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How hard is it to be a cashier at a grocery store? Can anyone give me tips?
I've never worked a register before and this is my first job. The manager said that he's giving me a chance with this job since I have no experience. I really don't want to mess this up and have them fire me because I don't know what I'm doing. He told me that I always need to be busy, even when there's no customers.
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You'll be fine. If you enter the amount the customer gives you (the 'tender') the point-of-sale gear will tell you what change to give. You just count it out. Card sales, you cant mis-tender or give wrong change. It will either pass or fail. If it fails, it's try again. If they haven't got enough cash in their account then it's either an alternative payment type (different card, or cash) or they don't get their stuff! Busy when it's not busy usually means 'filling and facing-up'. Replacing the sold fast-sellers, and puling the stuff to the front of the shelves in other words. And general 'housekeeping' around the store and your cashier area. Don't ever get involved in arguments. Stay at arms length as it were, and professional. Don't be bullied by awkward customers. There is a limit to what you can give them for the money they have and you can't exceed or fall below it, despite stuff about the customer 'always being right'. Don't take the bait, basically. So no insults back, swearing or indeed punching them! It might not feel like it at first, but within the shop procedure, you are in charge of every transaction. And each transaction is one on it's own, just that, however busy. Remember that. You'll be fine. Retail jobs aren't usually especially well-paid, but they are always there. And a bit of customer-facing/retail experience can often be of service to you at different time of your life. Most people can get good enough in about two or three weeks. You're no different. By far the biggest reason a boss will let a cashier go is that they just don't turn-up to do their shift, or they are persistently very late. This upsets the cashier due to 'go off' and messes up the running of the store. Mistakes, we all make. Honesty is important. Accidentally losing ten dollars will get a talking to from the boss. Stuffing just one dollar in your own pocket will get will get you dismissed on the spot, even though it's much less of a loss. Go and give it your best shot. And don't be late for your shift!!
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Yes, its as adviceman says with cash. I work register at fast food place. So the pace is just as fast and constant as a line at the grocery. I have had customers hand me too much money, usually an extra dollar or extra change, so do count carefully. The manager counts tills at end of your shift to be sure that all is in there as should be. they watch carefully to make sure employees don't steal cash. If handed any crisp new bills, I have found they tend to stick together so rub thumb and forefinger to see if there is a second bill attached to loosen it. In my job I am not always at the register, there are slow times and I have been trained for those tasks, if not expiditing orders, I am resupplying stock, wiping tables, sweeping, etc.
At the grocery, they should train you as to what those other tasks might be so that you know what to do when you dont have a line of customers.
Heck, I've been to Walmart at a slow time when two cashiers came and just stood out in front of the aisle where customers could see them. Just standing, smiling and asking if I was ready to checkout yet. they were doing nothing else, no other tasks to remain busy. So it really depends on what your manager prefers. If he's too picky or harsh with you or a poor trainer, and you end up losing it, you can always try fast food. Its a place where younger people can get the experience they need and later move on to another job. I'm there cus I wanted part time work and to be partly retired.
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Today with scanners toing most of the work for the cashiers the job is not all that hard. The most important part of the job is managing the money in your draw. The machine does most of the work for you today.
If you have ever grocery shopped at the end of the scanning the cashiers ask for method of payment. Most people pay by debit or credit card but their are still those that pay by cash. This is where you need to be on your toes.
The total orders is $169.29. The customer hands you 8 $20 bill and 1 $10 bill for a total of $170. You put that into the register as the amount tendered and the machine will tell you to return $0.71 as changes. Put the bills on the register, give the customer the change then when the customer is leaving put the money in the proper places in your register.
The reason for not putting the money away before you give the customer the change is so the customer cannot question you gave them the wrong change. If the money is already in the cash draw the could easily say they gave you 9 $20. If that were to happen you would call the manager over who would either have you count down your draw, which is time consuming and could make the customer angrier. Or for good customer service give the customer the $10. and you would be short $10 at the end of the day.
Always count cash twice. when taking cash from the customer count it twice and say to the customer what ever the amount tendered is. Count the change to the customer as well stating the amount returned and showing that it is the amount on the register tape. Then of course than the customer and wish them a good day.
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You really need to know math like nobody's business and to be exact. Management knows how much should be in your till at all times. Though you would never steal guard your till and log in and log off every time you step away or someone else needs/wants on.
Also, memorize codes for items or become a quick study in them to make your line move faster. Having an accurate price without the barcode or calling someone else is good provided correct.
As far as being busy goes he/she likely means if you can find something that needs to be done and can be at the till do it. They also mean even if the place doesn't look busy and there's little traffic look like you are doing something or were when the customer approaches and then attend to them. They don't want to look like people aren't coming.
Do you know someone who works there? If so mention the comment about always being busy when no customers and see what more they can tell you. There's no problem in asking them what do you want us busy doing when nobody is around behind our station? I'm sure they will tell you.
There's no doubt that they will train you as they don't let anyone loose without it. That question on being busy is one to ask the trainer along with anything you are nervous about. I doubt they would fire you and don't get thinking that. If it ever happened it would not be the end of the world.
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