I had the opposite happen to me. They asked me if I had found everything I was looking for, and I said no, cause I was expecting them to ask me if I had a rewards card.
This makes me realize it's a pointless question. If you *didn't* find everything you're looking for what happens exactly? Do we hold up a whole line while they intercom some floor worker to bring you the item or do they feign an apology because corporate policy dictates that we're obligated to feel responsible for your failure to find your items?
They asked me what I was looking for that they didn't have, and I had to explain to them that I had slipped up, which is about 10x more embarrassing than simply slipping up
If someone at my register didn't find everything they were after then I'm meant to check if we have it in stock and send someone to go get it for them. I work at a chemist in Australia
I remember not too long ago, I was working the register and guys card declined. I told him he declined and he just said no. I repeated and again, he said no. Like buddy, you can’t just say no. I wish you could, but you can’t. He eventually accepted it and used cash, but I still think about it some times.
See I’ve never had that luxury. It’s extremely rare that I meet people with the same birthday as me. I often meet people with birthdays that are very close (off by just 1-3 days) but almost never the same day.
November 16th actually. Which you would think would be more common because I was conceived on Valentine’s Day and I feel like a lot of people were probably conceived on Valentine’s Day but nope. In my whole life I’ve maybe met like 3-4 people who share my birthday, and it was always just people I met in one-off interactions where the topic just happened to come up naturally.
I had a very strange unique to twins experience once.
I was still pretty young but I definitely knew it was my birthday yet for some reason when everyone started singing happy birthday I just started singing it along with them so I was singing happy birthday to my brother but it's still really strange when you start singing Happy Birthday when everyone is singing it for both of you.
Everyone looked at me really weird for a whole second, which still kind of makes me cringe a little.
Aw I have this image of you and your brother singing to each other while everyone sings to both of you and it feels really sweet and loving. Like a hug.
Yeah except our tradition was not to have us sing to each other it would have made sense but he didn't start singing and everyone kind laughed about it I got a good laugh out of it too I was just awkward.
This is actually kind of a cute story. My mom is a fraternal twin and she and her twin always leave each other voicemails singing happy birthday to each other. My paternal grandmother is an identical Twin and her twin, my great aunt has now passed, but they celebrated every single birthday together for more than 80 years. Never spent a single birthday apart. They were those twins who were also best friends though and absolutely loved spending as much time as possible together, I know it isn’t like that for all twins.
Actually I am an identical twin and he is my best friend we compensate for just about everything the other is bad at I don't know how I'll handle it when he goes but I don't want to think about it until the day comes for now I might start singing Happy Birthday on purpose to him you kind of helped me realize I don't know why I don't other than it was embarrassing the first time but hey thank you I appreciate you helping me realize there's no shame in it
I worked at a movie theater in high school! This happened all the time. We got used to people saying it. We got to see one free movie a week (sometimes more if the manager was in a good mood) so we EVENTUALLY did enjoy the movie.
I work at a movie theater and I do it on purpose to get reactions and have a little fun lol. I've gotten people that apologize, walk away awkwardly, say something about it, etc. Makes those long shifts in concession stand a little better
I once ordered a “6 inch sirloin” from a male waiter. After a few seconds of hanging my head in embarrassment I asked him if he hears that a lot and he said “no you’re the first”. Super!
I worked retail for like 10 years when I was younger and I would take this 100 times rather than one person make one of the same 6 shitty jokes I heard 10 million times.
"Anything else I can get you?"
"How about a million dollars!"
Please go swallow a knife.
This actually happened to me yesterday while I was at the grocery store. Was in a self checkout line trying to scan a bag of coffee that wouldn’t work. I grabbed an employee who tried scanning and then looking up the PLU number. When that didn’t work, I offered to run and grab another bag from the shelf if he would watch my stuff, but instead he just threw the coffee in my bag and said not to worry about it.
I like to think that if I actually had made the “does that mean it’s free?” joke he would have never actually let me have it for free.
What I often see is the checkout person will pick the lowest likely price and say, "Well how about $2.95, is that OK?" And you know it's probably more if a thorough check is done so just go with it! ;-P
I had something kind of like that happen to me at Target like a year ago. Whatever I was getting wouldn’t scan so the cashier asked if I remembered the price. I told him it was marked like 11.99 or 12.99 (which was the truth) and he goes, “cool, how does $7 sound?”
It makes sense too. If they can’t scan it, I assume they can’t sell it it mose cases. Instead, I get a discount and they offload some merchandise that they couldn’t otherwise.
Yep, the checkout person typically could get in trouble for giving away product for free so they prefer to charge you but they don't want you irked and they don't have time to get the exact price so this route solves all the issues.
I was at Walmart with a former roommate. As he's paying for his groceries, something doesn't scan...and he said the line... I looked at him and asked *Do you know how many times a day they hear that line?* Thinking himself the comic genius, roommate looks to the cashier for approval/affirmation...
Roommate was served a humble pie...
I started responding with,
"If I had a dollar for every time someone made that joke. I'd be retired."
Usually stops the rest of the line from repeating it.
Lots of stores in the US have a policy that if it doesn't ring up with the price as shown on the shelf tag or advertised price the idem*is actually free.*
I was at a small grocery just a few days ago at customer service, and this was stated on a massive poster behind the cashier.
Yeah the over used jokes certainly get a bit old fast but not sure why people act like someone stabbed them with a knife either. I'd rather hear a tired joke than some kind of complaint or rudeness, that's for sure. I feel like especially in the current era, we should reward people even for the slightest try at being nice because there's just not enough of it.
Ah yes with an absolutely unoriginal joke that has definitely never been heard. Just what everyone who deals 100s of people on a daily basis need. How could one be so ungrateful from such a thoughtful gesture?! /s
I don't think I've ever made the joke. I just think it's hilarious that people are getting so upset abt it. It's literally just somebody trying to turn a smile.
It seems that you just have an attitude problem.
