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How do I overcome the fear of cashiers?

163 Answers
Last Updated: 04/23/2022 at 2:09pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United Kingdom
Moderated by

Tara Davis, Doctorate in Counselling Psychology

Psychologist

I have worked successfully with a wide range of difficulties. Nothing is more important than developing a warm, compassionate relationship with someone you can trust

Top Rated Answers
RainyMemory97
October 30th, 2019 3:27am
You can start by taking small steps. First, you may not have to say anything to them though you can just get your items checked out and leave. Do this step until you feel comfortable with this step. Then, you can just make small eye contact or just say hi without looking up while focusing on your items needed to be checked out. You have to continue with this step until you feel comfortable and normal while doing this step. You can continue to make little changes to this process, like the next step could be eye contact and saying hi together, and then the next step could be doing those things along with asking them how they're doing or how their day is going. It's okay if you are feel uneasy when doing the next step, and if you're not able to complete it, then just simply go back to the previous step and practise that until you feel ready to take on the next step and it won't be that scary for you like before.
laylajewelz
December 26th, 2019 3:10pm
Practice! make extra stops buy coffee and gum in separate places, also when making purchases with more items like grocery shopping on your way to the register start calculating the costs before you reach the cashier so that you have a ball park for what the purchase should be you can even calculate the sales tax so this way the cashier is not telling you anything u didn't already know and the total should be just a confirmation of your calculations. That confirmation should reassure you and the prior calculating should ease anxiety smooth your check out. You could also try getting a part time job as a cashier if you become one of them it will put you in the situation to understand them better also you will have to interact with lots of different people, it could build you socially and eliminate social anxiety all together.
AlwinS
January 17th, 2020 8:16pm
I like to first look at the situation from the cashier's perspective, the job can be very repetitive. You have the opportunity to make their work shift a little brighter. They are usually happily surprised if you start a little conversation with them, it can be about anything! Even a 'Hey there, how are you today?' can lead to a positive outcome, a conversation or a smile on their face. Another benefit of practicing this is that you come across as a very confident person. It may be difficult at first, believe me, we all have struggled to start conversations, myself included! However, once you learn yourself to ask them how they are or how their day is going, you will gain the confidence you need and you no longer have to fear them! I am sure you guys all got this!
Anonymous
January 29th, 2020 10:59am
I didn't understand how to until I became a cashier one day. While it may seem like a cashier is watching your every move and judging silently, they're most likely just thinking about when their break is, or how much longer until they get off of work. It's also important to note that humans are natural energy matches, and most are empathetic and might understand being anxious about a fear of cashiers too!! Also Cashiers have a job to do. You have something you want from them. In order to rid yourself of the fear of cashiers, remind yourself that they're only doing their job and that talking to them is a necessary step for getting what you want
Anonymous
February 19th, 2020 5:42pm
Cashiers and checkouts can be so intimidating. I like to try and remember that I am definitely not the strangest, most unsociable or awkward person that they've seen that day. I've learned that cashiers often truly don't care what people buy or how they present themselves, in fact, they just want to get their jobs done. I used to feel like all customer service people were just constantly judging me, but I realized I was actually judging myself and making myself insecure over things no one else even noticed! Cashiers are people just like you. They're usually nice enough and will just go on with their day without a second thought.
Kristinakogaa
February 21st, 2020 9:08pm
As a cashier myself, I can assure you your visit will not be remembered unless you take the second initiative to do so. Ex: bringing up personal stories. Just keep in mind that there are so many customers it’s hard to remember majority that walk through the door. Also, no one is going to judge you! Their only job is to assist you nothing else. If people give you anxiety giving you this fear practice saying hello or smiling to a stranger better yet, the cashiers! It’ll help you realize they are harmless and hopefully you’ll a little less tense afterwards.
compasionateSunshine
April 2nd, 2020 12:49pm
I think it helps to know that cashiers are just people like you and me doing their jobs. They in no way want to make you feel uncomfortable, upset, or afraid; They just want to help you purchase your items or use whatever service they're providing. They don't want you to be afraid of them! It's okay to be nervous, but remembering that they are in now way there to make you afraid can help. It might even help you to ask them a question or make a joke with them to help you relax when you see them respond just like you or a friend would.
