I know I was rude ...

[tubsywubsy]

In M&S yesterday, queuing at the basket checkout. The woman in front of me put down her basket and walked off. Didn't say anything. The queue moved forward and I walked around her basket to the front of the queue. A voice behind me said "I'm back." so I turned around and looked at her. "And I'm in a frightful hurry." she said. So I looked all innocent and said, "So what do you mean?" "I was here before you." she said. "Oh, I see" I said, "do you want to go in front of me?". I waved her forward and then it popped out... "A 'please' wouldn't go amiss." She looked blankly at me.

I know it's impolite to point out others' rudeness, but I just couldn't help myself. Would you have done the same?

I don't think you were rude. She could have just said 'excuse me, I have forgotten to pick up any Bolivian googleberries, I'll be back in a moment!' and smiled ingratiatingly.

I meant to add that she should have told you what she was about to do. Not announce, "I am back"!. I always ask the person behind me as they might thinkI have abandoned the basket. Only on one or two occasions I have recieved a frosty response. If the other way around I never say no or be unfriendly and I have known to wait for theiur return before unpacking my shopping if there is room on the conveyer belt.

YANBU

Just to make it clear, I would never have any objection to someone popping off to get something they'd forgotten and would always let them back into their place in the queue. It's just the way she just went off without a word then spoke to me as if I was a lesser being when she got back.

Well, the queue was long and slow, and she was gone for a while, so I wasn't sure whether she had gone to get something, or just given up.

I'm a Londoner and would have moved her basket out of the way and unpacked my own . That's Londoners for you.

YANBU. If she had said she was going to be a second, OK, but if you leave a queue then quite frankly thats her own lookout. Imagine we all did that, mark our place in the queue with a basket and wander back and forward getting groceries.

Although her saying 'i'm in a terrible hurry' would have got my back up - to me that implies that her time is more.important than anyone else's - if you're in that much of a hurry then start your shopping earlier. Maybe I'm just a grump though.

YANBU If I'd forgotten something I would either have left it or gone to get it but rejoined the queue at the back. I wouldn't expect to retain my place in the queue.

if i leave a queue i take everything with me and forfeit my place. why should people wait for me when i forget something?

anyone who does it to me gets bumped out of the que and can enjoy looking stupid trying to get their stuff when they return

If it wasn't even her turn at the register yet, then YABU. Glad you realized you were being rude.

I'd have let her go in front of me. I'd let anyone if they said they were in a hurry. You'd appreciate it if it was the other way round so I say be generous

You snooze you lose. I'd have just moved up and gone in front. You forfeit all positional rights if you physically remove yourself from Ulf queue.

@ Wellwisher -

She LEFT the queue. Gone, gone, gone, without so much as a bye or leave.

You were so not rude. Ya just don't do that. Don't sweat it.

Spot on, tubs.

Someone did this to me the other day, i was cycling home from work through the woods and a lady got hold of her dog for me so we didn't crash. I was absorbed in thought about work and didn't think to say thankyou (i honestly usually do i was just away with the fairies). She said "your welcome" as i cycled past her. I was a bit and then realised it was because i DIDN#t thank her. I wanted to stop and say "sorry, how rude of me" but it would have meant slamming the breaks on and the lady might have felt intimidated had i skidded to a halt in front of her.

Ahhh, the British and their love of queue etiquette. So many rules, so little time :)

I dont think the leaving would have been a problem for me it would have been the rudeness. Id have thanked you for letting me go before you & then id have thanked you again when i was leaving.

I probably would have said the same if i was in your position.

The rules are there to save time, inabeautiful - It's all about the courtesy innit.

I don't think you were rude.

She should have said please, rather than just presumed you would remember her.

When people should say thank you, but don't, I quite often say "you're welcome".

passive aggressive

I was only person about to be served in boots when a woman (looking like she was going to play golf) rushed in saying she was in a hurry and could she just go first. Me with screeming DS obviously looked like I had all day but would never say anything in a sitution like that.

Cashier "accidentally" got the wrong change out of the till so the woman had to wait until mine had been processed so that the till could be opened again .

OP, you're obviously a very polite person normally - so very well done to you- I wish more people were like you. The impression you give me is that y ou were understandably irritated by this self-important woman's rude behaviour and on this one occassion you let your standards slip. Hopefully this unpleasant lady will think about your reminder and remember her manners the next time she's shopping and your comment to her will have made the world a slightly better place.

Another time, you could say to her, "You're very welcome and be all smily" to make her feel guilty (and you can be super smug at having MUCH better manners than her). I suppose some people might call that passive aggression!

Oh no, I've missed a post saying the same as a me.

Sorry.