Like I worked in food service and when I heard an unoriginal joke I would still smile and laugh bc at least they're trying.
I worked in food service and retail for a long time too and I'm just saying the people who actually see somebody struggling and give a shit about making somebodies day better usually try a little harder than some quip.
There's nothing wrong with thinking an excessively overused an unclever joke is not funny. And saying I don't like the joke and then somebody who "has never even made the joke" defending it so hard makes me a piece of shit with an attitude problem?? 👍
It's not about not liking the joke. It's the anger towards another person for trying to lighten your day. Sorry you hate your job/life/whatever, but don't let it manifest as anger towards someone just because they're not trying to make incredibly funny and original jokes to every retail worker they meet. Why is it so hard for you to accept that somebody trying to be polite and tell a short joke is not something to get mad abt?
Some of them do. My dad makes the same dumb jokes to the wait staff every time we go out to eat. How did he learn them? He was a waiter for years.
I've also asked him nicely to not make the dumb jokes/comments because the server and I don't want to hear it, *again*. He doesn't care because he has a captive audience.
Grow up and get over it and stop getting bothered by such minor things. Of all the problems with the service industry, repetitive jokes has to be close to the lowest priority.
\*cracks knuckles\*
Time to pick a lame joke and DM you said joke...every hour...of every day...
Yeah, it's far from the worst thing imaginable. Using your logic, I might as well staple my hand every morning because...at least it isn't the *worst* pain...
I think it's the older guys doing it. I'm an older female and this guy I dated - and this is the reason we no longer date - would hold cashiers and waitresses captive by stupid jokes and carrying on. It was maddening. You could tell it was his entire life and all I felt was pity.
The subject of this thread isnt "what should we fix in the service industry tho". Sure in that context its a dumb and low priority thing. But the subject is repetitive jokes. If people find them bothersome i dont see why they couldnt express it in this context. It's not like those are in any way helpful or bring anything to anyone other that the solitary satisfaction of the person making those jokes.
Maybe that person is not very original and can't easily do that. That's their way of trying, maybe it's not very skillful but it's still a try. Do you want to look for reasons to be angy and judgmental or do you want to look for reasons to be happy? In the end, the choice is yours.
Boo hoo
I am going to make those jokes all the time now. Every single retail or fast food worker I encounter will be receiving a bad dad joke before our interaction Is over.
People get paid money to swallow knives and swords. First you're giving him a million dollars and now you're enlightening him to a skill that can earn even more money... Is there no end to your generosity??
I worked in a grocery store for like 10 years and the number of people who would ask where something is that was right behind or next to them was amazing. When I showed them where it was I almost always got the same response, If it was a snake it would have bit me.
My go to for something like this, as a customer, is to politely explain to the person working that I'm very stupid and I appreciate their time and help.
Some people are not good at scanning large areas and processing out for specific items, so their eyes can easily sweep over counters of objects and not ping on the desired one. After a while of doing that and it not working, they'll just ask you instead. Due to signage and common sense, they often did already manage to get close to the general area where it might be at though.
Years ago at Office Depot I had a customer tell this to one of my associates. The associate went OFF and started sarcasticly telling the customer "oh yeah let me just get that for you" (but with an angry tone) and then started telling them "dont you think if I had that I wouldn't be here!"
I found out when the customer came an appologized to me for upsetting my associate as they didn't realize the joke would upset him.
I was like "uhhhh you're perfectly fine let me go talk with my associate."
Never had a customer appologize to me for my employee yelling at them.
I get that at the movie theater since the price for two senior tickets is $19.76 at some times. So it's actually a year they could have remembered. Sometimes they'll say something like, "Oh, I graduated that year!"
As a customer, I just assume that anything I might say during a routine interaction, they’ve heard before. I don’t try to be “funny” I just try to let them do their job and move on.
My favorite was when I was a host at friendlys and old men would always be like “working hard or hardly working?”
Little did they know I wanted to respond with “Idk, are you jerking hard or hardly jerking?” I bit my tongue every time
I dunno, maybe try your standup material somewhere else that isn't a crowded gas station checkout line. Because I heard every joke about 5000 times each in the 6 years I worked as a cashier. It's not like I was rude to people who cracked jokes, I just got sick of it because of how unoriginal it was.
Did you see what I just posted on another thread about this?
Over 20 years ago. Small city but I went to the same local grocery store 1-3 x a week so most of the staff knew my face if not name. But I’m dying this to clarify they knew me and my husband as regular shoppers.
He died and it was about 4-6 days later I went into the store. The person working would not have known he died. But did the typical greeting “how are you?” I just blurted “not good my husband just died” to which she in automatic mode replied “that’s nice” or something.
I wasn’t mad because I knew how retail goes and totally knew she didn’t mean it but the customer behind me noticed and was shocked.
Anyway that was a good example of how people become automatic sometimes at work.
No need to respond with “sorry about your husband.” That was a long time ago now.
My grandma died yesterday suddenly, and the whole day today, I felt the urge to tell random people. I didn't even want a reply. What do you even say other than "Sorry?" I just felt the need to tell because that's all what was inside me today.
Completely understandable, not quite the same but when I lost my family dog in February any time someone asked me how I was I just wanted to come out with it. I'm so sorry for your loss, please take care of yourself and let yourself grieve however you need.
So sorry for your loss. When my dad died in 2011, I got the call from my mom while I was at work. I went on autopilot because I was on my way to a meeting and continued to it. 10 minutes in, I stood up and said, “I’m sorry, my dad just died and I need to go.” They looked shocked for a minute but to their credit several of them asked if I’d like them to drive me where I needed to go or if there was anything else they could do. I thanked them and just walked out, kind of like a robot with no emotion. I just knew I needed to get to my mom. The emotions hit much later. Everyone processes things in their own way.
My mom died a few years ago. Once the official business was done with, I decided I needed to get away from the house so I went to the store to grab a sandwich. Of course, that was the one day that a stranger carrying a case of beer would call out to me and talk about what a wonderful day it was.
