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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:
Mycatsabastard · 02/08/2016 20:53

We have a huge asda near us (which has basket tills plus self check out) and a smaller one. I prefer the smaller one as I know where everything is and it's a nice friendly store.

They don't have 5 items of less tills and normally only 3 tills are open. There are lots of self check out tills and it's pretty normal to use that for a trolley load (as long as it's the small trolley, not the big trolley - seems to be quite self regulated).

It's one of those stores where you get to know the staff (and we all avoid Sharon on Till 3 who talks for Britain and comments on everything you buy) and it's also a store where people quite often let you go in front if you only have a couple of things or slip the cashier a few quid if the old person in front doesn't have enough money to cover their shopping.

ArriettyMatilda · 02/08/2016 21:09

I've not seen this at all. Is it any different to people standing in parking spaces in busy car parks?

RaspberryOverload · 02/08/2016 21:15

I was once in a queue, with trolley plus a younger DD (about 10, then).

I was loading onto the belt, while she was stood at the handles of the trolley, so between our trolley and the front of the trolley belonging to the person behind us.

This woman was huffing about being late, and began pushing her trolley forwards, meaning that she was pushing it into DD, pushing our trolley in turn into me.

I finished loading the belt and motioned to DD to swap places. Woman pushed again, into me that time, so I pushed back, and not exactly gently, but certainly not hard. I told her to stop pushing, she wouldn't be getting through any faster, and gave her what DD calls the "scary mummy stare". (I have a fat, round smiley face, so apparently the stare disconcerts some people because it doesn't "fit"). Woman goes red and just mumbles something, I think she said sorry.

I think she was lucky, actually. She was firm when pushing and DD was sturdy, but if she'd been pushing one or two of the frail ladies I know who shop there, I'm sure she'd have caused an injury. And for what? A minute or two?

Some people are just stupid.

AnneElliott · 02/08/2016 21:35

What cheeky feckers! I haven't seen that before, but having worked in M&S I saw all manner of barneys about queues!

One elderly lady once tried to jump the queue to buy a jumper on sale. Queue was about 30 people and they were all giving her the evil eye. She told them all that she needed to jump the queue as she wasn't well. I told her I'd have allowed it if she was buying bread and milk, but if she was well enough to come out for the sale then she was well enough to queue.

wasonthelist · 02/08/2016 21:38

I've not seen this at all. Is it any different to people standing in parking spaces in busy car parks?
No. That's shite too.

HappydaysArehere · 02/08/2016 21:51

I think men are more likely to take advantage in a supermarket. There I was putting my shopping on the conveyer when a bloke steps in front of me with some items saying "you don't mind do you?" "Yes I do" I replied. Now if he had asked if it was possible to go in front of me I would have said "go ahead" but his presumption that he could just butt in really annoyed me.

Original poster
DeathStare · 03/08/2016 05:10

Thanks everyone. There seems to be more of these cheeky feckers around than I'd realised!

OP posts:
WalkingInTheAir13 · 03/08/2016 05:58

Long live Ocado!!

ZacharyQuack · 03/08/2016 06:26

I was driving around looking for a car park. Saw a free angled (so you drive forwards into it) park, but there was a woman standing in it. I indicated and started to drive into the park, expected her to move out of the way, but she started waving and shouting. Rolled my window down and she said "My husband is coming, this is our park". I laughed and shook my head at her and carried on driving verrrrry sloooowly into the park. She gradually backed up as I gradually drove forward until she was on the footpath.

I parked and went to pay at the parking machine (gave her a cheerful smile when I walked past). When I got back to my car, a man had pulled up behind it in another car and the woman was pointing to my car and saying "I was saving this space but she took it"

That was a good day Grin

Ememem84 · 03/08/2016 06:41

The Saturday before Christmas a few years ago I was shopping with dm. We realised we'd forgotten stuff and the queues were huge. I took huge full trolley to join a checkout queue. Dm grabbed a basket and carried on then joined me. Luckily I'd only just reached the belt and had started unloading once she got there.

Have had the car park one before too.

Yesterday I popped into waitrose on my way home from work. Traffic queuing on the road causing a blockage. Turns out the front car was waiting for a space. The space had a car in it.

