’
  • Paying for groceries and handing over cents at the last second after the cashier has entered the amount you tendered
As customers, we should be mindful of the supermarket employees as well. They are working in difficult environments, managing and stocking shelves, dealing with the public and keeping their colleagues safe. We need to respect their efforts and make their jobs a little bit easier.

Key Takeaways

  • A Coles employee has revealed the most frustrating things customers do and say when they’re at the checkout.
  • Some of the most frustrating things include asking the employee to smile more and inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of tapping.



There you have it, folks! For those of you who worked in retail before, do you share similar sentiments with the Coles worker? Better yet, have you experienced similar stressful situations in your retail shift before? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
I never ‘Tap’ my card because I choose to have the added security of putting in my pin and being able to see the transaction in my bank statement right away.
All of these complaints are in my view quite petty and could be easily resolved by the Tik Toker simply communicating her needs during the interaction.
A little human response is likely to have a better outcome for her than a misspelled online rant.
Sounds to me like the job is not for her
 
Does she realise she works in the service industry? I'm sorry but she is there for us, the customers convenience, not the other way around. Does she know that without customers going through her checkout she would be out of work? It is up to you to make your work day as pleasant as it can be for all involved and it starts with your attitude.
 
Why does it make her angry if the fly buys card is put through at the end? At the self check out it/the machine always tells us to present then card "at any time"....
Plus: the cashier doesnt have to put the card through, the customer has. And it s not always easy to find the scanner for it, or it sits at a strange angle and wont read the card... VERY frustrating for us as the customers as well! Only WE DONT GET PAID for our time spending at check out....

End of MY rant😂
 
We all know how frustrating it can be to wait in a long queue, whether we're at the bank or at the supermarket. And as much as we might like to believe that everyone is patient and understanding when they're standing in line, that's unfortunately not always the case.

Some people just can't seem to help but do things that drive those around them up the wall – especially cashiers and other customer service employees who have to deal with them daily.



A Coles cashier recently took to TikTok to reveal some of the most frustrating things customers do and say when they're at her checkout, and let's just say, we can definitely see where she's coming from (mostly)!

Sharing her views on TikTok, the cashier listed off her pet peeves, which included asking her to smile more, inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of contactless paywave and using coupons for items that are not on sale.


486eb48895b73ba9295bfd56607e2ad5fc5b95ca-161x229-x0y88w814h1158.png

The Coles employee aired her grievances on TikTok, revealing some of the things that customers should not be doing. Credit: TikTok.



The TikTok user also added the hashtag #cashierproblems and #cashierlife in the caption of her video, urging customers not to do the things she mentioned.

So, without further ado, here are some of the things that checkout employees hate the most:



1. Placing heavy items on the conveyor belt

Heavy items should never be placed on the conveyor belt because it’s a hassle for check-out workers and can even be dangerous. Not only do they have to reach over the item to scan it, but they also have to lift it up to place it in a bag. If you are buying a lot of heavy items, it is best to leave them in your trolley so that the cashier can easily scan them from there.



2. Inserting their card into the EFTPOS machine

Some customers, instead of tapping their cards when checking out their items, insert their cards into the EFTPOS machine. They then have to wait for the machine to read them and process them, as well as enter their pin.

This makes the whole process longer.

3. Asking them to smile more

Some customers, besides asking the staff to give them a discount, also like to request some ‘emotional labour’.

Apparently, some shoppers want the staff to be ‘happy’, so when checking them out, they ask them to ‘smile more’. I’m sure any ladies reading this right now know exactly how it feels to be on the receiving end of that.



Other habits that were mentioned include:
  • Overpackaging your bags with your purchases
  • Going through a checkout that says ‘closed’
  • Not removing your card from the EFTPOS machine when it says to
  • Putting your Flybuys through at the end
  • Saying ‘You look bored, I’ll give you something to do.’
  • Paying for groceries and handing over cents at the last second after the cashier has entered the amount you tendered
As customers, we should be mindful of the supermarket employees as well. They are working in difficult environments, managing and stocking shelves, dealing with the public and keeping their colleagues safe. We need to respect their efforts and make their jobs a little bit easier.

