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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Rude woman in tesco

208 replies

TorianaTollywobbles · 14/01/2011 20:23

This is my first AIBU so please be gentle!

In Tesco earlier. Woman in front of me in queue, unloading her shopping from small trolley. I leave a gap, put a divider on and start unloading my shopping also small trolley. The following then happens:

Her: What do you think you are doing? (aggressive tone)
Me: errr.... unloading my shopping
Her: well I have a full trolley you know
Me: ok will move my stuff down a bit, is not a problem, you only had to ask nicely
Her: silence

So was I BU unloading my shopping before she had finished? Didn't think I was, have done it before and no problems.

So AIBU or was she?

OP posts:
TheMonster · 14/01/2011 21:43

YABU.

charliesmommy · 14/01/2011 21:43

Etiquette is for the person in front to put the divider down once they have FINISHED!

I would be pissed off if the person behind me did it and started to unload their shopping. Its not as if they are going to get served any quicker.

However I probably wouldnt say anything, just take a lot longer and read the ingredients list on each item as I packed it.. Grin

Op, do you find a lot of the people in front of you seem to take longer than normal to pack their bags??? Wink

LoopyLoopsIsNoLongerFestive · 14/01/2011 21:44

Who cares? Confused

Maternelle · 14/01/2011 21:44

YANBU. I do this all the time. And most people actually place the dividers themselves having estimated how much space they need.

hoovercraft · 14/01/2011 21:46

imo you should only start unloading before they finish if they put the divider down themselves.

GandTiceandaslice · 14/01/2011 21:47

I get irrationally angry when people don't pout the divider up. Blush

ThinThatch · 14/01/2011 21:48

'YABU, as far as supermarket etiquette goes. You ALWAYS wait until the person in front of you has finished loading up their shopping, unless said person is only buying a handful of things. However, she was rude.'

'Supermarket etiquette'. Seriously? How do you know these things? Is there a Debrette's for shoppers now?

I don't think you're being unreasonable and it wouldn't bother me in the slightest if someone started unloading their basket/trolley while I was still unloading mine. However, those lazy wotzits that don't put the divider down after unloading their shopping should have Nectar points deducted! Ooh, that makes me cross. Angry

Milngavie · 14/01/2011 21:58

YABU.

People who start putting up their shopping before I have finished unloading my own drive me crazy. It is rude. Almost as bad as being shoved in the back by the trolley of the person behind you.

BUT she was BU to be so rude though I can see why she did it.

Goofymum · 14/01/2011 22:18

It pisses me off when people unload their shopping onto the belt when I haven't finished yet just because it's thoughtless and pointless. I just want to scream - "stop hassling me - it's my turn, you just wait". I know it's petty and irrational and I never actually say anything, usually mumble something along the lines of excuse me, could you give me a bit more room to put everything on (and then have to deliberately space my shopping out to prove a point!)

differentnameforthis · 14/01/2011 22:20

I always leave my trolley right at the end of the belt, so no one can get it to put their stuff on!

The till operators pack bags here, so I put stuff on the belt in groups of how I want it packed, so it takes time & space.

I really don't see why you need to unload your trolley 20 secs sooner!

differentnameforthis · 14/01/2011 22:22

so no one can get past it to put their stuff on!

ILovedYou · 14/01/2011 22:28

YABU!

Impatient of you and your actions wouldn't have got you through the checkout any quicker!

IloveJudgeJudy · 14/01/2011 22:31

Unloading your trolley before the person in front has finished is on the same scale of rudeness as pushing your trolley into my back and invading my personal space.

OP, YABU. Supermarket laws state that you may not start to unpack until the person in front of you has finished. I do the keeping the trolley at the end of the conveyer belt until I have finished thing. Usually, I have loads of crap stuff so I need at least a conveyer belt length to unload.

If you did this to me I probably would say something and would also probably pack very slowly to make a point.

stainesmassif · 14/01/2011 22:35

i had no idea there was an etiquette - IMO YANBU, but what do I know, i shop on line these days.

What really gets my goat is when people come past my side of the checkout when i'm still paying. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

PaisleyLeaf · 14/01/2011 22:37

If this is how you usually do it - what happens when the conveyor belt moves along, and you're shopping comes up beside the person in front, who's still unloading and has now lost that gap?

electra · 14/01/2011 22:37

I usually wait for the person in front to finish loading their stuff but at the same time she was unnecessarily rude.

elephantjelly · 14/01/2011 22:46

YABU

imgonnaliveforever · 14/01/2011 22:47

YANBU. And whatever people say it does speed things up cos you can start loading your bags sooner at the other end if you've already finished loading things onto the belt.

I can't think why anyone would take offense at this, it doesn't do any harm.

CubaCat · 14/01/2011 22:48

YABU. As others have said, it's rude and impatient. It's happened to me twice that I can recall. First time I was 8 months pregnant and doing a big weekly shop at Asda (I know, I know, it serves me right but it was the only supermarket in the area where I lived at the time). I'd only unpacked about half my (big) trolley when two young women in their early 20's started putting their stuff on the conveyor, meaning I didn't have enough room. I was so Shock (this isn't the norm around these parts) that I didn't say anything, just put my stuff on as best I could. I half expected them to notice I was hugely fat and struggling to put my groceries on the conveyor and move their stuff back a bit to give me room, but they were so busy gossiping about which one of three blokes their baby daddy could be chatting, that they didn't notice.

The second time it happened was a few months back in Morrisons (I know, I know etc.). Again, I was loading my weekly shop onto the conveyor and this couple started loading their stuff on, right behind mine. I was so fuelled by PMT rage annoyed, that I just put my forearm on the conveyor and shoved all their stuff back. They muttered an apology and took their stuff off.

Warning: I would do the same again, so if you are behind me in the queue, have a bit of courtesy and patience.

activate · 14/01/2011 22:48

you wait until the person in front has finished unloading IMO

theevildead2 · 14/01/2011 22:49

yabu

Clarkiee · 14/01/2011 22:59

Maybe it depends on where you live- some places seem to have more people with a chip on their shoulder.
I think its probably politer to wait till they put the divider down but as you left her enough room I don't see what her problem was. Can't believe she said something to you!!! Sounded like you responded calmly though- well done TorianaTollywobble

YANBU!

TheSkiingGardener · 14/01/2011 23:14

Why, why, why would you do this? I have never had anybody start loading their stuff behind mine when immstill unloading. Is it really do hard to extend the basic courtesy of giving them the time and space to finish, it's not as if it's going to speed you up at all.

Um, YABU. However she was very rude in dealing with it.

woollyideas · 14/01/2011 23:15

What about if the OP had a heavy basket instead of a small trolley and it was hurting her arm and she needed to perch it on the metal bit at the end of the conveyor belt before the person with the trolley in front had finished unloading?

Is this permitted? I'd like to know the correct etiquette because I do this sometimes have an acquaintance who does this.

The supermarket in question is Waitrose.

SycamoretreeIsVile · 14/01/2011 23:17

YABU - that would stress me out. I would feel agitated.

And I would be likely to SNAP Grin

What's your hurry girlfriend? You won't get served any faster. And it's not like you were holding a heavy basket.

Be more considerate next time.

Consider yourself schooled Biscuit