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Original poster

Do tall people mind helping shorter people reach things in the supermarket?

168 replies

glorioussilence · 02/01/2020 11:27

I’ve just had to ask for help in Sainsbury’s (5’3) and it always makes me feel a bit infantile which is stupid - I can’t help being short!

The person I asked just laughed but do tall people ever get annoyed?

OP posts:
LollipopViolet · 02/01/2020 13:10

I'm 5 foot 1. Please, feel free to ask me for stuff from the bottom shelves - it makes me feel useful :)

I used to work as a casual stocktaker, and even on ladders struggled with the top shelves, and also the little freezer cupboards that are above the open bits. Also tall freezers in general.

hazeyjane · 02/01/2020 13:11

2 random 'short person trying to get food' facts...

Stephen Mangan once reached down a box of muesli for me from a high shelf.

I once overbalanced and fell into a freezer in Sainsbury's, trying to reach a tub of ice cream from the far bottom corner.

SutterCane · 02/01/2020 13:12

I’m 5’10” and have happily accepted my role in society as a long being Grin

Do tall people mind helping shorter people reach things in the supermarket?
ByAppointmentTo · 02/01/2020 13:12

I get asked a lot. I'm always happy to help and will offer to help if I see someone struggling to reach.

TSSDNCOP · 02/01/2020 13:12

Not at all. I’m 5’9. I just offered to help an elderly lady put her walker in her car too. You’d never guess I am a Tory VoterWink

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 02/01/2020 13:16

I don't mind at all, I'm happy to help. I have many times gone over to help someone unasked if I see them jumping to try and get something! Grin

AgadorSpartacus · 02/01/2020 13:27

It’s funny how DH and DS both 6ft 6 are more than happy to help random strangers to reach things and yet there are times when I am standing there flailing like an idiot and it takes a firm “AHEM” to attract their attention to my short person struggle Confused

Breathmiller · 02/01/2020 13:33

I'm a fairly tall being and more than happy to help when asked or if I see someone struggling to reach.
In fact I'm glad to be given the opportunity to help someone's day albeit in a small way.

It always reminds me of my granny who always had to ask for some tall person's help to reach the Nesquik packets that she liked to buy me when I visited as a child. Makes me smile.

Likethebattle · 02/01/2020 13:34

I’m 5’9’’ and husband is 5’11’’ and I don’t mind at all. Why would anyone mind?

PH30B3 · 02/01/2020 13:39

My husband often gets asked and doesn't mind in the slightest.

motherofawhirlwind · 02/01/2020 13:43

@whyamidoingthis I think that's fine to say, you're not making fun of it. This was mainly on behalf of my 6“6 OH who is always happy to help but has heard all these "jokes" so many times....

Likethebattle · 02/01/2020 13:44

If you can help someone and it doesn’t put you out why would you not. I saw a woman
Packing her shopping into the back of her car and trying to stop her rather crazy dog from escaping. The lady was in a wheelchair, as we passed to go into the shop
I asked if she wanted me to take her basket back. It would save her wheeling back across the carpark to return it and then back to her car. She actually looked shocked that someone had offered and that made me feel sad, I was going past the basket area anyway.

Likethebattle · 02/01/2020 13:45

My friends husband is 6’8’’ and when someone comments on his height they say ‘oh thanks we hadn’t noticed!’

catlady3 · 02/01/2020 13:49

People are quite nice about it in my experience. Thank you tall people, I appreciate you!!!

TickleMyPickle · 02/01/2020 14:05

I’m 5ft10 and get asked almost every time I’m in big Tesco. I don’t mind at all, and I often move items to the front of the higher shelves to give shorter people half a chance of reaching them Smile

SanAntonio · 02/01/2020 14:09

I am 5 foot 7- so not short

My local Waitrose redesigned to put in a coffee counter (to drink the then free coffee and read then then free newspapers), a table in the wine area and to change the bakery slightly.

The shelves were raised and I couldn't reach the top. In 1 part I had to drag a stool from the coffee counter to stand on it. I always asked to pass things and often I cant reach. Bread and fever tree tonic are both out of my reach.

I felt very disenfranchised as a woman. I now longer shop at Waitrose (£200 a week before)

ElGuardiandenoche · 02/01/2020 14:10

I'm a wheelchair user and I'm constantly having to ask people to help. It's a pain when there is no one around and you have to go hunting for someone.There seems to be less and less staff on the shop floor and usually if I ask someone to help they don't want to come back with me. I have been known to wait until I see someone passing the bottom of the aisle and then call out ''excuse me please could you help me?'' but it's hit and miss. Don't get me started with narrow aisles and racks in the way. Shopping takes twice as long as it should.

nevergotthehangofturkeys · 02/01/2020 14:38

SanAntonio - have you ever pointed out to your local Waitrose that their shelf layout discriminates against women and certain racial groups (especially South Asians and Chinese?) That might spur them into action.

Amber0685 · 02/01/2020 14:49

I don't mind at all.

dreamingofmushrooms · 02/01/2020 14:51

I don't mind at all - I'm a shade under 5'8".

Northernsoullover · 02/01/2020 14:53

I'm 5'10" and I don't mind either.

KangarooCourting · 02/01/2020 14:55

5’11 and this happens to me frequently.
I’m happy to help!

VodselForDinner · 02/01/2020 15:01

I’m 5’ 11” and husband is 6’ 4” so both of us spend a lot of time being asked to reach shelves for people. I don’t mind- people tend to ask nicely and be appreciative.

Sometimes, with DH in particular, I’ll notice some older women kind of fall in-line with us in the supermarket so they’re always in the same aisle as us when they need some help Grin

I do have an awful habit of reaching for things for people who look like they’ll struggle, when they haven’t asked me though. I try not to do it but when you see someone on tiptoes trying to get something from a high shelf, it’s hard to stand back and watch them get a jar to the face.

Tall people- we’re the lighthouses of society.

Itsjustmee · 02/01/2020 15:06

My DH is 6ft 4
He’s always been asked to grab something of the top shelf
He’s never had a problem with it , in fact if he sees someone struggling he will offer

NoNewsisGood · 02/01/2020 15:10

No, it's nice to feel useful. If I can't help, I happily offer up DH. It's something we can do for no other reason that being taller and it helps someone. It's nice to help each other. No different from me asking DS to look at stuff on the lower shelf.

To those in a wheelchair - ask kids? DS would love to literally follow you around the supermarket collecting stuff for you Smile