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Pamela Suyetsugu has witnessed many changes in the grocery business as a cashier

Pamela Suyetsugu Title: Cashier Job: Rings up customer food purchases at Times Supermarket

Pamela Suyetsugu began working for Times Supermarkets as a cashier before there were price scanners, debit cards and even plastic bags. Of course, those things haven't been around that long, but Suyetsugu joined the company more than 30 years ago, which makes her one of the company's veterans at the checkout counter -- and a witness to many changes in the supermarket industry. She now is settled in at the chain's South Beretania Street store. Perhaps not surprisingly, she buys most of her own groceries at the store, right after her shift, before she goes home.

Suyetsugu is a graduate of Leilehua High School in Wahiawa.* She also attended Leeward Community College for a while, and took adult-education classes at Kaimuki High School.

The former Pamela Pagador, who hopes to retire in about four years, is married to Alan Suyetsugu, with whom she has three adult children (two sons and a daughter) and three grandchildren (all boys). She and her husband live in Manoa -- not too far from where she works.

Mark Coleman: How long have you been a cashier at Times?

Pamela Suyetsugu: I'd say over 30 years. It's been a long time.

Q: What were you doing before you became a cashier?

A: Well, I went to community college for awhile, but it didn't work out because I came from a big family, so I had to work.

Q: And the Times job was the one you took?

A: No, this wasn't my first job. I worked in a coffee shop, and then I went into retail. And then, my oldest sister worked for Times, and she said, "Oh, Times needs some workers." So she asked me if I would like to work at Times, and that's how I got started.

Q: Have you always worked at the Beretania Street store?

A: No. I worked at several different Times supermarkets -- quite a few. (Laughter)

Q: How have your duties changed over the years?

A: Well, it has become a little bit easier, because with modern technology, we now have scanners -- not like before. We had to memorize prices. That was hard, because we would have to study every week -- you know, the ad.

Q: The big Times ad in the paper every week?

A: Yeah. And, of course, the registers have changed, too. It's not the manual registers like before.

Q: What about payment methods? Now you have those credit card/debit card devices.

A: Yes. I'm trying to think how we did it before. Like, before, we didn't have debit cards. A lot of people wrote checks. Or it could be a purchase order. Even when I first started, I don't think they used charge cards. I don't think it existed at that time.

Q: So I guess these devices have speeded up the processing of customers, yeah?

A: Yes, they have.

Q: Because, before, someone writing a check could take forever, yeah?

A: Yes, it would take forever, and we couldn't have it verified right then and there. Like today, we can have it verified today, instead of a week later.

Q: So there's no more bounced checks?

A: We still do today, you know, because of identification theft. So that is why it's very important that we check their IDs, to make sure their checks or credit cards are legitimate.

Q: Paper or plastic?

A: Yes. (Laughter) We always ask our customers, "Paper or plastic?" Because they always have their preferences, and we like to keep our customers happy. And now we've started carrying those biodegradable bags, so we're trying to encourage our customers to use those.

Q: What are those?

A: It's a Times-red reusable shopping bag that we now carry.

Q: Do you give them away?

A: We did at one point. The customers would have to shop a certain amount and they would get the bag free.

Q: But not now?

A: Not now. (Laughter) That promotion has passed.

Q: Do you still have so-called bag boys helping you out?

A: Yes, we do have. We call them courtesy clerks.

Q: But you personally bag stuff more than you used to, don't you?

A: Yes, we do. I think I bag more than the courtesy clerks. (Laughter) I ring up the groceries and I bag the groceries. Sometimes we're faster than they are.

Q: What is the proper way to pack a shopping bag?

A: Well, you have to make sure that you have a balance, and a lot of time you try to square off the bag, and you put the heavy stuff on the bottom and the lighter stuff on the top. I think we train our (courtesy clerks) pretty good.

Q: Does Times conduct any sort of training to keep you up to date on the new technology?

A: Normally the store manager will train us, to make sure we know what to do.

Q: Do you encounter a lot of people who use coupons?

A: Oh yeah, we have a lot. Because they'll save on top of the low price, and nowadays, because of the high cost of living, ... I would say it's mostly, like, senior citizens, because they're on a fixed income.

Q: Do the coupon users aggravate you in any way?

A: No, they don't. I guess it's because I enjoy my work. Otherwise I wouldn't be here today (Laughter). It's a PR kind of job. You get to meet all kinds.

Q: Is it tough for you when one of your customers is doing something that is holding up the line?

A: No, it's not tough for me because the customer always comes first. So if I'm having a hard time, I'll call the manager to come over and help.

Q: What about the people standing behind that person?

A: We'll call out another clerk to ring out those customers. We try not to make them wait.

Q: Do you ever get tired from standing a lot?

A: You know, I'm so used to standing, that ... (pause) ... Sometimes I'll get tired, especially when I come back from a vacation, where you're not on your feet all day long. But other than that, I'm used to standing.

Q: How long have you been at the Beretania Street store?

A: I'd say maybe about 10 years.

Q: I used to shop at that store, but I haven't been there in a while. They recently renovated it, right?

Q: Yes, you'll have to come and see it. It's really nice. It looks like it's much bigger but it's not. It's the way they set up the store. It looks bigger and brighter; it's very clean and inviting. We also have a deli here.

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CORRECTION Wednesday, July 25, 2007 » Leilehua High School is in Wahiawa, not Waipahu, as incorrectly stated in a Page C1 story Monday. Please see the applicable Corrections Page for more information.