# If someone in front of you in the express aisle had more than the maximum items.. what would you do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 22, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896 "2013-10-22T01:55:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/81 "2013-10-24T13:00:31Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I was behind a woman who didn’t have enough money to pay for the huge order that had just been rung up. So she carefully evaluated everything, then decided to have one small item deducted. She was _still_ nowhere close, so she carefully considered and picked out another small item… > > I was next in line and there were many behind me. I so thought that this was going to be a “feel good” story where you offered to fork over the $20 she was short, she cried in gratitude…long story short, you’re now getting ready to celebrate your 25th wedding anniversary. Booo! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/82 "2013-10-24T13:00:39Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Isn’t the obvious answer for you to get the fuck out of the express lane? “If only there was SOMETHING I could do for you. Unfortunately nothing comes to mind. :(” ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/83 "2013-10-24T17:37:08Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Decent people. Decent schmecent. whats so wrong with a few more lemons, when I have 5 turkeys, 5 pies and 5 bags of charcoal? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/84 "2013-10-24T18:05:24Z")
I never go into a store when I’m in such a rush that that extra two or three minutes would make a difference. There have been so many times I’ll only have a few items and someone will tell me to go ahead of them I figure it evens out. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/85 "2013-10-25T15:05:18Z")
Just for your amusement, here is the equivalent poll set in England: \*\* If someone in front of you in the express aisle had more than the maximum items… what would you do? \*\* - Ignore it … but if they happen to look my way, turn my face away from them. - Confront them … by tutting audibly - Tell a manager … after that customer has left the store ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/86 "2013-10-25T18:11:23Z")
Squeeze their heads between thumb and forefinger, then step over the mess on the floor. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/87 "2013-10-25T18:36:46Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > But inside I’d be singing “12!12!12!12! Let’s sing a song of 12! How many twellllllllve?” Dude you totally blew my mind! I haven’t thought of that in like 40 years! I’ve wasted innumerable hours of my life doing useless crap like watching paint dry or playing a repetetive video game. I have no right to beef about the extra 45 seconds the guy ahead of me is using up. I can’t recall ever giving a rat’s ass about how many items the person in front of me has. Slow, lobotomized cashiers are what light my fuse. ---
**Author:** ![This\_Just\_In\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/88 "2013-10-25T21:06:10Z")
I’ll usually ignore it - [but if I am in a hurry I might go Head Crushing on their ass](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t4pmlHRokg). ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/89 "2013-10-25T21:13:18Z")
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#): > > I’ll usually ignore it - [but if I am in a hurry I might go Head Crushing on their ass](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t4pmlHRokg). Damn. Beat me to it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/90 "2013-10-26T09:23:30Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Decent schmecent. whats so wrong with a few more lemons, when I have 5 turkeys, 5 pies and 5 bags of charcoal? 😉 You know there are people out there who do things like use their turn signal, don’t litter, don’t lean all the way back in their seats on long flights, and count how many items we have before we get in the express lane. We’re called decent people and inconsiderate people benefit from our decency every day, but the inconsiderate are too self absorbed to notice. They all think that they’ve gotten away with something, when if fact the decent people notice their inconsiderate behavior and let them get away with it. ---
**Author:** ![highrollinwooded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/71c47a/32.png) [@highrollinwooded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/highrollinwooded)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/91 "2013-10-26T11:52:10Z")
I am a cashier, and the thing that gets me is peoples belief that going into the express lane will get them through the line faster.People will line up 6 deep in the express lane, instead of getting into a regular line that has one customer in it.More people=more chance of problems…i.e…price checks, etc… ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/92 "2013-10-26T12:09:42Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > You know there are people out there who do things like use their turn signal, don’t litter, don’t lean all the way back in their seats on long flights, and count how many items we have before we get in the express lane. We’re called decent people and inconsiderate people benefit from our decency every day, but the inconsiderate are too self absorbed to notice. They all think that they’ve gotten away with something, when if fact the decent people notice their inconsiderate behavior and let them get away with it. Hear! Hear! Another gripe I have in supermarkets is selfish shoppers. When they meet a friend, they both turn their trolleys sideways on and start chatting. Usually they block an entire aisle. If you politely say “excuse me”, they look at you as if you are dog poo. ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/93 "2013-10-26T14:58:29Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > A diplomatic reminder is appropriate. “Sir/Ma’am, are you aware that this is the express lane, with a 12-item limit?” > > Maybe they’re not aware, and you’ve just mercifully given them an out: “oh I’m sorry, I was not aware. I’ll be leaving now.” > > Maybe they’re fully aware, but they’ll still use your out as a way to back down without losing face. > > And maybe they’re fully aware, and they’re totally an asshole, and now you’ve required them to admit their assholery, hopefully causing them some small measure of public discomfort. In the best case, the cashier will be made aware of the situation and can enforce policy. > > The same tactic is appropriate for people who cut in line. If no one ever calls them on it, then they have no reason to stop doing it (because their innate sense of fairness toward others seems to be broken). If I ran a supermarket with express lanes, I’d have a two or three dollar surcharge on the total for being over the limit in the express lane. It’s a guaranteed way to modify bad behavior; hit them in the wallet! I’d give cashiers an easy way to void it if the situation called for it, but it would otherwise be automatic, as soon as the machine counted one item over the limit, the charge would be added. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/94 "2013-10-26T15:20:09Z")
> [@highrollinwooded](#): > > I am a cashier, and the thing that gets me is peoples belief that going into the express lane will get them through the line faster.People will line up 6 deep in the express lane, instead of getting into a regular line that has one customer in it.More people=more chance of problems…i.e…price checks, etc… I’ve seen that before; long line at the express lane, and a couple of free or soon-to-be-free cashiers in other lanes. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/95 "2013-10-26T16:11:56Z")
At the grocery store I frequent, there are empty self-checkouts while there are lines at the cashiers. I haven’t used a cashier in a few years. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/96 "2013-10-26T22:27:40Z")
25 items in a 12 item or fewer, I’d probably just let it go. But heaven help them if they have 26 items. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/97 "2013-10-26T23:56:56Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > Challenge them to a duel. And not even politely, either. Just throw your gauntlet right at their face. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/98 "2013-10-27T00:10:11Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > And not even politely, either. Just throw your gauntlet right at their face. But only after seeking out the proprietor and in vain demanding: “Good man, forcibly disengauge this lout from the checkout queue forthwith, or I shall certainly take my custom elsewhere!” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/99 "2013-10-27T00:17:15Z")
So what do you think one should do if over the limit, but with multiple identical items? Earlier today, I was in a supermarket with fifteen-items-or-less express lanes and sixteen items in the cart. But there were four pairs of identical items and one set of six identical items. For the record, I went to the regular lane. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896/100 "2013-10-27T02:34:13Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I’ve never seen anyone attempt to shame someone in the express lane, but I **think** that if I did, it would be the attempted shamer I **thought** looked foolish. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > wasn’t there, obviously, but I didn’t read your story and **think** how witty you were. I read your story and felt its potential cruelty. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > I’m sure you think so. I’m not sure I would \*\*think \*\*so. You **think** too much, besides nobody cares what you **think** anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-someone-in-front-of-you-in-the-express-aisle-had-more-than-the-maximum-items-what-would-you-do/671896.md?page=6)