Key Takeaways

  • A Coles employee has revealed the most frustrating things customers do and say when they’re at the checkout.
  • Some of the most frustrating things include asking the employee to smile more and inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of tapping.



There you have it, folks! For those of you who worked in retail before, do you share similar sentiments with the Coles worker? Better yet, have you experienced similar stressful situations in your retail shift before? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
 
I always try to put my card into the machine as well so it comes out straight away. As for cashiers smiling at the customers. It is something I always tried to do but can you imagine smiling for 8hrs or more a day. Becomes false after a while.
 
No apologies for this long post- turn the tables! before you complain checkout operator. I agree with everything said already.

But what about the annoying things they do- like fill a bag to overfull just to fill it when they hand you back the extra bags brought with you. I put cold items tog, packages/tins/glass/tog, chemical stuff tog, fresh tog.with a bag for each. And they mix it up simply to fill the space. Put eggs and meat trays on their sides, soft foods at the bottom and heavy on top so are bruised or squashed. Putting chemical stuff in with fresh! Need I go on..

I am forever having to instruct packers, regardless of their age the things they need to consider when packing. When you have firm strong bags they put light items in them, and then in the soft bags put the glass items where they can move and break. Or all the heavier items on one side so when you pick up the bag it tips over.

Oh I had one girl complain when I said only 4 milks in a bag only - and she went off about everyone who complains about the amount she packs in the bags and the weight, and I had to explain-for eg. injuries - neck/shoulder/back etc preventing lifting, and we have to carry from car into house and that can be a distance for some so don't want heavy bags, and this is regardless of age. "Oh" she said, not happy.

Then she put chicken in bottom of a bag and packages on top- I said don't- all cold things together! and made her change it. I can't carry and unpack everything in one go when I get home for my body- and I had that happen one Christmas when the chicken was at the bottom and all xmas confectionary, bonbons etc put on top and overfilling bag. When I got home, didn't think I would have to empty the bag to find cold meat on the bottom. I thought when I took the bag of goodies to the family for xmas day 10 days later, we found the chicken. I just thought it wasn't put in my bags. I said I don't want that happening again. She just stared at me.

Well, that's my bit- felt good getting that out. lol
 
I would like to speak up for checkout operators. Fancy telling someone to smile...who do some customers think they are? And if I had that (repetitive, tiring, thankless, low paid) job, I would get a bit testy with people who made it less efficient too! Yes, I have gotten the odd rotten egg but most are chatty and polite, which I'm cool with and appreciate. Their packing is much better than I could do and they are not there to make our day. It's a short interaction, so let's make it as mutually positive & pleasant as possible.
 
Tapping automatically accesses your Credit Card Account (if you have one attached to your card) - insert gives you the option of selecting your savings or cheque account. Some suppliers (like Aldi) put a % on purchases which inflates the already high price of groceries. IF your credit card isn't fully paid off each month those grocery prices are inflated even more with the addition of interest! Ah but you can't teach some people the basics of budgeting and how to avoid unnecessary fees etc...........
 
We all know how frustrating it can be to wait in a long queue, whether we're at the bank or at the supermarket. And as much as we might like to believe that everyone is patient and understanding when they're standing in line, that's unfortunately not always the case.

Some people just can't seem to help but do things that drive those around them up the wall – especially cashiers and other customer service employees who have to deal with them daily.



A Coles cashier recently took to TikTok to reveal some of the most frustrating things customers do and say when they're at her checkout, and let's just say, we can definitely see where she's coming from (mostly)!

Sharing her views on TikTok, the cashier listed off her pet peeves, which included asking her to smile more, inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of contactless paywave and using coupons for items that are not on sale.


486eb48895b73ba9295bfd56607e2ad5fc5b95ca-161x229-x0y88w814h1158.png

The Coles employee aired her grievances on TikTok, revealing some of the things that customers should not be doing. Credit: TikTok.



