I get annoyed at that line so much. Having a cashier or two who go against company policy, or the law, which results in customers feeling like every other cashier should too. Tonight was my first night of doing the closing self-scan shift, and I had two different groups of people today that I had to turn down alcohol sales because one person from each group was under 21. Both groups had the same response. "But *insert cashier name here* always lets it go by. What if the person under 21 just walks outside?"
Then I talk to that cashier about it. He says that he does it even though we aren't supposed to.
Situations like this are frustrating. One: the store could get in big trouble for that. Two: I now end up having to be the "bad guy" cashier who has to turn people down, and deal with them getting mad at me for it. I obviously won't back down, since the risk involved in letting things like that slide is too high, but it is frustrating.
Of course, there are also customers who lie to try to take advantage of cashiers too. I've had customers try to short change scam me, and get mad at me when I don't take any further money from them after entering the total and opening my register. "But I come here all the time and do this all the time. Why won't you take my change? I want *insert specific amounts of bills here*. Why can't you do that? Everyone else does it for me."
For alcohol, stick to what you're doing. You're responsible for you, the law isn't going to care if someone else does it. The company isn't going to care either. I've denied sales to old people for no id, expired id, potential straw buys (older buying for younger), young couples where only one has id. I don't care if they get pissed, I don't care if they tell me they'll shop somewhere else. You can refuse an alcohol sale for any reason. Be the "bad guy" cashier and stay on the right side of the law and policy. Customers will tell you things like that to try to intimidate you into selling. Don't fall for it.
As for change, don't make change inside a transaction, stick to what they gave you and what the register says to give back. If you feel comfortable doing it and are allowed to (we have a no change policy after too many scammers), you can make change between transactions after they got their change.
I don't know how it is in other states, but when I took the course for getting a license to sell alcohol where I live, the video made a clear point to ID everyone in a group if they look young, and also that if you suspect that someone who is old enough is buying the alcohol for someone else who is underage, then you have the right to refuse the sale. And I just took that course a couple months ago.
I had been told "oh we only ID the person BUYING!" but then supervisors will call and say "hey make sure you check both of their ID's they came in together!"
In general, I check the ID for every person in the group unless it's obvious they're old enough. I had an incident a few years ago where I ID'd the buyer but not his girlfriend, they walked out and she was carrying one of the bags, I almost lost my job. Ever since then I do NOT feel bad at all for IDing everyone in a group. It sucks, I know. It really does. I just tell people sorry and that they need to have an ID on them unless theyre old with gray hair.
People need to learn that we're not out to get them.. and if they want to buy a minor alcohol, LEAVE THE MINOR IN THE CAR! I won't know they're there, and you can get your alcohol. Problem solved.
Customers HATE it when I politely say " I'm sorry, but its store policy to check ID(s) when purchasing alchahol/tobacco products, and I will not loose my job or risk imprisonment." And by hate, I mean the deep seated hatred Damien has for priests and passing the Church in the Omen. That kind of hate.
Customers HATE it when I politely say " I'm sorry, but its store policy to check ID(s) when purchasing alchahol/tobacco products, and I will not loose my job or risk imprisonment." And by hate, I mean the deep seated hatred Damien has for priests and passing the Church in the Omen. That kind of hate.
I just throw out the "it's state law" card and move on since anyone who is dumb enough to argue it further deserves to be ignored. Of course I get to do that since I live in TN, but not every employee can.
