A very uncomfortable checkout at the grocery store - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

MSD · 10-22-2005, 08:37 PM

Sounds like about half of MADD supporters. So guilt-ridden after their kid died drinking and driving that they feel a need to impose their morality on the rest of the population.

Poppinjay · 10-23-2005, 06:20 AM

Okay, so smooth gets a pass on the SO question.

If we want to really be honest, I think an appropriate response would have been, "I'm so sorry you had a bad relationship he escaped through liquor."

It would be honest.

Scorps · 10-23-2005, 12:36 PM

That type of talk could get her fired, and I think they should punsh her for saying that!

greytone · 10-23-2005, 02:49 PM

Ironically, the moderate consumption of alcohol is actually associated with a decreased mortality. In other words, those who have a drink a day live longer than those who don't have any. As mentioned above, it is the abuse of alcohol that leads to negative health consequences. About 10% of the population can not handle alcohol responsibly. Unfortunately a large number of them and their loved ones seem to feel better by thinking no one can handle it.

If I had been in that situation I probably would have just left with my order. If it had been a long day at work, I might have told her to kiss my ass and left everything there and gone to another store. When I am tired, I am not very tolerant of bad service (but I am very patient with someone who is overworked and trying hard).

For the record I do want to make a distinction between this and a pharmacist not filling a prescription. A pharmacist is a professional who is required by law to review a prescription and is responsible for not filling an Rx they are not comfortable with. It is up to the chain to hire people according to whatever policy they set.

iblade · 10-23-2005, 05:22 PM

I think there is a change in trends here. People are actually starting to feel responsible for what they sell, and more than your story, I'm referring to what other posters said about making it more difficult to buy alcohol and cigarettes. Isn't it good? I agree everyone is free to do as he pleases, but today, so many people complain about the fact that they "didn't know". Now I get the feeling that your wife and you are pretty responsible people, and thus it is normal for you to feel offended, but are you sure everyone is that aware of the consequences of their acts?

tspikes51 · 10-23-2005, 10:36 PM

Okay... and now for something completely different...

Insight from an actual Kroger employee.

I've been working at the most interesting place now for almost 3 months. This place just happens to be a Mid-South division Kroger (and, to the OP, may I ask where you live, Kroger is more division-baserd than anything). The kicker is that it is at the crossroads of Kentucky's largest campus (UK), the ghetto, and the richest part of town. So, coming into our store not only guarantees a unique shopping experience, but also the sincere apology of managers because about half of our employees have issues. However, the current management can't fire half of the people because of the damn union (I don't understand why a union is needed for a place where the most an employee can make is 14 bucks an hour (store manager)), so we have to put up with them. Let me give you a couple of employee character profiles:

Alonzo: An ex crack addict who has a 5 year old son. He's a good guy, but is really strange.

Kelly (a.k.a. Satan): The schedule woman. Looks like someone ran her face through the "strong" setting on the coffee grinder, and sucks at making the schedules. She is in charge of making sure that at least 1 crazy person is on the front end ("front end" is a grocery store term for cashiers, baggers, and customer care) at all times (and we don't close), and that the crazy people (who don't do any work) aren't countered by a competent employee.

Ann: If you looked up "fucked up" and "ass-ugly" in the dictionary, you wouldn't find her picture, because the book would be recalled for health reasons. She hasn't taken a bath for years I think. She's got 3 huge dogs, an opossum, and a shitload of rats living at her house, which has no water. She buys a large bag of dog food a day, and holds up the line asking everybody who has ears whether she should buy the store brand or the brand name. She's been working at Kroger for more than 10 years, and makes 10+ an hour.

This is just a taste of what I and all of the other half-normal people at work have to put up with on a daily basis. So, I hear the kind of stuff your wife heard quite a bit. There's no excuse for it, just the inefficiency of the Kroger corporate system. I'll go into detail on that later, but I'm too tired to sink into that subject at the moment.

Shadefire · 10-26-2005, 02:10 PM

I think I would have said "That's nice" and paid for my stuff.

