Retail Stores
Me: “WordPress and I have continuing disagreements about
the sizes and positions of graphics.
I am comfortable with imperfection.”
Satisfying Her Feelings
May 11, 2023
I saw an elderly woman looking at flower bouquets.
Me: “Buy one for yourself!”
Elderly Woman: “It’s the only way I get them!”
Elderly Woman picked out a bouquet of red flowers.
Spranger Guiding Value Clue
Buying flowers for the feelings they give her
Harmony
~~~~~~~~~~
A Tall Woman
May 25, 2023
I collect stereotypes for my 5 blog posts listing stereotypes.
I stood behind a tall woman in line.
Me: “How many stereotypes have you faced because of your height?
Tall Woman: “Only that I’m good at playing basketball and volleyball. I’m not good at either. I mostly dated shorter men. I’m 3/4 of an inch taller than my husband.”
So she saw no stereotypes about short men.
Tall Woman: “Much to my son’s regret, I have excellent hearing.”
When she finished checking out…
Tall Woman: “Thank you for the conversation.”
This link will take you to all of my stereotype blog posts.
Negative Stereotypes Behind Bad & Ugly Gossip: People In General
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Enjoying conversation
Open-minded about dating shorter men
Influence
~~~~~~~~~~
Hope
December 14, 2023
A young man walked up to the self-checkout next to the one I was using. He bought a bouquet of flowers. a vase. and a card.
Me: “I hope she likes them.”
Young Men, smiling: “I hope so, too.”
He was finished before I was
Young Man: “Have a good day.”
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Optimistic
Friendly
Open to conversation
Influence
~~~~~~~~~~
Caffeine Persona
January 11, 2024
The customer in front of me seemed to be having fun with the young man who was cashiering. He seemed to be having fun, too.
When it was my turn…
Me: “Do you like your job?
Cashier: “I’ve had a lot of caffeine.”
Me: “You’ve had a lot of caffeine because you didn’t get enough sleep last night?”
Cashier: “I got good sleep…and I’ve had a lot of caffeine.”
I hope to check out with Cashier again to see what he’s like without a lot of caffeine.
~~~~~~~~~~
Smiles For Children
May 9, 2024
I smiled at a baby in a a cart that passed me. Then I smiled at the little girl in line in front of me.
To Mother…
Me: “I missed smiling at children when we had to wear masks for COVID.”
Mother: “We just looked angry when we tried to smile.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Red Tops
June 2, 2024
Waiting my turn in line for a busy service person, I turned around to watch people walking past. I saw a Black woman pushing a cart, one daughter sitting in the cart while another daughter walked in front of the cart. All wore red blouses. I was also wearing a red blouse.
I walked up to the mother.
Me: “I like your red tops! I’m wearing a red top!”
Black Mother: “Yes! You ought to come with us!”
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Friendly
Outgoing
Open-minded
Influence
Networking For Success Step #3: Look for common ground
The 2 girls learned from a stranger how to look for common ground.
They learned from their mother how to respond positively to common ground.
They now have examples to follow when networking for their own success.
~~~~~~~~~~
Enjoying Freckles
July 8, 2024
The young cashier had freckles all over her cheeks.
Me: “When I was younger, I had freckles just like yours. I miss them.”
Cashier: “I love my freckles. I hate it in winter.”
Less sunlight in the winter means fewer freckles.
~~~~~~~~~~
German Shepherds
October 2, 2024
The woman in front of me in the checkout line had 3 huge bags of dog food in her cart.
Cashier; “What kind of dogs do you have?”
Dog Owner Customer: “German Shepherd.”
Cashier; “Do your dogs have health problems?”
Dog Owner Customer: “No.”
Cashier; “Every shepherd I know about has health problems, including mine.”
Dog Owner Customer: “Mine have no health problems.”
Me: “Where do you get your dogs?”
Dog Owner Customer: “From a breeder in Arizona who breeds dogs for police departments in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.”
Me: “How long will the 3 bags of dog food would last?”
Dog Owner Customer: “About a month.”
Cashier DISC Behavior Style Clue
Curiosity
Influence
Dog Owner DISC Behavior Style Clues
Short and to the point answers suggest task-orientation.
Dogs bred for police departments suggest 2 possibilities…
1st, Respect for law enforcement authority
2nd, Desire to identify with law enforcement authority
Conscientiousness
~~~~~~~~~~
Painted Nails
October 6, 2024
The sage citizen cashier had fingernails decorated with different Halloween designs.
Me: “I’m pleased to see someone your age with decorated fingernails.”
Sage Citizen Cashier: “I have fun doing it. I have fun with my fingernail artist, too. He keeps teasing me about “painting all of that on all 10 nails.”
