This is why I always bring a basket of hemorrhoid cream and wart remover with me to the checkouts.
Honestly, even if you intend to be gone for only 10 seconds, you should get out of line, get your item, and then stand at the end of the line when you are truly and finally ready to check out. I do this myself when I forget items, even if the item I want is within sight distance. Maybe “it’ll just take a minute”, but I will make sure it’s only my minute.
I’m non-confrontational and I would probably wait for someone who just forgot one item and would be right back, but my feeling is that if you realize you forgot something, you aren’t ready to check out anymore. Therefore, you should get out of line and take your stuff with you to go get your forgotten item. The checkout line is for people ready to check out, so it’s pretty obnoxious to use your cart as a placeholder if you aren’t in that category.
I agree. What’s to keep someone from getting 3 items, putting the cart in the express lane and then going back to get the 27 items they “forgot” and then claiming “it’s three different orders” when somone behind them comes them on it? I hate it when that happens.
I’d say the right to use an acceptable form of payment exceeds your perceived right to stand in line 10 fewer seconds. If you want to complain, talk to the store manager, shop at a store that doesn’t accept checks, or go in the middle of the night. Or maybe ask the person ahead of you in line what form of payment they plan to use and if it’s a check you can huff on over to a different line. My checkbook never leaves the house and people who don’t fill their checks out ahead of time annoy me too. But come on, it’s 10 seconds–the right to use a “slower” vs “quicker” form of payment is laughable.
People paying with checks are rude to you in line? Do you comment on their check-writing and get a rude response, or do they see you :rolleyes: and respond to that? Or are you referring to a difference in opinion on a message board?
What if they pull out their checkbook, followed by an inkwell and a huge feather?
If you are that prepared it probably doesn’t even register to the people behind you that you are paying by check. However, in my experience, the typical check transaction goes more like this:
- Cashier rings up every single last item.
- Check writer then starts to dig around purse for checkbook.
- Check writer then starts to dig around for pen.
-
scribble scribble (tests pen) pen works about 50% of the time.
4a. Dig around for another pen if first pen doesn’t work - Starts to write out the check.
- Hands check to cashier.
- Cashier asks for ID/Check card.
- Check writer digs for wallet and finds card.
- Cashier hands back card and receipt.
- Check writer logs in check and begins to balance checkbook.
I know I have a penchant for exaggeration, but I swear I am not this time. And, this is what causes the check hate.
I’m sure there’s some confirmation bias at play here, because I doubt I even notice check writers who aren’t following the 10 step program.
I’ve never seen this. I agree that would be out of line, but everytime I’ve had someone ask to run and grab something, they’ve always come back before their turn with just one or two items.
And thinking about it, I don’t think I have ever seen someone pay by check either.
IF!
shamrock227’s timeline is about right. People that still use checks (mostly middle aged+ women 
) just are not the sort of people that are organized enough to make it take only an extra 10 seconds. It’s several minutes. And like Uzi sez- there’s just no reason to keep using checks.
Hold on! I missed this. You write checks AND dig around for cards? I so don’t want to be behind you in line. An extra 10 seconds my ass! You are evil, eeeviiiillll!!! Heh, heh!
My savings card and bank card are next to each other in my wallet. Actually, I could tell you exactly where every card is in my wallet. I can pull them out with my eyes closed. I’ve pulled them out so fast in the past that I’ve unintentionally ninja’d them at the clerk! Hyahh! <stunk> “Uh, sorry, lady”.
I’m pretty organized when I’m in line, so when I see others who don’t even seem to be making an attempt, it bugs me.
My savings card is on the top side of my checkbook and the checks are on the bottom. I stood behind a card swiper who had to dig it out of her wallet just yesterday. She took longer than I did to write a check. She also took time to file her receipt “just so” so she could find it later. The rude debit card holder took up 10 seconds of ‘my’ time.So I guess it’s all about being prepared, isn’t it? It really has nothing to do with the form of payment at all.