For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for August 20, 2023

All of that out of character cheerfulness led to a meltdown

Suzi there must really loathe her job as greeter. She really ought to learn where Willnot’s inventory. (Even I have trouble learning where some things are in the grocery store I’m employed at during my days-on. As for on my days-off when doing my own shopping, I at times wonder the aisles in order to familiarize myself with them in order to be prepared for a shopper asking me.)

Reminds me of Barbie saying to the audience during the Toy Story 2 end credits (with a big smile during the first part): “Goodbye, Thank you for coming (etc)…are they gone? Aaah, I’m exhausted!!! How about a little break?”

I see no purpose in having greeters. More checkers would be nice.

Every retail worker ever

I guess the joke is that the employee is not acting friendly all the time and does that only for the purpose of employment. Well, then, good for her. Smiling all the time is tough, believe me I know.

She’s miffed she hasn’t gotten a big raise and a promotion yet.

I like the stores, where you look the product up on line, and the tell you the aisle and shelf number where it’s located

She should try out in Hollywood. She’s doing a fine acting job acting bright and cheerful and friendly but she’s faking it like all actors and actresses do.

From Lynn’s Comments: Drawing Elly’s expression in the last panel took a few tries. When the punch is just a small line on the bottom of a face, it’s gotta be right!

Greeters are also spotters for shoplifters exiting the entrance.

I feel pretty sure that she will not be working at Willnot’s for long.

Wont’s probably won’t work out for her, either.

When you need to find something at a grocery store, instead of asking someone who’s been shopping there for 10 years, people tend to ask someone who’s been working there for 10 days…

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Video won’t post. Walter and Jeff Dunham, “Welcome to Walmart. Get your sht and get out.”

We all need ‘down time’.

If she’d learn where a few departments are, she’d feel more useful and get more smiles back.

Mushroom Head!

Greeters along with all employees should know the layout of the store- this needs to be mandatory to get the job.

I haven’t really seen the greeters at Walmart the last year or so. Maybe the receipt checker is supposed to smile?

I still prefer how Jeff Dunhams, Walter would act as a Walmart greeter. Walter’s greeting is "Welcome to Walmart, get your $#!t and get out.

I guess she’s all greeted out.

Tough gig.

Our Walmart put in letter/number markers for the isles – they have it online so you can find stuff using their app… The problem is, they keep moving stuff around so when you get used to where things are – they move it – it’s a marketing ploy to force people around the store so they might see something they think they need and buy it…

I don’t get it. That seems perfectly normal to me.

If you want that job now, better get yourself a bullet proof vest

Only so many smiles to go around.

Am I the only one that finds this reminiscent of a Carol Burnett skit?

I always used to joke my first two beagles would make perfect greeters. I found out I was right. I had to take beagle #2 to a hospital with me out of town. (Not the therapy dog, I had to see a specialist.) As I was sitting and reading my report and waiting for my ride back to the hotel we stayed in, I heard the words, “Pet your dog?” I looked up, and about 20 people had just passed by after petting my dog and there was a long line to pet her. One of the people just was kind enough to get my attention for permission. My dog, almost 16 years old, was having the time of her life. Finally, a greeter, and I was right all along. It was very touching, actually. All these people coming into a well-known hospital, probably for serious medical issues, and they just wanted to pet a dog first. This is probably why, a few years later, I jumped on the idea of my current dog training for therapy dog work. I had already seen what just an untrained dog could do for people’s spirits before they even entered the hospital. Yes, I had permission to have her with me. I couldn’t leave her home alone, had no sitter, and the hospital gave me permission and helped me find a motel that would take her too.

I’d be angry too if I had that haircut!

In the last panel, the greeter kind of looks like a female Moe Howard!

I worked in retail sales and management for 15 years. My customers would always say, “You are so nice, and patient, and friendly!” I’d just laugh and say, “Oh hey… you know, they pay us to be nice!” and we’d both laugh. When in fact, it was true!

Constantly wearing a phony smile but being unable to answer questions or be a help to anyone? That’s GOTTA be frustrating!

Yup.. that’s EXACTLY how I felt 30 years ago as a store greeter at Shopko. I’m GLAD the store in my town went under!

As someone who works doing over the phone remote customer service I feel her pain

One of the cashiers at a local grocers always had the longest lineup at her till.I love to stop and catch up with her whenever I get the chance. I didn’t go to her till because she was already overwhelmed.When she was away for medical reasons for a few months, I would ask the other cashiers how she was doing and to send my love, let her know I’m praying for her. She recently returned to work and her usual sunshiny personality was faded, just a tiny bit. She is always so sweet and even says hi to me, by name, outside of the store.

To those eager to dump on retail workers, I want to point out, having had to do it myself for years – CUSTOMERS ARE NOT ALWAYS ANGELS EITHER.

Last week I went to a grocery store I hadn’t been in since COVID cases were accelerating. They had a couple of self-checkout kiosks and about a half-dozen regular checkout lanes (all empty but one checker). Now, they have a couple checkout lanes (all empty) and a half-dozen self-checkout kiosks. During COVID I understood. Now it’s because they can’t pay the checkers a living wage in this yuppified transplant town I live in.

And, really, who can blame her?

That pretty much sums it up.

Walmart did away with the greeters for a while then quickly brought them back. Seems that too many stores were having big screen tvs walking out the door and no one noticing.

Welcome to Costco… I love you…

Another thankless service job…. ;-)

Yeah, I can believe it.

@Lucy Rudy- You can tell in the last panel that she’s all “GREETED OUT”.

I can see where after a day of being persistently cheerful one might have absolutely no cheerful left.