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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:
minipie · 11/04/2022 19:32

Why not write and ask the Aldi manager to set up an express/baskets only lane, rather than complaining about people not giving up their place in the queue?

LivingDeadGirlUK · 11/04/2022 19:34

I've had people do this for me quite a few times in our ALDI. I go in for my lunch so just have a few items. It's really nice of them to do it but I don't expect it.

Not done it myself as I've not done a 'big shop' in store since Christmas 2011.

WakeMeUpWhenTheyHaveGone · 11/04/2022 19:36

I let people with a few items go in front of me all the time in Aldi, whilst I am unloading my full trolley and setting up my open shopping bags in the trolley.

I tend not to offer so much recently as self-service tills have been installed and those queues are shorter on non-existent.

Sleepyblueocean · 11/04/2022 19:43

I don't look behind me at the queue when I am unloading. I 'm too busy unloading

Londontown12 · 11/04/2022 19:51

Yep always in any supermarket tbh they go whilst I’m filling belt with my groceries

Jo586 · 04/12/2022 17:06

Agree with you I always let people behind me jump in front if you've got 1 or 2 items it's just common decency. Not everyone has been brought up to. have decency.

Whoneedsleep · 04/12/2022 17:09

I pay 0 attention to how many items the person behind me has. I certainly don’t check they have less so they can go in front!

PaterPower · 04/12/2022 17:18

I’ve always let people with single (or a small number of) items in front of me. It’s just polite, especially in Aldi where they might only have one or two tills open.

5foot5 · 04/12/2022 17:18

The Aldi near us has a self scan. If I was only buying one or two items I would use that.

But mostly we use Sainsburys and do the Smart shop so it makes no difference whether you have one item or a trolley full, takes about the same time at the checkout

Squiblet · 04/12/2022 17:22

YABU. I never look in other people's trollies/baskets. It's none of my business.

Musicalsfan · 04/12/2022 17:31

I usually let people with only 1 or 2 items to go in front of me but I’m reconsidering. The last time I did it in Lidl the woman then rummaged around in her bag to find something she wanted to return for a refund and then faffed around looking for the receipt. I did not feel saintly that day!

UsingChangeofName · 04/12/2022 17:42

YANBU.
That is the etiquette in my local Aldi.
People offer all the time.
It is definitely the norm.

melj1213 · 04/12/2022 18:02

YABU - it would be nice for them to offer but equally you could have just asked politely "Do you mind if I go first while you're still unpacking, I only have this one item?" ... For all they knew you were waiting for a partner to rock up with a full trolley momentarily.

Frabbits · 04/12/2022 18:10

A queue is a queue regardless of how many items each person has. Just wait your turn.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 04/12/2022 19:49

Squiblet · 04/12/2022 17:22

YABU. I never look in other people's trollies/baskets. It's none of my business.

Gosh I do that all the time! It's almost the pinnacle of my 'shopping experience'.

I think what she got that I haven't? Should I have got some of that?

What she going to do with those things?

That's at lot of sugary item they've got there.

One bottle of wine! Do they shop every day?

There's no chocolate! Shock

etc etc.

Daisybuttercup12345 · 05/12/2022 00:04

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.

Obviously not taught any manners then

PurpleButterflyWings · 05/12/2022 00:13

@Sfuandtired

And what if I'm standing in the queue with a trolley full of 75 items... and I've got four people behind me with two or three items each. Am I supposed to let all four people in front of me? And then, by the time the third or fourth person has been served, another two or three people behind me come with one or two items, so do I let them in front as well? Confused

Yes, of course, it's nice if somebody with 100 items lets a person behind with only several items in front. But realistically, the person with just several items can always join another queue with people with less items! OR go to another checkout that Aldi open. Fact is, that ALDI do open another checkout nine times out of 10, when there's more than two or three people waiting at each checkout. If you shop at Aldi you must know this. So yes YABU, and you are entitled and unreasonable.

Neverquitehappy · 03/05/2023 20:56

If I have a big shop and someone behind me has a few items I always offer for them to go first and it’s always appreciated! The world would be a better place if people were more considerate but a lot of people are arseholes. Basically.

Curseofthenation · 03/05/2023 21:08

I've been let through in Aldi quite a few times. I would let someone through with one item if I was still loading and I spotted them. However, I would never expect or feel entitled to go ahead of someone else. It's not a social faux pas to NOT do it, but it is a kind thing to do.

Mossstitch · 03/05/2023 22:25

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 11/04/2022 19:31

@KrisAkabusi

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.
I always look backwards in a queue.
  1. To make internal moral judgments on their diet and social standing.
  2. To think 'that looks good I wish I'd bought some of that'
  3. To make crass observations like 'Hmm, obviously single with all those individual ready meals but OMG what a lot of wine!'
  4. Sh*t just seen their butter and I forgot to get mine.
Smile

😂me too!

@Sfuandtired they've just put self checkouts in my local Aldi so sure they will be in all of them soon.......its awful as now down to less manned checkouts so the queues are longer as who wants to self checkout with a big shop, which most people do there, and not enough room to queue without blocking the end of the aisles 🙄

KarmaStar · 03/05/2023 22:42

Yanbu and I do the same as you op.
(If I see someone with a couple of things I invite them to go first,although quite often they are half way in front before I offer😀).
It would of been kind to let you go but perhaps they didn't see you.

Simianwalk · 03/05/2023 22:47

Always let people in front of me and have had so many people let me in. It's probably an Aldi/Lidl thing definitely a nicer bunch 😁

BashfulClam · 03/05/2023 22:50

I never pay attention to others in the supermarket as I have adhd and have a lot going on in my mind all the time. The person behind me whether they had 1 or 100 items wouldn’t even register

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