[Woahhs]

Well, when your not in a cozy little town, the checkout kids are just nasty and offensive. I could pay one of their salaries for the week with what I spend there, but can't even get a "hello."

[rrrod]

I kinda liked going thru one particular line (prior to the future Mrs. rrrod) just to check out the check out lady...oh well progress I guess!

[Fraulein]

I remember when service people and drive-thru employees actually used to say "Thank you." But that now seems to be a thing of the past. I find that instead I am the one who is just constantly saying it to them. I also remember when fellow drivers would acknowledge others on the road with a wave of the hand whenever another driver would kindly let their car go out before theirs, etc.

[TYVets]

I could pay one of their salaries for the week with what I spend there, but can't even get a "hello."

The good old days of full service gasoline have been replaced by pay at the pump. The cheaper prices offered appealed to the public, but the attitude of " I would be glad to pay more if I got full service " changed many peoples buying practices.

When the ballast on the hard wired florescent light over my work bench burned out, it was replaced by the same fixture with a plug in cord attached. Made in the USA (it didn't come from Walmart), no waiting for days and making an appointment for an expensive union electrician to do the work. The cost $8.99 plus tax and 10 minute instillation. If I am not mistaken a ballast alone cost $8 or $9 in the '70s.

Do I miss the good of days of a friendly hello, may I help you and the thank you for your patronage? Yes

Do I miss the union clerk that throws the can goods on top the bread? NO !

With some common sense about safety and some Midwest ingenuity I may not be as self sufficient as my grandparents were on their 40 acres and 7 or 8 kids. But I can do many things myself. Yankee ingenuity, no thank you that makes me think of northeastern liberalism.

Perhaps I am getting more conservative and wiser in my old age.

After all Wise and Conservative are synonymous !

[Joe Hadenuf]

Well, when your not in a cozy little town, the checkout kids are just nasty and offensive. I could pay one of their salaries for the week with what I spend there, but can't even get a "hello."

Can't get a hello? So what.

Do you want every employee in the store to say hello to you when you walk in? How about a good bye? Are you getting enough of those?

Let's see, there are probably 1000 people in and out of supermarkets, even small towns, daily, can you imagine having to say hello 1000 times a day? Oh, and don't forget about smiling. Did they choke up a phony smile for you just so you'll be pleased?

How pathetic. Personally, if I walk into a store and don't get a hello, I could care less. I am not there for phony customer dialog. I am there to do my business and leave.

I think it's very strange watching these greeters in stores like Wal Mart. The guys stands there saying, "Hello how are you doing" as fast as he can as hords of people walk by him. Like self check outs, they ought to have a dummy up there with a recording that just repeats, "Hi there, welcome to Walmart" all day long. And paint a smile on it's face.

[dougherty]

the checkout kids are just nasty and offensive. I could pay one of their salaries for the week with what I spend there, but can't even get a "hello."

How tragic.

[ninenot]

Since my beloved works as a checker, there's another side to that story, too. You would be amazed and quite disheartened to learn of the number of people who treat checkers as though they were dirt.

Probably the same percentage as checkers who treat customers like dirt--but..

You know, checkers here are trained, forcefully, to greet EVERY customer. About 1/4 of the customers will not respond at all, in any way, shape or form, to a simple 'hello.'

I'm not all that sensitive; doesn't bother me at all--but it is definitely a two-way street.