A word for the job a cashier does for each customer

Question

A cashier in a grocery store has __ 80 customers today.

• Expedited?
• Served?
• Handled?

I have a feeling there's a better word.

Answer 1

I think served is the only word that really works here. The ambiguity of handled leaves one open for the Beavises and Buttheads of the world to snicker and joke, while expedited has an entirely different meaning, one that doesn't take human beings as direct objects. Processes, requests, directives — all these can be expedited, but not people.

I see @beetstra has offered helped as a synonym, and that may work in some cases. But helped implies that one has assisted someone, not necessarily sold someone something.

@RegDwight just offered dealt with and had. I submit that had may not be particular enough, and has the same Beavis and Butthead problem that handled does. Dealt with may be applicable, but may have connotations that are too severe. One "deals with" problems, and might say a certain person should be "dealt with" if he causes trouble, etc.

Answer 2

"Rung up", "Checked out", or "Processed" could all work. "Rung up" is the most colloquial but also the most cashier-specific, and feels to me like the best fit; "checked out" has an unfortunate secondary meaning; and "processed" sounds quite impersonal, which may also be appropriate for some cashiers....

Answer 3

Cashiers themselves seem to use "ring up" as in "I can ring you up over here, sir" when they want you to switch lines.

Answer 4

Helped, served, rung up, had, assisted?

Answer 5

How about dealt with or simply had?

Answer 6

For cashiers, you can use the statement "Handle financial transaction" Great if trying to pursue a professional resume.

Answer 7

I would use helped.

Answer 8

You wait in the checkout line. You put your items on the checkout counter, and the cashier does the checkout. The verb is a phrasal verb - they checked out 80 people in one shift.

check out