My grocery store gripe.

[Moh 10]

MC, I am very nice, and may let that person in; I just don't impose my standards on others.

If a persons does not to offer their place to a person behind them that's their business.
They were there first.
That's how lines work.

Besides, that person with one item may have gotten into that line, instead of the 10-item line, because they know that cashier.

Again, I'm a very very nice guy, but don't have the attitude that my standards apply to everyone else.

Another way to look at it is a person with one item getting behind a person with a full cart because they expect to be offered to go first in is not being nice.

 

[purselover]

Date: 8/6/2009 12:11:14 PM
Author: MC

Date: 8/5/2009 8:05:22 PM
Author: purrfectpear
This thread is actually a little ironic IMO. Most have figured out that I''m frank, sometimes overly honest, and borderline curmudgeonly on PS. Yet I''m the first to suggest that someone in line behind me go ahead if I see they only have 3 or 4 things to purchase

It costs so little to be gracious and it''s only another 5 or 10 minutes of my time. Clearly you already feel that you could be gracious also, or else the thought wouldn''t even pop into your head right?

To me it''s a lot like when cars are merging on the freeway, or blinking to change lanes. How much does that extra car really take out of your life? I think of it as my karma bank

Yes, you''re right that the thought of being gracious does pop into my head. I tend to be a polite person

My gripe was because there *are* express lanes a person can use and I do not understand why a person would stand behind me when I have 30 items when they can instead walk over to one of those checkers, which leaves me feeling a twinge of guilt.

(and I always let people in when trying to change lanes - and totally agree with the Karma bank!!!)

in my experience express lanes often have a lot more people since there''s only one or two of them, so it''s actually faster to get online behind one or two people with full carts than a whole line of people with 15 items ....so that''s one reason they may get behind you, as is often the case with me, and no I''m definitely not expecting the person in front of me to let me go ahead

 

[sparklyheart]

I absolutely *hate* going to the grocery store.. It is my least favorite thing in the entire world and I will put it off until the absolute last minute.. Luckily I work random days so I can go at like 10am on a Tuesday when there is no one there.. I have found that if I go to SuperTarget then I am more likely to buy food.. otherwise I have to force myself to go to the actual grocery store.. I have all of the same gripes as you guys! I also hate it when a woman (why is it always a woman??) cuts me off with her over-flowing grocery cart to jump ahead in line.. I just glare. Also, this is kind of random.. but it seems like grocery store people are becoming more like retail employees. I walk through produce and three people ask if I need help finding something.. I''m on the bread aisle and someone asks if I need for help.. Dairy, frozen, there is always someone there offering to help me! I mean it''s nice, but it''s a grocery store... if I need something I can''t find then I''ll find someone to ask! I think a lot of my frustration comes from how I grew up.. The grocery store was always super well-stocked and full of people to check you out at the drop of a hat.. Limited lines to wait in and everything! At grocery stores by my house now it''s like there is one person to check you out and fifty in the store offering to help you find tomatoes. All of this grocery store chatter is reminding me that I need to go there.. boo.

 

[Barcelona]

Wow, I love going grocery shopping. During the summer/fall, I go to the farmer''s market to pick up vegetables, fruit, eggs and some of our meats. Then we go to Wegman''s to pick up bread, milk and other staples. Neither takes more than 30 minutes. We also go to an organic grocery store from time to time and we can do all our shopping in about 15 minutes. If it took longer or I had to stand in a line for more than 5 minutes, I''d probably hate it.

 

[Maria D]

I *appear* to be very gracious at the grocery check-out, but really I''m just cheap. What, you only have 28 items? Actually that''s 3 more than I have but you go ahead -- so that I can take this time to read People mag for free!

 

[waxing lyrical]

I only like going without kids. I like the Kroger across the street from where I live and Whole Foods. I hate shopping at Wal-Mart, but it''s cheaper than anywhere else in town if I need to stock up on stuff.

 

[LilyKat]

Two words: online shopping.

Try it - you''ll never go back.

Oh, and while I think it''s nice to offer a person with a couple of items to go ahead (and I do it where possible), it''s definitely not expected, and I''d never think badly of someone who didn''t let me jump in. That''s how queues work. That''s life.

