Shining at the checkout
From flying capsicums to awkward silences, a checkout operator’s life is unpredictable – they never know who will wander down their lane.
It took the perfect amount of speed and good banter to impress judges at the Waikato Checker of Year competition at Hamilton’s Clarence Street Theatre on Tuesday night.
The theme was superheroes and while 120 uniformed checkout operators from New World and Pak’N Save showcased their superpowers onstage, supporters wore costumes and cheered checkers on with banners, chants and store mascots.
New World Hillcrest checkout operator Benjamin Foote placed an honourable sixth on the night, but said the competition isn’t a true reflection of checkout life.
One time an older woman approached his checkout and started complaining about having the wrong colour capsicum.
‘‘I told her I’d get her another one, but she just yelled at me, threw the capsicum at the wall and stormed out.’’
The job also involves a lot of trial and error.
When it comes to awkward products, Foote tries his best to ignore them. ‘‘It’s just another barcode. Everybody uses rubbers and tampons.’’
He said awkward customers are a lot more difficult to deal with.
‘‘Sometimes you try your hardest to try and please customers and it just seems to infuriate them.’’
Foote said when things get tough, he reverts to the 11 steps to quality of service.
‘‘Ask for Fly Buys, check the trolley, determine how you are going to do the groceries. Ask, ‘Will there be anything else today’, not ‘Is that all for today’, because that is insulting.’’
Foote said there is a script checkers have to use and most New World stores use the same lines.
‘‘You have to be really relaxed because customers can smell fear.’’
Foote prepped himself by warming up with some colleagues.
He got his groceries through in 55 seconds and said the ‘‘two hands’’ technique is a godsend.
‘‘I only wish my customers were as nice as the judges were.’’
A team of eight senior Food- stuffs staff judged the checkers on their speed, presentation, customer service and accuracy.
They had to scan 30 items as fast as possible while staying friendly and composed.
The top three checkers were Mikayla Piripi, from New World Hillcrest; Danielle Hoyle, from New World Matamata; and Jason Haskell, from New World Hillcrest.
Event organiser Kristie McGregor said the event was a fun night for checkers to demonstrate their skills and engage in a bit of friendly competition.
‘‘We have been running the Checker of the Year competition for over 40 years and it is a great opportunity to recognise our checkout operators for the value they add to the customer experience.’’
New World Hillcrest store owner-operator Warren Eddington said his team had great results in the past three years.
Mystery shoppers will test each region’s winner to determine one overall North Island Checker of the Year champion, which will be announced at the Foodstuffs North Island Excellence Awards on November 26.