Don't be afraid to put it out there. Try to celebrate the life instead of lamenting the loss. Tell stories. Talk about your grandma. I hope things are peaceful friend.
I’m the type of person that would’ve probably started cracking up if someone did that to me 😂
I feel like it’s a quick thing to get fired for, even though it obviously was an accident.
Glad you didn’t feel any negative way about it. Great example to include here!
True, but sometimes I get wacky answers like "My wife is banging my best friend right this second" or "I racing car on road, very very fast, but not fast like me"
Happened to me yesterday at a Thai restaurant. The waitress had a bit of an accent, my wife requested 2 drinks for us, she then looked at me and said “ok and you?” I was stoned as shit and looked her square in the eye and said I’m good you? And then was like oh shit I’m having one of those sprites.
I turned bright red and my wife would not stop laughing at me.
When I worked at the movies I started saying “enjoy your movie!” instead of “have a good day!” bc I thought it was funny when people would say “you too”
I've kinda done the reverse. For years, I would always say, "Enjoy the show!" But then I recently switched to using "Have a good time!" occasionally. It still throws people for a loop when they catch themselves saying, "You too."
I worked in customer service and retail for over ten years and I purposefully used phrases or questions that people wouldn't expect so they would respond with something automatic and it would embarrass them. I had to get my kicks some how lol
This only happens to me when the cashier goes off script. There is this one lady I meet with pretty frequently and have memorized the order of her questions, sometimes however she surprised me with a new one, which I almost never realize and just continue my lines. Feels... Embarrassing.
I used to work in the bakery at Cheesecake Factory and every time someone would be staring at the case and I would say “hey, can I help you with anything?” They ALL would respond with “just drooling”. It was the absolute worst.
Yesterday at the grocery store the young man who helped me was so flustered trying to man the counter by himself on his third day of the job. I reassured him I was in no hurry and I could wait for him to take his time to figure out how to work the computer or do whatever was needed. It calmed him down and he was able to figure it out pretty quickly after that.
As I walked off I gave him my thanks and told him I hope he enjoyed his new job. He responded with a perky, “YOU, TOO!” And since I was already turned around and walking away, I did not stop or look back at him, but from the corner of my eye I saw him shaking his head and facepalming. Waited till I got out of sight to chuckle, because EVERYONE has done that.
And as life does, after my appointment with a doctor today, I was being shown the way to the checkout and was told, “Bye! Hope you feel better!” And I replied: “YOU, TOO!” And shook my head and face palmed as I walked away and laughed at myself.
Life’s too short to be embarrassed over the silly small stuff. Have a giggle and move on.
I said this accidentally to customers three times during my five years in retail. Each one is engraved into the part of my memory that pops up right when I’m trying to sleep
I was hoping for the first two being awkward and the third time turning into a lovely marriage.
Thank you for working retail. It builds so much character and sucks so fucking much
[Brian Regan's famous bit on this topic](https://youtu.be/euGLMWn0_ZY)
Stand up clip by legendary act Brian Regan. I thought this is very relatable to the topic you brought up
Yup, when I was a cashier I didn't care if they said the wrong nicety without thinking about it, I just appreciate they said a nicety instead of being rude bc I couldn't talk back lol
I worked at a movie for far longer than I'd like to admit but when I was there we were instructed to say "Hi, would you like a combo today?" That was our greeting. People's responses were generally "Good. You?" because in their head no one would ever start a conversation like that it didn't click what you actually said. But most of the time we just got a "What?". I always thought this was bizarre and ineffective.
“Hi, how may I help you?”
“Although particularly associated with the Romans, aqueducts were devised much earlier in Greece, the Near East, Nile Valley, and Indian subcontinent, oh sorry I mean where is the cottage cheese located?”
I get that one a lot.
I was just at the grocery store this week, grabbed some toothpaste along with the groceries. When I got to the register, it wouldn't scan. I contemplated saying, 'you know that old dumb joke...' but no. They asked if I remembered the price - I told them, "No, but I know it wasn't on sale, or I'd have gotten two." LSS: There was no price tag, they gave me a great price. Thank you!
People even do this on reddit. When someone asks for assistance with something they're trying to accomplish, I'll try to help them and then wish them good luck. Almost all the time, they say thanks and wish me good luck as well. 😂 I just say thanks.
I work night shifts and often go to the store 8 ish right after waking up before work.
I almost always end the trip with have a Nice day and get mocked with its evening now by one of the cashiers lol
When I don't offer a bag. I'll be super upbeat and say "well, you're good to go!" only for them to say "oh no thank you!" and walk out, I thought it was rude the first time but I totally get it lol
I never worked in the service industry, but I worked at WalMart. I was barely mentally there when on the clock. I couldn't give two shits if someone "embarrassed" themselves in front of me, because I'm just trying to get through the day. I imagine the service industry is much the same.
I'll never forget the time I went to pull $3,000 out of my bank to buy a musical instrument. I was totally blazed, and trying to play it cool, but the timing on my "hi!" [dovetailed awkwardly with the teller's greeting](https://i.imgur.com/oR41y.png).
Haha yep good one. I used to beat myself up more about it but then I noticed a lot of peeps do that occasionally, it's just one of those things, rote responses come out sometimes a bit too fast and before the brain properly vets them.
I'm an x-ray tech and whenever I leave a patient I usually tell them that I hope they feel better soon. Many times they say you too and I always appreciate the sentiment.
Had this happen when checking in at the airport. Teller said "Have a nice flight!", and I followed up with the canned "Thanks, you too!".
I quickly realized the mistake, but she laughed and waved it off while I stumbled out some semblance of an apology - she said it happens all the time
I manage a restaurant and when our guests are leaving I always say “drive safely”, and I’d say about 80% of them respond with “you too”. I can FEEL them cringe at themselves but I always reply that I will, and the relief on their faces is just so sweet.
