# When (and why) the fuck did checking out at a store become such a goddamned stupid ordeal. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 4, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803 "2013-04-04T04:07:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/81 "2013-04-04T16:42:05Z")
K-Mart is awful, OP is an asshole. Done. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/82 "2013-04-04T16:43:06Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > KMart is the worst run department store around. I only go there because it’s the only department store within 20 minutes of my house. > > They already have poorly motivated staffers, and saddle them with lousy POS management, store cards, eReceipts, it makes checkout a nightmare. I dread paying for my stuff, especially with a 4 year old in tow. You just know that, even if there are only 2 shoppers ahead of you, something will go wrong, and you’ll sit and wait for someone to come by and help. > > Thankfully, my Kmart stopped asking for receipts when the eReceipt option was being pushed. Seriously, how fucking stupid is it to push your customers to walk out with no receipt, then ASK them for the receipt at the door? IIRC, you live in northern NJ near me. The Kmart in West Orange is simply disgusting. I don’t know why anyone shops there. The last time I went to that store was over two years ago. It took us over an hour to go from getting in line to getting out of the place. The store is also filthy and unkempt. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/83 "2013-04-04T16:51:22Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > The problem is that I know too many people who have been told they have to take the first job offered or they lose their government benefits. _No matter how awful the conditions_ you can’t quit or you lose your benefits. > > So the choice is not simply “don’t take the job” or “quit the job”. The choice is “take the job or lose your ability to house and feed your family”. The choice is “suck it up otherwise you lose your ability to house and feed your family”. That’s not an equitable position and yet more illustration that the poor are held to a harsher standard than anyone else even as self-righteous assholes feel justified in heaping personal invective at them while at those shitty jobs. But the point of the poster you were responding to is not that they shouldn’t have taken the job, but that if part of your orders is to annoy people into doing things they don’t want to do, it’s a violation of everything we know about human nature to not expect and be prepared for some pushback. Not that it justifies extreme abuse, and you’re right that the poor are much more likely to be in such a job, but I’m kind of inclined to agree with the previous poster who said it’s much like reacting to telemarketers. Granted, telemarketers are intruding on a personal space, but I think that’s a factor in increased ire, not the sole source to begin with. And yes, I’ve worked retail. Not a lot, and not long, admittedly, but it’s there. ---
**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:** [April 4, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/84 "2013-04-04T17:09:04Z")
It’s why I go out of my way to shop at places that don’t have “loyalty” cards. If enough of us do that, all those polkapussies will be out of a job anyway. ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/85 "2013-04-04T17:14:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > How often to you hear it used as a non-slur by people who aren’t black? 😕 Obviously not as much as by blacks, but my point is that the word has come to just mean “guy” when it is used in the hood (mostly by blacks obviously, but often by hispanics and less so by whites), whereas faggot always means gay person, never just “guy.” ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/86 "2013-04-04T17:22:27Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > The Kmart in West Orange is simply disgusting. Oh, you know the place. Thankfully, I do most of my shopping elsewhere, where folks are actually nice and apparently decently paid. I go to “Big K” a couple of times a month, mostly to let my son shop for toys out of his allowance (you can get some matchbox car collection if you spend $1 a week on them). It’s a step up from the dollar store, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/87 "2013-04-04T17:35:26Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > One advantage to my current employment is that I don’t have to take that shit from anyone. And if you do you’ll start breaking femurs. > [@Broomstick](#): > > Here’s an idea - if you don’t like that shit _shop somewhere else_. Or start breaking femurs. > [@Broomstick](#): > > So the choice is not simply “don’t take the job” or “quit the job”. The choice is “take the job or lose your ability to house and feed your family”. They could also choose to join the circus and start breaking femurs for circus peanuts. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/88 "2013-04-04T17:37:12Z")
