'I worked in Tesco - there's a checkout rule we followed that often backfired'

08 February 2023 , 12:31

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The former employee said the rule often ended badly (stock photo) (Image: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

If you've ever worked in a supermarket or a similar retail job, then you'll know that there are often tricks of the trade that you get told to do every day that most customers have no idea about.

One former Tesco employee has said there was one rule they had to follow when they were working on the checkouts, and while it was supposed to make shoppers feel more welcome, it often backfired.

The former supermarket worker posted a video to TikTok in which they said their manager told them they should always strike up a conversation with customers when scanning their shopping, as you never know how much difference that one chat could make to a person's day.

The employee rule made things quite awkward occasionally (stock photo) (John Myers)

Despite the good intentions of the rule, the former employee admitted it didn't always go the way they wanted, and they often found themselves in awkward situations because of it.

They said: "When I used to work in Tesco, my manager told me that I should try and start a conversation with everybody who comes through my till, because you never know, it might be the only person that they're talking to that day.

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"This did lead to some really awful conversations though."

The former worker then acted out a scene between themselves and a male customer, in which they asked the man how his day was going after they were finished scanning his shopping.

And he replied: "My wife is dying."

The employee was left horrified and began scrambling to think of a response, and after apologising, they had to awkwardly ask the shopper if he had a Tesco Clubcard.

They said: "Oh, I'm sorry. So ... did you have a Clubcard?"

Commenters on the video were left in stitches over the confession, with one person even claiming that these awkward conversations are exactly why they always use the self-service checkouts instead.

They wrote: "And this is why I use self-service! No hate to you at all, but I can't stand the small chit-chat."

The former Tesco employee replied: "I hope you find peace in the fact it's not consensual for us either."

Other commenters also shared stories of similar interactions they've had with customers who have overshared at the checkouts.

One said: "I had a customer say 'Happy New Year, I hope this one's better cause my grandson and dog died last year'. WHY?"

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While another added: "I had a customer tell me about how she felt like her husband didn't love her and the kids anymore and asked me if I thought she should leave him."

Zahna Eklund