Anonymous
April 22nd, 2020 9:12pm
You have to accept the fact that you are human. Not everyone is thinking or feeling the same as you are. Over coming fear of cashiers is something's that might take time but it is possible to overcome your fear. Accepting the fact that everyone is diffrent and unique in there own way can be hard at times people are not having good a good day so approaching a cashier who is having a bad day can be tough. However making someone's day is possible simply by being brave and being kind to someone can conquer fear. Be straight forward and think about what your going to say before you say it and body language is important as well
froggy43
May 23rd, 2020 12:31am
This is one that I definitely struggle with myself as well, and I don't have it down to a science yet. Some things that help me, though, are that most likely, you will never see them ever again. You're there for a few minutes at the very most, and then you leave. Additionally, the cashier sees tons and tons of people each day, so if you think about it, if you just go and pay like the average customer, they probably won't remember you after you walk out of the door. On the flip side, if you go up there with the intention of creating positive change, you can combat anxiety in that way as well. Instead of thinking about all the ways it could go wrong, try thinking of something nice you could say to the cashier to make their day. They probably aren't having the best time dealing with customers, so going with the intention of changing that for them can kind of hide the anxiety and fear in some cases.
MiddleMarch20
May 24th, 2020 11:00pm
Begin to remember that 'no-one else knows what they are doing either'. We are build ourselves to feel like there is something everyone else knows but that we are missing. If you remember that everyone else are busy drinking their coffee and thinking about their on complex lives. And sonder for a while. You begin to realise that your cashier interaction is merely a small moment in another person's day and your anxiety can begin to ease in the knowledge that, there's very little judgement as that person has their own complicated back story that they are thinking about at the same time you are worried about approaching them.
Asher
June 6th, 2020 7:19am
To overcome any fear, you unfortunely will need to face it at one point. There are ways to get through and it's understandable to be afraid of cashiers in general. When am forced to talk to someone in general I think of something i like for example maybe their wearing a nice ring. I make that my focus and not to worry about anything else. If that doesn't work I look at something in the distance to keep me distract well I wait in line or wait for them to get done with scanning the item. At the end of the day it matters on how you look at it.
SamBright
June 10th, 2020 6:03pm
Practice makes perfect! A good thing to tell yourself is that cashiers see so many people in one shift. There's a good chance they won't remember you or acknowledge your interaction later that day. A good thing to do in this situation is forcing yourself to go to cashiers more often. Try to avoid self check-out as much as possible and push yourself to your limits a little bit. Face the fear head on and you'll be able to reflect on how much progress you've made over a period of time. Helping you is part of their job, it's what they're getting paid to do.
Anonymous
June 17th, 2020 10:22pm
As someone who has worked retail, I assure you that the cashier is not there to judge you. They are simply there to do their job. In most cases, if you are friendly, they won't even be able to remember you or what you purchased! Trust me, the only customers that we judge are the ones that are rude or make a scene. Remember that we are all just humans too and that we've been in your shoes. We don't want you to feel uncomfortable! We also serve hundreds of customers each day and I'm sure whatever your buying, we've seen it before! I hope this helps!