CandleInTheDark · 10-26-2005, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishor

I'm constantly amazed by the low standards of behavior people in customer service-type positions seem willing to exhibit. I mean, aren't they embarrassed?

As a 7-11 clerk; have you seen our customers?

Quote:

I once was checking out at a grocery store after having been to several other stores. When the cashier asked me if I wanted a bag, I said, "Yes, and could I have a big one, so I can consolidate all these packages?" He turned to the bagger and started mocking me, saying, "Oooh, big word! What was that big word? Con-So-Li-Date. I don't know if we can do that, George. Do we know that big word?" I was totally shocked! I hadn't done anything to offend the guy, as far as I could tell.

I think you're taking that a bit seriously. I too would've poked fun at you for using consolidate too. Then again, I would've been funny.

The amount of a jackasses you see in customer service is absolutely insane. Among other things:

Two guys wait for me to disappear before sexually harrassing a good friend and coworker
A older fellow I almost had to call the police on because he got angry when I asked for ID when he used a credit card
People who expect service after they've just insulted you, you're coworkers or your boss
Scraggly 16 year olds threatening for kicking them out for threatening you

Atropos4 · 10-26-2005, 06:07 PM

I've had things like that happen to me. I usually stare at them a second and start laughing. They usually shut up. Last time it happened it was over a cd I was buying. It has a parental sticker on it and she carded me. I'm 24..... She said "I can't believe people listen to such sinful music" I laughed so hard, can't remember what I said but I think it was along the lines of "it could be worse" She looked at me shocked. I think she was surprised I said anything at all. She did mumble it quietly.

I've had far worse happen before. I stopped shopping at a grocery store in my hometown when I was 17. My brother and sister went with me one night to pick up some ice cream. I was waiting in line, the only one open. The line was really long and my sibs didn't want to wait forever. They asked for the car keys so they could go wait in the car. I reached in my pocket and gave them the keys. I paid for our icecream and topping and as I was walking out of the store the manager sidled me and crisply said "Are they going to give it back?!" I was shocked and thought I misheard her, funny though I kept right on walking. I made her follow me hahah. I asked her what she was talking about and she kept repeating herself and I gave my sister the icecream and I stood talking to her infront of the car. She said that the lady behind me in line saw me give them something to steal. She even said she saw my brother put it under the front seat. I lost it. I told her first of all it was car keys and second of all you can't even put anything under the seat, there is a locked pull out drawer. I told her I wouldn't be shopping there anymore. She threatened to call the police and I told her to go right ahead. She wouldn't find anything but the icecream I PAID for. (I wonder if I would have stayed if she would have called the cops. I didn't really give her the option.) When I got in the car my little brother was crying and my sister was freaking out. I told my dad about it when we got home and he called the store and talked to her. Turns out he went to school with her and she actually said "why, Al, if I'd have known they were your kids I never would have done that" My dad actually let it pass. I didn't shop there again until I had to take my gramma shopping. Same lady gave her a hassle about my grammpas check. I looked her in the eye and said "Don't fuck with me, Do you remember who I am?" You know what? She cashed that check and never gave me another problem. Course I think she got fired a year later.. ah well haha eeep Sorry for the takeover.

clavus · 10-26-2005, 07:44 PM

I once had a sales guy tell me not to buy the shirt I wanted. Why? The shirt manufacturer was run by a witch who advocated child sacrifice.

Fer real. In Macy's. In Sacramento.

waxmax · 10-27-2005, 08:24 AM

I shop at King Soopers here in Colorado. It's part of Kroger. There is one employee there who I never let ring me up because he is a giant bitter asshole. He is the guy with the years of service tagged on his name badge and it has like 15 gold stars on it as well. Not sure for what unless they give out Bitter Asshole of the Month Awards. I'm not sure I want to feel bad for the guy. We all have choices and he seems to choose misery.

DogLog · 10-27-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StanT

He may have killed himself using alcohol, but it was his own doing, not the alcohol, nor the person selling it.