The TikTok user also added the hashtag #cashierproblems and #cashierlife in the caption of her video, urging customers not to do the things she mentioned.

So, without further ado, here are some of the things that checkout employees hate the most:



1. Placing heavy items on the conveyor belt

Heavy items should never be placed on the conveyor belt because it’s a hassle for check-out workers and can even be dangerous. Not only do they have to reach over the item to scan it, but they also have to lift it up to place it in a bag. If you are buying a lot of heavy items, it is best to leave them in your trolley so that the cashier can easily scan them from there.



2. Inserting their card into the EFTPOS machine

Some customers, instead of tapping their cards when checking out their items, insert their cards into the EFTPOS machine. They then have to wait for the machine to read them and process them, as well as enter their pin.

This makes the whole process longer.

3. Asking them to smile more

Some customers, besides asking the staff to give them a discount, also like to request some ‘emotional labour’.

Apparently, some shoppers want the staff to be ‘happy’, so when checking them out, they ask them to ‘smile more’. I’m sure any ladies reading this right now know exactly how it feels to be on the receiving end of that.



Other habits that were mentioned include:
  • Overpackaging your bags with your purchases
  • Going through a checkout that says ‘closed’
  • Not removing your card from the EFTPOS machine when it says to
  • Putting your Flybuys through at the end
  • Saying ‘You look bored, I’ll give you something to do.’
  • Paying for groceries and handing over cents at the last second after the cashier has entered the amount you tendered
As customers, we should be mindful of the supermarket employees as well. They are working in difficult environments, managing and stocking shelves, dealing with the public and keeping their colleagues safe. We need to respect their efforts and make their jobs a little bit easier.

Key Takeaways

  • A Coles employee has revealed the most frustrating things customers do and say when they’re at the checkout.
  • Some of the most frustrating things include asking the employee to smile more and inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of tapping.



There you have it, folks! For those of you who worked in retail before, do you share similar sentiments with the Coles worker? Better yet, have you experienced similar stressful situations in your retail shift before? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
No cards in my checkout chick days haha we had cheques tho for the rich people & farmers from the districts around Esperance
 
We all know how frustrating it can be to wait in a long queue, whether we're at the bank or at the supermarket. And as much as we might like to believe that everyone is patient and understanding when they're standing in line, that's unfortunately not always the case.

Some people just can't seem to help but do things that drive those around them up the wall – especially cashiers and other customer service employees who have to deal with them daily.



A Coles cashier recently took to TikTok to reveal some of the most frustrating things customers do and say when they're at her checkout, and let's just say, we can definitely see where she's coming from (mostly)!

Sharing her views on TikTok, the cashier listed off her pet peeves, which included asking her to smile more, inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of contactless paywave and using coupons for items that are not on sale.


486eb48895b73ba9295bfd56607e2ad5fc5b95ca-161x229-x0y88w814h1158.png

The Coles employee aired her grievances on TikTok, revealing some of the things that customers should not be doing. Credit: TikTok.



The TikTok user also added the hashtag #cashierproblems and #cashierlife in the caption of her video, urging customers not to do the things she mentioned.

So, without further ado, here are some of the things that checkout employees hate the most:



1. Placing heavy items on the conveyor belt

Heavy items should never be placed on the conveyor belt because it’s a hassle for check-out workers and can even be dangerous. Not only do they have to reach over the item to scan it, but they also have to lift it up to place it in a bag. If you are buying a lot of heavy items, it is best to leave them in your trolley so that the cashier can easily scan them from there.



2. Inserting their card into the EFTPOS machine

Some customers, instead of tapping their cards when checking out their items, insert their cards into the EFTPOS machine. They then have to wait for the machine to read them and process them, as well as enter their pin.

This makes the whole process longer.

3. Asking them to smile more

Some customers, besides asking the staff to give them a discount, also like to request some ‘emotional labour’.

Apparently, some shoppers want the staff to be ‘happy’, so when checking them out, they ask them to ‘smile more’. I’m sure any ladies reading this right now know exactly how it feels to be on the receiving end of that.



