Sounds to me as if the cashier is someone who feels embarrassed at being a cashier and is using rudness to place himself into a position of power over those he perceives to be "superior" to.

This particular egomaniacal mindset is seen often in those who feel they are better than where they work, too good for the job they are in. The typical "I'm an actor and this job is only a fill in" mentality.

It used to happen to me with one guy in particular who would seem totally enjoyed hanging crap on me if I ever ended up in his queue. At first I ignored it and ignored him but it got worse. Eventually I just responded with "Are you aware that sarcasm and rudeness is a poor mans attempt at intellectual witt and superiority?"

That completely floored him because he didn't understand what I had said. The people in the line behind me understood it and laughed...but he just went betroot red and did not say anything to me after that. But everytime I was in his line I would smile and ask him "how are you today?".

I don't for a moment think that cashier work is lowly work. It is a service based position...some people however are just not nice enough to be in service roles,

Rhiannon