# 100 things a customer should never do. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 3, 2009, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154 "2009-11-03T11:31:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/121 "2009-11-04T18:52:57Z")
> [@Chanteuse](#): > > I fold it up and put it under my purse in the front of the cart. (I don’t fold the seat flap down, so I’m not overly concerned with the tushies that have been there.) What if you’re just running in for a few things and don’t need a cart? I can’t remember ever taking my coat off in a grocery store, but if I’m in a department store where I’m going to be trying on a bunch of stuff, or on the rare occasion that I get too hot while I’m inside, I might put my coat in the cart. But it’s far from a regular thing. This question is more for **MeanOldLady** , I guess: What’s so offensive or weird about keeping your coat/jacket on while shopping in a store? I just don’t get why that’s something to sneer at. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/122 "2009-11-04T19:04:35Z")
never mind ---
**Author:** ![apollonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@apollonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apollonia)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/123 "2009-11-04T19:09:55Z")
Shit, man. Sometimes putting on outerwear can be a fifteen-minute job–sweater, scarf, coat, hat, gloves. Does it all coordinate? Good. Now it’s time to go run a half a dozen errands–drugstore, grocery store, bank, library, campus, and the office supply store. Are we supposed to take off all that garbage every time we step indoors? I’m pretty sure the local economy would slow down 75% just on account of the Put-on Take-off Brigade. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/124 "2009-11-04T19:40:53Z")
Huh. I never, ever take my jacket off when I go into a store. I didn’t know we were supposed to! Unless I am trying something on. I know a jacket is a PITA but I would think it’s more of a PITA to carry, and I don’t put it in the cart just so I don’t, I don’t know, forget it or something. Ah. Maybe it’s because we’re in New York, and as other people have said, it would be ridiculously time consuming not to mention being done 8 months out of the year! If it’s any comfort I do take off my gloves. Most of the time. Hat - all of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/125 "2009-11-04T19:45:11Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Huh. I never, ever take my jacket off when I go into a store. I didn’t know we were supposed to! Unless I am trying something on. I know a jacket is a PITA but I would think it’s more of a PITA to carry, and I don’t put it in the cart just so I don’t, I don’t know, forget it or something. I strip down to my underpants, just to be safe. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/126 "2009-11-04T19:52:45Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > This question is more for **MeanOldLady** , I guess: What’s so offensive or weird about keeping your coat/jacket on while shopping in a store? I just don’t get why that’s something to sneer at. I put it in the cart with my purse too. If I’m running in and out, I suppose I’ll leave it on. I live in the Midwest, folks, so I know all about 11 month winters. I don’t know, I’ve always thought wearing outerwear indoors is weird. For me, gloves, jacket and hat come off when I come in. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/127 "2009-11-04T20:02:12Z")
What happens if you’re not in a grocery store, though? Where do you put the jacket if you’re in like, say, the Gap, or Duane Reade? ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/128 "2009-11-04T20:05:45Z")
I would imagine she carries it. I doubt she’s wearing a 50 pound coat. This is fascinating that the coat is such a mind boggling issue. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/129 "2009-11-04T20:07:30Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > What happens if you’re not in a grocery store, though? Where do you put the jacket if you’re in like, say, the Gap, or Duane Reade? I fold it, and throw it over my purse. I also find it interesting that so many people find the coat thing interesting. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/130 "2009-11-04T20:12:25Z")
I wear my coat inside grocery stores because the inside of a grocery store tends to be on the chilly side anyway, especially the frozen section. (This may be an early indicator that I am turning into an old person.) But if I’m going to be in the mall or some other store where I’ll be in there for a while and don’t want to wear my coat the whole time, I just leave my coat in the car and put up with being really cold in the parking lot for the short trek to the entrance. I don’t carry a purse so I don’t have any convenient way to hold on to my coat while in the store. Easier to just leave it in the car. Besides, walking to the store in subzero Midwestern winter weather is good for the constitution, right? This is officially the most time I have ever spent thinking about my coat-wearing habits. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/131 "2009-11-04T20:27:56Z")
> [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](#): > > This is fascinating that the coat is such a mind boggling issue. Don’t ask about “shoes in the house.” ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/132 "2009-11-04T20:46:50Z")