Other habits that were mentioned include:
  • Overpackaging your bags with your purchases
  • Going through a checkout that says ‘closed’
  • Not removing your card from the EFTPOS machine when it says to
  • Putting your Flybuys through at the end
  • Saying ‘You look bored, I’ll give you something to do.’
  • Paying for groceries and handing over cents at the last second after the cashier has entered the amount you tendered
As customers, we should be mindful of the supermarket employees as well. They are working in difficult environments, managing and stocking shelves, dealing with the public and keeping their colleagues safe. We need to respect their efforts and make their jobs a little bit easier.

Key Takeaways

  • A Coles employee has revealed the most frustrating things customers do and say when they’re at the checkout.
  • Some of the most frustrating things include asking the employee to smile more and inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of tapping.



There you have it, folks! For those of you who worked in retail before, do you share similar sentiments with the Coles worker? Better yet, have you experienced similar stressful situations in your retail shift before? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
I had the Tap-and-go facility removed from my card for security reasons. If I lost it, or left it somewhere and anybody found it and used it I would have no recompense. Otherwise I agree cashiers have an awful job out there and sometimes the 'snash' they have to put up with is just unacceptable. We are all human and liable to have bad days but that does not mean that we have to download our ire on the a cashout clerk.
 
Tapping automatically accesses your Credit Card Account (if you have one attached to your card) - insert gives you the option of selecting your savings or cheque account. Some suppliers (like Aldi) put a % on purchases which inflates the already high price of groceries. IF your credit card isn't fully paid off each month those grocery prices are inflated even more with the addition of interest! Ah but you can't teach some people the basics of budgeting and how to avoid unnecessary fees etc...........
Exactly!
 
I learnt a valuable lesson at Aldi last week, if buying multiples of one item put only one on the belt and tell the operator how many you have in your trolley e.g. cans of cat food/long life milk, one of each variety when buying multiples. Much quicker and easier to pack at the end of the line and now I only insert my card at Aldi because of the surcharge. Makes the mind think and remember the pin.;)
 
We all know how frustrating it can be to wait in a long queue, whether we're at the bank or at the supermarket. And as much as we might like to believe that everyone is patient and understanding when they're standing in line, that's unfortunately not always the case.

Some people just can't seem to help but do things that drive those around them up the wall – especially cashiers and other customer service employees who have to deal with them daily.



A Coles cashier recently took to TikTok to reveal some of the most frustrating things customers do and say when they're at her checkout, and let's just say, we can definitely see where she's coming from (mostly)!

Sharing her views on TikTok, the cashier listed off her pet peeves, which included asking her to smile more, inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of contactless paywave and using coupons for items that are not on sale.


486eb48895b73ba9295bfd56607e2ad5fc5b95ca-161x229-x0y88w814h1158.png

The Coles employee aired her grievances on TikTok, revealing some of the things that customers should not be doing. Credit: TikTok.



The TikTok user also added the hashtag #cashierproblems and #cashierlife in the caption of her video, urging customers not to do the things she mentioned.

So, without further ado, here are some of the things that checkout employees hate the most:



1. Placing heavy items on the conveyor belt

Heavy items should never be placed on the conveyor belt because it’s a hassle for check-out workers and can even be dangerous. Not only do they have to reach over the item to scan it, but they also have to lift it up to place it in a bag. If you are buying a lot of heavy items, it is best to leave them in your trolley so that the cashier can easily scan them from there.



2. Inserting their card into the EFTPOS machine

Some customers, instead of tapping their cards when checking out their items, insert their cards into the EFTPOS machine. They then have to wait for the machine to read them and process them, as well as enter their pin.

This makes the whole process longer.

3. Asking them to smile more

Some customers, besides asking the staff to give them a discount, also like to request some ‘emotional labour’.

Apparently, some shoppers want the staff to be ‘happy’, so when checking them out, they ask them to ‘smile more’. I’m sure any ladies reading this right now know exactly how it feels to be on the receiving end of that.