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Attention getting fingernails
Using the word “fun”
Enjoying conversation
Influence
~~~~~~~~~~
Memory Lapse At Any Age
November 13, 2024
I walked up to a cashier in his 20s.
Young Cashier: “How is your day going?”
Me: “I left my cell phone at home plugged into my computer to charge. How is your day going?”
Young Cashier: “I got confused. I worked on Monday, then went shopping yesterday. I came in today and was confused about whether I was supposed to work today.”
Now I have a story to tell when people stereotype me as a forgetful old woman.
~~~~~~~~~~
Animal Delight
November 29, 2024
The woman checking out ahead of me put a pile of small plastic wild animals on the counter.
Me: “I imagine some child being delighted with the animals.”
Woman: “The animals are a Christmas present is for my one year old granddaughter.
She loves setting the animals on windowsills. She made her first trip to the zoo recently, and ran back and forth to see all the animals.”
Me:“I’ll think of her granddaughter on Christmas Day.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Rude Mother
December 9, 2024
I stood behind my friend as she was checking out. The customer service desk was opposite the checkout line. A man was busy with that attendant while his toddler son stood next to him. A woman carrying a young girl approached the man and toddler for a brief conversation, then disappeared to the left with her daughter.
Toddler suddenly ran our way, headed toward the interior of the store. Father paid no attention. Mother was out of sight. I grabbed hold of Toddler’s arm as he passed me and waited for a parent to pay attention.
Moments later, Mother came around the corner.
Mother: “You can let go of his arm. He’s fine.”
Me: “I didn’t want him to disappear.”
Mother: “Thank you.”
Cashier saw everything and leaned over the counter.
Cashier: “Was that woman rude to you about her child?”
Me: “Yes!”
Cashier: “Then she would watch her children!”
Me: “I agree!”
Spranger Guiding Value Clues
Offended that I damaged her good mother image
Rudeness to hide her own failure
Position
~~~~~~~~~~
Same Jacket
December 21, 2024
2 men were in the checkout line in front of me. I knew they were together because they were talking to each other. I don’t often have chit chats with men in checkout lines, so I tried to think of a way to start a conversation with them. Then I realized they were wearing the same jacket. I had an opener.
Me: “It looks like you’re wearing the same jacket.”
1st Man: “We are! We look like we work together, but we don’t.”
2nd Man: “We like the jackets because they’re sturdy and rugged.”
Me:“Is that kind of jacket is also made for women?”
(The brand is Carhartt, and they do make jackets for women.)
We then talked about juice because I was buying 3 cans of pineapple juice. It’s good for preventing colds. They drink V-8 every day.
Me: “We’re a healthy lot!”
They agreed.
Me: “Thank you for talking to me. This is the way we learn what to buy, talking to people.”
They agreed.
Both Men: “Thank you for the conversation!”
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Outgoing
Friendly
Enjoying conversation
Influence
~~~~~~~~~~
Super Saturday Worse Than Black Friday
December 21, 2024
After the men wearing the same jackets left, I asked the cashier how she was doing, since it was the last Saturday before Christmas.
Cashier: “I just came on my shift and it’s busy, but I’ll get a lunch break.
Me: “It looks busy.”
Cashier: “Super Saturday is busier than Black Friday was.”
I wished her a Merry Christmas when I left.
~~~~~~~~~~
Black Friday Worse Than Super Saturday
December 21, 2024
At the next store, I asked the cashier how she was doing. It looked steadily busy.
Cashier: “I’m doing okay.”
I told her what the cashier at the other retail store said about Super Saturday being busier than Black Friday.
Cashier: “Black Friday was busier here than today is.”
I wished her a Merry Christmas, too.
~~~~~~~~~
Few Headlights On A Foggy Day
December 27, 2024
On my way to the store, most cars and trucks had no headlights on in thick fog.
At the store I asked the customer next to me if her drive in was similar to mine.
Customer: “It was. I was shocked.”
Me: “I wonder why people don’t turn their headlights on in fog.”
Customer: “I think a lot of people put their headlights on automatic. I put mine on automatic, but I turn my headlights on in fog.”
Me: “That’s probably it!”
Customer: “I agree. If I was a cop, I would stop every car!”
Me: “I’ll write a post on Facebook when I get home.”
I did.
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Having a procedure for headlights
Talking about legal authority
Conscientiousness
~~~~~~~~~~
Deadhead Tribute
March 28, 2025
The older woman cashier was wearing a Grateful dead t-shirt, a red and black checked shirt, and a ponytail on top of her head.
Me: “I like your outfit.”
Older Woman Cashier: “It’s Decades week at the store and any employee can dress according to a decade. This is my Deadhead tribute to the 70s.”
Me: I’ll be smiling about your outfit all day.”
