Yes, if this is as bad as my life gets, I have no real right to complain about anything. Equally obvious is the fact that this has never stopped me from getting irritable anyway and venting herein. SO--
Walked into the Food World at the foot of the hill this morning mainly to get some money--as with just about every grocery store nowadays, you can get cash back if you use a debit card, and not have to pay the 2 or 4 bucks it can cost you to get money out of the ATM. Of course, you DO have to buy something, so I got myself a refreshing Diet Coke and a lovely dried salted meat snack.
Cashier rang it up, I swiped my card, she asked if I wanted cash back, "Yes, 40 please," I said, and then she said with much mock sadness, "I'm afraid you'll have to use the machine over there [pointing to ATM] because I didn't have much in my drawer and everyone else has been using their credit cards."
Huh? "Can you give me 20?" She thought for a second and finally agreed that this was possible. Got my money and left.
Now. I could kinda understand her reticence if the store was busy and she didn't have time to ask for some extra money. But I was the only customer in the place. I could understand it if the manager was away from the desk, but she was standing there doing something right behind me at the service counter. I don't think I would have said a thing had I not noticed when she opened the drawer that there was a stack of 20s under the one she gave me.
Look--the grocery business is tough--ESPECIALLY for fading players like Bruno's/Food World and now Winn Dixie (one of which is just right up the street, and is certainly going to have to step it up to survive.) There's also a new Publix in town, and a SuperTarget, and a Wal-Mart Supercenter, and a Western. All of them sell food. The only way smaller competitors can compete is to offer better customer service or special things that the big guys can't handle profitably. Seeing as how Food World isn't about to become a foodtique type joint, that leaves customer service.
Cashiers, if you're running short in your till, and if the store's not busy, go ahead and give the customer his cash back if you've got enough, and then go get some more cash from the manager. If the customer asks for more than cash than you have in your drawer, ask the customer if he could wait a moment so you could borrow some from the manager. Just remember the whole reason you give cash back in the first place is so customers don't have to use the ATM. And also remember they don't have to stop at your store.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at June 24, 2005 09:02 AM