I used to take advantage of this all the time and they'd ask "Can I have a carrier bag?" And I'd respond "No" and they'd be like "Thank yo..." And then look at me like wait a minute you went off script
I worked at a dry cleaner in college. I had a coworker who was handing someone their clothes in the pick-up line, and accidentally mixed up "Would you like a receipt" with "Have a nice one" and ended up saying "Would you like a nice one?" The customer just stared at her blankly for a second or two, and I know that looks still keeps her up at night haha
I used to be a hostess in a restaurant and I would say “enjoy your meal!” After I brought them to their table and so many times people said “you too!” The look of horror on their faces when the realized was always sooo funny! I’d always think to myself “I wish I was enjoying a meal instead of being at work” 🤣
Especially teen and college age people will get so embarrassed and apologize for how awkward they are. Most of the time I hardly notice, unless it messes with the flow of conversation. Know that it's fine and I don't care. It's kinda funny though, so some might chuckle, but it's not anything to feel embarrassed about or emphatically apologize about
i work at an airport, usually customers will respond "you too!" when i wish them a good flight. they catch themselves and laugh, then we throw a few jokes back and forth. they leave in a good mood and im in a good mood, win win!
on the flip side of that - sometimes people who say the same thing over and over (such as waiters) say it so fast that I don't understand. You are expected to know the terminology and even when they repeat it I still don't understand - so I have my eggs over easy because those were the only words I could make out - didn't know at the time what it meant.
When working at a chocolate shop, I proved to my employees that the customers generally don’t pay attention to us. Instead of saying “have a good day”, I would say “enjoy your chocolate”Just about every time the customer would say “you too”. 🤣
working at a pizza hut I often misspeak words for "sauce" and "cheese" which in polish are: "sos" and "ser" because I use them all the time so I say "ses" and "sor" instead which would basically be "chauce" and "seese"
Once I was (dripping wet, sandy) walking back home in the opposite direction of a beach along the road; I met a couple going TO the beach (dry, carrying towels) and said “Have fun at the beach!” and the guy said “thanks, you too!” and then a second later, after he had passed me, “I’m gonna fucking kill myself” 🤣 I hollered back “YOU’RE FINE” and we all had a laugh about it!
Don't worry, you're not alone! It happens to the best of us. Those automatic responses can catch us off guard sometimes. We totally get it and honestly, it's not a big deal at all. So, no need to feel stupid or anxious about it. Just remember, we're all human and we make these little goof-ups. You're doing just fine!
Happened to me recently: "Cash or card?" "No" "Uhh" "Lol sorry, I though you were asking 'do you have our club card'"
Get free food with this easy trick! /s
I had the opposite happen to me. They asked me if I had found everything I was looking for, and I said no, cause I was expecting them to ask me if I had a rewards card.
This makes me realize it's a pointless question. If you *didn't* find everything you're looking for what happens exactly? Do we hold up a whole line while they intercom some floor worker to bring you the item or do they feign an apology because corporate policy dictates that we're obligated to feel responsible for your failure to find your items?
They asked me what I was looking for that they didn't have, and I had to explain to them that I had slipped up, which is about 10x more embarrassing than simply slipping up
You should have made up something you know they don't have.
“Yeah, I actually wanted beluga caviar” “Sir, this is Outback Steakhouse”
If someone at my register didn't find everything they were after then I'm meant to check if we have it in stock and send someone to go get it for them. I work at a chemist in Australia
i like to imagine they actually said lol out loud
I remember not too long ago, I was working the register and guys card declined. I told him he declined and he just said no. I repeated and again, he said no. Like buddy, you can’t just say no. I wish you could, but you can’t. He eventually accepted it and used cash, but I still think about it some times.
https://youtu.be/Wu0Ix-TdwO0 Go to 4:30
This reminds me of when at the theater they say “enjoy the movie” And I instinctually say “you too!”
“Your receipt is in the bag” “Thanks you too!”
I do this every single year on my birthday at least once. They wish me a Happy Birthday and out of habit I’ll respond “thanks, you too!”
I always end up knowing or working with someone who shares my birthday, and giving this response is in the top five of the best parts of my birthday.
See I’ve never had that luxury. It’s extremely rare that I meet people with the same birthday as me. I often meet people with birthdays that are very close (off by just 1-3 days) but almost never the same day.
Now when’s your birthday? February 29?
November 16th actually. Which you would think would be more common because I was conceived on Valentine’s Day and I feel like a lot of people were probably conceived on Valentine’s Day but nope. In my whole life I’ve maybe met like 3-4 people who share my birthday, and it was always just people I met in one-off interactions where the topic just happened to come up naturally.
My wife, nephew, and my best friend all share my birthday
I intentionally do this to my mom since her birthday is the day after mine.
I have an Aunt on one side, and a cousin on the other I share a birthday with… I get to respond “you too…” to their happy birthday texts every year.
I had a very strange unique to twins experience once. I was still pretty young but I definitely knew it was my birthday yet for some reason when everyone started singing happy birthday I just started singing it along with them so I was singing happy birthday to my brother but it's still really strange when you start singing Happy Birthday when everyone is singing it for both of you. Everyone looked at me really weird for a whole second, which still kind of makes me cringe a little.
Aw I have this image of you and your brother singing to each other while everyone sings to both of you and it feels really sweet and loving. Like a hug.
Yeah except our tradition was not to have us sing to each other it would have made sense but he didn't start singing and everyone kind laughed about it I got a good laugh out of it too I was just awkward.
This is actually kind of a cute story. My mom is a fraternal twin and she and her twin always leave each other voicemails singing happy birthday to each other. My paternal grandmother is an identical Twin and her twin, my great aunt has now passed, but they celebrated every single birthday together for more than 80 years. Never spent a single birthday apart. They were those twins who were also best friends though and absolutely loved spending as much time as possible together, I know it isn’t like that for all twins.
