Supermarket etiquette

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You're in the vegetation section of Tescbury's, because tomatoes are on your shopping list. Someone else has them on their list too, though, and is already picking some out of the crate. Do you:
A) wait?
B) say to them "excuse me", then without waiting for a reaction reach in and start picking some for yourself, then get huffy when they suggest that keeping your mitts out until they finish picking theirs is unlikely to ruin your day?

Asking for a friend.

I’ve never seen a tomato crate in Tescobury’s that couldn’t comfortably accommodate two people if they try and share, so I’d generally say B is fine. I don’t particularly like it when someone else does it to me but it’s a supermarket where efficiency and convenience is key, not a 5 star shopping experience where you get all the space and attention you want. If there really wasn’t anyway for the first person to budge to the side a bit and make way for the second person’s arm to get into the crate then B is wrong.

A. Try B around me and I'm throwing a tomato at you (I joke, but I do stare at them as if they've lost all common sense😌 sometimes get an apology)

A - unless I’m really in a rush or you are exceptionally tiny and I think I can fit in the gap without accidentally touching you (whilst still getting the good tomatoes). I’ve put way too much though into this 🤣

🤣🤣🤣

Depends how long you take, I'll wait an appropriate amount of time then dive in.

A. I practice “little and often “ in my shopping so visit different supermarkets a lot and mostly spend time in Vegetation section. A is always your go for approach round here. Some times people can come from the side if possible but it’s always very quick and efficient.

I'd do A initially and then B if they were taking too long

I'd wait, but I'd be swearing at you in my head the whole time.

A - for maybe 20 seconds.

If they take any longer than that I'd swap to B.

I don't have all day for people to meditatively examine every tomato.

Why do you, the person who got there later, get to decide what's an appropriate amount of time?

I think there's plenty of room for 2 people to grab tomatoes. When in this situation l make sure my basket/trolley isn't bashing anyone or causing an obstruction and just reach in. If it's a case of say grabbing a box of Weetabix I might give an 'Excuse me' as a warning and reach over.
The only time I'd step back and wait is when I see an obviously 'infirm/disabled' person who needs more space/time or when there's 3/4 people huddled round the reduced section.
Please be B

I've rarely seen a fruit or veg crate that doesn't accommodate two people. I don't think forming a queue to select produce is a thing. Why can't you stand beside someone?

Yes, I'm wondering how these tomatoes are being displayed too. I'd generally expect a box to be about the size of a standard pillow. I think it would be rude to stand in the middle face on when another shopper has said excuse me. Surely the polite thing would be to move over/move trolley etc so both of you can select.

I think it would be rude to stand in the middle face on when another shopper has said excuse me. Surely the polite thing would be to move over/move trolley etc so both of you can select.

Is it rude to stand in the middle face on when nobody else is interested in the tomatoes? And if someone else already is, surely the polite thing is to not invade their personal space? "Excuse me" doesn't give you diplomatic immunity to do what you like.

A

I wait my turn. Obviously.

Assuming you live in the UK I would just be grateful I was getting my hands on some fresh Tomatoes at all .

I do A.
And if they're taking a long time I do A(i) which is a very heavy sigh and if they look at me maybe A(ii), a hard, false smile.
And if they still don't hurry up, I do B. Possibly with a B(i), a little bit of a hip bump to edge them over.
And if they carry on being awkward I do C, which is also known round us as a@PurplePineapple1 special. 🙂 🍅🍅🍅 😋

I'd wait and seethe. However, when I've encountered a couple examining each pack of steak or each roasting joint in minute detail my seething morphs into rage. The same at luggage carousels where both stand taking up space. Choosing steak and retrieving luggage are not fucking team sports people!

I wouldn't be rude, but I also don't have time to stand in a queue for a tomato.

If people are waiting, step aside and let them grab what they need, then resume your faffing.

If dithering was an Olympic sport the UK would get all the medals every time. See also stopping for no reason on a narrow pavement and looking into space for several minutes. I do not include the disabled or infirm in this obviously just the more vapid individuals that walk amongst us. Sharp elbows at all times.

A!

I give a cheery but confident 'scuse me, love' as I lean in. You need to sound like you brook no argument. I'm not waiting while someone dithers about over the plum tomatoes!

Smash, grab and walk off quickly.

Normally trade off with the other person getting one, standing to the side to look at it, and quickly putting it back/getting another one

If I think about it