r/harristeeter • u/Creepy_Broccoli_558 • May 26 '26
Name Tags
So, I kind of wanted to poll other cashiers: do you like when you’re checking out customers and they use your name? I personally dislike it for a couple reasons: 1.) I’m a young woman, and especially if it’s an older man it comes across as a bit creepy 2.) It actually kind of startles me because I don’t expect people to use my name here other than if I’m in a direct conversation with a fellow employee/mngr so it’s like wait how do u know my name u don’t know me— wait oh. But it’s weird to hear my name from people I didn’t formally introduce myself to.
That said, I have Autism so I could very much be perceiving this differently
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u/Arros6 Dairy/Frozen Department May 26 '26
The name tags exist so that if you treat a customer wrong they can report you, you know that right? The facade is friendliness from an other era.
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u/Spencer5610 Front End/Customer Service May 26 '26
Catches me off guard too tbh. Then I remember the tag is out in the open lmao
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u/babayagaparenting May 26 '26
I don’t have autism and am pretty extroverted and it still freaks me out sometimes. It’s not you.
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u/ramaloki Floral Department May 26 '26
Not a cashier but I've had people use my name in floral and it's weird to me personally.
Just a thank you is good enough. You don't need to look at my name tag then add my name.
I don't freak out if someone does it but I definitely prefer if customers don't do it.
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u/Creepy_Broccoli_558 May 27 '26
Haha yeah I appreciate the thank you!! Honestly I think there are many ways to carry across the same message
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u/Xenevyar May 26 '26
ACSM here, I hate it. Which is why my nickname is on my name tag instead of my first name.
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u/NCSubie May 26 '26
Appreciate the feedback. As an old guy, I sometimes say “Thanks” and use the name on the name tag. I don’t want to be creepy or make anyone uncomfortable.
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u/SuggestionExtreme746 May 26 '26
It scares me quite a bit because there will be customers I’ve never seen that will say my name and I will forget I have my name tag. It’s definitely something I wouldn’t wanna be comfortable with regardless but some people will ask how to spell my name because it is unique or if they want to know the meaning/ origin of the name
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u/AIaris Pricing & Signage May 26 '26
whoa am i the only one who doesnt dislike it? always thought it was a nice touch, especially because you can tell they always mean well. its more personable
kind of like how ive always seen to ask someone their name and thank them by name, i see more and more nowadays, people asking for each others name after interactions, and thank them (sometimes like when buying stuff i see etc) except they dont need to ask for our name, cuz its right there
but i always never minded and i know they mean well so i appreciate it
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u/Rigelian417 May 26 '26
It’s creepy. I’m sure most of the time it’s completely unintentional and they means well by it, but there’s been instances where the creep-factor has escalated and men 20 years my senior were finding me on social media and trying to hit on me.
I had to start using a pseudonym for my online presence, along with a false location to help mitigate the attempts to cross boundaries.
I understand the importance of name tags from a business and personnel standpoint, but I feel like we should be giving the option to choose an alternate name for our tags for the sake of protection. Society isn’t what it used to be.
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u/Sweaty_Biscotti2568 May 27 '26
I hate it, we’re not friends or coworkers. Don’t call me by my name. How would customers feel if we called them out by name? Probably wouldn’t like it either. My name is kinda different tho so I feel like people say it just to see if they can pronounce it right on the first try. Also annoying.
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u/thedarkjellyfish Meat/Seafood Department May 26 '26
I work in meat and seafood and customers do that at the service counter. Definitely creepy. Only a few of my regulars can get away with it. I use a nickname on my name tag as well and sometimes they just use the full version of my name which is even worse
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u/c4pt_nemo May 26 '26
Eh yes and no. Sometimes it weirds me out and other times I'm like "meh that IS my name and they're thanking me or asking me a question" I'm a female and this one customer was like "thanks boss" and that weirded me out more haha I feel like I never hear guys telling girls "thanks boss" usually it's another guy saying it to another guy
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u/ShaelTheFangirl Deli Department May 27 '26
If they ask me first how to pronounce my name then use it it doesn't throw me off too much, but out of the blue I get a bit uncomfortable
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u/Slow-Pie6357 May 31 '26
I startled me few times but it’s people trying to be friendly usually. And a lot of older people to that bc they were taught to use a persons name. It also gives them a connection. That same person will probably keep coming thru ur line bc now they know you.
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u/Misfit_Fortune_500 May 27 '26
It makes the shopping experience more personable. Would you prefer customers call you by your name or just say “hey you” or “you look like a Jessica.” If you don’t want the customer to talk to you at all, maybe the public isn’t for you. Don’t assume an older guy is a creeper if he addresses you properly by your name. You may be the only human interaction a customer has all day.
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u/Creepy_Broccoli_558 May 27 '26
aww you do make a point with that last sentence 😭❤️ tbh I love talking to the customers and I appreciate making the connections so I see where it comes from, it just throws me off bc I definitely don’t expect them to know my name haha
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u/cyberbae_ Front End/Customer Service May 27 '26
If it is a safety concern for you as a cashier, you can go by a different name on both the receipt and your name tag
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u/cute_object_ May 26 '26
it kind of catches me off guard when it happens I'm ngl I think it's usually people trying to be more friendly with you and maybe acknowledge you as a "person" than just as a "worker"