 

[dragonfly411]

you know, I thoroughly love grocery shopping. It''s almost therapeutic to me. I love finding yummy foods I want too. But I do have my gripes

- people who go to the express lane with full baskets
- people who huff behind you
- when people are blocking something you want, can SEE you are waiting, and aren''t even looking at that same thing, but continue to block it
- when people walk SUPER SLOW down an Aisle. and I mean crawling
- when people give you the look if you want something they are standing in front of
- the other day I was at the store. There were three things of blueberries left for the day. I was standing behind a guy who took one, and this woman SAW ME standing there, and dashed up and took the last two. I just wanted one

- when people are rude to cashiers
- when people complain about cart boys. THEY ARE HELPING YOU

 

[Haven]

Date: 8/6/2009 1:28:11 PM
Author: Maria D
I *appear* to be very gracious at the grocery check-out, but really I''m just cheap. What, you only have 28 items? Actually that''s 3 more than I have but you go ahead -- so that I can take this time to read People mag for free!

HA! That''s so funny--I saw a woman do this the other day.
You don''t happen to live on Chicago''s North Shore, do you?

 

[Allison D.]

Date: 8/6/2009 12:11:14 PM
Author: MC

My gripe was because there *are* express lanes a person can use and I do not understand why a person would stand behind me when I have 30 items when they can instead walk over to one of those checkers, which leaves me feeling a twinge of guilt.

Maybe I can help.

1. Because the express lane has 10 people in line, which will likely take even longer than your 30 items.
2. Because on this day, I''m not in that big a hurry and feel it would be nice to leave the express lane for those who
are.
3. Because I know the checker in your line, so I may want to be pleasant and say hello.
4. Because it doesn''t occur to me that you might actually think I expect you to let me pass first; again, I''m ok with
waiting
5. Because the express lines have an "employee in training" occurring, so it will be likely be quicker for me to use a
regular line.
6. Because there''s no sign saying I have to have a minimum number of items to stand in your line, so I presume it''s
for my use too.

 

[Moh 10]

Good points Allison.

We can't read the minds of others.

 

[Selkie]

Date: 8/6/2009 4:02:33 PM
Author: Allison D.

Date: 8/6/2009 12:11:14 PM

Author: MC

My gripe was because there *are* express lanes a person can use and I do not understand why a person would stand behind me when I have 30 items when they can instead walk over to one of those checkers, which leaves me feeling a twinge of guilt.

Maybe I can help.


1. Because the express lane has 10 people in line, which will likely take even longer than your 30 items.

2. Because on this day, I''m not in that big a hurry and feel it would be nice to leave the express lane for those who

are.

3. Because I know the checker in your line, so I may want to be pleasant and say hello.

4. Because it doesn''t occur to me that you might actually think I expect you to let me pass first; again, I''m ok with

waiting

5. Because the express lines have an ''employee in training'' occurring, so it will be likely be quicker for me to use a

regular line.

6. Because there''s no sign saying I have to have a minimum number of items to stand in your line, so I presume it''s

for my use too.

Giant ditto. I''ve never had anyone expect or demand to cut in front of me, even if they''ve got fewer items. On the contrary, each time I''ve offered people have been polite and thankful, which feels nice. It''s not going to create some huge line of selfish people demanding to be let through, just to help one person out.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 8/6/2009 12:21:40 AM
Author: TravelingGal
People who write checks and don''t get them ready before everything is all rung up. I know this isn''t fair, but I hate slow check writers.

There isn''t a Werd smiley big enough for this.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

As for letting people with a few items past you, I definitely let them through. I''m hoping those are the people that let me merge onto the freeway on my commite home from work. I generally don''t have a huge amount of groceries, and people I have encountered at my local grocers have been the nicest people in the world, almost painfully so. "You go ahead", "No, you go!"

Once my stuff is all the way out of the cart, though, all bets are off.

 

[Skippy123]

I always let the person with 1 or 2 items go ahead of me if I haven't started unloading and sometimes if I have and they have 2 items then I let them go ahead. I am pretty laid back in general. hehe I wouldn't let 2 people go ahead of me though.

