Cashier training is not offered through any formal post-secondary program, but is typically provided by the employer. The best cashier training focuses on the three primary aspects of this job: customer service, data entry, and making change. Customer satisfaction ratings of retail stores are greatly influenced by the experience at the point of sale, or cash register. Effective, efficient service is an essential part of this job.
There is no formal cashier training or education. Training courses are typically provided by the employer. When the equipment is changed, training in use, troubleshooting, and opening and closing procedures are taught by the supplier.
Customer service elements of this job include greeting the customer. A short script is typically included to ask the customer primary questions. An example of an opening script question is, "Did you find everything you were looking for?" Guidelines about when and how to handle the merchandise is very important, and varies by store. For example, at the grocery store, the customer typically places all the goods on the counter for the cashier, but in a high-end clothing store, the customers are holding the merchandise in their hands or the goods have been brought to the cashier by the sales associate.
Hands-on experience is very important in cashier training. This job is task-oriented, and accuracy is very important. The introduction of radio frequency and bar code scanning equipment has significantly reduced the amount of data entry required, but this is still an aspect of this job. Each cash register model is slightly different, but all have the number pad, enter button, and payment method options. Procedures surrounding the removal of items from the sale after they have been included vary by business. Some firms require all voids or credits to be approved by a head cashier, while others allow these adjustments to be made by the cashier.
Making change is the process of providing the correct combination of bills and coins. When a customer makes a purchase, the gross value is input by the cashier into the cash register. Any retail sales tax is calculated and a total cost is provided. The customer can select the payment method that suits him or her, ranging from credit card to cash. Using a credit card or other electronic payment method, there is no need to create change, and the total dollar value is deducted from the account.
However, if the client pays with cash, change is often required. The cash register provides the amount of the change due, but it is up to the cashier to determine the denominations of the change. The correct combination of dollars and cents is important to ensure there is sufficient denominations in the register to provide change for the next customer.