# Grocery Store Etiquette? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 30, 2006, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730 "2006-06-30T05:17:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [July 1, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/41 "2006-07-01T19:52:19Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > When I worked at one of those big-box gorcery/junk stores as a cashier, we were specifically forbidden to say anything to those who came through the express lane with bulging carts. Nor were we to hold them to the “CASH OR CREDIT ONLY” standard. > > It often became extremely difficult because the belts and bagging areas were smaller than usual, and when people had a large amount of items, it left very little room to work. People who do this sort of thing also have a habit of clinging to their carts. After they’d emptied it, they’d stand there leaning on it, ignoring the giant pile of bags stacking up in the bagging area until I asked them to move it forward so it could be re-loaded. > > Of course, the cashiers bore the brunt of the irritation of the people waiting in line behind the asshole, holding their single carton of melting ice cream. That was the rule at Kmart, and it was incredibly stupid. Customers bitched at me because they thought this was the express lane and had to wait behind people with cart loads. Managment bitched at me when I tried to tell people it was an express lane. The only time though that we had cash only lines was when one of the registers was acting up and would only accept cash. Damn, I do NOT miss that place. Oh, and no such thing as “place-holders”. You move it, you lose it. Tough shit. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/42 "2006-07-01T20:14:36Z")
> [@zuma](#): > > Much more offensive is sitting near the front of the long line, and a new checker opening up, and some woman (they’re always women, sorry) sitting at the back of the line rushes up with her cart to grab the first spot. > > Thankfully, this is going away of late as checkers are now trained to usher the first in line in front of the pigs who try to cut. Our checkers don’t allow this to happen either, they actually walk over and escort the next in line to their line. The person in the OP who left his basket as a placeholder was a jerk. Plain and simple. And FTR, I’ve seen men do the “dash to the new line opening up” thing plenty of times. Luckily, only to be shot down by the checker walking over to the next waiting person in the existing line, assisting him/her with their items and making sure the usurper knows it’s NOT his turn. Didn’t we all learn this in kindergarten? Sheesh :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2006, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/43 "2006-07-02T04:42:23Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Is anyone else guilty of trying to judge the people ahead of you in the line? I’m 100% guillty of this. For instance if someone “looks” like a smoker, I"ll try to find another line since the cigarettes are locked up in a glass case which requires the cashier to leave the line, find the key, open the case, relock the case, return the key, and then walk back to the line and hope they brought the right brand! > > I also try to avoid standing behind elderly people. Too likely to write a check or use their pennies. I try to avoid those I suspect might want home delivery. I’ve been caught too many times in the shortest queue that way. Shortest is not always the quickest. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2006, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/44 "2006-07-02T05:44:14Z")
I listen to the clerks call out “I need a 21 on 3”. If I’m buying beer, I know which line to skip. If I have 5 items (which I frequently do) and a new register opens, you bet your ass I’m gonna hustle over there before the lady with a fully laden cart. It’s only common sense, she’s planning on being there for a while, I’m not. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2006, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/45 "2006-07-02T08:07:22Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > I listen to the clerks call out “I need a 21 on 3”. If I’m buying beer, I know which line to skip. > > If I have 5 items (which I frequently do) and a new register opens, you bet your ass I’m gonna hustle over there before the lady with a fully laden cart. It’s only common sense, she’s planning on being there for a while, I’m not. There’s this amazing thing called an “express lane” you might want to check out. See, it’s for folks with 10 items or less, and they don’t allow fully laden carts and such. And you don’t even have to take cuts! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2006, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/46 "2006-07-02T09:00:43Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > There’s this amazing thing called an “express lane” you might want to check out. See, it’s for folks with 10 items or less, and they don’t allow fully laden carts and such. > > And you don’t even have to take cuts! > 🙂 :wally: An “express lane” you say? For people with 10 items or less? Golly that sounds great. I’d guess that there could never be a time where there were 15 people waiting on such a line. From what I hear, most people tend to obey the rules of the supermarket. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2006, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/47 "2006-07-02T09:05:24Z")
That was supposed to be the :smack: smiley, not the :wally: smiley. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2006, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/48 "2006-07-02T10:58:05Z")
> [@jabiru](#): > > I try to avoid those I suspect might want home delivery. I’ve been caught too many times in the shortest queue that way. Shortest is not always the quickest. Huh? I don’t know how things work in Oz, but what is home delivery? It surely can’t be the checker driving their shit to their home? ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2006, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/49 "2006-07-02T12:34:21Z")
I was in a store the other day, I was in a rush. The store never has enough lanes open. Where the line was forming was rather awkward because they put up a display that caused the line to wind around a bit. I’m next in line with 1 item. They open a new register, a guy bolts around me and rushes up to check out. He had one item. A belt. I’m thinking to myself, “what a jerk.” As he was standing there paying, his pants dropped down just far enough him to panic a bit and clutch himself. I burst out laughing. No, he wasn’t following the rules, yes he got in front of me, but obviously he NEEDED that belt in a rather immediate sort of way. I can even understand him not saying “Hey, my pants are falling off, can I go before you?” Am I the only person that takes the length of time to cash out into consideration before I go into a store? I know if I step foot into a Ross or Walmart that the line will be out of hand? I am a coupon clipper. I have my coupons, store card and debit card ready to go before I get to the checkout. I try to go on days when it is the least busy at times when it is the least busy. I let others go in front of me. I despise holding up the line. However, don’t get pissed off because I am using coupons. Your screaming child, your lost wallet, your dazed look until the cashier reminds you that paying for stuff is an integral part of the shopping experience, usually takes MUCH longer than me. Did I tell you about the time I sat in line behind phantom groceries while we waited, and waited, and waited for a woman who “went to go get flowers” came back? She was pretty imperious about the whole thing. The cashier didn’t seem to mind making me and my baby wait more than 5 minutes for this lady, so really, why would the lady have minded? The cashier should have found someone to ring me up elsewhere or cancelled the ladies sale, loaded her crap back into her cart and checked me out. ---
