topic Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING in Community Chat

LIFE IS NEVER BORING

PickyPicky3 — Sun, 26 May 2019 13:11:57 GMT

Checking out at the supermarket yesterday. My 15 items already on the belt. Some delay with the person two people ahead who was paying.

So the woman in front of me turns around and to kill time proceeds to critique each of my items. "That baguette really looks fresh." "It's so easy to make your own guacamole." "Those generic crackers are as good as Triscuits." On and on. Her harshest comments were reserved for the deli turkey breast.

I was speechless and never said a word.

But she scored a 10 for accuracy.

(I wonder if I can hire her to do my shopping.)

In case lightening strikes twice, what would be a good comeback comment?

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 26 May 2019 13:15:44 GMT

To funny...like you really cared what she thought. On occasion a clerk will comment on products I buy.....I wish they would not comment but I guess they are trying to be friendy and make small talk.

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

chrystaltree — Sun, 26 May 2019 13:16:21 GMT

There are crazy people in this world. I'd have totally ignored her, behaved as if she was not there and was not talking. Obviously, was a nut job looking for attention. I wouldn't have given it to her.

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

Chicagosuburbangirl — Sun, 26 May 2019 13:17:39 GMT

I am way too jaded to rudeness.

My comment would leave her speechless and couldn't possibly be expressed on this forum.

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

dex — Sun, 26 May 2019 13:24:17 GMT

@PickyPicky3 @Just conversation to pass time and I sure that she wasn’t judging your food choices..if she was a rude person she could have discussed how others were dressed or looked or how slow people were..

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

SXMGirl — Sun, 26 May 2019 13:30:46 GMT

@PickyPicky3 No need for a comeback if it happens again, unless you want to join in and critique another's purchases.

Maybe she just wanted to make conversation. I find that as I get older, I talk to lots of people and not just at the grocery, but I don't critique anyone's groceries--at least not to their face. I have asked about certain items just for my information.

The art of conversation is getting lost, and many people are lonely. That is why I talk to people.

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

Suziepeach — Sun, 26 May 2019 14:09:05 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
To funny...like you really cared what she thought. On occasion a clerk will comment on products I buy.....I wish they would not comment but I guess they are trying to be friendy and make small talk.

@Mom2Dogs , I so agree with you. Friday the cashier made several comments about a bottle of extra strength Prevagen.. Like- I sure can't afford this, does it work, I'll have to wait til it goes on sale maybe. I just looked at her and said, " Well ask my husband, he takes it, and we are well aware of the cost." Or they'll say, "Where did you find that, I didn't know we carried that." Have known all of them for ages so I just laugh it off and tell them, "You need to pay attention to the products in your store."

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

millieshops — Sun, 26 May 2019 13:43:02 GMT

@Mom2Dogslol Think of smiling at their comments as your creation of happiness for someone else - life as a cashier can be pretty boring. I remember the years I had that job - not a whole lot of stress, not a difficult responsibility, but, yes, boring sometimes.

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

dex — Sun, 26 May 2019 13:48:41 GMT

When I was a cashier in a grocery store I commented on purchases just to keep an interaction going with the customer.It usually led to a more interesting conversation than the weather.I never thought I was being rude and actually was a very popular cashier judging by my lineups.I thought people enjoyed the one on one attention more than silence and there usually was laughter involved.I got to know the regulars and feel that I made their experience more enjoyable.

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

millieshops — Sun, 26 May 2019 13:50:14 GMT

@PickyPicky3Except for her harshness about your turkey breast it seems like what she said was totally harmless.

As for the turkey, sounds pretty mild compared to what I read here when posters over and over critique all kinds of choices people make and in very harsh, sometimes ugly words, and that woman actually did it face-to-face. I respect that.

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

nomless — Sun, 26 May 2019 13:55:36 GMT

My take is she was just commenting, making conversation. I don't see anything harmful or judgmental or critical. I probably would have joined in with additional comments about both what I was buying and what she was buying.