I'm generally civil in public, but I would have made an exception in this case.

I would have said, "Maybe he drank himself to death so he wouldn't have to be married to you."

nightstuff · 10-28-2005, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogLog

I would have said, "Maybe he drank himself to death so he wouldn't have to be married to you."

Yeah, that would have shown her...not sure i could be *that* cruel to an offhand remark, unless she was super bitchy about it.

Did remind me of an anecdote with Winston Churchhill, in which a bitter Lady Astor approached him and said:
"Winston, if I were married to you, I would put poison in your coffee!" To which Churchill replied, "And if you were my wife, I'd drink it."

phyzix525 · 10-29-2005, 01:41 PM

I was buying a pregnancy test at walmart when the 17 year old kid at the register asked me "so you think you got her pregnent?" I looked at him and told him that he is paid to shut the fuck up and ring up my stuff.

Spanxxx · 10-29-2005, 07:55 PM

Since this has kind of turned into "your worst moment in a store" thread, I thought I'd come back and post my own worst moment.

I was in a drug store while my mom was in the connected grocery store. Which, ironically, was actually a Kroger come to think of it. Though, that has nothing to do with the story.

So, anyway..... I was about 10 or 11 and was wearing some shorts with an elastic band that didn't have any pockets. I had been carrying my wallet but got tired of doing so and was just minding my own business while walking out of the store and I tucked my wallet into the front waistband of my shorts. I wasn't really paying much attention and had my head down I guess as I was walking past the counter on the way back toward the grocery store to find my mom. The next thing I know is this guy that works there comes charging toward me as I'm nearing the door and without speaking to me, grabs me, yanks my shirt up and grabs the front of my shorts and pulls them open to see "what I took". I was of course mortified. It scared the shit out of me and pissed me off so incredibly bad. Unfortunately, I don't think I even told my parents about it. I really wish I had of thinking back on it. Having the knowledge now of how my dad was then, and also now being a dad myself, I can only envision the unimaginable amounts of hell my dad would have rained down upon that person and that store.

It would have been one thing for the guy to stop me and ask me something about it, but looking back at the situation from an adult perspective, I just can't even comprehend what he was thinking to physically assault me the way he did.

10-23-2005, 06:20 AM	#42 (permalink)
Poppinjay You had me at hello Location: DC/Coastal VA	Okay, so smooth gets a pass on the SO question. If we want to really be honest, I think an appropriate response would have been, "I'm so sorry you had a bad relationship he escaped through liquor." It would be honest. __________________ I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet

10-23-2005, 02:49 PM	#44 (permalink)
greytone Junkie	Ironically, the moderate consumption of alcohol is actually associated with a decreased mortality. In other words, those who have a drink a day live longer than those who don't have any. As mentioned above, it is the abuse of alcohol that leads to negative health consequences. About 10% of the population can not handle alcohol responsibly. Unfortunately a large number of them and their loved ones seem to feel better by thinking no one can handle it. If I had been in that situation I probably would have just left with my order. If it had been a long day at work, I might have told her to kiss my ass and left everything there and gone to another store. When I am tired, I am not very tolerant of bad service (but I am very patient with someone who is overworked and trying hard). For the record I do want to make a distinction between this and a pharmacist not filling a prescription. A pharmacist is a professional who is required by law to review a prescription and is responsible for not filling an Rx they are not comfortable with. It is up to the chain to hire people according to whatever policy they set. __________________ I was there to see beautiful naked women. So was everybody else. It's a common failing. Robert A Heinlein in "They Do It With Mirrors"