My gripe is people on cell phones at Trader Joes who hog up they area with their basket while the chat to their friends about nothingness while blocking a heavily trafficked area. They should stand in front of something else or off to the side that has less traffic. Okay that is what bugs me! ha!

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Date: 8/5/2009 6:13:08 PM
Author:MC
Yeah, the grocery store. . . I love food but hate the process that it takes to aquire the food and stock my fridge with it.


What I think is the most irritating thing (in the world of grocery shopping) is when I have a cart full of items when standing in line and a person comes up behind me with only 2 or 3 products. Why does she/he do that when she/he can go to the express lane or the self check? Am I suppose to let that person go in front of me? If I do that and then another person with only 2 or 3 things then comes up, do I have to let that person go too?


Ugh. My fridge has food. Don''t have to hassle with this for another few days

I haven''t read the responses yet, but my take is that you have NO obligation to let that person go ahead. No one MADE him or her stand behind you...esp when there are express lanes.

The only exceptions I would probably make are: 1) little old ladies; 2) disabled persons; 3) pregnant women. Same rules for giving up seats on public transportation for me

But I get groceries from Peapod...they deliver to my front door. Without a car, grocery shopping is a MAJOR PITA otherwise

 

[Loves Vintage]

Date: 8/6/2009 1:12:11 PM
Author: Barcelona
Wow, I love going grocery shopping. During the summer/fall, I go to the farmer's market to pick up vegetables, fruit, eggs and some of our meats. Then we go to Wegman's to pick up bread, milk and other staples. Neither takes more than 30 minutes. We also go to an organic grocery store from time to time and we can do all our shopping in about 15 minutes. If it took longer or I had to stand in a line for more than 5 minutes, I'd probably hate it.

I have one thing to say --

Wegman's

!!! Maybe if there were more Wegman's around, more people would like grocery shopping. Wegman's is the best!!! Whenever I am in upstate NY, the first thing I want to do is go to Wegman's!

And, stop at farm stands!!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 8/6/2009 4:02:33 PM
Author: Allison D.
3. Because I know the checker in your line, so I may want to be pleasant and say hello.

6. Because there''s no sign saying I have to have a minimum number of items to stand in your line, so I presume it''s
for my use too.

I always shop at the same store, so I know which checkers are nice and which to avoid. Some are SO slow. There is one gal that is super nice, but talks and talks and talks. The only time I go in her line is when I''m in the mood to chat

What confuses me, and possibly you can clarify this one, is the "family friendly" check stand (which they have at Fred Meyer - owned by Kroger). Does this mean the rest of the checkers are anti-kids and won''t put up with kids poking the candy bars or even possibly will refuse to ring up fruit loops because those are generally eaten by children? Should people without kids enter that line with caution because they''re taking up the friendly lines leaving us with kids to be subjected to the non-friendly lines?

 

[radiantquest]

I wouldn''t let them in unless it was only that one person and there was not an express lane open. Other than that I would stand there with my full cart like there was no one waiting behind me.

 

[audball]

Date: 8/6/2009 5:56:03 PM
Author: MC

Date: 8/6/2009 4:02:33 PM
Author: Allison D.
3. Because I know the checker in your line, so I may want to be pleasant and say hello.

6. Because there''s no sign saying I have to have a minimum number of items to stand in your line, so I presume it''s
for my use too.

I always shop at the same store, so I know which checkers are nice and which to avoid. Some are SO slow. There is one gal that is super nice, but talks and talks and talks. The only time I go in her line is when I''m in the mood to chat

What confuses me, and possibly you can clarify this one, is the ''family friendly'' check stand (which they have at Fred Meyer - owned by Kroger). Does this mean the rest of the checkers are anti-kids and won''t put up with kids poking the candy bars or even possibly will refuse to ring up fruit loops because those are generally eaten by children? Should people without kids enter that line with caution because they''re taking up the friendly lines leaving us with kids to be subjected to the non-friendly lines?

I''ve worked in many grocery stores through high school and the first part of college. The family friendly isles in my stores typically just had things like coloring books and kid friendly media in the isle instead of People, Ok, Cosmo, etc. I''ve had several mothers actually avoid these isles because then their kids WANT the coloring books, etc instead of ignoring the adult mags with celebrity gossip, hah.