Igneococcus · 03/08/2016 06:50

I was a check out hogger once, purely by accident. dp and the dc were right behind me with the full trolley and we were heading to the check out and at the end of the aisle, two meters away from the check out, a woman with a full trolley came from the left and pushed in between us. I hadn't even noticed, so when I reached the band and turned around to start unloading, some woman screeched at me that I couldn't reserve a place in the queue while she started throwing her stuff onto the band. It was weird.

AchyMcAcherson · 03/08/2016 06:55

Re people who encroach while you're packing your shopping. I've asked several people if they'd like to pay for my shopping when they're standing right next to me while I'm packing and trying to pay. A couple have looked confused and said 'no!'

"Well don't stand in front of the till then" soon moves them backwards.
It's endemic around here, people creep forwards and forwards while you're packing until they're standing right next to you. Go away! I don't want you watching me put my PIN in, I don't want to have to shove you sideways so I can pay! Why do they do it? It doesn't make anyone go any faster.

snowgirl29 · 03/08/2016 07:29

No! That is definitely NOT a thing!

Only thing I've had a few times is when I'm still unloading a full trolley, I'll have someone come up behind me and promptly start chucking their stuff on the conveyor belt before I've finished unloading. I don't say a word, I just get the bar and push their shopping back and carry on unloading mine. They're always too offended / embarrassed to say anything to me! Grin

I could see why they would want to save a checkout space if it was Christmas and the place was packed, even then they'd still be unreasonable. But August? No excuse.

Pipistrelle40 · 03/08/2016 07:36

Definately a thing round my way. People regularly place their children in the queue then disappear for ages. Cashiers never say anything.

People who chuck their shopping on the belt behind mine when there is no divider thing only do it once. I say nothing, let theirs get rung up with mine then say half of it isn't mine (sorry cashiers) then enjoy the ruckus.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 03/08/2016 07:48

I do that the other way around! You're meant to put the divider up after your shopping so if someone hasn't then I load up and let it get scanned through to see their panic that they may have to pay for mine!

snowgirl29 · 03/08/2016 08:02

Pipistrelle that's brilliant! Grin

pink I've had that before at DCs old school. Mother was most put out that I dared to sit in a 'saved' seat it and suggested to her if she had an issue to get a member of staff to move me. Funnily enough, the 'saved seats' (3 spare in a packed hall) were empty for the entire performance Hmm. She asked one of her mates to move the two empty chairs out of the way halfway through. Me "I thought you needed that seat for X and Y?". Her face was an absolute picture.
It did make me slightly cross though that they'd obviously intimidated other parents to sit rows behind for no bloody reason.

FoxesOnSocks · 03/08/2016 08:04

Reversing a place in the checkout queue is mad!! Never seen it before (thankfully).

The bit where you let some one behind you in front ahead is totally normal, especially in places like Lidl or Aldi where here aren't 10/5 items of fewer tills or basket tills. It isn't really a compulsory rule though, more a courtesy, one which if you're allowed ahead needs 'are you sure? You're very kind, thank you' then a thanks or a nod when you're done type of response too.

Though I did have a bloke in Lidl (also in Ireland, and he was also not local) ask if he could go ahead of because he only had three items (I was waiting holding my stuff as there was two big shops in front of me) which may have been ok except for the fact I too had three items. I said 'erm, no, I've also got three items'. He was outraged!

allegretto · 03/08/2016 08:08

Hunter - actually I think you should put up the divider - letting it go through and then have to get the cashier to void it is pretty antisocial.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 03/08/2016 08:20

Not being arsed to put up the divider to denote you've finished your shopping is antisocial.

Pipistrelle40 · 03/08/2016 08:24

And if there is no divider? Don't intend lying across the belt

RoseGoldHippie · 03/08/2016 08:25

Hunter - I think it's funny but if I was the cashier I would be pretty pissed off!

HunterHearstHelmsley · 03/08/2016 08:26

Well obviously if there's no divider it's different! It the laziness that hacks me off.

It doesn't happen very often Rose. Thankfully most people know their divider etiquette Grin

FoxesOnSocks · 03/08/2016 08:26

HunterHearstHelmsley: "Not being arsed to put up the divider to denote you've finished your shopping is antisocial."

I'm confused. It's you that doesn't put the divider up isn't it?

HunterHearstHelmsley · 03/08/2016 08:27

No.... You put the divider up after your shopping. When I come to load up there should be a divider there (assuming there is a divider available) if there is not I load my shopping up and put the divider down at the end of mine when I'm finished.

Pipistrelle40 · 03/08/2016 08:28

Must say divider etiquette is a new one on me.