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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Que skipping

90 replies

Cellardoor23 · 27/08/2016 15:23

Would you say something if someone jumped in front of you? Or would you wait quietly until someone served you?

It's happened to me a few times. I'm never sure whether to speak up because I don't want to be rude, but I've also stood quietly and been ignored.

What would you do?

OP posts:
meowli · 27/08/2016 16:04

I used to say 'I don't fucking think so, sunshine'
Grin

bigbuttons · 27/08/2016 16:04

coupe infant?? what the hell is that for an auto correct??? Couple infront......

ThoraGruntwhistle · 27/08/2016 16:04

I've passively aggressively said things like 'oh no! I've turned invisible again!' but I should have the balls to just say 'excuse me, there's a queue.'

MLGs · 27/08/2016 16:04

I always say something. It hacks me right off.

LaChatte · 27/08/2016 16:06

Yup, in France Pregnacy trumps disability in queues, well it does round where I live anyway (south of Lyon).

CigarsofthePharoahs · 27/08/2016 16:08

I did once.
Queueing for food at an event I attended some years ago. It was a warm evening and the queue was long. Some random teenager decided to insert herself into the queue quite near the front as a friend of hers was there with some family.
None of them said anything. I was pretty pissed at the long wait so I piped up "Look, we've been queueing here for the best part of half an hour. What makes you so important?"
She looked very shamed faced and did go to the back of the queue. The mum of the friend simpered "Oh I didn't know how to say anything but I thought she was wrong!"
My other main objection was that I knew food availability was limited and I didn't want someone else missing out potentially.
When she did get her food she walked past me and glared. I smirked back.
Selfish little thing.

I've also been the cashier when someone has queue jumped and trust me, there is NOTHING you can say that's right. Inevitably one customer will be threatening to report you.

Stopyourhavering · 27/08/2016 16:08

I was on hols with my parents many years ago(1970's) in Corfu. We were staying in a hotel where there were many Europeans who didn't understand the concept of queuing and when it came to buffet meals would just barge in .... Same went for the daily saga of towels on sun beds
Anyway, one day we were queuing for bus into town , when bus arrived we jumped on ahead of said holidaymakers Germans and thought yay! Were in front for once.....only to discover it was the German's tour bus for the day.....we looked very sheepish getting off bus!! Blush

PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon · 27/08/2016 16:08

Someone queue jumped me before and then proceeded to get shitty with someone who then tried to queue jump them Grin

Sparklingbrook · 27/08/2016 16:08

I have been known to express surprise and ask 'Oh, are we not queuing any more then?' quite loudly.

Original poster
Cellardoor23 · 27/08/2016 16:10

I've worked in a bar before so I've seen both points of view. I don't want to be one of those people that kicks up a stink because I feel I have been waiting too long. I've always thought eye contact or just a subtle 'I will be with you in a minute' goes a long way. I don't mind waiting longer.

OP posts:
Lorelei76 · 27/08/2016 16:14

OP I thought you were going to say you keep quiet in case you get punched!

I automatically say "what the hell are you doing?" if someone barges in front of me in a queue. It doesn't happen often but in the bus queue, I think I have body language that says "don't even think about it".

Topseyt · 27/08/2016 16:24

I hate deliberate queue jumpers and will tend to say something.

I have, however, lived abroad in countries where queuing is not the done thing and found that you do have to adapt to the local ways a bit or get nowhere. I then had to adapt again on returning to the UK.

Amalfimamma · 27/08/2016 16:24

Happened this morning at the post office. Had a screaming 17 month old with me so I wasn't in the mood. Some doll tried to jump the queue in front of me so I just said "sorry there's a queue and it's actually my turn" to which she answered "Oh sorry I didn't see you"

I just looked at her and said "Shit, sorry! My fault! I hadn't realised I left the house with my Harry Potter Invisability Cape still on!" while pushing past her to get served.

Trifleorbust · 27/08/2016 16:24

"EXCUSE ME" and move right back in front of them. That's how I do it.

WeAllHaveWings · 27/08/2016 16:25

I'm usually very friendly passive aggressive, a couple of weeks ago at tournament after waiting ages in line for the only and very slow hot food van a couple behind me asked the couple they knew in front of me to get them various rolls.

Me: do you want to just go in front of me?
Him: no its okay
Me: no really, just go in front of me, if she's getting everything for you anyway you may as well as, it going to take just as long for me whether you stand in front of me or not
Him: no really its okay
Me: she's getting your rolls, please do go in front of me, she'll need you help carrying them
Him: Sorry, I'll get my own

GrumpyOldBag · 27/08/2016 16:26

I have occasionally accidentally strolled into the middle of a queue when the beginning / end is confusing - e.g.. if it's a zig zag type queue or people are hovering rather than in a line.