HereToHelp1955
July 3rd, 2020 6:22am
Hey, I've been there. Social Anxeity—which can be somewhat assumed one would hold, based on an ornate fear of workers, or cashiers, it totally okay and normal to experience. The biggest thing to remember, to help yourself overcome this fear, definitely involves A) the idea that they are a person, just like you are, and B)the fact that they are working, and are just doing their job. Putting myself in the shoes of cashiers, too, sometimes helps; would I be annoyed, if a teen came up to me to buy a can of coke, or would I be happy, almost, if this occurred? Social anxeity sucks, and it can be totally scary, but just remember that being awkward is okay, and pretend—as I've found helps most—like you are an extremely confident, extroverted, person... and things may sway in your favor! I hope this helped :))
ShayMittal
July 9th, 2020 5:27pm
Sometimes I have to remind myself that cashiers are just another individual running through their busy day, like me. I am here to shop, and they are here to check me out -- simple as that! When I initially used to avoid checkout lines or conversation, I instead began to plaster a smile on my face and pronounce a big 'Hello!". Over time, receiving a warm smile in return or a "How's it going" helped me rid the notion that the cashier in front of me is judging me. I am a small part of their day, just as they are a small part of mine. The least we can do is a small moment of warm greetings, but besides that, cashiers are not here to judge you :)
brightbubbles88
July 19th, 2020 3:58pm
hmmm to overcome any fear, especially social related ones, overcoming the fear comes with overcoming avoidance of that fear. a lot of the time when we are afraid of something we tend to avoid it more, but this avoidance only reinforces our fear and makes that fear stronger. it might help to think of small mini steps that you could engage in while confronting your fear but also not overwhelming yourself to the point where you won't confront that fear again (for example maybe going to the store with a friend so that you are not alone and watching their interaction, and then going to the same store with them on a later date but you interacting with them. these steps could be at varying stores, with varying interactions (ie redeeming a coupon, asking about a price, requesting cash back)-all with friends or alone. just know that the more you engage with your fear rather than avoiding your fear, the less of a fear it will become. take care xo
Anonymous
July 23rd, 2020 4:26pm
Make a committed effort to become more confident with money matters. View the personal finance channels on YouTube, such as The Financial Diet, Ryan Scribner, and Nick True of Mapped Out Money.. Browse your library or online for recommended finance books.. If online learning fits your style, MoneyStrands has a hand-selected list of personal finance courses that you can take for free.Over coming fear of cashiers is something's that might take time but it is possible to overcome your fear. Accepting the fact that everyone is diffrent and unique in there own way can be hard at times people are not having good a good day so approaching a cashier who is having a bad day can be tough.
proudPeace77
August 2nd, 2020 10:46am
Just remember that they are a person like you, and they also have feelings. They may be feeling just as worried as you, and may have issues themselves, everyone has issues, and we must be brave and strong and carry on with our lives with a brave face. Why don't you put on your favourite outfit to go and see the cashier then it might take your mind off it, and don't forget to reward yourself with a bar of chocolate or your favourite treat afterwards, then you can congratulate yourself on your triumph. I know that you can do this, just go for it :)
khwaab
August 5th, 2020 7:50am
Cashiers see dozens of people everyday, and more than likely just going through the motions of their job. Just be polite with "hello" "thank you" etc. I used to dread these interactions too but ultimately realized the employee couldn't care less if you seem a bit nervous or awkward they've probaly dealt with far worse customers. It's honestly not as big of a deal as you think. They have to focus on our computer screens when you use a debit card, anyway, because it gives them prompts that they have to follow in order to finish the transaction and get your receipt.
Anonymous
August 5th, 2020 2:43pm
This is such a common worry for people, one that I feel we don't recognise enough! I dealt with this fear a lot in the past, constantly worrying that I would make a fool of myself. I feel that encouraging myself to pay with cashiers and not at the self checkout was the first big step I took. It might be helpful to try buying one or two items to begin with, so that you don't get overwhelmed. Have your card/ cash ready before you approach the till, just to avoid yourself any extra stress! Say hello if you can, I work in retail now myself and this really has a huge effect! If you are kind, we usually go out of our way to be kind to you. Take it day by day, shopping trip by shopping trip until you feel comfortable.
Shimmersofhope
January 10th, 2021 7:36pm
Hey 👋 overcoming fears takes time so be patient with yourself! Maybe just by acknowledging that they are just people doing their job and trying to help and they don’t mean to scare you is a good start ❤️ Maybe gradually building yourself up to do small tasks involving cashiers may also help such as saying hi how are you at the checkout or asking where something is is really good and can help build confidence then you could start doing slightly bigger tasks like having a conversation with one maybe ? I believe in you you can do this ❤️
JoyfulRose37
January 14th, 2021 7:16pm
Put yourself in their shoes, helps me feel more comfortable. I think about how people are looking for connection even if its just a smile. When I get nervous about interacting with cashiers I always think they are going to judge me or judge what I am buying. By putting myself in their shoes I realize they probably don't care what I am buying and they will not be judging me for sure. They deal with so many different people in a day and most of them just want to help you out. I also try to remind myself that they might be nervous themselves.
mossly
January 31st, 2021 1:28pm
I had a similar fear, and I overcame it by understanding it and coming to terms with if the fear is rational or not, and why. When we're feeling self-conscious, we tend to think that everyone else is noticing us a lot more than they really are. The truth is, everyone is busy with worrying about themselves the same way. Just like I might be feeling self-conscious about the items I'm purchasing while paying the cashier, the cashier might be feeling self-conscious about making small-talk, or giving the incorrect change back, or pressing the wrong button. And the cashier sees hundreds of of people and their purchases every day, they see too many people to take note of someone's strange purchases or someone's awkwardness.
