Beware, I feel a rant coming on!
I do all most of the grocery shopping in our house. It is quite an ordeal. I usually go to 3 different stores. I’ll tell you about that another day.
Since I go to so many stores, I see a lot of stupid things that people do. I used to think people just checked their brains at the entrance to Disney World, but now I know they check them at the doors to grocery stores too. To combat this, I have come up with a preliminary list of rules for grocery stores. What do you think?
- Get out of my way: Don’t stand in the middle of the doorway having a conversation. Don’t surround the baskets so I can’t get one. Don’t take up the whole aisle. Let’s just share the space and I won’t have to drag your butt into the parking lot and out of my way!
- Watch where you are walking: Similar to the one above but now we are moving. Can we all attempt to follow standard traffic rules while in the grocery store? Imagine that the cart is your car.
- Speaking of walking, while in the parking lot…: Yes, I have to yield to pedestrians while I am in a car and you are on the cross walk BUT, don’t let your brats kids run into traffic; TRY to move faster than a leisurely stroll; and if you aren’t on a cross walk but someone stops, acknowledge them with a wave/nod/smile. As my mom always said “You may have the right-of-way, but the car will hurt you more than you hurt it”.
- Take any open spot: Honestly, you could be in the store and done shopping in the time that you waited on that upfront spot. Think of the few extra feet as your required exercise for the day and save people from having to wait behind you. Oh, and the fire lane, that is not a parking spot. You screw up traffic while parking there or waiting to pick someone up.
- Put your cart back where it belongs: I HATE when people leave their carts all over the parking lot. This is particularly offensive when there is an area for carts TWO parking spots down. This is just more exercise that you know we all need.
- Use a debit card instead of checks: Especially if you are in the speedy checkout line. And if you insist on writing a check, have the date, name of the store and your signature on it before the total is rung up.
- When using change..: I get it, it sucks having a lot of change in your pocket/wallet/purse but it also sucks to be behind the person who feels the need to count out $1.47 in nickels and pennies and then dig through their purse for the last 2 cents. So, use change but be considerate in the usage. Sometimes all you have to do is give a few pennies to prevent yourself from getting more in return and have your change ready. And know when to admit defeat – aka, have bills ready. I won’t tell you to use a debit card instead – I am all for using cash instead of a card.
- You are in line and realize you forgot something…: TOUGH! You have a few acceptable options here.
- Pay, leave your bags in the cart, run get your item and stand in line again;
- Send someone with you to get it, but ONLY if they can make it back before the cashier is done ringing;
- Get it another day.
- Learn Math: Yes, I know, we have machines that do math for us today. But when you get in line with 6 things that cost $2 each then realize you only have $10, you deserve to be smacked. Seriously, a lot of places require a manager to delete something that has already been rung up. So lucky me that has already unloaded a full cart of groceries now has to wait for the manager because you are an idiot.
- Speaking of math…: I know your momma said you were special, but when the sign says 10 items or less, they mean TEN ITEMS OR LESS. Don’t think I don’t see you sneaking in 5 extra cans of cat food. Yes, I know the other lines are long. Deal with it. This is math related right? Because it has to do with counting.
I guess the moral of the story is use common sense and have a little bit of consideration of the people around you. I know, common sense and consideration are dying terms today but let’s see if we can get them off of life support. I’ll try to follow all of my rules too and then we can all be one big fat happy grocery store family.
I’m done. Thanks for reading if you got this far down…I promise to not do this too often 🙂 Anyone else have any rules I should have added to the list?
I love your rules! I hate when people crowd around the butcher shop and you can’t see anything. That’s a big rule of mine…NO CROWDING!
“I know, common sense and consideration are dying terms today but let’s see if we can get them off of life support.”
So you think we should just pull the plug and let them die? =)
Jackie, I TOTALLY stand behind #5. I can’t stand the whole cart return situation in most parking lots. The poor guy who has to fish for all those carts is getting paid minimum wage…try to be considerate and give him a break!
By the way, if you didn’t already know, Jackie and I are both a bit sensitive to grocery store related things since we both worked in one for a few years. Yes…I was that guy getting paid minimum wage collecting carts…and back then we didn’t even HAVE a cart return!
@the food runner – I am so not a fan of crowds and so yes…I agree 100%
@mr3dphd – When I say get them off life support – I mean bring them back to life! And yes, I was the poor check out girl in a pink smock. I felt a bit like a rejected candy-stiper until they updated the uniforms to polo shirts.