10-23-2005, 10:36 PM	#46 (permalink)
tspikes51 Fuckin' A Location: Lex Vegas	Okay... and now for something completely different... Insight from an actual Kroger employee. I've been working at the most interesting place now for almost 3 months. This place just happens to be a Mid-South division Kroger (and, to the OP, may I ask where you live, Kroger is more division-baserd than anything). The kicker is that it is at the crossroads of Kentucky's largest campus (UK), the ghetto, and the richest part of town. So, coming into our store not only guarantees a unique shopping experience, but also the sincere apology of managers because about half of our employees have issues. However, the current management can't fire half of the people because of the damn union (I don't understand why a union is needed for a place where the most an employee can make is 14 bucks an hour (store manager)), so we have to put up with them. Let me give you a couple of employee character profiles: Alonzo: An ex crack addict who has a 5 year old son. He's a good guy, but is really strange. Kelly (a.k.a. Satan): The schedule woman. Looks like someone ran her face through the "strong" setting on the coffee grinder, and sucks at making the schedules. She is in charge of making sure that at least 1 crazy person is on the front end ("front end" is a grocery store term for cashiers, baggers, and customer care) at all times (and we don't close), and that the crazy people (who don't do any work) aren't countered by a competent employee. Ann: If you looked up "fucked up" and "ass-ugly" in the dictionary, you wouldn't find her picture, because the book would be recalled for health reasons. She hasn't taken a bath for years I think. She's got 3 huge dogs, an opossum, and a shitload of rats living at her house, which has no water. She buys a large bag of dog food a day, and holds up the line asking everybody who has ears whether she should buy the store brand or the brand name. She's been working at Kroger for more than 10 years, and makes 10+ an hour. This is just a taste of what I and all of the other half-normal people at work have to put up with on a daily basis. So, I hear the kind of stuff your wife heard quite a bit. There's no excuse for it, just the inefficiency of the Kroger corporate system. I'll go into detail on that later, but I'm too tired to sink into that subject at the moment. __________________ "I'm telling you, we need to get rid of a few people or a million." -Maddox

10-26-2005, 02:10 PM	#47 (permalink)
Shadefire Upright Location: Madison, WI	I think I would have said "That's nice" and paid for my stuff. __________________ I was covered in blood, but it wasn't mine, so it was okay. - Anita Blake

10-26-2005, 06:07 PM	#49 (permalink)
Atropos4 Think about it Location: North Carolina	I've had things like that happen to me. I usually stare at them a second and start laughing. They usually shut up. Last time it happened it was over a cd I was buying. It has a parental sticker on it and she carded me. I'm 24..... She said "I can't believe people listen to such sinful music" I laughed so hard, can't remember what I said but I think it was along the lines of "it could be worse" She looked at me shocked. I think she was surprised I said anything at all. She did mumble it quietly. I've had far worse happen before. I stopped shopping at a grocery store in my hometown when I was 17. My brother and sister went with me one night to pick up some ice cream. I was waiting in line, the only one open. The line was really long and my sibs didn't want to wait forever. They asked for the car keys so they could go wait in the car. I reached in my pocket and gave them the keys. I paid for our icecream and topping and as I was walking out of the store the manager sidled me and crisply said "Are they going to give it back?!" I was shocked and thought I misheard her, funny though I kept right on walking. I made her follow me hahah. I asked her what she was talking about and she kept repeating herself and I gave my sister the icecream and I stood talking to her infront of the car. She said that the lady behind me in line saw me give them something to steal. She even said she saw my brother put it under the front seat. I lost it. I told her first of all it was car keys and second of all you can't even put anything under the seat, there is a locked pull out drawer. I told her I wouldn't be shopping there anymore. She threatened to call the police and I told her to go right ahead. She wouldn't find anything but the icecream I PAID for. (I wonder if I would have stayed if she would have called the cops. I didn't really give her the option.) When I got in the car my little brother was crying and my sister was freaking out. I told my dad about it when we got home and he called the store and talked to her. Turns out he went to school with her and she actually said "why, Al, if I'd have known they were your kids I never would have done that" My dad actually let it pass. I didn't shop there again until I had to take my gramma shopping. Same lady gave her a hassle about my grammpas check. I looked her in the eye and said "Don't fuck with me, Do you remember who I am?" You know what? She cashed that check and never gave me another problem. Course I think she got fired a year later.. ah well haha eeep Sorry for the takeover. __________________ Minds are like parachutes. They work better open. "If I were Hermione, I would have licked his pantleg." Last edited by Atropos4; 10-26-2005 at 06:10 PM..

