Checkouts

[Shiningstarr]

Ok. Just returned from the supermarket, fairly busy.

Loaded my shopping onto the conveyor belt and waited for the customer in front of me as they were packing their shopping. It became clear they knew the checkout operator, as they were deep in conversation, something about an appointment, etc etc.

They took longer as they were taking in depth. No problem, not the end of the world. However after she paid, they carried on the conversation for a further 10 minutes, while I just stood there like a lemon, waiting. (It was 10 minutes as I noticed the time as there was a huge clock)

AIBU to think that the worker should have said 'sorry, I better start serving this next customer' or something to that effect? When I worked in retail, we would never do this, we were taught to work through the queue quickly and efficiently, not stopping to share the next chunk of someone's life story with them.

I am patient by the way, I just thought this was a bit OTT.

Ten mins? I would have said something after about 30 secs! Can't believe you stood there that long. Was there not a queue building up behind you?

BTW by "saying something" I probably would have gone the polite/passive aggressive route of "hi, sorry, are you OK to serve me or should I move to another till?' Rather than "Oi, move out the way!"

Extremely rude. Why did you bother waiting? You should've piled it back into the trolley/basket and gone to another checkout or even a self checkout. I bet the cashier would've hurried it along if you weren't so patient.

I know, I know- why did I wait that long right?

Because I really didn't want to say something on this occasion. I'm sick of crap customer service and The linger it went on, the more I thought surely they would finish talking soon.

I would have said something you need to learn to speak up

I always usually speak up, and then I just get called a 'Karen'. And it's embarrassing as that's my name lol.

This happened to me. After five minutes of them chatting I said "excuse me are you serving? I've been stood here waiting while your chatting." They soon said goodbye and served me. Takes the biscuit.

I've had this happen many times, although not to the extent of 10 minutes after paying! You can tell when it's happening because the cashier goes on a go slow while they're chatting, deliberately taking longer scanning items so they can extend their conversation. When they get to my shopping they resume hurling it down at 110 items per minute! I've never said anything, I usually just scowl a lot and then keep edging my trolley at the customer who won't fuck off!

I would have been raging.
Hopping from foot to foot & looking at my (imaginary) watch..

I'm very patient but more than one minute of chatting would have given me the rage. I would have had to say "sorry to interrupt but I'm in a hurry"

10 minutes?! Really??

I would have said something way before 10 minutes. Where there other people behind you?

This has happened to me a couple of times and I never know what to say that won’t sound rude. How do some people have so little awareness?

I would have coughed loudly, looked at my watch a few times and tutted until they got the hint. 😂

I would have pointedly started moving my trolley towards them, they tend to move further and further little by little until they get the message to leave. Takes about 30 secs and usually does the trick.

10 minutes? Not sure I'd wait 10 seconds.

I would have definitely said something much much earlier!

Have exactly the same situation every morning with a mother outside my child’s classroom. They are just browbeating the teacher for 5-10 mins every morning so that the other children and parents can’t greet politely but just have to go in without saying good morning. Not sure what to do about that either (sorry to piggyback but it’s not worth it’s own thread and it’s a similar theme).

YANBU!

why didn’t you speak up at the time and just say you were in a hurry?

I'd have probably just walked out of the shop and gone elsewhere. I know that might not be possible if you're in Stornaway or something.

I wouldn't worry about being rude, they're the ones respectively being rude and not doing their job properly.

But you don't need to be rude, something like "could you put these items through for me as I need to get back to work/for school pick up/to an appointment" will do the trick.

Straight to the manager and report.

Maybe a bit of a close out 10-20 seconds is OK. 10 minutes is totally unacceptable and disrespectful.

I gave someone who did this to me both barrels. And reported them to the manager. I get a lovely scowl every time I see them in there now :)

Obviously not Aldi!

Lol no it wasn't Aldi, it was Sainsburys.

I must stress that I always speak up in these situations and am not afraid to stand up for myself.

I'm really not feeling that great today, and even though I felt they were extremely rude, I didn't think it would end well if I spoke up.

Also the customers doing the talking were a man and woman in their fifties, and an older lady who was with them, she was around 80. I just felt aswell, that if I had said anything they would have then ganged up on me, and because I'm not feeling great I just decided to wait. And yes it was ten minutes.

I bet it was another member of staff too, I always used to get this in Tesco, one staff member finished does some shopping and has a nice old chat with their colleagues who are still working . Only use the self scan now at Tesco.

That happened to my years ago.
After I asked if she was going to serve me she started putting my shopping through AND still chatting to her friend.
She was that busy chatting she gave me change from a £20 note instead of the £10 note I gave her.
🤣🤣🤣