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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Supermarket checkouts: This isn't a thing, is it?

273 replies

DeathStare · 02/08/2016 17:12

I've just been to the supermarket. Did full-trolley shop and went to the check-out with the shortest queue. The person at it was having his stuff go through the scanner and there was about half the conveyor empty.

There was also another man just hanging around about 2 feet back from the end of the conveyor - no shopping with him.

So I went to start unpacking my shopping onto the conveyor and the man hanging around said "Excuse me I'm next". So I apologised and moved and indicated to him to put his stuff on the conveyor belt ahead of me. So he said "Oh I'm saving it for my wife for when she's finished her shopping". I looked around - thinking she had maybe just nipped back for something - but nobody was nearby. I asked if she was coming and he said he didn't think she had finished yet. So I said he didn't think he could save the check-out then and started unpacking my stuff.

He started complaining at me that I'd stolen his checkout but I just ignored him. Then when I'd filled the rest of the conveyor belt his wife turned up and he told her I'd stolen his check-out and she demanded that I remove my shopping because her husband had been saving it for her. When I refused (politely!) she shouted "you are so rude" and the pair of them stormed off.

This isn't a thing now is it? You can't save a check-out can you? Or have I just not noticed it before?

OP posts:

Attitude84 · 03/08/2016 20:56

I'd tell them to storm off to the loony farm. Saving a check out when she hasn't finished their shopping? It's self righteous and ignorant! You did the right thing!!!

estya · 03/08/2016 21:07

People do similar at Ikea. They'll send one person in to do the shopping while the other sits in the car listening to the radio in the loading bays.
It's one thing when the place is empty but they do it because people are queuing for the loading bays.
Very bad manners.

DaveGrohlsMrs · 03/08/2016 21:12

WTF?! I can't believe people think that is an acceptable way to behave!

tibbawyrots · 03/08/2016 21:15

elhirsuto

Like your style. Do you choose just one checkout or a selection and then pick the best when you're ready?

Pipistrelle40 · 03/08/2016 21:28

I am currently filling squeezy bottles with my own urine in homage to you elhirsuto and will be taking them with me shopping next time to mark my territory around my chosen till.

ElHirsuto · 03/08/2016 21:40

tibbawyrots

Good question; I'm glad you asked. It varies a great deal, depending upon various factors, including (but not limited to):

Average queue length
Average queue processing time
Relative competence of cashiers
Level of perceived threat from other shoppers
Number of items
Ambient temperature
Amount of liquids consumed since last wee

Usually, I end up pre-selecting the closest checkout to the store exit, marking it, then shopping at my leisure. If the checkouts are all very busy (for example, on Christmas Eve), I tend to mark all the self-checkouts if at all possible.

Note that if you mark your checkout at the start of your shopping, you risk the dreaded "Spillage in aisle 1" tannoy message, so this is only recommended for quick shops and/or very full bladders.

Pipistrelle40

I'm glad I've inspired you, but no squeezy bottles, please. Standing/squatting/leg-raising (depending on gender/species) is an essential part of the process and in itself acts as a partial deterrent to other shoppers, German holidaymakers or potential suitors, depending on the circumstances.

belgina · 03/08/2016 21:42

I didn't know that getting the dcs (mix of teens & younger) to sit at the table while I pay for food wasn't a thing. I mainly do it because dc4 can be contained and looked after by dc1 otherwise she would be all over the place!

fastdaytears · 03/08/2016 21:45

Don't start the cafe table debate again! Everyone on either side of the debate is convinved they're right!

Marysunshine · 03/08/2016 21:47

Saw an elderly man try that one before - another lady reacted as you did to him, quite rightly so. I must admit I thought he was bonkers ( and rude) and was glad the other lady customer challenged him. Never seen that sort of behaviour before or since.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 03/08/2016 21:51

Of course one of you gets a table whilst the other orders! No different than sitting down at a restaurant with a menu.

tibbawyrots · 03/08/2016 21:54

Thanks for clearing that up, elhirsuto these details do help! 😂

ipsogenix · 03/08/2016 22:21

That's definitely weird OP.

I do take a trolley to the self checkout though. Self checkout is a huge area in the supermarket where we go and there are lots of people with trolleys there. Also ds loves to do the scanning and post the money. He really loves now taking the scanner round the shop with him which is a new thing in some shops round here.

