Entitled customer berates 17-year-old cashier when she takes too long during checkout, bystander stands up for the teen: ‘You don’t have the right to treat her like that’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Sep 5, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

As someone who had the misfortune of working as a cashier for a year while I was in college, I know how stressful this job can get. 

Not because it's especially stressful to scan products and put them in the bag, not even because of the huge amounts of cash you're required to handle every day. No, the reason this job is stressful is because of the customers. People who have zero patience and are so entitled that they think everything must be done exactly how they demand it to be.

So yeah, it's no picnic being a simple cashier doing your job while these customers stand in front of you and judge every action you take. Often very loudly. And after you scroll down to read the story below, I'm sure you'll agree.

This entitled customer kept berating a teen cashier for taking too long to check out her items. She kept yelling at the poor teen and complaining about her workflow, and with each comment she made, the cashier became more and more distressed.

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  • At one point, when actual tears began to well up in the teen's eyes, another customer decided to step up and confront the entitled lady. 

    Keep scrolling to read what happened next.

  • 01

    AITAH for telling off a lady in a supermarket after she made the teenage cashier cry?

    This happened yesterday, and I can't stop replaying it in my head. I was doing my weekly grocery run at a local supermarket.
    via CrimsonDaisyyyy
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10549856512
    via Getty Images

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 03
    It was a busy afternoon and the checkout lines were long. I was behind a woman (probably mid-50s) who was clearly getting impatient.
    via CrimsonDaisyyyy
  • 04
    The teenage cashier (maybe 17 at most) scanned her items. The cashier was a little slow and flustered, probably new, but nothing outrageous.
    via CrimsonDaisyyyy
  • 05
    The woman, however, kept sighing, muttering under her breath, and tapping her foot like she was being tortured. Then the cashier accidentally scanned something twice.
    via CrimsonDaisyyyy
  • 06
    She needed to call her supervisor to void it. That's when the woman exploded. The woman started berating this poor girl.
    via CrimsonDaisyyyy
  • 07
    How hard can this job be? You can't even do basic tasks. You're wasting everyone's time. She just kept going, louder and meaner.
    via CrimsonDaisyyyy
  • 08
    The cashier's hands were literally shaking. Eventually, the girl's eyes welled up with tears. I gave it a moment, hoping she'd stop, but she didn't.
    via CrimsonDaisyyyy
  • 09
    So I stepped in and said You don't have the right to treat her like that. She's trying her best. If you think this job is so easy, maybe you should try it for a day.
    via CrimsonDaisyyyy
  • 10
    The woman snapped back that I should mind my own business. So I told her, It is my business when you're making a kid cry over groceries.
    via CrimsonDaisyyyy
  • 11
    Right then the supervisor showed up to help, and the woman stormed off, still muttering and cursing. The cashier thanked me with teary eyes.
    via CrimsonDaisyyyy
  • 12
    But I noticed a couple of people behind me in line giving me looks like I was the one in the wrong. I wouldn't say I'm 100% sure I was right.
    via CrimsonDaisyyyy
  • 13
    But I just want to know if what I did was the right or wrong AITA, for telling off a woman who berated a teenage cashier?
    via CrimsonDaisyyyy
  • 14
    Young woman cashier on checkout in market
    via Viktoriia Hnatiuk

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 15
    Marlow 1771 NTA good for you and the cashier will certainly remember your kindness. Some entitled people make me sick.
    via Marlow
  • 16
    Fluid-Impression3993 NTA. People these days are getting nastier and meaner, and they need to be pulled up short like you did with that
    via Fluid-Impression3993
  • 17
    woman. On top of it, you sent a powerful message to the young cashier that she doesn't deserve to be mistreated by anyone. Well done!
    via Fluid-Impression3993
  • 18
    Ok-Adhesiveness6084 NTA! Good job overcoming the bystander effect! Those haters in the back of the line can pound sand
    via Ok-Adhesiveness6084
  • 19
    IndependenceActual59 Nta more like a hero
    via IndependenceActual59
  • 20
    Secure_Engineer7151 NTA That woman will think twice before acting out on other service workers after getting flak for it.
    via Secure_Engineer7151
  • 21
    Darkling82 NTA. I'm in my 40s, used to be a cashier, and I STILL accidentally double scan at self now.
    via Darkling82
  • 22
    Major-Organization31 NTA as someone who works in customer service, we need more people like you to stand up when we're being treated like
    via Major-Organization31

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Tags

boss workplace-stories employee checkout manager job tales-from-the-workplace customers cashier workplace entitled people grocery store
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