Ladies and Gentlemen
Please be aware that your friendly checkout operator is not deaf. We can hear you talking about everything from why you are buying that paricular brand of chocolate sauce to the latest news on your neighbours prolapsed uterus. In my time spent funding my MSc on supermarket tills, I have heard some classics but the one that sticks in my memory the most is the following:

5 or 6 year old girl: "Daddy, I want to work on a checkout when I grow up!" - Kids for some reason are fascinated by the scanning and the beeping.

Father: "No dear, you can do better than that."
(Puddle of Sugar was still wallpapering on, Thu 1 Apr 2010, 21:11, 8 replies)

Why is that a classic? Surely you agree?
(shanterbabs, Thu 1 Apr 2010, 21:28, closed)

Someone has to do it
Sad fact is, that it's impossible for everyone to be the best, to be the acknowledged hero. Someone has to clean up after the rocket scientists, and the brain surgeons; but they're no less worthy of dignity.

I tell thee, you'd be right up the creek on a lazy Sunday morning, as you stumble in for your vital breakfast consumables; only to find the place shut, because we all became firefighters to please the people who see the supermarket uniform, but not the person within.

edit: just corrected my own prejudice; I said "firemen".

edit again: I meant to throw in a reference about kids being fascinated - "Oooh, ahhh, that's how it always starts. Then later there's running and screaming".
(The Incredible Sulk Finally remembered his password on, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 0:08, closed)

Not now she can't.
There's a recession on, you know.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 0:15, closed)

I used to work in a shop.
A colleague served a French couple, who, in French, commented on how stupid my colleague was.

My colleague responded, in perfect French, "would you like anything else, or would that be all?".
(stuntsmile, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 2:02, closed)

Ha
Some things are very sweet to witness
(Sadarse works like Mist condensing mud flaps, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 5:49, closed)

A friend of mine did something similar with a family of Germans who were doing the same thing.
Except he waited until they were almost out the door before smiling and bidding them farewell with a cheery "Tschüss!" (See you!)
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 17:47, closed)

my sister
Haha, I remember when my younger sister declared that she either wanted to be a cashier or work at the local fast food place. They were her two favorite places in the world where she got delicious things to eat, I could see her logic. My parents never said a thing discouraging her though.
(Tarana, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 15:22, closed)

The supermarket I worked at
encouraged work-life balance: If you work there, you can't afford to shop there.
(The Incredible Sulk Finally remembered his password on, Fri 2 Apr 2010, 21:21, closed)