Older Woman Cashier: “It’s a bonus to make people smile.”
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Attention attracting outfit
Fun as a Deadhead
Influence
Possible Guiding Value Clue
Making people smile a bonus
Helping
~~~~~~~~~~
Happy Mom
April 17, 2025
I needed heavy duty black thread. I saw a very tall and husky man looking at sewing notions.
Me: “Do you sew?”
Tall Husky Man: “No. I need a new slider for this (his hooded sweatshirt).” I YouTubed it.”
Me: “I’m proud of you.”
Tall Husky Man: “Mom would be proud, too.”
Me: “I’m glad.”
Tall Husky Man: “Have a good day.”
DISC Behavior Style Clue
Mom’s opinion is still important.
Steadiness
~~~~~~~~~~
Respectful Kids
May 1, 2025
The woman in front of me in line wore long multi-colored wool hair extensions.
Me: “I like your hair.”
Woman: “Thank you.”
Me: “Did you do it yourself?”
Woman: “Yes.”
Me: “How long did it take?”
Woman: “It usually takes 4 to 6 hours.”
Me: “How long does it last?”
Woman: “About a month, then I redo it.”
Me: “Do you do seasonal colors?”
Woman: “No, just what I feel like doing. My favorite colors are brown and white, so I always include them.”
Me: “Do kids pull on your hair?”
Woman: “No. They ask if they can touch my hair.”
Me: “I’m glad they ask.”
Woman: “Me, too. Have a nice day.”
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Eye-catching hair
Open to conversation
Influence
~~~~~~~~~~
Perfect Shoes
July 30, 2025
The senior woman checking out in front of me bought a pair of shoes. The box was open and the shoes looked like the shoes she was wearing.
Me: “Are those the same shoes?”
Woman: “They’re Skechers. They’re the right shoes for me.”
Me: “It’s important to find the right shoes.”
Woman: “$5.”
Me: “Congratulations!”
~~~~~~~~~~
Not What People Expect
August 17, 2025
I walked down an aisle headed for the shelf where I normally found a product. I forgot the store had rearranged the entire aisle. A very tall man stood near the shelf where that product used to be.
Very Tall Man’s hair was shaved on the sides of his head and his remaining hair was pulled back into a ponytail. He wore a sleeveless sweatshirt with the sides open to the bottom. His chest was visible through the open sides. Tattoos covered his arms, including barbed wire tattoos encircling both arms. Unafraid of his appearance, he looked like someone interesting to talk to.
Me: “They’ve moved everything! It’s hard to find things now.”
Very Tall Man: “I agree.”
When I was ready to check out, I entered a checkout lane behind Very Tall Man.
Me: “Did you find everything you wanted?”
Very Tall Man: “I did. I forgot something and had to think about it, but I remembered what it was.”
I explained that I ask people about stereotypes for my blog posts listing stereotypes. I asked him if he felt stereotyped because of his appearance.
Very Tall Man: “Not stereotyped, but I don’t fit their expectations. They think I’m mean and angry.
My wife and I are born-again Christians. I’ve never smoked anything, I don’t take drugs, I barely drink.
And people don’t expect me to be a veteran. I served 3 tours of duty in Iraq, then worked for the State Department and spent another 3 years in Iraq.
They wanted to send me to Afghanistan for a 4th tour, but my friends and I had had enough, so we all left. I was in for 10 years. I came back very unhappy.
My wife is now thinking about joining the Air Force, which would make me a military spouse. She’s at a recruiting station right now, talking to them.”
The cashier participated in the conversation and we both thanked Very Tall Man for his service. He thanked both of us for the conversation.
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Dramatic appearance
Open to conversation
Influence
My 1st blog post about stereotypes includes links to my other 4 blog posts about stereotypes.
Negative Stereotypes Behind Bad & Ugly Gossip: People In General
~~~~~~~~~~
Mothers & Children
August 29, 2025
Standing in line to pay, the blonde woman in front of me held a small boy in her arms. He lay horizontally. An older blonde woman was paying for their purchases.
Me: “Is it nap time?”
Mother: “Apparently.”
The boy had black skin and nappy hair.
Me: “My daughter has dark skin because my husband was Native American.
A man we’ve known for decades recently asked if I was my daughter’s caretaker. It apparently never occurred to him that I could be her mother.”
Mother’s face expressed shock.
Me to Boy: ”But you know who she is.”
Mother: “Yes, he does.”
Older Blonde Woman: “People don’t think I could be his grandmother. It’s his birthday.”
Me: “Happy birthday!”
My husband died when our daughter was a baby.
Most people currently in my life never met him.
~~~~~~~~
© Paula M. Kramer, 2025
All rights reserved.
Updated October 16, 2025