So I usually give others the benefit of the doubt and say politely, 'excuse me, the end of the queue is over there.'

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 27/08/2016 16:31

Buses are worst because usually 2-3 arrive together, some drivers won't open the doors until they stop at the bus stop, others will. So you get people moving off when they see the bus and jump the queue.

Couple of times I was first at the bus stop, then more people came along later (there's a college nearby) the bus approached and they all pushed forward.
I said "Erm , I was here first" glared and got on board.

Other thing that pisses me off is the person who barges by "Excuuuuse ME" very Oh I'm so important but SOO polite, look at me I say please as they just about shove me to the floor.
I was so Angry last week, 3rd person to do the Excuse Me/shove thing (I was in Boots, walking,not dawdling, along the aisle, my basket in front of me not taking up room, DD behind me) a woman did the shove, "Excuse me can I get past" I erupted and snapped "No, you can bloody wait, why are you so special". She was Shock I don't care, I was > < close to being Doormat-Fishwife, think twice next time Madam.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 27/08/2016 16:32

I love the British queueing system, it's so polite.

What do you do though when you're at the front, currently being served and somebody sidles across from the side to ask your cashier a question that isn't simple or resulting in a straightforward reply? I've stood there like a lemon for up to five minutes waiting for the cashier to return to our transaction... so annoying of the interloper! Confused

Amalfimamma · 27/08/2016 16:32

bigbuttons in France, Italy and Spain pregnancy trumps queues. And most supermarkets, shops, public offices let pregnant women jump the queue

To be honest I only ever used the pregnancy "excuse" at the GPs and in public offices when I needed to go and get papers, bills, taxes sorted. GPs don't do appointments here and the medical reps visit during visiting hours and going to the GP is normally a 4 or 5 hour affair, even for just a simple prescription so I'd go into the waiting room and say "who's the next in?" then "I'm pregnant so I'm after you" anyone who dared complain was politely invited to read the big poster saying "PREGNANT WOMEN ARE PRIORITIES AND DO NOT NEED TO QUEUE"

youarenotkiddingme · 27/08/2016 16:35

In had a bit of 'queue rage' at gatwick the other day.
We were waiting for bus back to car park. About 3 families in front of us - one had obviously had a bad accident away and had a fill arm cast and sling on.
As bus pulled up (past queue a bit further along) people behind us barged forward.

I said loudly and firmly to DS "do not let anyone barge past us. They can get on when it's their turn, they can queue like everyone else." A lady was still trying to get through us so I used my in 4 wheels suitcase to slide it sideways in her path.
She may have nearly gone arse over tit over it!

maddiemookins16mum · 27/08/2016 16:42

The worst queue jumping I've ever seen was at an all-inc hotel in Sharm. The culprits were Russian. It was horrendous. They also piled their plates high with food, including desserts like cake would be put on the same plates as salad so as not to miss out. It was really off putting.

Pradaqueen · 27/08/2016 16:50

I have been known to say 'ooh, I'm sorry, did you think I was a statue?' Queue jumpers really piss me off.

PaniWahine · 27/08/2016 16:51

Used to work in Bond Street and used to stop in a Sainsburys express near Green Oark often enough. Queuing for the cashier, posh woman with an air importance breezed straight past me, almost knocking me sideways. I called out "Excuse me?" She turned and looked "There's a queue" Massive sigh, "Do you really expect me to queue?" Being antipodean, I'm not posh "Yes, I do because it's good enough for me making it good enough for you" Lots of muttering, hrumphing, and exaggerated sighs before squawking "But I'm busy!" Older South London tradesman yelled out "Aren't we all love - MOVE!"
I'm happy to let people in when the situation warrants it ( One or two items in their basket rather than my full trolley etc) but I like to make the choice not have it foisted on me by rude ignorant sods and I'll say something

littledrummergirl · 27/08/2016 16:54

What do you do though when you're at the front, currently being served and somebody sidles across from the side to ask your cashier a question that isn't simple or resulting in a straightforward reply? I've stood there like a lemon for up to five minutes waiting for the cashier to return to our transaction... so annoying of the interloper! confused

As a gp receptionist this happens quite frequently when people arrive late and lean in saying "I'm late can you check me in quickly"
I'm happy to tell them that yes I'll check them in... when I have finished serving the person/people in front of them.
I think that as they have addressed me I should respond.
As a customer who has been ignored I will interrupt and ask who the servers manager is so that I can provide feedback for their service so that next time they won't be so rude to me.

Gatehouse77 · 27/08/2016 16:55

My favourite is queuing for ski lifts, etc (in France particularly) and using my poles tactically to stop people. Snowboarders are harder to stop.

Generally speaking I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they don't know where the end of the queue is and redirect them. If they get arsey, I'll get arsey back.