Other habits that were mentioned include:
  • Overpackaging your bags with your purchases
  • Going through a checkout that says ‘closed’
  • Not removing your card from the EFTPOS machine when it says to
  • Putting your Flybuys through at the end
  • Saying ‘You look bored, I’ll give you something to do.’
  • Paying for groceries and handing over cents at the last second after the cashier has entered the amount you tendered
As customers, we should be mindful of the supermarket employees as well. They are working in difficult environments, managing and stocking shelves, dealing with the public and keeping their colleagues safe. We need to respect their efforts and make their jobs a little bit easier.

Key Takeaways

  • A Coles employee has revealed the most frustrating things customers do and say when they’re at the checkout.
  • Some of the most frustrating things include asking the employee to smile more and inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of tapping.



There you have it, folks! For those of you who worked in retail before, do you share similar sentiments with the Coles worker? Better yet, have you experienced similar stressful situations in your retail shift before? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
We all know how frustrating it can be to wait in a long queue, whether we're at the bank or at the supermarket. And as much as we might like to believe that everyone is patient and understanding when they're standing in line, that's unfortunately not always the case.

Some people just can't seem to help but do things that drive those around them up the wall – especially cashiers and other customer service employees who have to deal with them daily.



A Coles cashier recently took to TikTok to reveal some of the most frustrating things customers do and say when they're at her checkout, and let's just say, we can definitely see where she's coming from (mostly)!

Sharing her views on TikTok, the cashier listed off her pet peeves, which included asking her to smile more, inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of contactless paywave and using coupons for items that are not on sale.


486eb48895b73ba9295bfd56607e2ad5fc5b95ca-161x229-x0y88w814h1158.png

The Coles employee aired her grievances on TikTok, revealing some of the things that customers should not be doing. Credit: TikTok.



The TikTok user also added the hashtag #cashierproblems and #cashierlife in the caption of her video, urging customers not to do the things she mentioned.

So, without further ado, here are some of the things that checkout employees hate the most:



1. Placing heavy items on the conveyor belt

Heavy items should never be placed on the conveyor belt because it’s a hassle for check-out workers and can even be dangerous. Not only do they have to reach over the item to scan it, but they also have to lift it up to place it in a bag. If you are buying a lot of heavy items, it is best to leave them in your trolley so that the cashier can easily scan them from there.



2. Inserting their card into the EFTPOS machine

Some customers, instead of tapping their cards when checking out their items, insert their cards into the EFTPOS machine. They then have to wait for the machine to read them and process them, as well as enter their pin.

This makes the whole process longer.

3. Asking them to smile more

Some customers, besides asking the staff to give them a discount, also like to request some ‘emotional labour’.

Apparently, some shoppers want the staff to be ‘happy’, so when checking them out, they ask them to ‘smile more’. I’m sure any ladies reading this right now know exactly how it feels to be on the receiving end of that.



Other habits that were mentioned include:
  • Overpackaging your bags with your purchases
  • Going through a checkout that says ‘closed’
  • Not removing your card from the EFTPOS machine when it says to
  • Putting your Flybuys through at the end
  • Saying ‘You look bored, I’ll give you something to do.’
  • Paying for groceries and handing over cents at the last second after the cashier has entered the amount you tendered
As customers, we should be mindful of the supermarket employees as well. They are working in difficult environments, managing and stocking shelves, dealing with the public and keeping their colleagues safe. We need to respect their efforts and make their jobs a little bit easier.

Key Takeaways

  • A Coles employee has revealed the most frustrating things customers do and say when they’re at the checkout.
  • Some of the most frustrating things include asking the employee to smile more and inserting their cards into EFTPOS machines instead of tapping.



There you have it, folks! For those of you who worked in retail before, do you share similar sentiments with the Coles worker? Better yet, have you experienced similar stressful situations in your retail shift before? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
I WILL NOT use tap and go. If I insert and use my pin, it appears instantly on my account. Tap and go can end up in "pending". My shopping, MY CHOICE! Cashiers get paid by the hour, NOT by the number of customers they serve.
 

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