Being a moany cow!

The staff in our local independent supermarket are all very helpful and chatty and seem to know their regular customers quite well. I think it’s one reason a lot of people shop there. The manager doesn’t seem concerned - he’s just as bad! In a hurry - go to Tesco up the road, they’re much speedier!

We are very lucky here in Australia in that the staff scan and then pack your goods for you. All you need to do is pick up the bags and put them in your trolley. Whenever I come back to the UK I find it really hard to empty the trolley and then scoot to the other end and start packing. My stuff is usually piling up at the other end before I have got everything out of the trolley! The only place they don't pack is Aldi but the trolley is put right next to the checkout and you are expected to load everything back in the trolley and then take the trolley over to the packing table to pack up your stuff. I think they frown on anyone trying to pack as they goods come through as it slows up the queue,
We lived in Dubai for a while and I was totally spoiled as there is someone who takes your stuff out of the trolley and puts it on the conveyor belt and someone at the other end who packs it up and then carries it out to your car! I nearly had a nervous breakdown when we went back to England and was trying to do the shopping with a toddler in tow in the basket!

It depends what sort of mood I'm in as to how I'd react under such circumstances.

Normally, I might say, 'Are you having a bad day love?' or ask a humorous question, 'On piece work are we ?' (as I wrote that it occurred to me that today's girls would have no idea what piece work is!)

But if I too have had a very bad day, I'd react exactly as M0nica would.

I usually try to allow for others who are in pain, or unhappy, bereaved or under stress as I don't want to add to their misery.

I can honestly say that I have never had any problems with checkout staff in any store. Like all people some are very outgoing and friendly, some are quieter, but all have been polite and kind in my experience. They also seem to appreciate it if I make any comments, for example about how busy it seems or ask questions, such as how much longer their shift is.
* jacq10* My young grand daughters aged 9 and 6 have been fund raising through bag packing to help pay for some their Gymnastics Club members to go to the World Championships in the USA. I am amazed at how generous some people are even if they don't want their bags packed. I have always donated to others but I now realise how difficult (and boring) it is for these young people to do this job and may well be more generous in the future!

I'm lucky too with all our local supermarkets, where the staff are, with the very rare exception, helpful and really friendly, even when they have to deal with awkward customers. You do remember those exceptions though. The one loudly insisting I used the self-service when I really didn't want to, the other who commented on some of the items I'd bought. When I opened my mouth to answer, I realised she was talking across me and discussing my shopping with her colleague at the next till, as if I wasn't there.... Oh, and I still remember years ago an assistant taking against the floor polish I'd bought and telling me I must have more money than sense - that went down well!

I have heard complaints about Tesco but I must say the staff at our local one are (mostly) nice, helpful and very chatty.

You are notBU . I hope next time you can avoid being served by this rude checkout person.

The public are quite impatient too and when there's a hold up to get something changed or priced, the queue can get restless, at least in our local Lidl.

Yes that's important too coolgran I always try to pass on to management if a member of a staff has been particularly helpful, works both ways.

My ds is a senior district manager with one of the big chains and is responsibile for 22 stores. The staff are trained to not say how much is due until the customer is fully packed. Also if there is still some packing to be done they should help the customer. If he saw otherwise the store manager would be pulled about it. There is a chain of command and a store manager is very much held to account for the standards in their particular store.

In a different store chain I have been known to say to the rude till operator..... "" If it is too much trouble for you to be pleasant and civil while serving me, I suggest you go get the Manager and he/she can complete my transaction. ""

I have done this several times and their back soon straightens up

I also have checked a name badge and mentioned to the team leader what an asset a particular staff member is.

It wasn't Aldi or Lidl.

I think that in Aldi and Lidl checkout staff have to scan x amount of goods per hour and the number is quite high! Which is probably why the whizz things through so quickly. Having said that I prefer moving away from the checkout to pack my bags in my own time on the packing shelf. I’ve always found that in both stores the staff are always polite and friendly whilst high-speed scanning.
In Tesco these days I scan and bag as I shop which saves no end of check out hassle.

Putting the boot on the other foot - I always long for check out staff to sit with their hands in their laps if customers are carrying on a mobile conversation saying ‘Please do finish’ and sit and wait.

Its a weird one isn't it? I think Aldi staff are under pressure to get the stuff through. What you gain in value , you lose in nice customer service. Waitrose food is lovely but the staff are indifferent.

Marks and Spencer are ok but should do away with their hideous clothing.

Dare I say 'these days' some shops think it is adequate for staff to know how the till works and little else. People skills are important too.
At my local supermarket some of the assistants ask, 'are you all right?' rather than specifically, 'do you need help with packing?' which is more to the point. If they don't offer I always ask for help otherwise I'd end up in your predicament Jane10 which gets you flustered.

The staff in our Aldi are so quick it's impossible to pack everything away. I just throw it all in the trolley and pack it afterwards.

All the others are lovely. I can only imagine that she's new and hasn't picked up on the ethos of the place.

The media have called it the "Ukipization" of the Tory party

oh dear, how did that appear on this thread?
I was pasting it on another thread.
Please ignore

No, you were not - and if you were then you were in the right!The media have called it the "Ukipization" of the Tory party
Sometimes a member of staff has rushed my things through at top speed and I've said 'Ooh, I can't keep up with you' whereupon they usually offer to pack some of it for me.

I do remember one person on the till at Morrison's telling me that their particular manager kept an eye on them to make sure they were 'up to speed'. I said if she got into trouble for not being speedy enough to send him to me.

Usually I find that checkout staff are careful and considerate.

I think the woman who served you was rude and unhelpful and such behaviour is not a credit to the shop.

I wouldn't generally report a member of staff but I think I might have said something to her myself and if I got a rude response I would have reported it. I do agree with ayse though that it demonstrates poor management and lack of proper training.

I think it depends what supermarket you are in. Aldi and Lidl's are designed for you to pack at the long shelf provided. There are signs asking you to do this and it works. I have stood behind couples making an art of packing their groceries into various sized bags exactly the way they want them and large queues forming. Their checkouts are designed for this and once your goods are past the scanner they should go straight into your trolley and then packed at your leisure at the shelf. At all the other supermarkets around my area the checkout staff always ask if you need help with your packing. Most weekends we also have various fund-raising groups (mainly teenagers) offering to do your packing for a donation. I must admit I prefer to do my own packing and, depending on what they are raising money for, just give them a small contribution.

well said, there is no need for staff to be rude.

At my Supermarket they always ask do I need any bags and then do I need any help with my packing, without fail.
I usually say that I'm fine but can you please take your time for me.
They always do!
You did the right thing to complain about her rude behaviour, I would have also said something to her about ignoring me and her rude finger tapping.
Avoid her in future!

Lily yes our Aldi staff are cheerful and polite but I always feel rushed by them.

No. I hate being rushed at the checkout and that's why I do online shopping and then just a few favourite things that I go into M and S to get.

Aldi staff are under a huge amount of pressure to perform.