This is so funny and I agree. Looks like from all your mentions of me, I taught you everything. LOL
Maybe not everything…but a lot 🙂
I love this! One of my least favorite things to do is grocery shopping. People get in my way, cut me off and walk slow and just drive me bonkers! And it never helps when I have an antsy almost 3 year old with me. If we can go quickly, we get in and out without too much trouble. But when people jump in front of us and then stop? My 3 year old starts to act-up because he’s bored and it’s taking too long!
Hi Jackie…I can identify w/ all of it ! I could feel the blood pressure rising……thanks ! You don’t think that I have broken a few of those rules…do you????? HA! Love, Diane
Oh – I am sure I have broken a couple of those at some point 🙂 But I didn’t really just admit that did I!
These are all good ones.
One of my pet peeves are “Grazers”
This isn’t a buffet and I don’t want that bunch of grapes you just picked and ate the three nicest grapes. . . .
Thought of another one.
Sale items where it says Limit two or whatever and people take six.
I feel like asking if they can’t read or they can’t count or are just an ass.
That felt good to get out, I’m done now 😉
Ha! Glad you feel better.
Yes,….
Say THANK YOU when someone offers you their discount card. I just saved you $50, the least you can do is hand me my card back and not just throw it on the belt to get caught.
Stop reading that magazine and pay attention to your kid who is pulling down every.single.pack.of.gum, one by one, and throwing them at me
On top of that, how about just pay attention to your kid.
Close the freezer door.
Don’t load up your cart only to unload it around the store
When you’re ordering a superbowl party’s amount of coldcuts, kindly ask the person behind you if all they need is a quarter pound american please
Yes, that is really your total, the register doesn’t make up numbers just to confuse you
If you hit the back of my foot with your cart one more time, so help me, I’m pushing back, and you’re not going to like it
Yes, that is the last one of ____ in my cart. No, you can not have it
If you hit me again with your cart, I’m taking it
Yes, it is after 12p on a Sunday. In NY, this means you can not buy alcohol. No, they will not make an exception for you, even though the Yanks v Sox is in the bottom of the 9th, tied, and you need to get back to your BBQ
For the jerks that put 9 different kinds of peppers, onions, apples and oranges into ONE vegetable bag… I appreciate your effort to save the environment. How about not use any veg bag at all then, because by the time they do each one by one, everyone in line behind you has exhausted enough C02 to make your effort worthless
(Hi Momma Mc!!!!!!)
Jackie, I totally understand your frustrations and agree with your ideas. May I add one more: If you do find that you are in a long line, try to at least smile but better yet strike up a conversation with the person behind your or (if they aren’t busy) the person in front of you. Just showing concern for a fellow shopper can bring less stress to their day and yes, yours, too. It sure beats standing there reading the supermarket rag magazines. And don’t forget some kindness for the cashier, too. I try to always make my cashier laugh about something (without holding up the line behind me).
Oh Bets – You are always such a positive person! Yes, I love striking up conversations with people in line…or just about anywhere in the grocery store for that matter. And as a former cashier – show the cashiers some love!
So just a random cashier tip of the day. If you are buying greeting cards, but the UPC facing up, not the pretty side. Totally speeds things up.
also…put it under the flap of the envelope, face down, so the casheir doesnt have to try to peel the card and the envelope off the belt.
leave eggs, lightbulbs and bread asidefor ringing at the beginning or the end
(yes, I was a casheir!!)
Hey, while we’re at it, here’s one for the poor baggers…unload your items from your cart by weight/category. Unload all your heavy stuff first (drinks, cans, jars, etc). Then unload frozen foods together, meats together, produce, etc. Not only will this make things easier for the bagger, but it will make your life easier if you happen to get a bagger who doesn’t give a crap about your groceries (he’ll be less likely to put your ground beef, rat poison, and 2 liter of soda in the same bag [on top of your bread]).
Also, another thing for the list. If you figure out that you don’t want an item….PUT IT BACK WHERE YOU FOUND IT!!! That’s a huge pet peeve of mine.
Completely agree with you. This applies to the pharmacy as well. People, as a whole, are just stupid.
Also, I want to know who the person was that decided that the speedy checkout line should be labelled “15 items or less.” Where did they learn English? It should be “15 items or fewer.” Stupid people. 😉