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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Have you ever dumped an entire trolley of food at a till and walked out?

469 replies

sunnydaytoday0 · 07/10/2023 19:56

I was in a Lidl store today and a very long queue built up.. and it became apparent that another till was not going to be opened despite the queue getting longer and many of whom had a big trolley load of food. There are no self service tills.

I then saw a man walk to the front and dump his entire shopping on the conveyor belt of an adjacent till and stormed out.

I'm sure if there was more staff this would've been avoided so it wasn't the fault of the person on the till. I know there is pressure on supermarkets to cut costs, but is this now getting to a tipping point in terms of impacting on customer service? Or is it the case that if you go to a so called 'discounter' type shop then you just have to accept that the service levels will be bit lower which allows them to offer lower prices?

Have you ever dumped your shopping at a till and walked out? I thought if the guy wanted to walk out he could, he didn't actually need to go the effort of unloading it all on a belt in a dramatic fashion in front over the worker and then storm out.

OP posts:
ThisMamaNeedsSleep · 08/10/2023 21:21

Hawkins0009 · 07/10/2023 22:27

so why not just leave the wine but get the rest ?

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My thoughts exactly.
It’s annoying when there’s a problem with an item but I have simply said ‘it’s ok, just leave it out’ on occasion when something didn’t scan or upon realising it was leaking or whatever. You can still just continue with the transaction!?
I can’t believe the people on here who are willing to waste their own time by dumping a full trolley. Like you have spent best part of an hour going around the aisles and are now going to have to do that again elsewhere… makes no sense to me.
Fair enough if it’s an emergency or you have small kids losing the plot… that’s different from storming off in a huff.

Differentstarts · 08/10/2023 21:23

DisquietintheRanks · 08/10/2023 21:15

Actually no, I think most people are perfectly well able to tell the difference between a reasonable queuing time and an unreasonable one. Why would I spend 30 minutes carefully filling a trolley only to abandon it because I don't want to wait 5 minutes at the tills?

The one and only time I've abandoned a trolley I'd been waiting an hour with no end in sight. If the store had told me on entering that I'd have to queue that long to pay I'd have walked away at that point.

Edited
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Why on earth was there an hour wait?

DisquietintheRanks · 08/10/2023 21:34

@Differentstarts because of the way payday and Christmas fell- the shop was rammed. I expected a long wait but not that long, it was chaos. Queues at the tills were so long that they were blocking the aisles and then arguements were breaking out bw those queuing and those trying to shop. And they just carried on letting people in.

Tallgirlsrock · 08/10/2023 21:36

I haven't for a few years now, but I have been known to leave a big trolley full near the checkout when there has only been one till open and a ton of people waiting. It doesn't gain you anything as you still have to buy your stuff somewhere, but it sure makes you feel better for a while!

Hawkins0009 · 08/10/2023 21:37

ThisMamaNeedsSleep · 08/10/2023 21:21

My thoughts exactly.
It’s annoying when there’s a problem with an item but I have simply said ‘it’s ok, just leave it out’ on occasion when something didn’t scan or upon realising it was leaking or whatever. You can still just continue with the transaction!?
I can’t believe the people on here who are willing to waste their own time by dumping a full trolley. Like you have spent best part of an hour going around the aisles and are now going to have to do that again elsewhere… makes no sense to me.
Fair enough if it’s an emergency or you have small kids losing the plot… that’s different from storming off in a huff.

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excatly, i can understand if its an emergency, etc, but to get in a pickle just because of one item etc, its like omg people, your ment to be adults and not have an attidue thats textbook kevin from kevin and perry.

Hawkins0009 · 08/10/2023 21:38

sunnydaytoday0 · 08/10/2023 21:14

I suspect it was because when the one cashier was asked about another till being opened the cashier gave a slight shrug of the shoulders and said 'no' quite assertively, rather than a 'no sorry it isn't possible but sorry for the wait'. I guess using the right tone always helps.

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ill admit depending on a persons tone, it can help or hinder a situation

Differentstarts · 08/10/2023 21:48

DisquietintheRanks · 08/10/2023 21:34

@Differentstarts because of the way payday and Christmas fell- the shop was rammed. I expected a long wait but not that long, it was chaos. Queues at the tills were so long that they were blocking the aisles and then arguements were breaking out bw those queuing and those trying to shop. And they just carried on letting people in.

