# A complaint about supermarket checkers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 24, 2012, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131 "2012-06-24T06:05:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131/41 "2012-06-30T04:07:58Z")
I slip one of those dividers in my bag whenever I think I can get away with it. They come in handy at bus stops, or whenever you’re standing in a queue next to people you wouldn’t want to hug. Just place one on the sidewalk in front and behind you, and, instant Personal Space. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131/42 "2012-06-30T06:25:31Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Psychologically, I suppose it feels good to put items up on the belt. It is something to do while waiting. But this action only gives the illusion that you are going to get out of the store faster. Once the customer in front of you gets his/her last item scanned, there is a process that will need to happen. This process is the payment. > > Ideally, the customer in front of you will not have a stack of coupons. They will not suddenly realize that it is time to pay and just then pull out the checkbook and start a lengthy process of writing out their check with a last name of “Frankendebimuller” which must be slowly and laboriously spelled out. They will not begin a scavenger hunt through a monsterous purse/suitcase looking for some manner to compensate the grocer for their purchase. Their wallet will not be at home. > > With any luck, the customer will have a credit or debit card ready to go. The PIN number will be right. There will be no confusion over any state EBT cards. The customer will not have a debate over the price of an item or need an over-ride from a manager in the back of the store. The bagboy will not be sent to Customer Service for cigarettes. Problematic rain checks are in the line one over. > > No, the payment process will go rapidly. > > But you will still have time to put your groceries on the belt during the payment process. I promise. > > And the length of the wait will not in any way have been shortened by your undesired delay in loading the belt. This delay will in no way be a factor in how much time it takes to get to your car. Your ice cream will not melt. > > So if, by chance, the divider has not been placed in easy access, it’s OK. Really. ExactaMUNDO! And I’d like to add, the clerk will not be able to complete my order any more quickly if you’re standing two inches from my backside! BACK OFF! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131/43 "2012-06-30T06:28:37Z")
Aren’t you aware of the traditional reacharound “thank you” to the customer behind you for maintaining the gap? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131/44 "2012-06-30T07:09:44Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131/45 "2012-06-30T07:11:54Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131/46 "2012-06-30T07:13:10Z")
You think cashiers can spell? Or even know the names of half the products? Not to mention the customers not knowing either. Consider yourself lucky if cashiers can count – with the news scanners and registers, that’s becoming optional. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131/47 "2012-06-30T11:19:47Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Then he gives you the stink-eye so that you have to physically shove his groceries away from yours. Sneakily crushing his eggs in the process. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131/48 "2012-06-30T14:22:22Z")
I’ve found that shoplifting solves the whole checkstand/divider cash/check/credit card coupon problem AND it’s environmentally friendly since I don’t need a bag (paper or plastic) for what I stuff in my pants (plus I get more dates on banana day). ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131/49 "2012-06-30T14:26:09Z")
And if I burn the store down, I don’t need to cook that evening! ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131/50 "2012-06-30T15:05:02Z")
While burning down the store down speeds up preparing the Baked Alaska, it melts the already in short-supply checkout lane dividers. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131/51 "2012-06-30T23:29:53Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > The divider is only needed for the cashier, the gap method works well in any country and most languages till a divider comes within easy reach. So you have genetic evidence of a substantial gap that holds true over several countries? ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131/52 "2012-07-01T00:08:22Z")
Those of you who say “just leave a gap” don’t have the same kind of shoppers that my local stores do. I’ve had people start putting their stuff on the belt before I’m done! ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2012, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131/53 "2012-07-01T08:58:05Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Don’t sweat the dividers, we need to have a separate lane for those that bring cloth bags. It slows the bagging down to a c-r-a-w-l and makes all of wait twice as long as we need to be. Agreed: Those cloth bags are hard for two-handed people to use. I think, for four-or-six-handed mutant customers, they are workable. That must be who came up with the idea. My solution: (a) Use the large brown paper bags. (b) Save them, until I have a small collection (a dozen or so). (c) Double-up those bags. (d) Instead of bringing my own cloth bags, I bring my own doubled-up paper bags. This is every bit as easy as bringing a cloth bag. The paper bags will stand open on their own, so even a merely two-handed organism can load stuff into them. The stores don’t want you to double bag when you are using their bags, but once they are MY bags, there’s no problem with that. Double-bagging helps the bags stand up on their own even better than single bags, AND they are stronger and last much longer. I never actually did this experiment, but I pretty sure a double bag lasts well more than twice as long as a single bag before it starts to get badly tattered. So in the long run, double bagging saves paper. I typically get 20 to 30 re-uses out of each double-bag before it’s too tattered to use any more. ETA: What we REALLY REALLY need a separate lane for is the people with WIC coupons. But that’s a separate serious rant in itself, and I’d be surprised if there isn’t already a Pit thread on it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-complaint-about-supermarket-checkers/626131.md?page=2)