FluffyWhitePanda
February 26th, 2021 12:33pm
Get people to support you or help you like for example practice how to talk to a cashier like role playing or go with them to a shop and see how they do it. Having someone to motivate is always good. Even I practice sometimes conversation. It takes time to overcome fears and it is okay. You could imagine the person is for example someone you know. "Ask yourself what is the worst what can happen?" Sometimes we don´t really realise that it isn´t even a big deal. Never give up in trying and don´t forget there are many people dealing with the same fear you have and other fears. I Hope you will be successful in getting rid of it
Anonymous
March 19th, 2021 7:19pm
People usually think that exposure therapy works. The fear will go away if you try and put yourself in the position of interacting with it. You do not have to do it all at a time. You just have to take baby steps. Try and talk to the phone with cashiers, when ordering food, try and talk to people and slowly you will get more comfortable with this kind of interaction. Also, try not to be alone, have someone to support you and have your back, to interfere if you do not feel okay. Cashiers are just people who are trying to do their job. It is hard for them to cope with people everyday, so sometines it is understandable that they are a little bit grumpy, but It sound like your fears are coming from your feelings. Be patient and try to do small steps.
Izzy274
April 4th, 2021 10:19pm
There are lots of different ways to get over fears, and different things work for different people, but here are a few ideas that you could possibly consider if you wanted to. - Think about how the cashier is just a person, who is more likely focused on their job than judging you, and they see lots of people every day, so won't remember lots of people. - You don't need to have a full interaction with the cashier every time. Start as small as you need, such as challenging yourself to make eye contact once, or to say 'hello' or 'how are you' once you feel a little more comfortable. -Cashiers see lots of people every day, so even if you do something that seems really embarrassing to you in front of them, they've probably seen it before and won't be judging you. - Think about what in particular you don't like about cashiers, and then try setting a SMART goal to help you start to overcome it. - try distracting yourself whilst with the cashier, for example by playing a game or messaging someone on your phone. Fears are real and really difficult to overcome, but hopefully with continued effort and support you can begin to take steps to overcome this :)
Sodiumforsaltytimes
April 7th, 2021 7:11pm
— why are you afraid? Chances are, you either: — had a scary experience with a cashier before. * What happened? How did it make you feel? What are your thoughts like now because of it? — hold onto expectations or try to mindread or make assumptions about how they view you. * Why do you need to be viewed that way? What can't they see? What are you trying to hide? Why?.. etc. And of course, professional help would be the best option. It's probably not available for everyone but it's most certainly worth mentioning. I hope things work out for you, friend.
Anonymous
April 8th, 2021 4:22am
I used to feel very nervous anytime I had to buy anything, and would often my friends or family members to do it for me. It helped me to remember that the cashier most likely doesn't even notice the things that are causing me to feel scared or anxious, even if I think that these things are blaringly obvious. They see dozens of customers a day so they are likely not focusing on you as an individual, their goal is to simply help you. Try and think of them as people who are simply doing their job, they are not there to judge you.
Anonymous
April 8th, 2021 2:15pm
Oh wow. I often have anxiety when it comes to talking to cashiers. My advice is to take a few deep breaths and psych yourself up. If all else fails, just don't really talk to them. They won't really talk to you if you wont talk to them, unless it's the stuff that they have to tell you, like the amount of money and stuff like that. I often have a bunch of anxiety when talking to strangers. What I typically do is just push myself to do it rather than not. It's better to at least say a little bit than not say anything at all, but not everyone views the same thing as me, so yeah
Anonymous
May 2nd, 2021 10:38am
Just remember cashiers are just people and probable have their own fears. Maybe first just go to the shops and just walk past them and say hi. Then move on from there. Baby steps are always the best way to start. Then when you feel comfortable gradually move on from there. If this feels too overwhelming then maybe ask a friend to go with you or maybe you have a friend that is a cashier and you can do it that way. Whatever you decide to do just remember you have a made the first step by asking for help. Good luck.