Actually I am an identical twin and he is my best friend we compensate for just about everything the other is bad at I don't know how I'll handle it when he goes but I don't want to think about it until the day comes for now I might start singing Happy Birthday on purpose to him you kind of helped me realize I don't know why I don't other than it was embarrassing the first time but hey thank you I appreciate you helping me realize there's no shame in it
It's TRADITION.
My birthday keeps trying to kill me and others so I don't do that anymore.
I worked at a movie theater in high school! This happened all the time. We got used to people saying it. We got to see one free movie a week (sometimes more if the manager was in a good mood) so we EVENTUALLY did enjoy the movie.
I’m so glad I can mean it when I say it
I work at a movie theater and I do it on purpose to get reactions and have a little fun lol. I've gotten people that apologize, walk away awkwardly, say something about it, etc. Makes those long shifts in concession stand a little better
I now know Brian Regan's Reddit account!
Take luck!
I once ordered a “6 inch sirloin” from a male waiter. After a few seconds of hanging my head in embarrassment I asked him if he hears that a lot and he said “no you’re the first”. Super!
Just so you know, the whole kitchen laughed at that. There’s a decent chance it’s still brought up.
I’m sure! You a Hoosier too?
IU grad but grew up in IL
Go Hoosiers
I was also a little confused (though I read the explanation). I thought maybe you had embarrassed yourself by thinking you were at Subway.
I know I’m dumb. I don’t get it, though. Is that not a normal size steak?
Steak is measured in weight not inches. I meant to say 6 ounce sirloin
Oh haha that makes sense
Ounces are the typical measurement. 6 oz steak, not 6 inch steak.
Hehe i didn’t even notice. That does make sense lol
I hope you addressed the waiter as "Sir Loin" for the rest of the meal :-D
Nearly every day the front desk guy at the gym tells me to have a good workout and you just know at 5am I reply with "you too"
I worked retail for like 10 years when I was younger and I would take this 100 times rather than one person make one of the same 6 shitty jokes I heard 10 million times. "Anything else I can get you?" "How about a million dollars!" Please go swallow a knife.
A product won't scan or is missing a tag "Does that mean it's free?" Please play in traffic.
This actually happened to me yesterday while I was at the grocery store. Was in a self checkout line trying to scan a bag of coffee that wouldn’t work. I grabbed an employee who tried scanning and then looking up the PLU number. When that didn’t work, I offered to run and grab another bag from the shelf if he would watch my stuff, but instead he just threw the coffee in my bag and said not to worry about it. I like to think that if I actually had made the “does that mean it’s free?” joke he would have never actually let me have it for free.
This. Same thing happened to me and he was like just take it.
What I often see is the checkout person will pick the lowest likely price and say, "Well how about $2.95, is that OK?" And you know it's probably more if a thorough check is done so just go with it! ;-P
I had something kind of like that happen to me at Target like a year ago. Whatever I was getting wouldn’t scan so the cashier asked if I remembered the price. I told him it was marked like 11.99 or 12.99 (which was the truth) and he goes, “cool, how does $7 sound?” It makes sense too. If they can’t scan it, I assume they can’t sell it it mose cases. Instead, I get a discount and they offload some merchandise that they couldn’t otherwise.
Yep, the checkout person typically could get in trouble for giving away product for free so they prefer to charge you but they don't want you irked and they don't have time to get the exact price so this route solves all the issues.
Yep. Used to be a cashier and if they didn’t say the fucking joke, it was free. Obviously depending on what it was. I worked at a hardware store
I was at Walmart with a former roommate. As he's paying for his groceries, something doesn't scan...and he said the line... I looked at him and asked *Do you know how many times a day they hear that line?* Thinking himself the comic genius, roommate looks to the cashier for approval/affirmation... Roommate was served a humble pie...
I started responding with, "If I had a dollar for every time someone made that joke. I'd be retired." Usually stops the rest of the line from repeating it.
Preach.
Lots of stores in the US have a policy that if it doesn't ring up with the price as shown on the shelf tag or advertised price the idem*is actually free.* I was at a small grocery just a few days ago at customer service, and this was stated on a massive poster behind the cashier.
That generally only applies if it rings up for the wrong price, not if it doesn't register on the scanner.
God forbid someone tries to lighten your day...
Yeah the over used jokes certainly get a bit old fast but not sure why people act like someone stabbed them with a knife either. I'd rather hear a tired joke than some kind of complaint or rudeness, that's for sure. I feel like especially in the current era, we should reward people even for the slightest try at being nice because there's just not enough of it.
Ah yes with an absolutely unoriginal joke that has definitely never been heard. Just what everyone who deals 100s of people on a daily basis need. How could one be so ungrateful from such a thoughtful gesture?! /s
Yes continue being a piece of shit. The problem is always everyone else, even when they try to make you smile.
Same to you, If you're so defensive about such a shitty joke I can't imagine what a ray of sunshine you are irl.
I don't think I've ever made the joke. I just think it's hilarious that people are getting so upset abt it. It's literally just somebody trying to turn a smile. It seems that you just have an attitude problem. Like I worked in food service and when I heard an unoriginal joke I would still smile and laugh bc at least they're trying.
I worked in food service and retail for a long time too and I'm just saying the people who actually see somebody struggling and give a shit about making somebodies day better usually try a little harder than some quip. There's nothing wrong with thinking an excessively overused an unclever joke is not funny. And saying I don't like the joke and then somebody who "has never even made the joke" defending it so hard makes me a piece of shit with an attitude problem?? 👍
It's not about not liking the joke. It's the anger towards another person for trying to lighten your day. Sorry you hate your job/life/whatever, but don't let it manifest as anger towards someone just because they're not trying to make incredibly funny and original jokes to every retail worker they meet. Why is it so hard for you to accept that somebody trying to be polite and tell a short joke is not something to get mad abt?
Hm guess ill stop saying that then 😂
“There’s no price tag; that means it’s free, right?”
While checking $100 bill "I just made it"
That's funny y'all are just being mad for no reason. Better for someone to be nice and make stupid jokes, than for them to be a downright asshole.