> [@colander](#): > > seriously, you’re like a Dennis Miller for ants or salamanders > > you’re that fucking unfunny I haven’t seen an assessment that cold since Clovis said “C’mon, just suck it up, we’ll be in New Mexico before you know it.” ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/89 "2013-04-04T17:45:50Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Nah, a moron is someone who uses the phrase “punkfaggot” and tries to pretend there’s no gay slur involved in the term “because Urban Dictionary!” If I called someone/something (to steal from _The Aristocrats_) a “niggercunt” and then said, "No, it’s one word, not two separate words, and according to a site online it merely means ‘ostentatious’ ", no non-moron would fail to call me out on it. Even if I tried to excuse it by saying I didn’t use it to refer to a person. People are talking about Urban Dictionary as if they endorse or advance these definitions. This ain’t Merriam Webster. It’s more like an open Wikipedia for street slang. Users post the definitions and other users vote them up or down. It’s funny to note that the word in question has a measely six votes up and six votes down on Urban Dictionary. This means that the proposed definition is not particularly accepted and that it’s pretty damn recent (or has been ignored for about as long as it’s been posted). I wouldn’t take that as license to use it, especially when it’s so fraught with potential interpretation. Uh, I mean misinterpretation. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/90 "2013-04-04T17:47:07Z")
What’s funny to me is that I am guessing that this lost time that caused him such tremendous aggravation probably amounted to an extra two minutes at most, which pales in both he amount of anger he carried over from it and the amount of time he used to write this up. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/91 "2013-04-04T17:47:30Z")
[QUOTE=Dag Otto] I blame his wife for not marrying someone who would just man up and change the fucking tire. > [@voltaire](#): > > This. Seriously. And Fix-a-Flat ain’t gonna fix shit if it was a valve, as was suspected. [/QUOTE] No shit, if it’s a slow valve leak, buy a new valve at Kmart or Autozone and replace it. Takes 2 minutes. Don’t fill your tire full of goopy shit that the guy at Goodyear is going to have to deal with and that doesn’t fix your problem. Instead of spending $8 on a can of fucking useless Fix-a-Flat, spend [$14 on a 12V compressor](http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_00935888000P) and get some shit fixed! Alternatively, if you’re too inept to replace a tire valve (is that possible?) and it’s a slow leak, just fill it up with air and drive to the tire place. I dislike jerkwankers (continuing the spirit of compound insults) who don’t understand Schrader valves. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/92 "2013-04-04T17:58:54Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > Obviously not as much as by blacks, but my point is that the word has come to just mean “guy” when it is used in the hood (mostly by blacks obviously, but often by hispanics and less so by whites), whereas faggot always means gay person, never just “guy.” Actually, I have it on [good authority](http://www.poe-news.com/forums/spshort.php?pi=1001684455&ti=1001684455) that “nigger” has been used by some on gaming networks as a derogatory term for other (presumably white) players in exactly the same manner as the word “faggot”. Indeed, the terms were often combined to form the charming epithet “nigger faggot”. There is, in fact, a loose “troll” “confederation” that calls itself [The Gay Nigger Association of America](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Nigger_Association_of_America), despite the fact that members are not particularly likely to be black or gay. Although it originally came from the title of a [satirical short film,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayniggers_from_Outer_Space) I interpret the adoption of this moniker as an ironic jab at the troglodytes who made casual, sincere use of the two terms a routine occurrence on certain parts of the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/93 "2013-04-04T18:35:21Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > I disagree with your point. I think I hear the word nigger used 100x more often without it being meant as a slur against blacks than I hear the word fag or faggot used without it being meant as a slur against (or unflattering comparison to) gays. Yes. I say ‘nigger/nigga’ dozens of times in a day, and I rarely say ‘fag’, so yes, I agree with you that nigger is used more often without it being meant to slur blacks. The thing is, ‘nigger’ has had a very different journey than ‘fag’. The words have simply evolved differently, but I do believe that ‘nigger’ is going to end up where ‘fag’ is. Like colander points out, nigger is already being used in the gaming community. But it isn’t used as seamlessly as ‘fag’ and its variations. I don’t know how white people use nigger when they aren’t using it as a slur, but I know that black people call everyone nigger/nigga. White, black, Asian, whatever. The word still holds a kernel of its origins, though. In other words, we realize it is a word that we ‘reclaimed’ and use as a term of endearment and we say it all day, but we don’t say it in front of Grandma, because she was around when they would still hose you down and sic the dogs on you while spewing it… It has a unique history that still permeates when we use it. We took it back. The way I hear the kids use ‘fag’ isn’t like that. If you are familiar with geeks and gamers and nerds and kids who think they are the haxor or whatever the fuck, you will notice they use the word as a place holder that has nothing whatsoever to do with being gay. You are a newfag or an applefag or a macfag or whatever. It’s not a contest of whether ‘nigger’ or ‘fag’ is used more often. I am sure ‘nigger’ is used a million more times without being used as a slur. The point is the way ‘fag’ is being used is just completely divorced from homophobia. You have to immerse yourself in the slang of young people to really understand where I’m coming from. