Have a nice day - but really, I mean it

Today, I was buying a few bits and pieces at the supermarket with my mum - right now, you're probably thinking 'Where is Sarah taking this exactly? Why am I reading a post about supermarket shopping?' Don't you worry, friends, I'm getting there.

We got to the cash register, and the lady started to scan through our items, and as I stepped up to the register she politely said hello and I asked her how she was. Not only did I ask her how she was, but, when we went to leave the supermarket, I told her I hoped she'd have a nice day.

My mother commented on this after on our way to the car, telling me what a nice girl I am. Confused, I asked what she meant, and she seemed to think it was particularly kind of me to wish the lady at the register a nice day.


Has it become strange to hear a customer wish a shop employee a nice day?


The more I think about it, it definitely seems to be the case.

Working in retail, I have become much, much more aware of the way in which customers treat the employees of different shops; it actually makes my day when a customer appears to appreciate the effort I take to help them, and thanks me. I am so often faced with rude, inconsiderate, and ungrateful customers who immediately view me and my fellow employees as a number, faceless, branded by the polo tee-shirt I was given on my first day on the job. Yes, I am wearing a tee-shirt that associates me with this shop, but do not let it fool you into thinking that it gives me an entire new identity; I am still a human being, and I am on my feet for nine hours assisting you in your search for different books, some that I've never heard of and that have been out of print since the 80s.

And, whilst I'm on a tangent about this, no, telling me that the cover is distinctly brown does not help me in the slightest; unfortunately, my search options do not include 'colour of book cover'.

But, to continue with my rant and get to my point.

It saddens me to think that simply being a nice person to the lady at the cash register at the supermarket is out of the ordinary. Although working in retail has increased my awareness of the way in which employees are treated by customers, and allowed me to reconsider my own treatment of said employees, it should not take working in retail for anyone to be able to feel some sort of sympathy and understanding for the employee of any shop.

Come on, people; it doesn't take much.

P.S For a rant on a similar topic, you may wish to take a look at this blog post written by a dear friend if you feel you would like to continue along the journey of ungrateful customers and channel your inner rage as we both have.