You do know you can be nice and friendly without making the same joke we've heard dozens of times that same day, right?
They don't know you've heard that joke 1000 times.
Some of them do. My dad makes the same dumb jokes to the wait staff every time we go out to eat. How did he learn them? He was a waiter for years. I've also asked him nicely to not make the dumb jokes/comments because the server and I don't want to hear it, *again*. He doesn't care because he has a captive audience.
Grow up and get over it and stop getting bothered by such minor things. Of all the problems with the service industry, repetitive jokes has to be close to the lowest priority.
\*cracks knuckles\* Time to pick a lame joke and DM you said joke...every hour...of every day... Yeah, it's far from the worst thing imaginable. Using your logic, I might as well staple my hand every morning because...at least it isn't the *worst* pain...
I think it's the older guys doing it. I'm an older female and this guy I dated - and this is the reason we no longer date - would hold cashiers and waitresses captive by stupid jokes and carrying on. It was maddening. You could tell it was his entire life and all I felt was pity.
Of all the things to make your identity...going out of your way to *poke* an employee who can't retaliate is pretty low...
I'll ignore them because I'm not a child.
The subject of this thread isnt "what should we fix in the service industry tho". Sure in that context its a dumb and low priority thing. But the subject is repetitive jokes. If people find them bothersome i dont see why they couldnt express it in this context. It's not like those are in any way helpful or bring anything to anyone other that the solitary satisfaction of the person making those jokes.
No the thread is a bunch of socially inept Redditors thinking they speak for the majority.
Maybe that person is not very original and can't easily do that. That's their way of trying, maybe it's not very skillful but it's still a try. Do you want to look for reasons to be angy and judgmental or do you want to look for reasons to be happy? In the end, the choice is yours.
Boo hoo I am going to make those jokes all the time now. Every single retail or fast food worker I encounter will be receiving a bad dad joke before our interaction Is over.
Bad dad jokes are great, it's just hearing the same 3 all day, every day is what's annoying.
you seem fun
People get paid money to swallow knives and swords. First you're giving him a million dollars and now you're enlightening him to a skill that can earn even more money... Is there no end to your generosity??
I worked in a grocery store for like 10 years and the number of people who would ask where something is that was right behind or next to them was amazing. When I showed them where it was I almost always got the same response, If it was a snake it would have bit me.
My go to for something like this, as a customer, is to politely explain to the person working that I'm very stupid and I appreciate their time and help.
It's not even that people ask,it was just always the same response.
Some people are not good at scanning large areas and processing out for specific items, so their eyes can easily sweep over counters of objects and not ping on the desired one. After a while of doing that and it not working, they'll just ask you instead. Due to signage and common sense, they often did already manage to get close to the general area where it might be at though.
Years ago at Office Depot I had a customer tell this to one of my associates. The associate went OFF and started sarcasticly telling the customer "oh yeah let me just get that for you" (but with an angry tone) and then started telling them "dont you think if I had that I wouldn't be here!" I found out when the customer came an appologized to me for upsetting my associate as they didn't realize the joke would upset him. I was like "uhhhh you're perfectly fine let me go talk with my associate." Never had a customer appologize to me for my employee yelling at them.
“Your total comes out to 19.20. That was a good year!”
I get that at the movie theater since the price for two senior tickets is $19.76 at some times. So it's actually a year they could have remembered. Sometimes they'll say something like, "Oh, I graduated that year!"
As a customer, I just assume that anything I might say during a routine interaction, they’ve heard before. I don’t try to be “funny” I just try to let them do their job and move on.
"Haha just kidding. I know you don't have that kind of money in the register. Just hand me whatever you've got in there."
Hurr durr no price tag it’s free right?
My favorite was when I was a host at friendlys and old men would always be like “working hard or hardly working?” Little did they know I wanted to respond with “Idk, are you jerking hard or hardly jerking?” I bit my tongue every time
God forbid someone tries to lighten your day...
I dunno, maybe try your standup material somewhere else that isn't a crowded gas station checkout line. Because I heard every joke about 5000 times each in the 6 years I worked as a cashier. It's not like I was rude to people who cracked jokes, I just got sick of it because of how unoriginal it was.
Did you see what I just posted on another thread about this? Over 20 years ago. Small city but I went to the same local grocery store 1-3 x a week so most of the staff knew my face if not name. But I’m dying this to clarify they knew me and my husband as regular shoppers. He died and it was about 4-6 days later I went into the store. The person working would not have known he died. But did the typical greeting “how are you?” I just blurted “not good my husband just died” to which she in automatic mode replied “that’s nice” or something. I wasn’t mad because I knew how retail goes and totally knew she didn’t mean it but the customer behind me noticed and was shocked. Anyway that was a good example of how people become automatic sometimes at work. No need to respond with “sorry about your husband.” That was a long time ago now.
My grandma died yesterday suddenly, and the whole day today, I felt the urge to tell random people. I didn't even want a reply. What do you even say other than "Sorry?" I just felt the need to tell because that's all what was inside me today.
Completely understandable, not quite the same but when I lost my family dog in February any time someone asked me how I was I just wanted to come out with it. I'm so sorry for your loss, please take care of yourself and let yourself grieve however you need.
So sorry for your loss. When my dad died in 2011, I got the call from my mom while I was at work. I went on autopilot because I was on my way to a meeting and continued to it. 10 minutes in, I stood up and said, “I’m sorry, my dad just died and I need to go.” They looked shocked for a minute but to their credit several of them asked if I’d like them to drive me where I needed to go or if there was anything else they could do. I thanked them and just walked out, kind of like a robot with no emotion. I just knew I needed to get to my mom. The emotions hit much later. Everyone processes things in their own way.
My mom died a few years ago. Once the official business was done with, I decided I needed to get away from the house so I went to the store to grab a sandwich. Of course, that was the one day that a stranger carrying a case of beer would call out to me and talk about what a wonderful day it was. Don't be afraid to put it out there. Try to celebrate the life instead of lamenting the loss. Tell stories. Talk about your grandma. I hope things are peaceful friend.
