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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Supermarket etiquette

161 replies

ASeriesOfTubes · 19/05/2023 23:55

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.

OP posts:
DaftyLass · 20/05/2023 06:52

I say, "I'm just going to sneak right by ya there!"
Then smile and grab what I need, trying not to be too much in the way, but not waiting about either.

Rollinghill · 20/05/2023 06:54

A

handydandynotebook · 20/05/2023 06:55

Depends if you're taking ages or not

LittleBlueBrioTrain · 20/05/2023 07:22

Option C - stand next to them, pretending to be really interested in the neighbouring vegetation, and then grab the toms when they move

N27 · 20/05/2023 07:33

As long as there’s no physical contact and I’m just grabbing and going then b is fine and has no detrimental effect on the other person.

if I also want to faff about spending an unnecessary amount of time choosing tomatoes then I would wait

MrsToothyBitch · 20/05/2023 07:40

Option A unless they're faffers playing CSI tomato. Then it's B. And always B for people who park their trolleys to stop anyone else looking at anything.

Nordicrain · 20/05/2023 07:42

I cannot deal with being stuck behind someone taking 10 mins to pick their avocado, so I would probably do B if it looked like someone was taking their time.

TheBestUsernamesAreGone · 20/05/2023 07:46

I will either wait, squeeze past if there's space and I'm just grabbing one packet, or go off and come back later (except I don't come back because I've mentally ticked off 'tomatoes' whether I ended up with any or not)

WaltzingWaters · 20/05/2023 07:46

I’d wait for a moment. If they’re taking forever to decide I’d just lean over and get some.

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 20/05/2023 07:46

C two people can pick up tomatoes at the same time, just get your tomatoes and stop hanging around.

londonrach · 20/05/2023 07:48

A for one second.. .if they longer than one second..who is...I do b...

WeWillLookBack · 20/05/2023 07:49

I had someone take a dozen eggs out of my trolley a few years ago - when I challenged her she said she needed eggs and wasn't about to walk all the way to the back of the store again to get them .....as if it was totally normal.

UnsolicitedOpinions · 20/05/2023 07:51

WeWillLookBack · 20/05/2023 07:49

I had someone take a dozen eggs out of my trolley a few years ago - when I challenged her she said she needed eggs and wasn't about to walk all the way to the back of the store again to get them .....as if it was totally normal.

I LOVE this!!!

AnnWithoutAnnie · 20/05/2023 07:52

ASeriesOfTubes · 20/05/2023 00:07

But you don't get to choose your own tomatoes. Swings and roundabouts.

Show quote history

Nope. I don't need to chose my own tomatoes, I just order a punnet with my delivery (added bonus: I can pretend the fairies have grown & picked them & they've not been manhandled by other people). When I'm that bothered about a specific tomato I'll go to the farm shop.

but obviously the other customer was rude. I hope next time you'll tell them to wait their turn!

Ladykryptonite · 20/05/2023 07:52

She poached your eggs

Ladykryptonite · 20/05/2023 07:53

Agree - i don't need to choose my own tomatoes either

NigellaAwesome · 20/05/2023 07:57

Ladykryptonite · 20/05/2023 07:52

She poached your eggs

🤣🤣🤣

WhatsitAlfie · 20/05/2023 07:58

Love it :))

luckylavender · 20/05/2023 07:59

Wait your turn. And who wants to get that close to a stranger?

Wilkolampshade · 20/05/2023 08:03

B. Who on earth queues or expects others to queue for tomato choosing? Completely normal to share your space with others in this scenario.

JMSA · 20/05/2023 08:04

It depends. I'd be happy to wait a few seconds for the other tomato customer. But if they're a ditherer, who examines and squeezes each pack, then I'd be saying 'excuse me' and moving in!

Yerroblemom1923 · 20/05/2023 08:06

Wait. It's polite to take turns. What would you say to your 2 year old toddler?

LadyatLady · 20/05/2023 08:07

Hover particularly close until they ‘sense’ you and step back and let you get yours! You say ‘Oh are you sure?’ And very breezily grab your Toms and carry on.

stopringingme · 20/05/2023 08:13

SkyandSurf · 20/05/2023 01:15

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.

This is my approach

LolaSmiles · 20/05/2023 08:13

Normally there's space for 2 people, unless someone has parked their trolley awkwardly and is standing right in the centre of the crate dithering.

I'd take option A briefly, but if they're perusing every tomato and moving at snail pace then I'll cheerily say excuse me, and go for option B.