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/94 "2013-04-04T18:37:20Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > Oh, wait. The OP didn’t say anything about giving shit to anyone. I guess that makes you morons, then. Thank you. When some of these dolts learn to read they’ll see that the OP was **commentary** in response to the kfart employees actual actions. Nowhere do you see quotations from myself. The only thing I should have put quotation marks on was when I walked right past the security dink out the door. I did indeed say “good luck with that” and kept walking. > [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > you have to show your sales slip to a security guard No, you don’t. > [@Fugazi](#): > > I don’t know. When I only have 1 item I walk up to the self check out, punch in my phone number (for the fuel points), scan my item, run my debit card through the reader, & am out the door. 30 seconds, tops. This Kaymart had 4 self check outs and they took them all out. > [@voltaire](#): > > This. Seriously. And Fix-a-Flat ain’t gonna fix shit if it was a valve, as was suspected. Um, no. the car was on the decline of a large hill with moderate traffic, so there was a safety issue in changing it right there. The tire was completely flat so moving the car may have damaged it. I believe it has a **slow leak** (per the OP) with a possibly something else wrong. I changed the valve 3 weeks ago myself and it’s still going flat slowly. The Fix-a-Flat would allow me enough time to drive it to a shop. > [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Nah, a moron is someone who uses the phrase “punkfaggot” and tries to pretend there’s no gay slur involved in the term Some of you have been on these boards long enough to know that if I meant a slur, I would have made a slur and wouldn’t step away from it. Punkfaggot in one word is not a gay slur. > [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > What’s funny to me is that I am guessing that this lost time that caused him such tremendous aggravation probably amounted to an extra two minutes at most No! It took 14 minutes to for her to get through 3 people because she kept doing her sales pitch, stupid card explanation, March of Dimes, email push, and slowness of work. And they wouldn’t open up another freaking lane!!!:mad: There used to be an auto parts store across the street there. But it went out of business in 2011. Musta been W’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/95 "2013-04-04T18:46:51Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Which is why it is an entirely different word. > > Don’t know why some of you are throwing these kiddy cocktail fits. I didn’t even call anyone a punkfaggot. I refereed to the reward points on the stupid card as such. You’re upset about insulting an inanimate concept? :rolleyes: Well, let’s look at another one-word name that’s been around for a very long time: niggerhead. It’s a descriptive word for the hummocks one finds in swampy areas. It’s one word, so it can’t possibly be offensive to anybody, right? Obviously it was derived out of the racial epithet, just as your stupid word was derived from the derisive use of ‘faggot’ or ‘faggy’ to denote someone who is gay or who is acting unmanly or stupidly. Just because someone says ‘hey, it’s one word and I say it means such and such’ doesn’t make it any less offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/96 "2013-04-04T18:47:57Z")
[QUOTE=Slithy Tove] you have to show your sales slip to a security guard [/QUOTE] > [@pkbites](#): > > No, you don’t. You think you can just waltz up into the dope and drop this controversial ass statement as if it is QED?? Just a declarative, glib, flip “\*\*No, you don’t.” \*\* Hahaa. Hoo, boy, are you on the wrong board. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/97 "2013-04-04T19:03:53Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > You think you can just waltz up into the dope and drop this controversial ass statement as if it is QED?? Just a declarative, glib, flip “\*\*No, you don’t.” \*\* Hahaa. Hoo, boy, are you on the wrong board. That topic was settled long ago. You do not have to stop for the guard at a public access store. And unless they have solid reason to believe you stole something it would be to their great detriment to try and detain you. I walk right past these guys all the time, always have always will. I did have one follow me out into the parking lot one time. 'Sir? Sir? Sir!" Just kept walking. I imagine you do have to stop at places like Sams Club as there is probably a clause in their membership rules. But that would still just be a civil matter that could affect ones membership status. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/98 "2013-04-04T19:07:13Z")
Well maybe he doesn’t, but I’ve had to. It’s one petty indignity among at least a guaranteed few in every day. So I comply, since I’m not Michael Douglas in Falling Down. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/99 "2013-04-04T19:10:12Z")
Welp. Get ready for twenty pages of, ‘why do you have to be an asshole to the poor old guy just doing his job? It only takes two seconds to show a receipt.’ I am glad to hear that ‘it’s been settled.’ Because, although most times it isn’t a problem for me to show my receipt, there has been times when I’ve gotten smug attitude from some loss prevention officer and I like knowing I can breeze past that asshole if I see fit. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803/100 "2013-04-04T19:15:04Z")
It’s one of those deals where you don’t actually have to follow the store rules, but if you don’t it can potentially turn into an ugly situation which results in a lot of time lost for you as the Police decide you haven’t actually committed a crime. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-the-fuck-did-checking-out-at-a-store-become-such-a-goddamned-stupid-ordeal/654803.md?page=6)