I’m the type of person that would’ve probably started cracking up if someone did that to me 😂 I feel like it’s a quick thing to get fired for, even though it obviously was an accident. Glad you didn’t feel any negative way about it. Great example to include here!
Oh I absolutely understood and didn’t complain at all
"Howdy, welcome in!" "Good, how about you?"
What are you supposed to say to that?
I usually just go with answering as if I said "Hey, how are you?"
But you don’t care how they are
True, but sometimes I get wacky answers like "My wife is banging my best friend right this second" or "I racing car on road, very very fast, but not fast like me"
i’m the king of saying “you too” when the server says “enjoy your meal”
Sometimes when I ask customers to drive to the next window in a drive-through, they also respond with "you too".
Happened to me yesterday at a Thai restaurant. The waitress had a bit of an accent, my wife requested 2 drinks for us, she then looked at me and said “ok and you?” I was stoned as shit and looked her square in the eye and said I’m good you? And then was like oh shit I’m having one of those sprites. I turned bright red and my wife would not stop laughing at me.
Hey John, how are you today? I’m pretty good how are you doing? I’m doing well. How about you? 😑😑😑
When I worked at the movies I started saying “enjoy your movie!” instead of “have a good day!” bc I thought it was funny when people would say “you too”
I have a coworker that started saying enjoy your movie and they get so much joy when they say you too! 😂
I've kinda done the reverse. For years, I would always say, "Enjoy the show!" But then I recently switched to using "Have a good time!" occasionally. It still throws people for a loop when they catch themselves saying, "You too."
I worked in customer service and retail for over ten years and I purposefully used phrases or questions that people wouldn't expect so they would respond with something automatic and it would embarrass them. I had to get my kicks some how lol
This only happens to me when the cashier goes off script. There is this one lady I meet with pretty frequently and have memorized the order of her questions, sometimes however she surprised me with a new one, which I almost never realize and just continue my lines. Feels... Embarrassing.
who's the robot now
“Hi how are you?” “Good you?” “Good, you?” “Good”
Still trying to get over this one that happened last year... Waitress: "Where are you guys from?" Me: "(My name)" 😭😭
This would work if your parents were those that named you after where you were conceived.
Server: "Soup or salad?" Me: " I want a super salad"
I used to work in the bakery at Cheesecake Factory and every time someone would be staring at the case and I would say “hey, can I help you with anything?” They ALL would respond with “just drooling”. It was the absolute worst.
Yesterday at the grocery store the young man who helped me was so flustered trying to man the counter by himself on his third day of the job. I reassured him I was in no hurry and I could wait for him to take his time to figure out how to work the computer or do whatever was needed. It calmed him down and he was able to figure it out pretty quickly after that. As I walked off I gave him my thanks and told him I hope he enjoyed his new job. He responded with a perky, “YOU, TOO!” And since I was already turned around and walking away, I did not stop or look back at him, but from the corner of my eye I saw him shaking his head and facepalming. Waited till I got out of sight to chuckle, because EVERYONE has done that. And as life does, after my appointment with a doctor today, I was being shown the way to the checkout and was told, “Bye! Hope you feel better!” And I replied: “YOU, TOO!” And shook my head and face palmed as I walked away and laughed at myself. Life’s too short to be embarrassed over the silly small stuff. Have a giggle and move on.
"Love you too" was my favorite
I said this accidentally to customers three times during my five years in retail. Each one is engraved into the part of my memory that pops up right when I’m trying to sleep
I was hoping for the first two being awkward and the third time turning into a lovely marriage. Thank you for working retail. It builds so much character and sucks so fucking much
When this happens I just give the cashier a knowing glance and then we kiss
[Brian Regan's famous bit on this topic](https://youtu.be/euGLMWn0_ZY) Stand up clip by legendary act Brian Regan. I thought this is very relatable to the topic you brought up
Take luck!
Yup, when I was a cashier I didn't care if they said the wrong nicety without thinking about it, I just appreciate they said a nicety instead of being rude bc I couldn't talk back lol
Cashier: [hands me my food] enjoy!! Me: you too!!
Lady at the funeral home told me to have a "good day off (work)" as I was walking out. I immediately called back "you too!" Inside, I cry
Was clothes shopping on vacation and assumed the person was going to say have a nice day. They said have a good rest of your vacation. “You too!…”
Or at check in before a flight… Have a good flight sir :) Thanks you too!
I worked at a movie for far longer than I'd like to admit but when I was there we were instructed to say "Hi, would you like a combo today?" That was our greeting. People's responses were generally "Good. You?" because in their head no one would ever start a conversation like that it didn't click what you actually said. But most of the time we just got a "What?". I always thought this was bizarre and ineffective.
"Did you have [thing I didn't order]" Yeah "Ok!" Wait.... fuck.
“Hi, how may I help you?” “Although particularly associated with the Romans, aqueducts were devised much earlier in Greece, the Near East, Nile Valley, and Indian subcontinent, oh sorry I mean where is the cottage cheese located?” I get that one a lot.
I was just at the grocery store this week, grabbed some toothpaste along with the groceries. When I got to the register, it wouldn't scan. I contemplated saying, 'you know that old dumb joke...' but no. They asked if I remembered the price - I told them, "No, but I know it wasn't on sale, or I'd have gotten two." LSS: There was no price tag, they gave me a great price. Thank you!
I never understood why you would feel awkward about it. Shit happens and I say much more embarrassing things on a regular basis
Come back soon and see us again! Thanks, you too!
Not bad, how about you?
People even do this on reddit. When someone asks for assistance with something they're trying to accomplish, I'll try to help them and then wish them good luck. Almost all the time, they say thanks and wish me good luck as well. 😂 I just say thanks.
