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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Checkout fuss

165 replies

veritata · 31/08/2014 17:30

I was approaching the checkouts at the supermarkets today, and saw one with two people - one, a man, was loading his trolley having paid, and there was a woman standing there who I assumed was with him. I joined that queue and started getting my stuff out when the woman said "Excuse me, I'm first". I was confused and said "Come on, you haven't got a trolley", whereupon she gestured to a lad who had come up behind me with a trolley and said "There it is". I said "Yes, and it's behind me". She got into a huff and stropped off muttering "Don't panic, it's only a queue" to which I just answered "Precisely". I was perfectly calm throughout - if anything, I was just confused - and in fact was about to move myself rather than get into a stupid stand-off.

WIBU? Has reserving your place in checkout queues become a thing that no-one's told me about?

OP posts:
jetsetlil · 02/09/2014 15:52

I work for an estate agents as a viewing rep and it sounds like they have done a fine job for you so far - they have found you 3 buyers! You said you think the latest buyer has pulled out for financial reasons so that isn't anything the EA or yourself has done wrong. I doubt very much they have just sent any old person round to view just to make it look like they are marketing it - it doesn't work like that, especially if they are conducting the viewings, after all, they have to pay their reps wages so if they are anything like the company I work work (which is independent) they will only allow people to view who are in a position to proceed NOT timewasters

jetsetlil · 02/09/2014 15:52

Whoops... wrong th read

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 02/09/2014 15:58

We live in a small town with many pensioners (sorry EvansOvalPiesYumYum, though you sound rather young in outlook to be considered in the same bracket, even if you are approaching that age)

Oh do I really? I thank you Grin Grin Grin (There are lots of us, y'know)!!!

OldBag - No, I'm not JSP - chuckle!

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 02/09/2014 16:01

Angels - that is dreadful! You should have asked for some intervention from a member of the shop's staff. Some people can be such bullies. Do not let it happen again!!! Flowers

FelixFelix · 02/09/2014 16:05

That John Terry story is ace Grin

What is a 'scan as you go' checkout?

flowersinthewind · 02/09/2014 16:12

I will have to toughen up a bit as i let a bloke unload his shopping after his wife greeted him said wife had checked out i was miffed and tired plus it was the Christmas shop . This was a few years ago now and hasnt happened since i will be prepared next time

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 02/09/2014 16:22

AntiDistincltyMinty - that is jaw-dropping! How on earth did you remain calm?

OldBagWantsNewBag · 02/09/2014 16:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 02/09/2014 16:23

transpose l and t, plse Typing at speed Blush

Overcooked · 02/09/2014 16:32

I'm a conscientious objector of self-service checkouts. They are a way of the supermarkets reducing staff and increasing profits - they certainly will not be passing on any savings to their customers, or poor, squeezed farmers (but that's a whole other thread).

MFIC · 02/09/2014 16:35

This reply has been deleted

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withaspongeandarustyspanner · 02/09/2014 16:35

Overcooked you're not my Dad, are you? Grin

Overcooked · 02/09/2014 16:40

With - it's very unlikely, I am missing vital organs needed to father a child.

withaspongeandarustyspanner · 02/09/2014 16:42

It's OK - I didn't really think you would be. But I've heard him say that pretty much word for word.

Overcooked · 02/09/2014 16:45

With - thank goodness I'm not alone, will he join me in the revolution, my mum is a fair weather objector. She'll only use them if the other queues are too big - no bleeding conviction.

MFIC · 02/09/2014 16:46

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FelixFelix · 02/09/2014 16:47

Thanks MFIC. I don't think they exist around here Wink

FelixFelix · 02/09/2014 16:48

That was meant to be a Shock not a creepy winky face!

withaspongeandarustyspanner · 02/09/2014 16:49

I'm pretty sure he will join you. He'd rather leave the shop than use one.

Overcooked · 02/09/2014 17:30

MFIC - I can assure you they will over time. Why have seven operators of you can serve everybody with just one overseeing the self-service.

If the SM can't cope with the volume of customers then they need more staff. They don't want more staff as it eats into their profits so they buy more self-service tills.

MFIC · 02/09/2014 18:31

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EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 02/09/2014 18:51

Agree with MFIC - it is perfectly natural for a company to want to make a profit, otherwise, what is the point of being in business?

I would be happy if they had more self-service tills and self-scan, but paid the farmers more for their produce.

I, for one, would be happy to pay more for my produce if it was responsibly sourced and the farmers were getting a fair price for their work.

And I like self-serve/self scan - very much indeed!

FreeWee · 02/09/2014 19:43

You choose your queue based on the visible evidence of how long it's going to take. Lots of people with a few items or one person with lots. If someone has a few things visible you might choose to go behind them. If their partner then brings a trolley load I'd feel hacked off that they 'hid' their true queuing time potential. If someone said I could go in front of them with my two things, to be joined by my DH and a trolley load I'd be mortified!

Soggy1979 · 02/09/2014 20:01

What about asking someone to save a place for you if it's a long queue and you're in a rush?

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 02/09/2014 20:14

If I let a person go in front of me with one or two items and then someone joined them with a trolley full, then I'm afraid it just would not happen. And I really would not care if security had to be called. Thankfully, that hasn't yet happened.

Leaving a trolley in the queue to run and get something you've forgotten is absolutely fair enough - I'm sure most of us have done that. I usually announce my intentions to the cashier and the person behind me, so there's no misunderstanding, then I 'sprint' to get my forgotten item. Equally, I have no problem with anyone else doing it either. It's pretty common, I think, and doesn't inconvenience anyone, within reason. If you've wandered off to get a new, loaded armful of items, that's another matter entirely, and deserve to have your trolley pushed back!

A couple of weeks ago, was in queue behind a chap. The till next door was moving more quickly, so chap left our line to join next-door's queue. I unloaded my basket onto the conveyor belt. Next door till decided they were closing, before chummy got served so he tried to push back in front of me. I did politely say "Excuse me", etc. And he mumbled something about being redirected. Erm, no, you left this line voluntarily, no redirection involved. He did wander off to find somewhere else, muttering all the way.

It is quite funny, reading the queuing etiquette!! One can become a bit possessive about their space (me included, clearly) Grin