Archived How strict is your store about fishing?

[thecabbage]

Fellow cashiers, GSAs and GSTLs. What is the situation regarding fishing at your store? The GSTL at my store has told that if we aren't literally going up and grabbing people to go up to our lane after every guest (implying there isn't someone in line behind the person you just checked out) or we are going to start being coached for doing so. I felt that this measure was pretty extreme so I was just wondering what the situation was like at other stores.

 

[Zone]

Isn't that supposed to fall on the GSTL or GSA in the form of speed weaving? The cashiers in my store either zone their lanes in lulls or stand at the entrance of their lane to invite people in.

 

[OffYaPhone]

Your GSTL sounds like a fruit cake. I step out in front of my lane when I feel like it and ask guests if they're ready to check out but most of the time I'm talking to my fellow cashiers or pushing my lane and end cap or cleaning the belt or stocking my bags. I mean, there are a ton of other things that you can do.

 

[Megaparsec]

I just show off my grammar skillz and say "I can help whomever's next"

Rockin the whom!

 

[Ringwraith917]

Are you supposed to be suggesting that people stop shopping and check out already? Seems counterproductive. A simple "Hi, are you ready to check out?" while standing in front of your lane should suffice.

 

[RedMan]

I go ballistic when I hear someone shout from the back lanes (we have double lanes - five across the front, five across the back), "Hey I can help the next person."

Listen, if I wasn't busy with another guest, I'd direct the guest to your lane. If you weren't a lazy ass, you'd be at the front of your lane guiding guests into your lane.

Here's news for you. The guests can't always tell where your voice is coming from. Nor can the guests always know who's the next in line. Stop being lazy and do your job.

And if you think the other cashiers aren't aware that you're hiding in the back lanes, you're wrong. We all know why you choose that lane. And you know why I always ask you to take a different lane, but you always weasel back.

 

[buliSBI]

I see no problem with grabbing people. I think its should be TM's duty to grab guests. With all the years I cashiered, if I was not grabbing guests, zoning, or organizing carts while the other CAs were outside then I wasn't doing my job.

The GSTLs/GSAs shouldn't be the sole people to direct people to the lanes. They should only concentrate on that when there is a rush. They have to respond to GS, change requests, or handle situations.

Besides who wants to be cramped up behind their register for a whole shift.

 

[PassinTime]

The GSTLs/GSAs should be the sole people to direct people to the lanes. They should only concentrate on that when there is a rush. They have to respond to GS, change requests, or handle situations.

Besides who wants to be cramped up behind their register for a whole shift.

I disagree. I work with too many lazy people who will hide at their register while those closer to the race track or towards the back of the store have 2 or 3 guests waiting in line. If my GSA/GSTL is busy, or just unwilling to do their job, I will tell a guest that they can step over to register XX because there is no wait on that register. I don't get paid 3x the salary to handle 3x the guests. ..simple as that.

 

[buliSBI]

I meant GSAs/GSTLs should't be the sole people speed weaving and zoning.

 

[Zone]

I meant GSAs/GSTLs should't be the sole people speed weaving and zoning.

Speed weaving is one of those things that would work best with the fewest number of people directing the traffic. The GSTL/GSA team is more mobile than the cashiers. That means they can see the basket contents and make a decision on where to send the guest to maximize efficiency. However, if a cashier just finished with the last guest and there's still people in other lanes, then by all means wave someone down or go get them.

 

[paidtosmile]

In my experience, it's most effective when the responsibility falls on both the GSA/GSTL and the cashier. The GSA/GSTL is supposed to be directing traffic and speedweaving for all of the checklanes. We're also supposed to respond to supervisor calls, change requests, break grids, etc.

That being said, I think it DOES fall on the cashier to make it known they're available and ready for another guest. Speedweaving is important, but if I'm caught up being screamed at by a snobby suburban stereotypically white soccer mom who is just "So offended that Target is out of the Lindt truffles I drove all the way out here for. I expect to be compensated for the gas I used to get to your horrible store" , I expect that cashiers are proactively greeting and engaging with guests when they don't have anyone at their lanes so we don't get too backed up.

Do I expect you to be speedweaving and directing traffic for the entire front end? absolutely not. Do I expect you to TRY pulling guests to your lane if you're free? Absolutely.

 

[buliSBI]

If the lanes are manageable, don't hide behind the lanes. Don't be afraid to greet the guest and escort them to your lane. You can zone and get other things done as well.

When guests see open lanes with cashiers just standing behind their registers, it just very sterile and boring. They can get that at Walmart.

 

[dani346]

honestly most of the time when i tell the guest i can help them at my lane they just stay in the line they're in. like hello why would you want to wait in line when i'm open? and i don't like standing in front waiting to ask people to come or ask if i can help someone find something (unless it's something by the checklanes or a specific candy they're looking for) because i can't leave the front and i don't know where or what we have in the store because i'm always up front! if someone asks if we have something and i'm not sure i'll try to search for my gsa. i wish guests understood that cashiers don't know where everything is and we have no way to search for them on a mydevice like almost any other type of tm. sorry, kind of got off topic and had to rant.

 

[dani346]

if a guest can't see my light when it's clearly on then that's their problem and they obviously don't care if they have to wait in line. it probably won't take long for some other guests who are ready to check out come to me because i clearly have no wait.

 

[Guest]

Compensated for used car gas?

 

[Flabbergasted]

I wasn't even aware this had a term. "Fishing." Sounds like you're trying to rob the guest, not help them.

 

[defang]

I do this all the time, mainly because I have to be on the move. I can't just stand there. My GSTLs and I usually seem to reach the guest at the same time.

 

[mrknownothing]

It doesn't show in the picture, but for those who haven't seen this commercial, he "caught you a dollar."

Now, pretend the dollar is the 5% you'd save by opening a Target Red Card.

 

[paidtosmile]

if a guest can't see my light when it's clearly on then that's their problem and they obviously don't care if they have to wait in line. it probably won't take long for some other guests who are ready to check out come to me because i clearly have no wait.

This is also true... BUT if guests could see, read, and think for themselves that'd make our jobs bearable... and who would want that?