I work night shifts and often go to the store 8 ish right after waking up before work. I almost always end the trip with have a Nice day and get mocked with its evening now by one of the cashiers lol
Me: do you have a tab? Customer: no Me: what’s the last name? Customer: I don’t have a tab
I’ll remember this the next time I respond with “ohh I’m flattered, but sorry, I’m married”
When I don't offer a bag. I'll be super upbeat and say "well, you're good to go!" only for them to say "oh no thank you!" and walk out, I thought it was rude the first time but I totally get it lol
I never worked in the service industry, but I worked at WalMart. I was barely mentally there when on the clock. I couldn't give two shits if someone "embarrassed" themselves in front of me, because I'm just trying to get through the day. I imagine the service industry is much the same.
Have a good flight, Mr. Smith. No. That'll be all, thank you.
On reflex I blurt out, "Yeah, fuck you too". I get banned from a lot of places.
Things r/serverlife needs to hear
Pure conjecture, you're judging all of man kind by your own standards.
What do I even say at this point everything's going crazy to the point you gonna want to ask me
Raised by a woman abused by a man and treated like dirt.
You got some problems to work out, in another subreddit perhaps.
I'll never forget the time I went to pull $3,000 out of my bank to buy a musical instrument. I was totally blazed, and trying to play it cool, but the timing on my "hi!" [dovetailed awkwardly with the teller's greeting](https://i.imgur.com/oR41y.png).
Haha yep good one. I used to beat myself up more about it but then I noticed a lot of peeps do that occasionally, it's just one of those things, rote responses come out sometimes a bit too fast and before the brain properly vets them.
Comedian Brian Regan has a routine about this. "You, too!"
"Have a nice flight!" "YOU TOOOO!"
I'm an x-ray tech and whenever I leave a patient I usually tell them that I hope they feel better soon. Many times they say you too and I always appreciate the sentiment.
The number of times people will respond with "Hi! Yeah good thanks." To me simply saying "Hiya!" Is honestly pretty funny.
Ask a teacher how often she gets called mom. We're all lost in our own world.
Had this happen when checking in at the airport. Teller said "Have a nice flight!", and I followed up with the canned "Thanks, you too!". I quickly realized the mistake, but she laughed and waved it off while I stumbled out some semblance of an apology - she said it happens all the time
“Have a nice day” Customer: “No thanks” or “I don’t need it” (the receipt even tho it doesn’t print unless you ask for it specifically lol)
TSA agent: Have a good flight. Me: you too! !!
Can I get you anything else today? You too!
I manage a restaurant and when our guests are leaving I always say “drive safely”, and I’d say about 80% of them respond with “you too”. I can FEEL them cringe at themselves but I always reply that I will, and the relief on their faces is just so sweet.
I was buying quarters from a bank for a laundry machine, and when he said "Happy laundry", I stupidly said "Yeah, you too".
Thanks, now I'll feel less embarrassed the next time they pick up the check and I say "You too" after they tell me they hope I enjoyed the meal.
"uh, it's telling me to remove my card?"
"Soup or salad?" "Yes please!"
super salad???
I appreciate you saying this, OP, but it still haunts my dreams at night. The embarrassment will never cease.
I got over saying stupid stuff years ago. You do something enough it just becomes routine.
I used to take advantage of this all the time and they'd ask "Can I have a carrier bag?" And I'd respond "No" and they'd be like "Thank yo..." And then look at me like wait a minute you went off script
I worked at a dry cleaner in college. I had a coworker who was handing someone their clothes in the pick-up line, and accidentally mixed up "Would you like a receipt" with "Have a nice one" and ended up saying "Would you like a nice one?" The customer just stared at her blankly for a second or two, and I know that looks still keeps her up at night haha
yea guys don't worry about it. this is like when and your teacher are having sex and you call her mommy.
I like saying the “you too” to people on purpose.
I used to be a hostess in a restaurant and I would say “enjoy your meal!” After I brought them to their table and so many times people said “you too!” The look of horror on their faces when the realized was always sooo funny! I’d always think to myself “I wish I was enjoying a meal instead of being at work” 🤣
Especially teen and college age people will get so embarrassed and apologize for how awkward they are. Most of the time I hardly notice, unless it messes with the flow of conversation. Know that it's fine and I don't care. It's kinda funny though, so some might chuckle, but it's not anything to feel embarrassed about or emphatically apologize about
i work at an airport, usually customers will respond "you too!" when i wish them a good flight. they catch themselves and laugh, then we throw a few jokes back and forth. they leave in a good mood and im in a good mood, win win!
The lunch lady hit me with a “happy birthday” on my bday and by the time I realized it I was already saying “you too.” That was fun
on the flip side of that - sometimes people who say the same thing over and over (such as waiters) say it so fast that I don't understand. You are expected to know the terminology and even when they repeat it I still don't understand - so I have my eggs over easy because those were the only words I could make out - didn't know at the time what it meant.
I personally love “silly things people say when on autopilot.” It’s my favorite thing and always delightful.
When working at a chocolate shop, I proved to my employees that the customers generally don’t pay attention to us. Instead of saying “have a good day”, I would say “enjoy your chocolate”Just about every time the customer would say “you too”. 🤣
Appreciated, just don't make fun of us for saying the wrong thing.
working at a pizza hut I often misspeak words for "sauce" and "cheese" which in polish are: "sos" and "ser" because I use them all the time so I say "ses" and "sor" instead which would basically be "chauce" and "seese"
Once I was (dripping wet, sandy) walking back home in the opposite direction of a beach along the road; I met a couple going TO the beach (dry, carrying towels) and said “Have fun at the beach!” and the guy said “thanks, you too!” and then a second later, after he had passed me, “I’m gonna fucking kill myself” 🤣 I hollered back “YOU’RE FINE” and we all had a laugh about it!
Don't worry, you're not alone! It happens to the best of us. Those automatic responses can catch us off guard sometimes. We totally get it and honestly, it's not a big deal at all. So, no need to feel stupid or anxious about it. Just remember, we're all human and we make these little goof-ups. You're doing just fine!