Wow you must of had been in a queue of about 30 people and the fact you said there was no end in sight after an hour the staff must of been scanning shopping at 1 item a minute thats crazy no wonder after standing basically still in a queue for an hour you left

TaxiFor1 · 08/10/2023 21:52

I forgot my purse once when at my local Aldi, but the checkout worker looked at me like a piece of shit! I even tried to make a joke but she still looked at me like I was either really stupid or trying to nick something, I've not been back since!

WellDuh · 08/10/2023 22:08

I was buying school uniform for 2 of my kids. Needed to try things on as both kids, especially my DD (who was all legs and no waist/bum!) were awkward sizes. I spent ages going through different cuts/styles of trousers and skirts, selecting shirts and blouses before heading towards the changing rooms. They were closed. Staff member refused to open them as they had a sale on. The shop was quiet and there were loads of staff in that area alone. I said I'm not buying all this lot to take it home and bring half (or even all) of it back. Still refused. So I handed her the clothes and asked her to put them back. Went to Tesco who also had a sale on and the dressing rooms were open.

I've also had shopping dumped on me when working at a checkout. Woman and 2 teenagers came to the checkout with a full trolley (we only do the small trollies as we're a small shop). The DD was carrying a bottle of WKD and the DS leaned across the counter pointing at the Apple Sours and said 'I want that one'. So I had to ask both kids for ID. Neither had ID as apparently neither were old enough for ID and anyway the booze was for her husband. It obviously wasn't. No ID no sale. She argued with me for ages but I stood my ground and she eventually told me she was going to leave her shopping if I didn't sell her the alcohol. Told her that she wasn't getting the alcohol and I had no problem putting her shopping back. They all walked out. Thankfully she was true to her word when she said she'd never come back. Not risking my licence for anyone.

ChrisConary · 08/10/2023 22:19

I've walked away from a full cart, when customer service is lacking.

MrsMarzetti · 08/10/2023 22:23

CrashyTime · 08/10/2023 21:20

Why don`t more people just get their groceries delivered?

Not every supermarket delivers and not every supermarket that delivers deliver to every area.

Vitriolinsanity · 08/10/2023 22:24

I have to admit I came this close >< in Lidl last week when a cashier, despite there being customers up and left, presumably on her break, leaving one cashier with now 6 customers.

I'm sure she was legitimately on a break, but as a person that doesn't regularly shop in Lidl it won't make me go back.

Also, the pastries that everyone bangs on about are dry and nasty.

Whostolemymojo · 08/10/2023 22:27

Yes! In the middle of Lidl and
got a call from DH who said: “nothing to panic about but our(14 YO) DS has had a little bump to the head at his match….. the ambulance is on its way.”

I ditched my trolley mid aisle and legged it to the car through the entrance doors.

Little bump to the head was a gaping gash to the skull that needed 7 stitches. Luckily just cosmetic damage and he was fine!

anyolddinosaur · 08/10/2023 22:42

If a supermarket wants to keep you waiting for 30 minutes (and still not near the till) with staff hanging around doing nothing then they deserve to lose a few pounds on food. Maybe then they'll start considering their customers instead of being entitled arseholes.

nonumbersinthisname · 08/10/2023 23:41

Differentstarts · 08/10/2023 21:48

Wow you must of had been in a queue of about 30 people and the fact you said there was no end in sight after an hour the staff must of been scanning shopping at 1 item a minute thats crazy no wonder after standing basically still in a queue for an hour you left

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Have you never been supermarket shopping at peak time at Christmas? People with FULL trolleys stretched back from the checkout all the way from the aisles back to the bakery or whatever they have at the back of the shop. Everyone stressed. Guaranteed to lose at Whamageddon thanks to the Christmas hits over the pa taking the piss with all the songs wanging on about it being the time of peace and goodwill. It’s my idea of hell.

I love my bed and sleep but I would far rather do a 1am trip to a 24hr ASDA. 7am at M&S during the week before Christmas is usually manageable too, especially if you’ve snagged an order slot.

