Shutterstock

Self-checkout inspires some customers to become very confident career counselors.

During early shifts, one employee keeps hearing gleeful predictions that the machines will soon replace them.

Rather than panic on command, they answer calmly until repeated questions start crossing into personal territory.

See why a few smug comments about automation quickly become much less entertaining.

Self-Check Issues, Apparently I’m Losing My Job

I work the self-check a lot in the early mornings, and I’ll admit, I get these responses fairly often.

However, I do get tired of people acting as if it’s the ONLY thing I do, as if it’s some type of career choice I made when I was like, 10 years old.

Guy: -saunters up after ringing himself out- How do you feel?

Me: -just standing there- About what? Or were you asking how I am? If so fine, just off in la-la land.

Then, this customer says a shocking response.

Guy: -makes a grand gesture towards the self check machines- About losing your job! -gives me a wide grin-

Me: -completely serious- I’ll cross that bridge when [it] comes to it.

Guy: -pauses for a second- What about if you lose your job?

But, the cashier? Wasn’t fazed.

Me: Sir, there are fail-safes if that happens. And this isn’t the only job I work, I run a business with my older brother, too.

Guy: -blank stare-

Me: This helps me pay for my college while going to school, and I like the morning.

Guy: -just continues staring at me before I turn away to go help another customer-

Another time I had another guy who just…didn’t seem to get it.

This customer had a similar start. But the OP handled this one very differently.

Dude: These things are taking your job! -again with the big grin like they just won something-

Me: -mildly annoyed at this point- Okay.

Dude: Aren’t you worried? -very gleeful about me losing my job, apparently-

Me: -getting more annoyed so I take a harsh tone- It’s a job sir; it’s not a career.

Dude: -ignored what I said and just keep smiling- Aren’t you worried about your job?

This response was brilliant!

Me: -now, I’m just plain irritated- I don’t discuss my employment with strangers, and if you keep asking, I’m getting my manager.

Guy: -looks unsure of himself- I’m just asking you a question!

And the cashier didn’t stop there.

Me: -being a lot meaner now- I don’t know you, and I’m not giving out personal information about my employment. That’s between me and my manager. If you’re going to insist, you’re more than welcome to sit down and have a chat with him. But, he’s not going to give you anything and neither am I.

Dude: -gets all huffy- FINE! -storms out-

I mean, I don’t know what people are expecting me to say. I usually say “okay” a lot. I do resort the “cross the bridge” response which has pulled up a lot of people short.

What does Reddit think about this question? Have others received similar questions from customers? And should this cashier have just grinned and bared it? Let’s read the comments below to find out more.

One Redditor actually sided with the customers.

Another reader had a great comeback lined up.

One user paraphrased the interaction perfectly.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a customer who wants to argue about an item they chose not being on sale.

And finally, one Redditor cracked a hilarious joke about the situation.

OP mostly brushed off the comments, explaining that the job helped pay for college and was hardly their entire future.

When one customer kept pushing, they finally shut the conversation down and offered to bring over a manager instead.

Apparently nothing kills a victory lap faster than finding out nobody else entered the race.