to use the baskets only lane with a trolly?

[suddenlycupishalffull]

So I'm in the supermarket with my 4 year old & 19 month old whom I have to strap down into a pram because he's a runner & is heavy. I normally shop online but I needed to nip in for a few bits, ie a small baskets worth of stuff. if you 'nip' in anywhere with 2 kids in tow Anyway, I'm stood there minding my own business and the old guy behind me looks me up and down like I've just crawled out of the sewer & says 'this line is basket only,' so I said 'all I have in my trolly is my son, he's too heavy to carry & I only have a few items' but he's not happy, raising his eyebrows at me, huffing, puffing etc. I ignore. The nice girl on the till serves me but when I turn to go he starts ranting - and I mean properly ranting - to the till girl about how unfair it is I was allowed to go through, it's not on etc etc. The girl said it was fine, I'd only got a few items but he carries on ranting so I stopped & defended myself saying I've got 2 kids in tow, could he carry a baby & manage a pre-schooler round a busy store & carry a basket? He continues to rant about it not being fair so I huff off. But really - is it that much of a sin? I'm bemused! Most people give you a sympathetic smile when you're going round a supermarket with kids, did I break some supermarket taboo here? AIBU?

Go to Aldi or Lidl - they don't have basket only aisles so the miserable old feckers just have to wait their turn behind everyone else.

But I only a few items so it's just semantics surely?

Actually, it isn't just semantics because there's nothing more irksome than discovering that the interpretation of 'baskets only' actually means 'we ignore the awkward fuckers with a week's shopping in a trolley because they are awkward fuckers'.

But with only a few items, I agree. It's about the number of items not the mechanism for transporting them around. I also think people are quite ludicrously under-employed in the 'get a life' department if they lose their rag over something so trivial that ultimately, doesn't affect them one jot.

YANBU. My elderly nan always uses a trolley for support even when just getting a couple of items. It makes no difference in time anyway if you have the same amount of items in a trolley instead of a basket. Miserable sod.

Yes I think that's the point, he lost it, there was shouting & I'm there with a toddler & wide-eyed 4 year old whose never seen the like. It actually lead to a useful conversation with pre-schooler afterwards about how some people are just mean but I was shaken by it & then thought god perhaps I am BU afterall!

YANBU
I would have asked him to watch/look after the children whilst I transferred items to a basket.
I would also contact the store and advise them that their signage was discriminatory. I've a friend with spinal issues. She can't carry a basket because of the way it distributes weight. She has to use a trolley.
Similarly, another friend has other mobility issues and can't easily balance - a trolley when shopping (even if for two items) provides stability.

Our local supermarket ditched 'baskets only' for "eight items or fewer".

I also think people are quite ludicrously under-employed in the 'get a life' department if they lose their rag over something so trivial that ultimately, doesn't affect them one jot.

This. People really need to get a sense of proportion!

I might contact the store actually, my Gran has to walk round with a trolly due to mobility issues but fortunately has never had anyone being aggressive to her. A '10 items or fewer less? Which one, I never know??' sign would help, it's a big store, clogging up the basket lane with a trolly isn't an issue. I'll do that, that's a good suggestion thank you.

Yanbu!!! I would have told he to sod off and put his complaint in writing