Would you say "Can I check out?" in a clothes store?

Posted by --THRILLHO--@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 49 comments

I'm an English teacher from the UK, and a lesson I'm doing has me teaching the phrase "Can I check out?" as a way to tell the salesclerk in a clothes store that you want to pay.

Is this a phrase that you would use? I've never heard anyone say that before in a store.

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Sheetz_Wawa_Market32@reddit

Sure. What would I say in the UK?

Nothing … and awkwardly wait for the clerk to ask if I was ready to have my purchases rung up? 😳😅

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ErgThatCrag@reddit

This seems to be different than what you’re asking. “Can I check out” is asking the ability to pay. “Where can I pay” is asking the location to pay.

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doubtinggull@reddit

It's not a regular phrasing but nobody would have doubt about your meaning

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Bluemonogi@reddit

I think it would be fine to say. I would probably say Can you check me out? or I’d like to check out now or I’m ready to check out.

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Low_Attention9891@reddit

Normally just walking up to the cashier is enough to signal that you want to check out. I’ve never heard of needing to ask.

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Just ask to pay. Pay and buy are universal language. Checkout phrase might be mistaken for grab and run shoplifting in the US. American retailer are very pleasant but they can get twitchy when you say the wrong things. What means we'll in England have different meanings in the US. Never rely on common sense as no such thing exists

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Worth-Caramel-8580@reddit

I wouldn't use that phrasing, I'd say "excuse me I'm ready to check out" but only in a small store where the employees aren't always at the check out counter and didn't notice me walk over to it.

Big stores will have cashiers at the ready so you just walk up and start unloading.

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justanoseybxtch@reddit

Agree - I'm ready to check out! Can I check out makes it sound like you're asking to check yourself out/do it yourself

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desertsidewalks@reddit

Technically accurate, but I don’t remember the last time I heard someone say it. I would probably just say “I’m ready to pay” or “can I pay here?”. Check out is mostly reserved for hotels.

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No-Fix-614@reddit

Not really, you’d just go to the counter and they’d ring you up, or say something like I’m ready to pay, check out sounds more like leaving a hotel or a website thing.

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Stickyfynger@reddit

My old English teacher (American) would probably prefer, “may I check out now?”

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Express-Stop7830@reddit

I would word it as a polite question, requesting their attention, rather than a statement which could come across as rude (potentially, but not necessarily).

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Numerous_Delay_6306@reddit

YEAH

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tracygee@reddit

Yes, you’d hear that phrase being used.

A more correct phrase would be, “May I check out” or you could also use something like “I am ready to check out.”

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Tight_Steak_232@reddit

I wouldn't. One should never end a sentence with a preposition. I'd say, "Could you please process my purchase?" Ending a sentence in a preposition is something up with which I will not put.

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NaturalOne1977@reddit

The act of paying for items is "to check out". The most grammatically proper phrasing would be "may I" rather than "can I", but...

How else would you say it?

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--THRILLHO--@reddit (OP)

I'd just say "where can I pay?"

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304libco@reddit

I would say, may I check out or I’m ready to check out. Or if I’m at a department store I’m wandering the store aimlessly looking for an employee and shouting. “Can anyone help me check out?!”

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JimBones31@reddit

While not actually used, it's a reference to paper checks. Or as you say, paper cheque.

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cats_and_tats84@reddit

Never heard that before

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JimBones31@reddit

We used to pay cashiers with cash or checks.

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cats_and_tats84@reddit

Yeah, I know..been in retail for 20+ years. Just never heard this as a reason for that phrase is what I meant.

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JimBones31@reddit

Oh gotcha. Yeah, like how we call toll roads "turnpikes" because someone used to raise a pike allowing for passage after paying a toll.

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Caslon@reddit

I didn't know this! That's a fun fact. There are a ton of turnpikes in Virginia where I moved as an adult, not so many in Texas where I grew up. That makes sense, the population boomed in Houston well after the literal turnpike was a thing of the past.

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Cheap_Coffee@reddit

I don't believe that. I think the phrase pre-dates checks.

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PlanMagnet38@reddit

I might also choose “I am ready to be rung up” or “can you ring me up when you get a moment?”

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WhatABeautifulMess@reddit

I might use it in a department store or somewhere like Apple where it’s not obvious where the register is or they just use a handheld. Somewhere with a normal register it wouldn’t normally be necessary.

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Quirky-Invite7664@reddit

Agree. I’ve asked, “Excuse me, where do I check out?” And the response is, “Oh, I can take you over here” and the employee starts walking to a cash register.

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rshining@reddit

Only somewhere that has an employee waiting at the register- many small shops might have a single employee, or have employees moving around busy, and the customer has to indicate that they need someone to come to the register to check them out.

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WhatABeautifulMess@reddit

In those cases as soon as they see me they know what I need so I don’t generally have to say anything, but yes could use it then too.

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MrLongWalk@reddit

You wouldn’t really need to, you would just approach the cashier with your purchases.

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Whybaby16154@reddit

Some retail workers do double duty and stock or straighten the store while no customers are at the checkout register. In that case - I would and have said, “ I’m ready to checkout”, so they stop folding merchandise and come to the register. I usually add “please”.

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Cheap_Coffee@reddit

Yes, that's normal.

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CouldBeBetterForever@reddit

I'd be more likely to say, "I'm ready to check out," but your phrasing works as well.

It's not always necessary either. Generally you can just walk up to the cash register with your items, and often the employee with ask if you're done.

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pikkdogs@reddit

Yep. Exactly correct.

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Brixabrak@reddit

I think it's store dependent. Some stores have dedicated check out areas that are always staffed. If it's always staffed, I wouldn't ask - I'd just assume yes.

If it's a Dillard's, or Macy's where the check out register might be all over the place in various departments and who is the cashier isn't clear, then I would ask if I could or I ask where would I check out.

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Ristrettooo@reddit

Yes, it's common in the US but evidently not used much in the UK. There was a discussion about it recently over on r/englishlearning: https://www.reddit.com/r/EnglishLearning/s/KrCXOBooRb