Awkward at the Register - HELP!

[cheapcaitischeap]

So I'm a coupon newbie, and really struggling.

I'm doing okay with collecting the coupons, sizing up deals, and getting everything ready. My boyfriend and I arrive at the store, coupons organized and a neat Excel spreadsheet all ready to go.

However, we live in a fairly busy city, and even at 12:00 am at our 24-Hour Walgreens a line builds up behind us pretty quickly. Tonight, we scored $40 for $10, but the experience left us both cringing.

Our cashier got this really weary unhappy look when I announced that I had several coupons to use for my purchase. A line built up behind us rapidly, and the "gentleman" behind us in line began to hmmm and haaaaw and generally make terrible noises. This made the cashier even more frustrated, and she just kept looking back at the line and at my little stack of coupons, and sighing. It was far worse than if she had been mean or irritable.

How do I get over the awful feeling of taking up so much of the cashier's time/energy? As a college student who has worked far too many thankless service industry jobs, I just feel terrible when making their job any more obnoxious than it already is.

Any advice about how to make these interactions run more smoothly? Is this just one of the downsides of couponing? Help!

[$Saving!]

What I usually do to make the cashier more comfortable and keep customers in line happy, is if it is busy, I'll do one transaction, then step out of line and get back in line to do the next etc.

That way the cashier and customers realize I don't wish to hold anyone up.

I have my deals written down in the order I need to do transactions.

I actually number the transactions and have all the 'paper' clipped together inside the envelope so I can pull out the papers needed quickly and without having to find them first. I go by the list, pull things out of the cart for deal #1, pull out the paperclipped coupons and I'm ready and waiting to pay.

Since I know how much I roughly expect to pay, by the time they're done ringing it up, I'm ready with the payment.

Hope that helps

[cpaige]

I always make sure I am super friendly to the cashier. I tell them I just want to make this is easy as possible for you so YOU don't have any problems with the coupons, etc. Joke around with them, if it's possible. It usually makes things go a bit smoother, not always, but usually.

[Katane]

As PPs mentioned being ready and friendly is really important. Have your coupons sorted and ready to go by the time they need them. Be friendly with the cashier but ready to stand up for yourself if theres a problem with a coupon. Keep in mind youre not doing anything wrong. Theres no reason to feel guilty. Maybe she was sighing cause it was midnight. I sigh if im up at midnight :)

[3timesoccermom]

It definitely is one of the downsides but I really don't see what the checkers have a problem with. What difference is it to them if they are doing one longer transaction or several smaller ones? If anyone has some insight on that I'd really like to know - I've always wondered that.

As far as the sighers - who gives a rat's rear? You waited in line for your turn like everyone else and they are being rude. You are doing nothing wrong so don't let it get to you. Now if you did have a lot of stuff and Mr. Jack Sprat walked up behind you just before you started and he only had 2 items and you had 84 I would let him go first but I'm pretty sure you would do that anyway. Most of us here would.

All that said, sometimes when this occurs, a look back at the "crowd" behind you, a weak smile and "sorry" mouthed toward them can go a long way.

[amylynne01]

Don't worry about the cashiers. They get paid to scan items, so you're giving them work! If someone behind you is hemming and hawing, sometimes I turn and say "sorry I'm taking so long, but I am going to save $XX by using these coupons. Thanks for your patience". If I just get to the register and someone gets in line with just a newspaper, I let the person go. Couponing does take a thick skin, and you should never feel bad for holding up the line because you have coupons. Other people need to learn patience because they have to wait an extra 60 seconds for a cashier to scan coupons!

[OneHotMomma]

It may help if you tried to time your visit at a time when the store isn't as busy. I usually go early Sunday or Monday morning. This way, they have stock and it's rarely busy.

[carmen_1979]

One thing I do is bag for the cashier. I don't do huge transactions so I can do this and keep an eye on the coupons. Obviously this isn't always feasible but it works at walmart. Also I make trips every otherday or so...so no one transaction is too big. This works for me because every store I hit is on my way home so this works ok for me. I basically try to avoid a huge transaction. But like others have said...you haveno reason to feel bad. The poor cashier is just worn out.

[ioncewasamjskeptic]

Cashiers are customer service, and one must be able deal(get along with, adapt, still not the word I want) any and all kinds of people, some of the people in line waiting I am SURE, commented on what a great deal you got and you know thought(as it IS true) "wow it must take TIME to do that"! You just have to shrug it of and not let it bother you. Most of the cashiers I get a great but everyone is different! Keep a smile on your face and comunicate with them and by the time you know it you are paid, bagged, and walking out the door qwith a 70% or better, savings:-)

[motherofmolly]

dont forget at wags the beauty counter! especially if your items include beauty items. ask the beauty clerk if she could ring you up if you have more than one transaction.

as far as clerks, make it as easy as possible. more than one trans, have the line clear and do another one. i do this. i also go at 5am on sunday morning just to avoid it.

and an even better way to make them happy, when you get the "survey" on the receipt, ask for their name as you would like to fill it out with their name on it and say how nice and friendly they were. this buttered up one of my most cranky cashiers and she now is super nice to me.