10-22-2005, 08:37 PM	#41 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	Sounds like about half of MADD supporters. So guilt-ridden after their kid died drinking and driving that they feel a need to impose their morality on the rest of the population.

10-23-2005, 12:36 PM	#43 (permalink)
Scorps Lost!! Location: Kingston, Ontario	That type of talk could get her fired, and I think they should punsh her for saying that!

10-23-2005, 05:22 PM	#45 (permalink)
iblade Crazy Location: Kyoto	I think there is a change in trends here. People are actually starting to feel responsible for what they sell, and more than your story, I'm referring to what other posters said about making it more difficult to buy alcohol and cigarettes. Isn't it good? I agree everyone is free to do as he pleases, but today, so many people complain about the fact that they "didn't know". Now I get the feeling that your wife and you are pretty responsible people, and thus it is normal for you to feel offended, but are you sure everyone is that aware of the consequences of their acts?

10-26-2005, 07:44 PM	#50 (permalink)
clavus pow! Location: NorCal	I once had a sales guy tell me not to buy the shirt I wanted. Why? The shirt manufacturer was run by a witch who advocated child sacrifice. Fer real. In Macy's. In Sacramento. __________________ Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

10-27-2005, 08:24 AM	#51 (permalink)
waxmax Upright Location: Fort Collins, CO	I shop at King Soopers here in Colorado. It's part of Kroger. There is one employee there who I never let ring me up because he is a giant bitter asshole. He is the guy with the years of service tagged on his name badge and it has like 15 gold stars on it as well. Not sure for what unless they give out Bitter Asshole of the Month Awards. I'm not sure I want to feel bad for the guy. We all have choices and he seems to choose misery. __________________ Tape guns don't tape boxes. PEOPLE tape boxes.

10-29-2005, 01:41 PM	#54 (permalink)
phyzix525 Psycho Location: Broken Arrow, OK	I was buying a pregnancy test at walmart when the 17 year old kid at the register asked me "so you think you got her pregnent?" I looked at him and told him that he is paid to shut the fuck up and ring up my stuff. __________________ It's hard to remember we're alive for the first time It's hard to remember we're alive for the last time It's hard to remember to live before you die It's hard to remember that our lives are such a short time It's hard to remember when it takes such a long time

10-29-2005, 07:55 PM	#55 (permalink)
Spanxxx Psycho Location: Under my roof	Since this has kind of turned into "your worst moment in a store" thread, I thought I'd come back and post my own worst moment. I was in a drug store while my mom was in the connected grocery store. Which, ironically, was actually a Kroger come to think of it. Though, that has nothing to do with the story. So, anyway..... I was about 10 or 11 and was wearing some shorts with an elastic band that didn't have any pockets. I had been carrying my wallet but got tired of doing so and was just minding my own business while walking out of the store and I tucked my wallet into the front waistband of my shorts. I wasn't really paying much attention and had my head down I guess as I was walking past the counter on the way back toward the grocery store to find my mom. The next thing I know is this guy that works there comes charging toward me as I'm nearing the door and without speaking to me, grabs me, yanks my shirt up and grabs the front of my shorts and pulls them open to see "what I took". I was of course mortified. It scared the shit out of me and pissed me off so incredibly bad. Unfortunately, I don't think I even told my parents about it. I really wish I had of thinking back on it. Having the knowledge now of how my dad was then, and also now being a dad myself, I can only envision the unimaginable amounts of hell my dad would have rained down upon that person and that store. It would have been one thing for the guy to stop me and ask me something about it, but looking back at the situation from an adult perspective, I just can't even comprehend what he was thinking to physically assault me the way he did. __________________ I think that's what they mean by "nickels a day can feed a child." I thought, "How could food be so cheap over there?" It's not, they just eat nickels. - (supposedly) Peter Nguyen, internet hero Last edited by Spanxxx; 10-29-2005 at 07:58 PM..