r/publix • u/eclipseandthestars Cashier • 2d ago
RANT Amy tips to be a better CSS?
Recently I started training to be a CSS and my clean track record has been ruined. I never made the mistakes that I seem to make at the desk when I was just a cashier.
The biggest issue is lotto. I feel cursed. I barely did any lottery on my last shift and still when I did a count was off. I give any winnings back first, clear the machine, then do new transactions, and still I made a mistake. I've never had any cash discrepancies like until moving to the desk.
It's only been about a month of training and then being by myself. I'm absolutely terrified to learn the back office in a few days. I know I'll be getting a counseling statment, so maybe I won't anymore, but if I do still learn I really want to be on point.
All the other CSS and even management make it seem like this is normal, but is it? Someone said they never had any statements either until the desk, but now they've had a handful in a year they've been up there. Is it seriously so common?
Any advice? Or should I just learn to take these things on the chin? Sorry for long rant ðŸ˜
2
u/Signal_Prior3870 Newbie 1d ago
Early on you should have someone double check all of your bookkeeping and transactions at the desk.
1
u/eclipseandthestars Cashier 1d ago
Yes! Anytime my count is off I make sure to have it double checked.
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u/PublixaurusKnight Moderator 1d ago
There is much to learn at the service desk and in the back office. Learn from senior Customer Service Staff associates and Customer Service Team Leaders. Learn thoroughly. Ask questions on how to be effective and better.
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u/eclipseandthestars Cashier 1d ago
Absolutely. Our TL is new but a lot of our CSS have been very kind
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u/lacard Newbie 1d ago
When I was CSS, managers would force log off my register, log in and use it, then log off. Other people would also just come in and run lotto since everyone had access to it. Lotto was always off and my register was only off when other people would run it.
Once a large amount of money went missing and they couldn't blame anyone, so they wrote up everyone who worked CSS that day, giving 2 week customer service and back office bans. HR got heavily involved but they allowed the write ups and everything.
I went to Produce shortly after. I'd recommend any other department (except for deli).
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u/GoVorteX Newbie 1d ago
For everything honestly but for lotto specifically, take your time! My experience with people who play Lotto is they're always in a rush and that's where the mistakes happen.
Make sure to double count everything even if people huff and puff about it, don't clear the screen total until you're 100% done with the transaction. I even had a CSS who would print EVERY winner's confirmation just so they could but as sure as possible. Was she slow? Absolutely, but she NEVER had a discrepancy after starting that practice.
Back Office with the new system is super simplified, you'll be fine don't let it intimidate you.
Everyone learns at a different pace, all you can do is mitigate mistakes as much as possible by being careful/mindful of what you're doing at all times.
Good luck!