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

RetRN — Sun, 26 May 2019 14:05:43 GMT

With social media people rarely speak to each other anymore, they don't know how. She was probably older and thought she was being friendly. No harm done.

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

gidgetgh — Sun, 26 May 2019 15:12:58 GMT

I’m always talkative at the grocery store. I’d never critique anyone’s choices certainly, but I’ve been known to say good morning to a fellow shopper while standing in line or something as wild on occasion as “gee, that cake looks delicious”.

Yesterday while I was at the store there was a woman two behind me in line carrying graduation balloons in the local high school colors. If she had been standing directly in front or behind me, I would have said “congratulations to the graduate!” I’m sure I would have. I’m a friendly person.

Have we reached the point where we can’t make casual conversation with a stranger anymore? If so, how terribly sad.

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

Trinity11 — Sun, 26 May 2019 14:39:11 GMT

I have come to believe that some people just interact with difficulty when it comes to social situations. They just have no filter and everything they are thinking comes out of their mouths.

In a similar situation as the OP's, I would just nod my head and consider it some lonely person trying to strike up a conversation. No harm done....

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

qualitygal — Sun, 26 May 2019 14:39:36 GMT

"Well, bless your heart, look at all you know"! You don't have to adopt her, she just was trying to be patient....and pass the time. You may have been her only trapped audience for the day.

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

Twins Mom — Sun, 26 May 2019 14:40:19 GMT

Wanting to be friendly if waiting in line i might make a comment like “wish I were coming to your party!” or how lovely the flowers are, etc. I hope my comments are seen as compliments not as intrusive. Heard a woman got shot outside grocery because of comments made in grocery store. I would like to think friendliness is valued. Put downs not in order.

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 26 May 2019 14:58:03 GMT

@millieshops ...I am never rude to the cashier....and always engage if they speak to me.....one cashier gave me a tip on how to prepare a veggie I was buying!

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

willdob3 — Sun, 26 May 2019 15:03:59 GMT

@PickyPicky3

Any comment at all would only put you at her level. Saying nothing at all is best.

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

x Hedge — Sun, 26 May 2019 15:04:31 GMT

@dex wrote:
When I was a cashier in a grocery store I commented on purchases just to keep an interaction going with the customer.It usually led to a more interesting conversation than the weather.I never thought I was being rude and actually was a very popular cashier judging by my lineups.I thought people enjoyed the one on one attention more than silence and there usually was laughter involved.I got to know the regulars and feel that I made their experience more enjoyable.

Oh my!

Your post, from the checker's POV, has been enlightening.

I choose my checkout line by who is bagging, as I consider that the "skilled" half of the checkout duo. I'll gladly stand in the longest, slowest line to get the bagger I want.

I don't mind a little chit chat with the next person in line, but when I get to the checkout I'm all business, and any unnecessary talk from the checker is a distraction.

While that checker is relieving the silence by commenting on my product choices, I'm thinking about my coupons, method(s) of payment I'll use, watching that each price scanned matches the price posted, what time it is/traffic/ and where I'll go next after this,

and last week I spotted a customer move the 'spacer' so that one of my cucumbers was on his side, not mine !

Now, that's rude!

Re: LIFE IS NEVER BORING

Cakers3 — Sun, 26 May 2019 15:08:14 GMT

I don't see why this would require a comeback remark. It's just conversation to pass the time. Simple conversation is not hard; "How is your day going?" "I notice you bought xxx-do you have a favorite recipe"? Easy, casual, comfortable.

I also enjoy our cashiers; in fact there is one we specifically try to get unless she is really backed up since we shop a few times a week and really never have a lot of items.

I'm sure some customers do not like chit-chat but I'm not going to pick at that; I don't know their story. Are they not feeling well? Are the late for work? Family member terminally ill?

The only thing that has me smh is the customer who pays by check. lmao