Was I in the wrong to push in the queue ?

[crisikrinkles]

Went into the post office in our town.
It’s always packed and they had two serving.
I needed currency and places never normally have it without ordering.
I needed it that day as we were travelling at night (last minute I know )
There was probably 20 people in front of me.
I didn’t want to wait in the queue incase I stood there and they didn’t have it anyway.
So I went to a counter and just said “before I queue can I just check you have this currency “
A woman barked “there’s a queue !”
I explained I wasn’t pushing in,I was just checking they had something before I got to the back of the queue.
She shouted “ no you wait to ask questions “

was i in the wrong ?

Ofcourse you weren't wrong,it's a simply a question.

Perhaps everyone in the queue had a similar question - how would feel if everyone did what you did ? The server would have to stop what they were doing to check and then what - you ask if they have the amount you want ? So then you have confirmed they have enough but someone ahead of you asks for that currency and buys them all before you get to the front so you still end up empty handed.

It really is rude to “just ask a question” because inevitably it isn’t just the question and you could still end up with no currency - would you have complained if you got to the front and the currency you wanted had been sold ? It’s not for others to sort out your disorganisation.

As long as it didn't require the cashier to stop what they are doing and go check (which they shouldn't do anyway) I think its fine.

'Do you sell x', 'no, sorry', takes 2 seconds and does not distract from anything else or slow anyone down as they are still serving exactly the same.

Who are the utter idiot's waiting in a long queue just to figure out if the place even offers the service they need? All that does is lengthen the queue of people who do need services and waste everyone's time because now your at the front spot faffing on getting 'special' attention all on you just to ask a mundane question that could have been done without slowing down the flow of other shoppers and workers.

People waiting in a queue just to ask is the post office equivalent of 'that could have been a email'.

I am very anti queue jumping, but in this case I think you were being quite reasonable.

I would have asked the person in front of you first if they minded you asking the cashier and said ‘I’m not pushing in don’t worry’ . Totally agree it would have been a thankless task if they hadn’t got it

I’d have just phoned the post office and asked before even going.

I personally wouldn’t mind if I were in that queue but I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to do what you did and push in to ask, I’m very socially anxious though and would do everything possible to check they have the currency before I do 😂

If you just walked to the front and didn’t even bother to politely ask or tell the person next in queue what you were doing, I can see why you got told off.

Might have been an idea to make a quick phone call first. Save you queuing 😁

You were being reasonable and sensible, but unfortunately you attempted this in the UK, crazy queue capital of the world.

As we've seen in recent threads, Britons will join queues that lead literally nowhere, and will bark and bite at those who refuse to play the game.

You don’t know that.

I wouldn't have minded.

The problem is that others in the queue didn’t know that what OP was doing would take a second or end up being a big thing

They need to wait and see. I often see walk past a big queue, I just check to see if they’re actually joining someone, they always are. No point shouting.

Wouldn't you be better off getting a multi currency card or account? E.g. Revolut or Wise. You won't get a physical card in time but you'll be able to pay with your phone. They offer a MUCH better rate than the post office. Then exchange cash in the country when needed.

it might not have been a brief question though....it might have needed checking. Its also just plain not polite to jump queues as though your "brief" question is ore important that other folk's business.

If truly, you were expecting that the cashier may not have had the currency in their register,
and your waiting in line just to find that out would have been a waste of time,
I don't think that it would be the end of the world for you to go to the front of the queue, and very politely and humbly say "pardon me, I just have a quick question I'm wondering if you have any currency available for purchase... I wanted to ask before I waited in line and find out that you didn't"...
And as long as you're being very polite about it, and not pushy or entitled, and then profusely think not only the cashier for answering your question but also the person in line who she was helping next as you did interrupt them, then that's not such a bad thing.

Could you have phoned first to check?
I don’t think you were entirely unreasonable really. As long as the staff didn’t have to go off and check I suppose.

I would have done the traditional British thing of internally huffing and thinking FFS whilst smiling benignly at you and not saying anything.

I would say that's fine especially as I get you were checking before queuing - others might take a dimmer view though and you sound self aware enough not to make a habit of it. Don't give it any more thought.

Not more important, just much quicker and not actually a real “item of business”. It’s the same if you’re in the queue at McDonalds and someone who’s just been served pops back because they realise they forgot to ask for ketchup. Or if you’re at a coffee shop and someone nips to the front of the queue to ask for the toilet code. Surely you would t expect them to wait in the queue for 10 minutes while everyone orders full meals, just for a quick 2 second thing?

Of course it's relevant. You queued, knowing you would accomplish your task. The OP could have queued for ages and achieved nothing. Totally different, and with the op's update, clear that she absolutely did not hold up anyone else at all. The cashier didn't get up, go off to check, have to think or anything else that's been invented.

This. I never mind if someone has a quick question and I've done it myself. If it looked as though it was going to take longer, I'm sure you would have just joined the queue. No harm done.

It’s fine - as long as you waited for the current customer to finish .
Swnsible to quickly check before queuing for 30 mins .
The real problem here is the huge queue. Too few cashiers !

The sense of entitlement is absolutely rife in this thread and it isn’t the OP! Jeez people! She asked a question not stopping anyone from doing what they were doing to save her wasting time. If the cashier hadn’t known the answer off the top of her head then it’s for them to say “I’m really sorry I don’t know without checking so you will need to wait”.
why on earth do people think that anyone is there solely for their benefit and that other should be hugely inconvenienced so a cashier can give you completely undivided attention.
OP you were not unreasonable but clearly half of mum set posters really are selfish and entitled and not in the least bit charitable.
if it were just one person in front then yes I would have said that’s unreasonable but to stand in a queue for 30 minutes not knowing if someone was able to help is insane.

I don’t think you were unreasonable at all - a simple yes/no question when there is a 30 minute queue is absolutely reasonable.

Oooh OP they are very strict on that at our post office. I’ve seen/heard multiple people getting a good telling off for the same reason!
eta: by the staff. Accompanied by tuts and comments from the fellow queuers