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12 Items or Less, Grocery Store Etiquette Part II

Grocery store problems with customers

I won't even get into the 12 items or less lines. I think that is more the fault of the store employee for not calling the jerk on it, or other people in line.

But, I will say, if you are in line and writing a check, have the damn thing already filled out. You know the store name, and the date, and you can sign it. Then, when you get your total, just fill that in.

If you have a bunch of groceries, and the person behind you has one or two items, let them go. Although, be careful. I did that once, then another person with one item came, and another. I let all 3 go, before I finally started putting my stuff on the belt. A 4th guy had a carton of milk and some gum. He was sighing, and visibly upset I wasn't letting him go ahead of me. I said, "I let 3 people go already, that only had a few items." He responded, "Well, can you let me go? I only have these two things." I apologized, and he got all mad. I said, "Dude, if you only got milk and gum, you could get that at 7-11 where there's no line."

He responded, "Well, it's more expensive there." I said, "Okay. You save money, but you're going to have to wait in line behind people that go to a grocery store to, well, buy groceries."

Hey, it just occured to me...what would happen if you ever wanted to purchase one of those things that separates your groceries from the person in front of you? I bet it would be impossible to get that transaction down.

Anyway, back to a few other things that tick me off. Don't block the aisles. You know others are walking by with their carts. Be considerate. And when I walk by and smile and I say "Excuse me"...say something back. Are we a society that can't smile and be polite?

I can't complain about people blocking the aisles for their free samples at Costco, since I don't go there. It does seem silly that people act like a back of ravenous dogs, for 1/4 of a piece of beef jerky.

Don't open the freezer doors while trying to decide which product to buy, or which one your stupid coupon is for. Then the rest of us can't look thru the glass that is all fogged. They make them glass for a reason. You can see thru it and find your item.

And, that reminds me of two things. I hate using coupons. I'm a guy, not an old lady. It just doesn't look cool. I have no problem if you use them...but just don't sit there and bicker with the clerk because your coupon expired, or you grabbed the wrong product, and think they should still honor the coupon. You're wasting my (and everyone elses) time.

I also like to use that basket you carry around. I guess, I don't feel cool pushing a shopping cart. And, I always get the one with the tweaked wheel. But sometimes, I think I only need a few items, and I don't grab a cart. Why not have a stack of those in the back of the store? Is that too hard to ask?

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I won't even get into the 12 items or less lines. I think that is more the fault of the store employee for not calling the jerk on it, or other people in line.

But, I will say, if you are in line and writing a check, have the damn thing already filled out. You know the store name, and the date, and you can sign it. Then, when you get your total, just fill that in.

If you have a bunch of groceries, and the person behind you has one or two items, let them go. Although, be careful. I did that once, then another person with one item came, and another. I let all 3 go, before I finally started putting my stuff on the belt. A 4th guy had a carton of milk and some gum. He was sighing, and visibly upset I wasn't letting him go ahead of me. I said, "I let 3 people go already, that only had a few items." He responded, "Well, can you let me go? I only have these two things." I apologized, and he got all mad. I said, "Dude, if you only got milk and gum, you could get that at 7-11 where there's no line."

He responded, "Well, it's more expensive there." I said, "Okay. You save money, but you're going to have to wait in line behind people that go to a grocery store to, well, buy groceries."

Hey, it just occured to me...what would happen if you ever wanted to purchase one of those things that separates your groceries from the person in front of you? I bet it would be impossible to get that transaction down.

Anyway, back to a few other things that tick me off. Don't block the aisles. You know others are walking by with their carts. Be considerate. And when I walk by and smile and I say "Excuse me"...say something back. Are we a society that can't smile and be polite?

I can't complain about people blocking the aisles for their free samples at Costco, since I don't go there. It does seem silly that people act like a back of ravenous dogs, for 1/4 of a piece of beef jerky.

Don't open the freezer doors while trying to decide which product to buy, or which one your stupid coupon is for. Then the rest of us can't look thru the glass that is all fogged. They make them glass for a reason. You can see thru it and find your item.

And, that reminds me of two things. I hate using coupons. I'm a guy, not an old lady. It just doesn't look cool. I have no problem if you use them...but just don't sit there and bicker with the clerk because your coupon expired, or you grabbed the wrong product, and think they should still honor the coupon. You're wasting my (and everyone elses) time.

I also like to use that basket you carry around. I guess, I don't feel cool pushing a shopping cart. And, I always get the one with the tweaked wheel. But sometimes, I think I only need a few items, and I don't grab a cart. Why not have a stack of those in the back of the store? Is that too hard to ask?

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