Another Word about Cashiers
Cashiers are People Too
If there's one thing that I'd pass on to all couponers is that cashiers are people too. They have good days and bad days. Most of them are great people - trying to do their job right. They're worried they'll do it wrong and have a supervisor be unhappy (or worse). Often cashiers have next to no training on coupons so they don't know the ins and outs like we do. It's our passion. It's a small piece of their job.
Of course, there are bad apples in the bunch - ones that are grouchy everyday and would rather not serve anyone, let alone a couponer. [ That said not all couponers are great either - some photocopy coupons, are rude, in a rush, etc etc. If you get to know them, you'll hear the horror stories cashiers have about couponers.
And then there's the cashiers who have to be the expert/in control -- it's part of how they're wired and probably because they're not super happy at what they're doing or who knows? And they will make up their own coupon interpretations and say it's "this way". No winning directly with this type. Save your breath. You need to now when to hold them and when to fold them. Try another cashier or head to customer service or the manager.
So be kind and especially be calm. If your cashier is looking stressed, reassure them. Say you're in no hurry so they can take all the time they need. If they're looking stressed because a line is long behind you, say something like: "They really should have someone to help on another till when it's busy like this." ($power gave me that line, isn't it great, and she used it last weekend at Shoppers and it worked like a charm. Cashier said "You're right, and phoned for backup" :lolsign:)
Another way to reduce stress is to let the people behind you know --" I'm going to be a few minutes, you'll want to pick a different till." After a while, I find the cashiers will learn to speak up too and say -- I'm going to be 10 minutes here.
Relationships matter a lot. Couponing can be more than saving $$ - it can be fun and a happy time. But checking out can be a downer if things don't go smooth. The fact is you'll probably get to know the cashiers if you shop a lot at some stores and coupon - it takes longer to checkout. So it's an opportunity to get to know them a bit and laugh or joke. At our LD, the cashiers say they love it when the "coupon ladies come in". Why? We make the time go fast, we visit and laugh and are relaxed and we know what we're doing with our coupons -- all organized.
Your Activities
1. Share an experience (good or bad) with a cashier and check out that you had recently.
2. What tips or advice do you have to offer the group? What's worked for you?
And Feedback Please
1. What did you think of the interview format for sharing information?
2. What do you think about posting "2 things" that go together all at once?