 

[Allison D.]

Date: 8/6/2009 5:56:03 PM
Author: MC

Date: 8/6/2009 4:02:33 PM
Author: Allison D.
3. Because I know the checker in your line, so I may want to be pleasant and say hello.

6. Because there''s no sign saying I have to have a minimum number of items to stand in your line, so I presume it''s
for my use too.

I always shop at the same store, so I know which checkers are nice and which to avoid. Some are SO slow. There is one gal that is super nice, but talks and talks and talks. The only time I go in her line is when I''m in the mood to chat

What confuses me, and possibly you can clarify this one, is the ''family friendly'' check stand (which they have at Fred Meyer - owned by Kroger). Does this mean the rest of the checkers are anti-kids and won''t put up with kids poking the candy bars or even possibly will refuse to ring up fruit loops because those are generally eaten by children? Should people without kids enter that line with caution because they''re taking up the friendly lines leaving us with kids to be subjected to the non-friendly lines?

Sorry, MC - can''t help you on this one. I''ve never heard of such a thing at my area markets, and we don''t have Fred Meyers/Kroger in my area.

 

[cellentani]

Date: 8/7/2009 9:32:40 PM
Author: Allison D.

Date: 8/6/2009 5:56:03 PM
Author: MC

Date: 8/6/2009 4:02:33 PM
Author: Allison D.
3. Because I know the checker in your line, so I may want to be pleasant and say hello.

6. Because there's no sign saying I have to have a minimum number of items to stand in your line, so I presume it's
for my use too.

I always shop at the same store, so I know which checkers are nice and which to avoid. Some are SO slow. There is one gal that is super nice, but talks and talks and talks. The only time I go in her line is when I'm in the mood to chat

What confuses me, and possibly you can clarify this one, is the 'family friendly' check stand (which they have at Fred Meyer - owned by Kroger). Does this mean the rest of the checkers are anti-kids and won't put up with kids poking the candy bars or even possibly will refuse to ring up fruit loops because those are generally eaten by children? Should people without kids enter that line with caution because they're taking up the friendly lines leaving us with kids to be subjected to the non-friendly lines?

Sorry, MC - can't help you on this one. I've never heard of such a thing at my area markets, and we don't have Fred Meyers/Kroger in my area.

I think a "family friendly" check-out lane means there are no tabloids, or mags with "45 New Sex Moves to try with your Guy" on the cover.

Sometimes it also means there isn't any candy either, but I don't consider that friendly - I love candy.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 8/7/2009 10:07:28 PM
Author: cellentani

Date: 8/7/2009 9:32:40 PM
Author: Allison D.



Sorry, MC - can''t help you on this one. I''ve never heard of such a thing at my area markets, and we don''t have Fred Meyers/Kroger in my area.

I think a ''family friendly'' check-out lane means there are no tabloids, or mags with ''45 New Sex Moves to try with your Guy'' on the cover.

Sometimes it also means there isn''t any candy either, but I don''t consider that friendly - I love candy.

The family friendly aisles at the store I shop at are are identical to the rest. They contain all the same magazines, candy, and junk mini-size crap like tissue packets, superglue, etc. . ..

 

[Lynnie]

haha... this thread reminds me of an episode of "What Would You Do?", on ABC. Check it out, it''s about people''s reaction to people cutting the express line: http://abcnews.go.com/WhatWouldYouDo/story?id=6606990&page=1

I would let a person with a few items in front of me.

My gripes are:
Able-bodied people who don''t bag their stuff if there''s no bagger (my store doesn''t always have a bagger)
Getting a cart that doesn''t roll right (Never fails to happen)
Aisle hogs
It also annoys me when little old ladies get to the checkout, THEN dig in their purse for all their coupons, then dig for exact change. These ladies always seem to be in front of me

I try to be patient, though... I tell myself that that could be me in 50 years!
LOL.. and if two lines seem equally long, I will pick the slower one. My line always needs the ''key'', or a manager''s approval for something!

huh... I''ve never heard of Family Friendly checkout.