Thank you, Frank. He needed that.
Which makes you think - if the abused wage slave at McDonald’s pees in your coke and nobody knows it, does it even affect you?
Seriously, even librarians get this - a lot of people really get off on being assholes to people who are working and can’t fight back. There’s not much difference in working a job that requires a high school diploma and one that requires a masters’ degree when it comes to that - if you’re behind the desk, you’re fair game for a certain type of people.
Due process, mainly.
When I encounter rudeness in grocery stores, I just flip people off and run away. 
Sounds like the pathetic single men’s line Apu points out to Marge at the Monstro Mart in Homer and Apu: “Only cash. No chitchat.”
My inner grammar nerd wept with joy when I walked into Meijer a while back and saw signs over the express lanes that read, “12 Items or Fewer”.
When I get behind one of those assholes with way more than the limit, I start counting my items out loud. “Yeah, looks like I’m OK for the express lane,” I’ll say pointedly to no one in particular. It’s especially bitchy when I have, say, three items. Most of the time this makes the asshole in question at least embarrassed enough to let me go ahead of him.
She must’ve been a Hillary supporter.
Can I share my (possibly thread killing) express lane story.
I was in my local Publix one day. Prior to them having a designated express lane they just had a special sign that moved to whatever lane was the express lane of the day.
I accidentally got into the express lane. Put all of my items on the conveyer belt (exactly 12 items in a 10 item or fewer lane) and stood waiting my turn. An old guy comes along, shoves past me in line, takes the plastic divider and shoves my groceries down about 6 inches to make room for his one item.
I was galled by his rudeness and only then noticed that I was in the express lane. I counted my items…I’m exactly 2 items over, not 20 or 40 but two. I said so to the back of his head (he was studiously avoiding looking in my direction). He paid and left. I paid and left.
but I always wished I’d have had a more clever retort to his rudely butting in line. (even if I was 2 items over the limit). How much of a freaking hurry do you have to be in to push ahead of someone else in line?
You turn around, look the complainer straight in the eye, and say, “The cashier asked me to come in this lane.”
I wish they had express lanes at McDonald’s. No joke. Around here McDonalds all seem to have 5 registers open at once and it’s pot-luck on which counterperson works fastest. So you get on the shortest line hoping for a quick turnaround but lo and behold, the guy in front of you is ordering for his entire office and is trying to pay for the meals individually. At least at Burger King, it’s run like a bank - one line for all to wait and the next open register gets the first in line.
I’ve actually seen people buy cigarettes in the express lane and then write a check for them! The cashier then has to go get the key, open the case, get the cigs, then handle a check.
That stuff annoys me.
I’ve noticed many of the stores around here don’t have express lanes anymore - because they’ve installed so many of those #$%^&^%# self-scan ones.
I have no trouble with the scanning, but I have yet to be able to check myself out completely without intervention. Why, you ask? Because the stupid scale where you are supposed to put your items has decided that I am somehow attempting some sort of nefarious deed involving toddler sleepers and body wash and refuses to go any further.
You look like a real idiot arguing with a machine, so I’ve stopped using them.
“Please put the item in the bag”
“I did”
“Please put the item in the bag”
“I did - it’s sitting right there!”
“Please put the item in the bag”
“Oh for the love of…”
For whatever it may be worth, I have a toddler now, and I personally get torqued at other parents who try to sneak their kids and their 25 separate and unrelated items through the 12-item express lane, especially when they cut me off to do it, while I am standing there with only a half-gallon of milk, a package of diapers, and a daughter whose butt is so rank it is emitting visible smell rays because my mother-in-law fed her something inappropriate for lunch, like fudge and cheese curls, and we had a violent atomic poopsplosion in the car.
(She doesn’t say much yet, my kid, but unfortunately I suspect one of her first discernable words is going to be “jerkass.”)
I’ve tried using the self-serve lanes a few times, but that scale drives me nuts for a different reason. I bring my own canvas bag with me when I shop because I don’t want to have to deal with plastic bags any more than I have to. However, half the time after I pull up to the self-serve lane and put my bag on the loading area, the following discussion ensues:
“Please scan the item before placing it in the bag.”
“I haven’t put anything in the bag yet.”
“Please scan the item before placing it in the bag.”
“There isn’t anything in the bag yet, you stupid piece of …”
I’ve tried taking the bag away and putting it more lightly on the scale, but apparently it weighs too much to be accepted as “empty”. Sometimes the clerk overseeing the area sees my problem and is able to do something to fix it, but usually by that time I’ve given up and gone off to stand in another line.
I used to supervise the self-check out lanes at Kmart, and I was always willing to help out people having trouble-is there any employee supervising?
(I also love using them myself-because I’ was used to doing so. We also have a self-check out at the local library-I love it)
I fully imagine, were I to take a full cart through the Express Lane, someone would come flying down the exit lane, fist extended, screaming a primal war chant, and sock me in the jaw… at least this is what I imagine doing… no words, just a little chin music.
Of course, I blame the management for not making it stricter policy, and requiring the individuals running the registers to police and manage their lanes.
Sometimes there is, and sometimes they’re even paying attention to the customers.
I did have something interesting happen a few weeks ago. I got in one of the regular checkout lanes and the bagger in that lane came over and said he could help me “over here” and started pulling my cart over. I figured he was going to open up another checkout lane, but instead he went all the way to the self-check lane and started scanning my purchases there. When he started to put my items in a plastic bag I pointed out my canvas bag, and he took it out of my cart and put it on the table next to the self-scanner. I don’t know if he pushed some magic button or what, but he didn’t have any trouble with the scale thinking he was trying to steal anything.
Yes, there always is - but I just feel that sort of defeats the purpose 
No complaints with the help, certainly - but it means the poor supervisor is run off their feet trying to help the customers at the 4 self-scans because the scale is mad at them and won’t proceed further.
I think I met that old grouch, too!
I was behind the guy in line and he, of course, had way too many items for the express lane. The cashier said something to him, and he began shouting stuff like “Don’t you tell me what to do, sonny. I’ve been shopping here since before you were born!”
I bet he kicked a cat, hit a kid with his cane, AND trampled the grass on his way out- LOL.
My local store took out the express lane and put in those self check out machines and they are retarded.
I scan an item and place it in bag and do this for several more items until the bag is full and then I grab the bag and pull it out and then the machine freezes and says, “Item removed from bag retrurn item to bag to proceed.” So I set the bag down and pick it up again and the machine repeats itself so I have to go get the employee and explain to them whats going on. They hit a few buttons and I’m back to scanning.
Apparantly the machine has been programmed to not let milk get put in a bag because when I scan the milk and put it in a bag it says something like, “Unexpected item in bagging area” and it stops and I have to get the employee to come over and hit some buttons again.