Am I rude?

[air3296]

I had a slightly awkward experience at the supermarket today and would genuinely like to hear what people in the UK think.
It was around lunchtime on a Saturday, and the supermarket was really busy, with quite a long queue for the self-checkouts.
The person in front of me had a fairly large shop. As they scanned their items, they took their time packing everything into bags, repeatedly hesitating and changing their mind about which items should go where.
I didn’t really mind that, as everyone has their own pace.
However, after scanning all their items, they still didn’t pay. Instead, they continued taking their time rearranging everything in their bags, while occupying the checkout and holding up the queue.
At that point, I said: “Could you please pay first? We’re in a rush.”
I wasn’t asking them to stop packing altogether. I just thought they could pay first and then move aside to finish packing, so the next person could use the checkout.
Now I’m wondering whether what I said was considered rude or impolite by British standards.
What’s the general etiquette at self-checkouts in the UK, especially when the supermarket is really busy? Was I being unreasonable, or was my request perfectly fair?
I’d genuinely appreciate honest opinions, even if you think I was in the wrong.

Someone was with you?

I hate that! It's so annoying. So are the people who don't bag anything then after they've paid, pull out some bags and slowly start packing

What did they say or do ?

You were impatient and mildly rude.
Your schedule is your problem. People can organise their purchases however they please. You simply have to wait for another till.

I don't think you were particularly rude, I'd argue what they were doing was ruder faffing around and holding people up when there's a large queue behind them.

What happened? If they were offended maybe they’ll consider how they were holding everyone up!

When I asked them to pay first, they started arguing with me and seemed to deliberately slow things down even further, continuing to pack their bags instead of paying.

My family.

To add...I regularly get a rage on in Tesco...I fucking hate the place and detest being held up.
But that's my issue.

And what do they think?

Yep. You overstepped the mark and they pushed you back.

What did they actually say when you say they “started arguing with me”?

In Aldi or Lidl that would be acceptable, but not in other supermarkets.

I’d never challenge or confront anyone in the supermarket. Even if they are being slow and annoying…. Just not worth the risk. Plus harassing them is unlikely to make them go faster (as you discovered).

I hate faffers too, op, you know the ones that stand in a queue then are surprised by the fact they need to pay, rummage in their handbags for their purse & their clubcard.
It was the same when I used to get buses.
😤

Just want to know am I rude?

Some people seem normal until they get to a supermarket checkout, at which time they go into slow motion!

Was there only 1 self check out machine or something? Were they holding up the whole queue? Or were others machines becoming available?

Yeah.

"a Saturday" would make sense, seeing as it was today 😄

I don't think it was rude personally.

I had the same experience and people in the queue were watching her with incredulous fascination but no one said anything. She was utterly oblivious. A few of us hung around a while just watching her and exchanging bemused eye rolls and chuckles.

I think it’s rude to stand by the till longer than you need to,when you’ve finished paying, thus blocking the operator from getting on with someone else’s shop.

ETA, realised it was self checkout but it’s still rude not to move away as fast as you can.

Yes, you were rude.

Busy supermarket and there was only one self checkout?

Bit rude i think. If it was one where you have the platform which weighs what you're buying then you couldn't have squashed in beside them because they were still arranging their shopping.

Perhaps they were struggling a bit with the logistics. Since his stroke my husband takes more time than he used to, to do things like pack bags.

If you're in a rush that's on you.

Exactly why I shop in Aldi, I don't have the patience for faffers or chatters at the checkout

All in long queues as it’s very busy at that point in that supermarket.