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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Queue jumping?

73 replies

Sfuandtired · 11/04/2022 16:45

I’m aware this could potentially sound very entitled however here goes…
When I do my large weekly shop I’m mindful of anyone behind me with only a couple of items and always let them go ahead of me, but I have to say rarely does anyone do the same for me. Today I stood behind a couple with a trolley full which they continued to unload whilst the cashier waited, as I also stood behind them with just one item in my hands, I understand it is by no means a right but AIBU to think it’s courteous to let someone go ahead of you in a situation like this?

OP posts:
DaisyChain16 · 11/04/2022 16:46

Just ask. Sometimes people aren't aware of everything going on around them.
Far worse to be paggy and annoy yourself over something you could sort yourself.

JenniferBarkley · 11/04/2022 16:48

Wouldn't even occur to me. In any shop here that's big enough for a weekly shop, you'd be at one of the main checkouts with a full shop and at an express lane or self checkout with just a couple of things. Did your shop not have those options?

Original poster
Sfuandtired · 11/04/2022 16:49

@JenniferBarkley

Wouldn't even occur to me. In any shop here that's big enough for a weekly shop, you'd be at one of the main checkouts with a full shop and at an express lane or self checkout with just a couple of things. Did your shop not have those options?
No it was an Aldi store
OP posts:
GiltEdges · 11/04/2022 16:50

YABU.

A queue is a queue. Creating a bizarre social etiquette around it just makes for awkwardness where there needn’t be any. When you take your place in the queue, accept that’s where you’re going to be served. And stop letting other people in front of you, it isn’t necessary.

namechangeranonymouse · 11/04/2022 17:08

I find Aldi one of the best for letting people go with a couple of items. I've done it and had it reciprocated. I think I'd be embarrassed to ask though

Hont1986 · 11/04/2022 17:13

Yes, it's courteous, but you can't expect courtesy from everyone. You should have asked if you wanted it.

dudsville · 11/04/2022 17:16

I'm 50/50 on this, but your grief/angst/whatever comes from your belief that it's wrong not to let those with single items go first. That's a nice idea. But it's also potentially Chaotic. Imagine the family with only 30 min to nip out and back again. Would they get a lanyard to let them go ahead even if someone behind them has just one item?

SarahAndQuack · 11/04/2022 17:18

YY, it's polite.

Round here if someone is still unloading, the cashier would usually beckon you over if you've only one or two things and it's obvious you'll be done before the unloaders get anywhere close to ready - seems obvious?

DysmalRadius · 11/04/2022 17:20

I may have done this purely because I would not be paying attention to what anyone else has in their hands - it's probably not that people are being unkind, but that they aren't even aware.

Mummy1608 · 11/04/2022 17:21

@GiltEdges

YABU.

A queue is a queue. Creating a bizarre social etiquette around it just makes for awkwardness where there needn’t be any. When you take your place in the queue, accept that’s where you’re going to be served. And stop letting other people in front of you, it isn’t necessary.

I agree with this 100%.

There's a good peppa pig episode about this actually, where grandpa pig creates lots of new rules in the playground, like you can jump queue if you're the youngest or if you need to leave soon, and it ends in chaos and tears. Until mummy rabbit comes over and says, everyone just needs to wait their turn. And everyone's happy again

Lots of wisdom on Peppa Pig (nods knowingly)

WTF99 · 11/04/2022 17:21

@GiltEdges

YABU.

A queue is a queue. Creating a bizarre social etiquette around it just makes for awkwardness where there needn’t be any. When you take your place in the queue, accept that’s where you’re going to be served. And stop letting other people in front of you, it isn’t necessary.

This. I detest being let in. It makes me feel awkward. Just queue properly ffs Grin
Fml1980 · 11/04/2022 17:22

I always let one person go in front if I have a big shop and they only have a few items.
Sometimes there are a few people behind me with only a few items and I'd be there all day if I let them all do it.

jampim · 11/04/2022 17:22

What a very English thread.

AHungryCaterpillar · 11/04/2022 17:22

I haven’t ever had anyone offer for me to go in front of them. I don’t think that’s common, I’ve had people ask and I would say yes if it really was only a couple of items

KrisAkabusi · 11/04/2022 17:24

They could be in a rush, they may have limited time. I rarely look backwards in a queue, so I have no idea how much stuff the person behind me has.

NegativeNelly · 11/04/2022 17:24

Aldi is so quick! Are you serious 😂

Mariposista · 11/04/2022 17:27

I always let someone with just one item go ahead of me. But now 90%+ of people are living in a me me me world, they have no clue what's going on around them.

moonbedazzled · 11/04/2022 17:27

I always let people go ahead and usually people let me. When they don't, I think its because they haven't seen. If I have just one thing and I have the correct money, I ask. Because people mainly comment, or news is reported, only when people are rude, we think most people are rude. But they're not. Most people are obliging and polite.

2Rebecca · 11/04/2022 17:29

I rarely look behind me in the queue, I'm usually looking at the person in front. I also usually use self check out or scan as you go. If I had a trolley and there was someone with a couple of items I may let them go but I probably wouldn't notice them and would expect them to be in a self checkout queue.

Letterasaurus · 11/04/2022 17:29

I shop almost exclusively in Aldi. I'm very appreciative when people let me in when I only have a couple of things and if I'm not in a hurry I let others with just one or two items go before me if I have a large basket full. Though I always use the self checkouts when they're available!

ClemDanFango · 11/04/2022 17:31

I also let people in front of me who only have a few things. Sometimes I’m in my own head and don’t notice though so I wouldn’t mind if someone asked me.

purpledagger · 11/04/2022 17:36

I don't normally offer to let people go ahead of me, mainly because im quick at the checkout - I have bags open in my trolley and my payment in my hand.

I once let someone go ahead of me, because they asked and only had a load of bread. As the people ahead were being served, they ran off and came back with about 5 other items. Needless to say, I wasn't happy.

muimerp · 11/04/2022 17:36

I didn't realise people looked behind them int he queue to see what the next person was buying!

It would not occur to me to do this.

SafelySoftly · 11/04/2022 18:00

It’s Aldi. You all queue, that’s part of the deal.

TeachesOfPeaches · 11/04/2022 18:06

I wouldn't go to Aldi to get 1 item. Almost everyone else will be doing big shops and there's no express lane.