**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:** [July 2, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/50 "2006-07-02T20:01:04Z")
> [@Auntbeast](#): > > Did I tell you about the time I sat in line behind phantom groceries while we waited, and waited, and waited for a woman who “went to go get flowers” came back? She was pretty imperious about the whole thing. The cashier didn’t seem to mind making me and my baby wait more than 5 minutes for this lady, so really, why would the lady have minded? The cashier should have found someone to ring me up elsewhere or cancelled the ladies sale, loaded her crap back into her cart and checked me out. Cashiers usually can’t cancel out sales themselves-they have to get managment to do it, and often, it has to all be done by hand. It’s a pain in the ass as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/51 "2006-07-03T00:18:03Z")
> [@zuma](#): > > Huh? I don’t know how things work in Oz, but what is home delivery? It surely can’t be the checker driving their shit to their home? Not the cashier, but yes - supermarkets in Aus will usually have home delivery (the larger ones such as Coles, Woolworths/Safeway and Bilo, anyway). It’s very handy for those who don’t drive, and allows you to do a whole shop in one go, instead of breaking it up over several trips, and to get your groceries home without having to fight for a cab or try to lug them onto the bus or train. I’m surprised that in the US, home of the delivery… well, anything… they haven’t cottoned on to the idea of delivering groceries home after you’ve purchased them. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/52 "2006-07-03T00:32:59Z")
They have, but you don’t go to the store and shop, you order the groceries online. It’s an imperfect system in which you often don’t get everything you wanted, and/or get unwanted substitutions. I’d much prefer your way. Personally, I’d love it if the grocery store delivered me \*and \* my groceries back home. It’d save me the cab fare! ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/53 "2006-07-03T00:34:36Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I also try to avoid standing behind elderly people. Too likely to write a check or use their pennies. Women. I know that’s a pretty broad category, but if I see a line with just men and a line with just women, I’ll pick the line with the men. Because women are MUCH more likely to write checks and hold up the line. I also avoid lines with old people like the plague. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/54 "2006-07-03T00:37:30Z")
Elderly men, on the other hand (in my experience), are much more likely to complain loudly about the cost of things and that the store didn’t have everything they wanted. I also avoid the elderly like the plague at the grocery store. They fall into that second group of “people for whom this is their big outing for the day.” They don’t have anywhere else they need to be in a hurry. I’m not proud. I’m just pragmatic. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/55 "2006-07-03T00:51:59Z")
What is it with the check hatred? I find that people take a lot less time writing checks than they do fiddling with the damn credit-card machine, which never seems to work, they never swipe their cards correctly, and the little pen thing is always missing. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/56 "2006-07-03T00:56:23Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > What is it with the check hatred? I find that people take a lot less time writing checks than they do fiddling with the damn credit-card machine, which never seems to work, they never swipe their cards correctly, and the little pen thing is always missing. Well, if you use a check at least have the courtesy to fill out the payee, date, and sign it before you’re actually under the gun. (as I do. And of course I expect others to do things the way I do them :)) ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/57 "2006-07-03T01:02:46Z")
> [@zuma](#): > > Huh? I don’t know how things work in Oz, but what is home delivery? It surely can’t be the checker driving their shit to their home? No another contractor delivers the groceries but it takes forever to bag the items and labels have to be affixed etc etc. It’s just quicker to get behind someone taking his/her groceries rather than having them delivered. ---
**Author:** ![Naz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@Naz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naz)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/58 "2006-07-03T01:06:49Z")
Cashier here, and here’s my take: RE the OP, the guy should have gone to the back of the line. At my store, we just have someone put the stuff in the basket away. 😃 Irritates the customer, but they usually don’t do it again. Checks. Are. A. Pain. Thank Og my place only takes business checks. Unfortunately, this leads to a whole new set of aggravations: “Oh, you guys take checks now. Who do I make it out to?” “We only accept business checks, ma’am.” “What’s the difference?” The really fun ones throw fits. I got a kick out of one elderly lady at work recently. She was helped by one of our floor people, and at the register she remarked about how most store’s employees ignore old people. Yeah, there’s a reason for that. The elderly can be either really nice, or real assholes. There’s not a lot of grey area with them. And ladies? Please. I know your change is weighing down your purse. Take it to a Coinstar machine, or roll it yourself and take it to the bank. No cashier in America wants your freaking change! BTW, we hate coupons, too. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/59 "2006-07-03T01:22:35Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > What is it with the check hatred? I find that people take a lot less time writing checks than they do fiddling with the damn credit-card machine, which never seems to work, they never swipe their cards correctly, and the little pen thing is always missing. At the grocery store I go to, the check/debit machines work fine. Writing a check requires the customer to show ID, and the cashier to write the customer’s driver’s license number and phone number on the check, and then get manager approval. It takes forfreakinever. Also, I’d just like to clarify that I’m happy to help the elderly with their carts, get things off of high shelves for them, carry their bags, or give them my cab. I just don’t want to be stuck in line behind them. It’s a thing. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730/60 "2006-07-03T01:24:33Z")
The **credit** /debit machines. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-store-etiquette/362730.md?page=4)