Dos and Don'ts When Interacting With Cashiers and Customer Service

When Interacting With a Cashier

 Do Not:

1. Mention that an item that won't scan is free.
2. Jokingly insinuate that your money is counterfeit.
3. Ask if they're paying for your groceries.
4. Blame them for an item ringing up as the wrong price.
5. Forget to use a divider to separate your items from others'.
6. Place very large items on the counter if they have a hand-held scanner.
7. Ask for any denomination of rolled coins (that's what banks are for.)
8. Place unwanted items on top of the candy and bubblegum racks.
9. Hold up the entire line to run back and grab that bag of chips you forgot.
10. Jokingly tell the cashier you have only $20 or $30 to spend when you clearly have over $100 worth of merchandise in your shopping cart.
11. (If you're elderly) Ask for a senior citizen discount. That doesn't apply everywhere.
12. Grab your receipt off the printer before the cashier has a chance to hand it to you. Doing so seems to cause it to tear 95% of the time.

Do:

1. Inform the cashier if any of your items are going to be purchased through W.I.C. before they begin scanning your things.
2. Inform the cashier if your purchase is going to be tax exempt before they begin scanning your things.

3. Have your check, cash, or card ready before the cashier finishes scanning your items.
4. Help the cashier load your shopping basket with your bagged items.

5. Keep small children away from... well everything, if possible.

6. Hand the cashier any items you've changed your mind on instead of tossing it on nearby shelving.
7. Wait for the customer ahead of you to finish placing all of their items on the moving belt before you starting doing the same.
8. Greet and treat the person who is helping you like an equal, normal individual and not some lowly servant.
9. Be ready and prepared to be carded if you are purchasing cigarettes and/or alcohol. Every store has a different age they have to look for and just because your thirty doesn't mean they won't ask.

When Returning Items to a Store

Do Not:

1. Blame the store for your item not working instead of the company who actually manufactured it.
2. Be angry at the store if you fail to return something during the limited return period of 15, 30, 45, or 90 days (depending on the item.)
3. Get mad at the service representative because they are following store policy.
4. Attempt to coerce the service rep into bending store policy.
5. Lie about not having your ID with you and give a sob story to avoid another return mark on your license.
6. Act as if you've been giving a blessing from God if there are no other customers in line when you arrive.
7. Yell, curse, or use foul language.
8. Grab your receipt off the printer before the cashier has a chance to hand it to you. Doing so seems to cause it to tear 95% of the time.

Do:

1. If available, have your receipt ready and in-hand before stepping up to the counter.

2. Have your merchandise packed neatly back in it's original packaging (if available) before returning to the store.
3. Greet and treat the person who is helping you like an equal, normal individual and not some evil banshee from Hades.
4. Wait to be sure the representative is ready to assist you before running up and setting your items on the counter. 

If you have any Dos or Don'ts that you think would be a good addition to this list, please leave them in the comment area bellow.