Yeah, the coat issue isn’t that big a deal. I just thought it was strange that keeping your coat on is strange. I’m young and I do that, more out of laziness than cold. And this ultimately is why I love warm weather–no jackets! > [@Zeriel](#): > > I always thought the rule of thumb was “Just be normal and polite. If the waitress wants to flirt, she’ll flirt with you first.” > > This has happened to me twice in the fifteen years I’ve been going to restaurants and interested in flirting. I ended up with a date both times (because while I won’t cop to knowing when someone’s enjoying flirting, I’m pretty sure I can tell accurately when I’m being flirted with.) Well, this is different. But again, as you say, it’s not all that often. If she initiates it, that’s fine. Most of the women here have that other people initiating it is at best an annoyance and at worst creepy. I didn’t mean to accuse any of the guys who do this of being socially inept losers. It just seems that if most people who have been in this position are saying they only put up with it because they were obliged to, you’d think it would make sense to stop rather than try to justify it with “They really like it, I can tell, I know about welcome flirting.” ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/133 "2009-11-04T20:59:55Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > It just seems that if most people who have been in this position are saying they only put up with it because they were obliged to, **you’d think** it would make sense to stop rather than try to justify it with “They really like it, I can tell, I know about welcome flirting.” I highlighted the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Mavis\_Topholese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7feea3/32.png) [@Mavis\_Topholese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavis_Topholese)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/134 "2009-11-04T21:23:31Z")
While we’re venting: You’re at the grocery store. You’re in front of the milk. Do you really need to stand there blocking the aisle and my access to the milk while you ponder the ramifications of getting 3.5% or 2% or skim? Just grab some milk already. It’s milk. My theory is that there’s a whole bunch of people for whom a trip to the grocery store or the drugstore is the high point of their week and they are going to savor every minute of the experience, chat with the cashiers, examine every product, etc. My OTHER theory is that rival grocery chains hire people to act as deliberate obstructionists to make everybody else’s shopping experience miserable and drive frustrated customers into their own, non-obstruction-filled store. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/135 "2009-11-04T21:28:20Z")
Wow, this coat thing is weird. It would never even cross my mind to take off & carry my coat around inside a store, unless they kept the temperature very hot. Hats & gloves yes, because they get hot very easy. But coat? No way. Plus grocery stores are usually very cold. During the summer I sometimes have to take a sweatshirt with me to put on just when I’m inside. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/136 "2009-11-04T21:34:46Z")
Yes, yes, enough about the coats. Let us reiterate how important it is that people get off their goddamn cell phones at the deli counter. Order some pastrami, and get out. Also, when you’re at a giant retail chain like, say, JC Penney, please understand that you are not at some outdoor market where prices are negotiable. I worked at JCP for exactly five days (before quitting rather spectacularly) and I found it baffling that two different people thought it was okay to approach me at the cash register and attempt to haggle with me. Look, ladies, the sweater is $35. It’s not damaged, it’s not out of season, there’s no reason for anyone to give you a discount. Give me $35 or leave. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/137 "2009-11-04T21:36:55Z")
It really depends on the cold outside for my jacket/coat. If it’s really chilly out, I’ve got a huge parka which keeps me extra toasty in Minnesota, but is rather cumbersome (I have to flip the hood behind my back and lean that way when I’m driving or it will royally limit my peripheral). That jacket will come off and go into the court or get bundled under an arm. If it’s moderate temperatures out (between 15F to 45F) then a regular jacket will stay on. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/138 "2009-11-04T21:42:28Z")
Oooo! Both the milk blocking and the haggling make me crazy. I have come up and said, “Hey, this is the last X and it’s slightly damaged,” and they will give me a 10% discount or whatever, but you can’t haggle for something in pristine condition! Those are the prices! I’m sure it’s been mentioned but I got all mad today again about stupid people who just leave their carts in the middle of the aisle. Of COURSE someone needs to get by, it’s a fucking aisle, move your stupid cart to the side. ---
**Author:** ![ThirdOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@ThirdOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThirdOne)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/139 "2009-11-04T21:56:28Z")
Don’t freaking expect your local Chamber of Commerce to have the phone number to whatever business it is you’re looking for. I am NOT 4-1-1. No, I don’t know the name of the roofing company you used five years ago. Try Googling (or whatever search engine you prefer)? No? That’s about all I can do. No, I am NOT superwoman and no, I do NOT deserve to be fired because I can’t answer your lame question! ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154/140 "2009-11-04T21:56:43Z")
> [@Mavis\_Topholese](#): > > You’re at the grocery store. You’re in front of the milk. Do you really need to stand there blocking the aisle and my access to the milk while you ponder the ramifications of getting 3.5% or 2% or skim? Just grab some milk already. It’s milk. And while we’re at it let’s mention how to maneuver a cart down the aisle while shopping. DO: -Keep the cart parallel to the aisle -Keep the cart to one side of the aisle -Stand either behind or in front of the cart when browsing DO NOT: -Stop the cart perpendicular to the aisle -Park the cart in the middle of the aisle -Stand beside the cart [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-things-a-customer-should-never-do/516154.md?page=8)