If you work in Asda surely you should understand?

WORKING alone, once again, on the cigerette kiosk I stood and served the customers as quickly and effiently as possible but due to the size of my ever-growing queue and with the lack of staff or support, there really was nothing else I could do, but manage.

One customer I served, who shops with us all the time, actually works in Asda. He approached the desk with his male partner and walking stick, despite being late 20's, and asked for his usual cigerette's. As I scanned the product and pressed the subtotal button the phone began ringing regarding an enquiry I had made for another customer who was waiting. I said to the customer: "That's £6.26 then please" as I answered the phone.

While the other customer I was attending to had been waiting at the customer service desk, this customer stood glaring at the card reader. While I answered the phone and began talking to a member of security I said "If you'd just like to enter your card please" to which he continued to glare at the card reader, while the person on the phone was talking, I questioned if he had asked for something else, what was wrong?

Finishing the call quickly I put the phone down and while confused I said: "So that's £6.26 then please." The customer replied "Sorry, I just think its rude to be on the phone while doing your job."

I looked at his boyfriend, who didn't look at all embarrased by the comment made, and replied "As you can see I'm on my own with two jobs to do and I'm afraid there's not a lot else I can do." As he inserted his card he clearly didn't expect my honest and abubt response so he said: "Oh, I know its not your fault, don't worry."

I thought to myself, well, funnily enough you said it at me and it was directed to something I had done so it was actually quite rude of him to pull me up infront of a queue of customers especially when he works in an environment exactly the same as I do.
I understand is point of view, but as a member of staff working in the same industry, I would have thought he would have taken the correct steps and asked to speak with a member of management.

Thankfully to him I was left with an even longer queue and a bad mood I had to put up with.

Smoking - A lifetime of dirty air for nothing.

SMOKING is the most disgusting habit anyone could ever have. It's smells, it's expensive and it's not only killing you, but it's probably killing the rest of us faster.

So you can imagine how I must feel to work on a cigerette kiosk in a supermarket chain. I've dealt with a variety of different people and all other supermarket workers know exactly the types there are. It's always the same old thing, they walk up to the counter leen over and say: "Can I have.....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. What do I smoke?"

They've only been smoking them all of their life, every day, ten times a day and the government wonder why people are still ignoring the warning sign on every packet. They don't even read the front!

What about those who aren't good with English (no disrespect,) they approach the counter and say: "Giff meh....tabac" or say "3.38" as they point at what they want, along with all the other products priced at £3 odd.

The people that can speak the language still don't make any sence, one once said: "Yellow tabacco" I asked which one and he replied: "The one right infront of you" As I was looking at Golden Virginia yellow, Drum yellow, Amber leaf and Cutters Choice just to name a few of those that are yellow.

But now the fun and games have gotten even better now that the government have a new legislation that tobacco products can't be visable to the public. Our ciggy's have been shut away with grey sliding doors - looks tidier but less efficient when it takes me 6 doors to find one item and that's with the customer pointing at a door saying: "That one, that one" before even telling me the brand, size and value of the things he's after, and it's not even the right door!

Or what about the men that stand in the queue for 10 minutes, ignoring the folder on the desk that is clearly marked "Tobacco price list" to ask "How much are Mayfair?" Then when you tell them 6.04 they abruptly respond with "NAHHHHHH" in my face - Excuse me?

What is there to enjoy about this whole process? It's hassle buying, it's hassle doing and it's hassle going outside to do it. I don't care if you don't drink, gamble or socialise it doesn't give anyone a free pass to kill everyone else by polluting the air.

There's too many stories I have to tell. It's not just the product it's the stereotype that comes with it, greasy hair, the smell of dog mess and last nights dinner on your back, your back, really?!

They all moan about the prices to, apparently it's all tax these people are paying for and I'm sure it is, but someones got to fund the NHS while they're busy saving lifes due to the cause of smoking.

I hate to generalise, I really do even if I do find it funny. I've met some of the nicest people in my job.

My grandad died at the age of 57 - cancer through passive smoking yet never smoked a cigerette in his life.

People may not like my opinion and they may justify their reasons against other impacts within the world but I'll ask you this one thing. If you found your 5 year old son smoking your left overs like you did your parents, what would you have to say? I know what I'd say pot, kettle and black.

I'm not here to wind you up.

I'm on checkout 12 when two blondes come along with a trolley full of shopping. Both fairly young looking, allthough the eldest was one of those who could have been 35 or 23, you know the sort. The youngest one was certainly a teen.

At the beginning of the transaction I scanned through 2 bottles of wine, when the Challenge 25 pop up came on the screen. The supermarket I work for as a policy that all people taking part in the purchase, should be asked for identifiation, if they look under the age of 25 and could potentially consume any alochol, as stupid as it may seem to some, it's my job.

I knew I was going to have to have to ask, even more so when the eldest asked the other, "Did you want some of this?" pointing at the two bottles of rose.

"I'm really sorry to have to ask, but I have to ask her if she has any I.D, as she's taking part in this transaction." To which I recieved the usual arguement of "But I'm the one that's buying it."

A short well after the young girl goes to the car to get her provisional licence, shoving it in my face and smugly saying, "I bet I'm older than you aswell."

Flipping in my head - after looking at her I.D, I replied "Actually I'm nearly 22 and you're born in 93, so I don't think so." Thinking Stephen shut your mouth now!

The eldest persisted to say that I had no reason to I.D them and it was pathetic.

I simply said, I'm not here to wind you up, this is my job. If you had been a test purchase sent in my the Police, I would receive a massive fine which quickly frankly I can't afford to pay, or lose my job for.

I aplogised and said sorry numerious times, not once were the words said to me.

Get out.

Manners don't cost a penny

So I'm at work again, at cigerette kiosk.

*Fat man approaches* (Not Enlish speaking.)

Man: Giff Mehh, 10, Marlboro Red.       (Mannerless, by the way, that's him, saying "Give me.")

Me: *Points to 20 Marlboro Red* "No, we don't do them in 10's, only 20"

Man: "Pfft, what do you do in ten?"

Me: *Points* "10 Marlboro 'light'"

Man: Giff Meh

So I takes the ciggys and scan them, meanwhile, he just opened his hand, and dropped his entire change on the counter.

I'm thinking "AM I F*CK, HAVING TO PICK THAT UP?"

I didn't look at him, held my hand at the edge of the desk, and flicked each penny into my hand, slowly.

Man: errrr, ok?

Me: IGNORED!

No, it's not f*cking ok! It's my bloody pet hate that is.........

What frustrates me the most is, I'm not the type of person to have so much attitude towards these people.

Treat people have you expect to be treated. I would never open my hand and drop 20 odd coins on the table and expect a store assistant to pick them up, NO, it's NOT what we're paid for.

Manners don't cost a penny.