ClockBusCanada · 03/08/2016 22:49

Yet another reason why everyone should do a year on the tills as part of some kind of national service scheme. Soon stamp out all kinds of barefaced public dickishness.

Lickedthespoon · 03/08/2016 23:51

Erm no! That's loke getting someone to stand in a car park space until you arrive. First come first served. Good on you

NoMoreMarbles · 04/08/2016 00:15

I used to go by the rules of person behind has a couple of items let them ahead until I learned the hard way not to bother!

I popped into the local Aldi for a nosey (came to the checkout with a full trolley!) and a man behind me had a 4pt milk and something else- can't remember what- in his hand so being the polite person I am I waved him ahead and he walked forward, put his 2 items on the belt and shouted to his wife/partner who was browsing the aisle to "hurry up love" ... Her trolley was overflowing and I got dirty looks from everyone else in the queue!

No more acts of generosity in the queue for the checkout!

lukeymom · 04/08/2016 05:39

I would have just have told her you was there before her.

MerchantofVenice · 04/08/2016 06:48

Didn't realise so many people were all weird about simply getting a table then one of you going up to order! It's just sensible, surely? Tbh the whole canteen system is tedious. In France, they do table service even for a quick drink in a cafe/bar. Seems to work fine, and you don't get crowds of people all losing the will to live around the till. Our system sucks. If you don't get someone to save a table then you run the risk of standing there with a tray of hot food and nowhere to sit. As if modern life weren't annoying enough...

prettybird · 04/08/2016 08:32

NoMoreMarbles - I always ask, "Is that all you've got?" before letting them go ahead of me.

But I suppose they could lie

grannytomine · 04/08/2016 09:09

It happened to me about 20 years ago. A man in front of me said his wife was in front of me. I obviously looked a bit confused so he sort of indicated with his hands where the trolley "was" and said she would be there in a minute. I couldn't help it I just started to laugh, it was so ridiculous. He stormed off looking furious and muttering to himself. It was the best fun I had that week. I happened to me again a few years ago but as the wife arrived with a very new baby I let it go but as they finished I asked him if his granny or anyone was coming through before I got served. They both went mad shouting and screaming at me. The poor checkout lady looked terrified.

busymomtoone · 04/08/2016 09:10

Oh yes 😡 I have had this happen to me twice now - the first time I was too stunned to react ( which is what these charmers rely upon I think) , the second time I smiled sweetly ( at the "I'm saving this for my wife" grunt) and said : "ah that's kind - but I'm sure she wouldn't want anyone to wait whilst she finished her shopping" by the time he had picked his jaw off floor and fired up primitive brain ( if indeed a functioning one at all ) I had loaded up the conveyor belt and he wandered off to try same tactic again. Had left shop before wife even appeared with shopping!!

NotCitrus · 04/08/2016 11:20

Thought of this thread yesterday! BHS in Oxford St was having a huge closing-down sale, 50-70% off everything. Got a few things for the kids and went to queue. Woman at the front had basket of about 50 items and for every single item was arguing over the price, trying to get one of a two-piece set for cheaper, eventually changing her mind after something had been scanned... The only other checkout was taking ages too simply because so many items had lost tags, but the couple there were being quiet and polite.

Finally first woman pays. At which point her friend turns up with a similar basket of 50+ items and stands with her, and about 5 of us in the queue pointed out that there's a queue here. Second woman says "we're together!" Someone behind me pointed out that first woman is finally paying so no, there's no way you are 'together' - they shouted abuse and a bunch of us explained to the poor sales chap that no way should he let this woman in.

Bloke clearly realised he could get rid of them so was very happy to tell them to use the tills downstairs!

NotMyMoney · 04/08/2016 11:21

Was traveling from one end of the country to the other with two small children and about 34 weeks pregnant with SPD and the size of a whale. We had stopped at the services was in the queue and hobbling along when two woman just walked over and stood in front of me! I told them there was a queue they went to the back was about 7 people behind us then when it was my turn they just walked in front of me and started to order. I went half ballistic then they stood behind me and was sent away by the people behind me.

SmellOfPythonInTheMorning · 04/08/2016 11:59

Passport control queue at an airport. Woman with one child in front of me. When it's her turn, she calls her two friends with four kids between them who were queuing in two separate queues. We call them out and she says that they are together. Sarcastically, I tell my husband we should have queued in one queue each and then both use the fastest one. She replies that of course we should have, to not do so is stupid.

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