To not let someone go ahead of me at the checkout

[spababe]

OK so I was shopping at Lidl and had a small trolley full of groceries. There were only 3 checkouts open so we all had to queue. The woman behind me asked if she could go ahead of me as she only had a couple of things. I asked her if there was any particular reason and she said no so I pointed out I had to queue too and she backed down.

It felt as if she was saying her time was more important than mine. She had no special reason eg had to catch a train so why should I let her go ahead and queue jump me?

I think if you offer then that is one thing but to be asked is just arrogant and cheeky

Wow... I'd hate to see your reaction if someone was actually rude to you!

I've had this happen a few times at the local supermarket. If I've had just the one thing people have let me queue jump. I always think it's a lovely thing to do

I'd always let a person with a couple of items ahead of my full trolley. It's just being a decent human being.
Strange supermarket policy - at busy times with long lines at checkouts, a store employee will often approach the last person in the queue to tell them a new checkout is opening elsewhere. That's the person who has waited the least amount of time, why not go further down the queue?
(My trivial vent for the day. You're welcome.)

Shame, you had an opportunity to be nice, and you weren't.

Agree

Well, you don't have to be nice, but it is lovely when you are.

I do think you're thinking way too deep into it though. The "It felt as if she was saying her time was more important than mine" does say a little bit more about you than her.

It's not mean at all, op. When I go to the supermarket I expect queue, I certainly don't expect anyone to let me jump the queue just because I have fewer items than they do.

A couple times I have offered to let people go in front of me, but to be honest, I have spent as much time in there as they have (more if I have more items, obviously) and just want to pay for my goods so I can get on with the rest of my day. Yes, it might only take a few minutes extra to let someone go first, but a few minutes is a lot when you have a busy day of work, volunteering at the school before pick up etc.

I like to treat people as I would wish to be treated Well so do I, but I hardly think not letting people in front of me is mean! Like I said before, I have waited too & why should someone who has been in the store for 2 minutes & JUST joined the queue get to go before me, when I have spent a lot longer in there & probably been in the queue MUCH longer than them.

But it's all part of Aldi and Lidl etiquette to allow someone with only a few items in front of you if you have a trolley. You need to read the rule book if you're going to shop in these shops. SERIOUSLY doubt that Lidl & Aldi have a queueing rule book! Please...Yes, it may be common to allow those with fewer items to go ahead of you, but I doubt there are rules within the shop that state this is a must!

It isn't rude, mean, horrible, selfish etc to hold your own place in the queue & to go through the check out when you get there. I have never felt the need to ask to go before anyone, nor have I expected to be let through before anyone.

I have offered, but for some reason over here (Australia) people look at you like you are very odd if you ask them if they want to go in front of you. Which is rather odd, as they all usually push in & can't queue elsewhere...supermarkets seem different in that respect.

What does annoy me though, are the people who use the self serve checkouts for a trolley full of stuff, which obviously takes time. It also stuffs up all the time as you can't fit it all in the bagging area, so they constantly need the assistant to over ride the system every 5/6 items!

I think some ppl are being harsh on the op.
It's not mean to refuse a request to queue jump.
It does seem to happen more in Lidl through ime, more than waitrose or asda etc, and it affects you less for sme reason.
As I say, I often let ppl though before me but sometimes no, I'm all ready to start scanning and I just want to get out of the shop. and on. A couple of occasions it's let the floodgates open for several others to go too.

Where the hell are you going that's so much more important than my day?

Depends on mood too

"But it's all part of Aldi and Lidl etiquette to allow someone with only a few items in front of you if you have a trolley."

That is the funniest thing I have ever read!

If I notice people behind me with a couple of items & I feel like letting them go first, I do-whatever supermarket I'm in

Well I've been caught out before, letting someone in with only a couple of things, only for them to pull out about 40 coupons, many of which, after much inspection and argument, turned out to be out of date/not for the things purchased etc

Yes I've had this too, except I was behind an old lady who offered to let me go first, we both only had a small basket load. I declined and said I would wait and then stood silently kicking myself while she rooted through her bag for coupons, the cashier didn't know how to process them so had to get the supervisor and it took bloody ages. I don't ask to go in front but if someone offers now I go ahead.

I've let people go ahead of me, and I've sometimes been waved ahead when I was the one with a small number of items. I'm always appreciative when someone does it, but I don't expect it, and have never asked to go ahead of another person in a queue.

OP YANBU, in my opinion.