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Where you live can really shape what yourgrocery storeexperience looks like.
The confused look that followed was enough to make the manager rethink everything.
Scroll on to see how the whole situation played out.
Thats a whole lot of online checkouts and doorstep drop-offs!
And lets be real, those trips can be smooth or downright baffling.
It turns out that a lot of that confusion has more to do with store rules than peoples moods.
Shes seen it all, fromawkward customer encountersto rules that make zero sense to shoppers.
People think were being standoffish or too robotic, she says, but often were just following protocol.
Its set by higher-ups sitting far away from the actual store floor.
Its not that we dont want to help, its that sometimes, were literally told not to.
Dhwani stresses that what seems like someones personal behavior is often just ajob requirement.
You see someone ignoring you in the snack aisle?
Its likely because theyre on task with no wiggle room.
For instance, someone might be stocking shelves or counting inventory with a strict deadline.
And if they dont finish it, its their job on the line.
We dont mean to seem rude, were just trying to follow the rules.
Take the placement of fruits and veggies, for example.
Were not trying to confuse you or make you walk more, Dhwani laughs.
Theres alayout planwe follow, and its all about product placement and flow.
We know people want to grab tomatoes and onions quickly, but we cant just move things around.
Its marketing meets logistics, and employees dont get a say in it.
We just execute whats decided on paper.
One thing that often catches shoppers off guard is employee behavior during sampling or demos.
A sample person has to stay at their designated station no matter what, Dhwani says.
Theyre just not allowed to leave their post; thats someone elses job.
Dhwani mentions that staff are often trained in silos with very specific responsibilities.
We really wish we could do more sometimes, but there are limits.
For example, someone doinginventory checksor cleaning floors isnt supposed to engage with customers.
Thats another departments duty, she adds.
Some rules make sense, others not so much, but they all exist for a reason.
Sometimes staff look unfriendly when theyre just doing what theyre told.
A funny one, according to Dhwani, involves the bakery section.
Staff assigned to restocking bread cant slice it for you unless its part of the shift plan.
Shes had customers storm off thinking its personal when, really, its a hygiene or manpower issue.
I once got scolded for helping slice a loaf outside of my assigned duty; imagine that!
The systems in place dont always leave room for common sense or kindness.
We want to help, we really do, but sometimes the rules make it tricky.
Store greeters and security cant step away from the entrance to help.
This can come off as cold or uncaring, but its meant to maintain structure.
It feels wrong, I know, Dhwani says, but its what the training tells us to do.
So, while you might expect a helping hand, theyre stuck at their post.
We just hope customers understand its not a personal slight.
And then there are thecashiers, probably the most misunderstood of all.
Were told to keep transactions fast and minimal.
Thats why we cant always chat or help beyond the register.
Cashiers are timed on their transactions, and slower performance means warnings.
Even customer-friendly gestures like helping bags or double-checking items can be frowned upon.
Were always walking a line between helpful and too slow.
Baggers are often seen as too chatty or too silent, and its rarely their choice.
Were given scripts, Dhwani explains, and sometimes even the speed we pack things is tracked.
Its all about efficiency metrics, even for something as simple as bagging pasta and tomatoes.
So when someone offers help with a single carton of eggs, they might just be following orders.
We laugh about it later too.
In this particular case, the store manager seemed a little too eager to enforce the rule.
The OP just followed instructions to the letter and it ended up being hilarious.
Its a classic case of malicious compliance: follow the rules, no matter how silly they seem.
And sometimes, thats the only way to prove a point.
Dont you think a little flexibility could go a long way in places like these?
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