Ladyj84 · 09/10/2023 00:03

If you've forgotten your purse card etc fair enough but dumping for no good reason and then wonder what the staff are doing sorting it out. Lidls if a Tills closed should have there alarmed barriers closed. It's not the staffs fault they are expected to do a hundred jobs and the till like other supermarkets unfortunately. The high up expect blood for wages these days

Differentstarts · 09/10/2023 00:17

nonumbersinthisname · 08/10/2023 23:41

Have you never been supermarket shopping at peak time at Christmas? People with FULL trolleys stretched back from the checkout all the way from the aisles back to the bakery or whatever they have at the back of the shop. Everyone stressed. Guaranteed to lose at Whamageddon thanks to the Christmas hits over the pa taking the piss with all the songs wanging on about it being the time of peace and goodwill. It’s my idea of hell.

I love my bed and sleep but I would far rather do a 1am trip to a 24hr ASDA. 7am at M&S during the week before Christmas is usually manageable too, especially if you’ve snagged an order slot.

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Iv never seen a queue that takes over an hour to get to the till even at Christmas

Yellowsubmarineunderthesea · 09/10/2023 00:39

@CrashyTime I wouldn't do online deliveries as I like to see which fruit, veg, meat I'm choosing. I've seen the pickers choosing items and they aren't bothered about bruised fruit, squashed bread, dates on dairy etc.

tillytown · 09/10/2023 03:54

I left a full trolley at Tesco. I do the shopping for a couple of neighbours and on that day I had four different loads of shopping, when I got to the till I was told it was card only and that the self checkouts were card only too, so I left and went to Sainsburys. I don't mind doing the shopping for others but I'm not paying for it, nor am I putting it on my card and then having to figure out where to find some change from.

Batsinmyattic · 09/10/2023 04:00

I have done this. Struggled around sainsburys with an autistic child for a hour and a half. Child had various meltdowns. Picked child up. Queued and got to till, feeling massive stress. Cashier saw a bloke with a crate of beer behind me and said I will just put this man through first. So I left the contents of my trolley there and walked out.

SkiingIsHeaven · 09/10/2023 04:10

Basket yes.

3 times the self service till's said there was a problem.

The shop assistant was standing next to it and on the third time ignored me so I just walked out.

She looked up then.

exiledfromcornwall · 09/10/2023 04:52

At the Lidl I go to there is usually only one till open and the adjacent self service tills have nobody to help customers having problems so the person on the till has to abandon ship to help them. Feel really sorry for the checkout operator essentially doing two peoples' jobs.

jasminocereusbritannicus · 09/10/2023 07:18

I can understand realising you’ve forgotten your purse, or a child having a meltdown, or a sudden emergency; but wow some of you have very short fuses if you can’t wait in line! You can’t predict what will happen at busy times… but I do think those who want to exchange a pile of coupons, or want items exchanged at checkouts could choose their moments. I find Lidl very quick , even when busy… if people do it properly and pack their bags AFTER they’ve paid( which is what you're supposed to do), and I also prefer to use self-service tills in other shops as it’s usually ( not always) quicker.

I’d rather wait patiently and get what I want than storm off in a huff and have to do it all again somewhere else, with no guarantee that it wouldn’t happen again at the next place! That’s just crazy!

HelenaTranscart · 09/10/2023 07:21

Not special, but the rule wasn't supposed to include dependent children too young to be left on their own. But gee 'thunks' for your helpful comment

Chiaseedling · 09/10/2023 07:31

I only abandoned a not v full trolley once when pregnant, possibly pre-online food shopping or it was in its infancy, as I felt ill and had to leave. Shops often triggered me feeling faint when preggers.
I do hate self serve checkouts unless it’s a few bits. Went to Tesco recently and practically all ‘main’ checkouts are self serve so I had full basket and was so time consuming- I was speaking to a member of staff as there seemed to be one between two of these checkouts and he basically said it was a mare & cost saving exercise. Annoyingly I had to send my 19 year old out cos I had to be a bottle of booze and he didn’t have id on him (the bloody booze was his to give as a present to his boss as he was leaving his job to go to uni!).