# Ethics of cutting the line at a retail store... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2002, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574 "2002-11-30T00:46:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/21 "2002-11-30T12:15:51Z")
I say foremost that is a poorly managed store. If they want to have to lines/entrances/etc. they should have one that clearly marked, “Please line up here for special xxx” and clearly mark the other door(s) “All other customers please use these doors.” But what you did was also wrong. Since there’s a salesperson right at the door, you could have asked. How long would that take? ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/22 "2002-11-30T13:36:16Z")
What you did was akin to skooting up the empty freeway lane that is being closed and cutting in at the head of the queue of traffic. The situations are the same - most people recognize the politeness of forming an orderly queue. Yes, there is space to take advantage of the polite majority, but to do so is rude and inconsiderate. The ability to form an orderly queue (or line) is a good thing. To sample the alternative, go to a French ski resort and try standing patiently in line for a lift. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/23 "2002-11-30T14:33:27Z")
I would say that if they had any “first 100 customers get a free/cheap \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_” deal going on somewhere in the store, then cutting in line wasn’t a good thing to do. However, in that light the store should have posted someone there to prevent line-cutting/rushing into the store/etc. I saw footage on the news last night of a couple stores where people started running into the store, and one where someone fell and it took a little bit before anyone stopped to help her up - meanwhile I couldn’t help but think if that was encouraged indirectly by the camera being right there filming the crowd (people wanting to look eager for the camera, and it just got out of hand). If the store had set up little barriers to funnel traffic in, stationed an employee or two, etc., then that would have been more responsible, and would have prevented any latecomers from inadvertently making people who’d waited mad over this. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/24 "2002-11-30T18:06:38Z")
Yeah, but if people behave in a civilized manner (which the OP did not), you don’t need barriers and employees to make them stand in line. And as for the comment above that if there is no elbowing and butting, it is ok…sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/25 "2002-11-30T18:43:47Z")
The reason why the employees were not managing the line was that it was not necessary. Everyone else was obeying the rules. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/26 "2002-11-30T19:00:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > The reason why the employees were not managing the line was that it was not necessary. Everyone else was obeying the rules. There was an employee there, according to the OP, and yet that person said nothing. (So either line cutting wasn’t a big deal from the store’s POV, or that person was slacking.) ---
**Author:** ![Leifsmama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a698b9/32.png) [@Leifsmama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leifsmama)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/27 "2002-11-30T19:15:30Z")
Two doors, right? Both open? I don’t think you did anything wrong **Yojimboguy**. Seems to me that anyone who wanted to could have gotten themselves out of the line and used the other door as well. This does seem to be a case of the short line to the register. But then, you couldn’t pay me to go out on Black Friday, not even if stores were giving away merchandise. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/28 "2002-11-30T19:19:01Z")
> [@](#): > > The reason why the employees were not managing the line was that it was not necessary. Everyone else was obeying the rules. Who says there were rules? It sounds to me more like all these people arrived before the store opend, and decided of their own volition to form a line. Yay for them. Obviously it’s far from the most efficient way to get people into the store, as for at least one moment **yojimboguy** doubled the number of customers entering the store with absolutely no inconvenience to the other customers. Should **yojimboguy** be party to someone else’s dumb and wasteful idea just because those other people were there first? No! ---
**Author:** ![Venoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@Venoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venoma)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/29 "2002-11-30T19:19:48Z")
The op did act civilized. There was no physical contact and no rudeness. The OP’s sister is the only one that might have been considered rude. For gawd’s sakes, it’s a STORE. likely everyone in that line could have gotten in sooner if there’s been no line 😛 I think some folks here take their shopping a little bit too seriously. “But they might miss the SAAAAALE!” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/30 "2002-11-30T19:22:14Z")
I don’t see how it was **yojimboguy** ’s fault that the other people were too stupid to take advantage of another door. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/31 "2002-11-30T20:05:38Z")
What the hell? There were two doors open for customer entrance, correct? And these shopper were, for whatever obscure reason, lined up at ONE of the doors, not taking advantage of the second entrance? Maybe I don’t do enough shopping at realio-trulio stores, since most of my money seems to go toward Goodwill and yardsale purchases, but I truly don’t see how **yojimboguy** did anything wrong. If all those folks were waiting for something specific–some stores do scratch-off discounts, etc–then they had every reason to hold their places in line, and they would be rightfully irritated if he nudged his way into the number one position. But if they just wanted in to do some shopping, why weren’t more of them using the OPEN DOOR? Aaaah, I see **Guinastasia** has nicely hit the nail on the head. And in fewer words, too. You didn’t do anything wrong, imo. ---
**Author:** ![barking\_frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@barking\_frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barking_frog)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/32 "2002-11-30T20:14:12Z")
There were two double doors, right? Was one labelled “entrance” and the other “exit”? If not (as in two entrance doors), which door did you go through, the one for which people were lining up to go through, or the other one? Venoma, if the situation is as I interpreted from the original post – which is that there was one door being used for entrance, then most likely people would not have gotten faster. From the reports I’ve heard (I’ve never been to a BB to “Black Friday” sale), there were people lining up around the sides of the store for a shot at the early bird specials, which implied at least 70+ people. 70+ people rushing in without a line through doors which fit five people at once is not safe, and would definitely not be faster. Once again, not wrong, as in no “rules” were broken, but very rude. ---
**Author:** ![Venoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@Venoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venoma)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/33 "2002-11-30T20:29:15Z")
Ian Fan, 5 persons fitting thru a door at once, about 10 seconds to pass thru (can’t see how it would be more) means about 140 seconds for all those folks to go thru. That’s just over 2 minutes. I didn’t say ‘all at once’ mind you, just that in that case lining up would likely make this take longer 😉 If there were someone at the end of the line processing those who entered - maybe giving them a stamp or something - I can see that a line would be helpful, but not in this case. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/34 "2002-11-30T20:39:42Z")
The rules I was referring to are the rules of civilized society. How can you guys not see the danger of everyone just heading straight for the door all at once? Haven’t you heard of people dying in situations similar to this? This situation probably wouldn’t have caused anyone’s death, but it’s likely someone would have gotten hurt. I don’t think grandma could handle shoving her way through the door if everyone headed for it at once. ---
**Author:** ![Venoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@Venoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Venoma)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/35 "2002-11-30T20:44:34Z")
uhm… I have been in many cases like this and as far as I know - noone got hurt at the time. Circa high school - dances, meetings, assemblies, etc. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2002, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/36 "2002-11-30T21:15:39Z")
To clarify the entrance picture, it is ahaped like this: \_\_y \_\_/ x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx a double door in the center for entrance, two single angled exit doors to the sides. My sister and were the left x, and used the left center entrance door. The employee was at position y inside the doors, maybe working as a greeter? Our options were to go in a wide open door with no obstacle or people between us and it, or to walk an indeterminate distance to the end of the line. If anybody was slowing the line up, it was the people near the front of it who DIDN’T use the available space to speed things up, not us. Rude? Maybe, and my sisters comment wasn’t the most polite, but she was faced with a self-appointed line policewoman. Violating the rules of civilized society? That’s way too harsh, I don’t buy that. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2002, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/37 "2002-11-30T21:17:05Z")
actually, move the line of x’s a little further to the right for a more accurate picture. It didn’t look quite like that on preview. ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/38 "2002-11-30T22:32:47Z")
Great Picture Yojimboguy. I remember that play from Superbowl IIV! ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/39 "2002-11-30T23:22:58Z")
yojim, there wouldn’t be any need for “self-appointed line police” if there weren’t any self-appointed line cutters. Back o’ the line, Bub. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574/40 "2002-11-30T23:59:07Z")
Uzi: > [@](#): > > or whatever they call a damn doughnut in Germany “Ich bin ein Berliner!” 😉 As for yojimboguy- He walked in a friggin’ store, folks. If I see an open door and no discernable reason not to go through it, I go through it. You should too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-cutting-the-line-at-a-retail-store/139574.md?page=3)