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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be baffled by buyers who won't pay till they have put ALL their shopping into bags at the supermarket checkout? When there's a queue waiting behind them?

156 replies

tigermoth · 27/10/2008 17:49

I am always baffled when people with lots of shopping pack everything first and pay last at supermarket checkouts.

Why are some people totally oblivious to holding up the queue. Is it due to absent mindedness? selfishness? Or some logical reason?

It really slows things down for all those waiting behind them. AIBU to find it annoying?

OP posts:
pookamoo · 27/10/2008 18:05

The problem is that if you don't finish packing before you pay, sometimes they will start putting the next person's shopping through before you've finished... chaos!

compo · 27/10/2008 18:05

it makes your day heavy ? you need to get a life

SoupDragon · 27/10/2008 18:06

I find that the checkout person doesn't start the next shopper until you've got everything in bags so it really makes no odds. On the rare occasions I have to shop like the great unwashed, I tend to pack, hand over my card when they've finished scanning, keep on packing, enter pin, keep on packing etc.

Must say I do go slower if someone's tutting in the queue behind me

This is why I have my shopping delivered or use Waitrose scan as you go.

bubblagirl · 27/10/2008 18:07

ive tried the whole standing aside and next customer gets the hump as your not packing fast enough they have no arm room to pack there things

you get flustered start dropping things trying to rush cant open bags they want you gone too much stress and then you look at next person who has more shopping than you , you've moved away from counter to sort bags out they pack all there shopping then pay

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 27/10/2008 18:08

It irritates me when I do pay before I have finished packing, because I always seem to get that shop assistant who is happy to push through other peoples items whilst I'm still packing!
The easy answers are:

  • Shop online
  • Get the DH to go with you and get him to finishing packing whilst you pay

Though these throw their own issues:

  • I have been serious let down by online shopping
  • My husband throws stuff into the bags in a disorganised manner.

The issues pee me off more than people tutting at me at the till so I just pack and pay

pookamoo · 27/10/2008 18:08

x post versde

When my old housemate worked at asda, she used to get told at the end of each shift how fast her scanning rate was. I'm not sure if they still do that but if you get brownie points for how speedy you are, it doesn't really help the poor person trying to pack!

Original poster
tigermoth · 27/10/2008 18:09

IME of my local supermarkets (Sainburys, Somerfield, Marks and Spencers) unpacked stuff that is paid for can be moved to one side of the counter, so the customer can pack it away.

In the meantime, the next customer can start getting their stuff scanned by the cashier.

The cashier can't start scanning the next customers shopping however, till the previous customer has paid, so if the customer does not pay during or before packing, everyone is waiting for them to finish before the scanner can be used again.

OP posts:
travellingwilbury · 27/10/2008 18:10

YABU

But if you were moaning about the people who stand in the queue for ten minutes , then pack and then fish around in a HUGE handbag loking for a purse / wallet then I am on your side

It is no surprise you are going to have to pay so please have your money / cards handy

Thank you

Sobernow · 27/10/2008 18:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VersdeSociete · 27/10/2008 18:13

I don't understand that, tigermoth. In all of the supermarkets I go to, there is just the end of the counter where the groceries collect up. The other side is another cashier etc. so if you pay, your cashier starts checking someone else through whilst (if you are me) you fail to get the plastic bags open and end up packing it all any old how to stop it getting mixed up with and crushed by the onslaught of other people's food...

Trafficcone · 27/10/2008 18:15

At my local Sainsburys they won't start checking anyone elses food through until you've packed and put it back in the trolley so why would it matter whether you paid first or afterwards?
I also go much more slowly as soon as the person behind me tuts.

Dalrymps · 27/10/2008 18:15

YABU. What is actually annoying is when you are trying to pack your shopping and pay and the person behind keeps edging towards you and trying to hurry you. It is also even more annoying when that person stands right next to you and looks over your shoulder whilst you're trying to type your pin in.

What is the big rush? Why don't people have the patience and manners to just let someone do their shopping and wait until it is their turn?

Original poster
tigermoth · 27/10/2008 18:19

OK, depends a bit on the size of the counter. If its small, then of course its impractical to risk muddling up two people's shopping.

But lots of counters - and I am talking about the area after the till - are quite large and even have a dividing wall that you can move across to separate one customer's shopping from the next.

OP posts:
roisin · 27/10/2008 18:19

Everything about supermarkets annoy me. So I don't go
Dh does the shopping

bellavita · 27/10/2008 18:20

I usually do online, but the times that I do go myself - always pack then pay.

Dalrymps - I hate that too, when someone stands so close to you - I always say escuuuuuse me and nudge push them back.

Original poster
tigermoth · 27/10/2008 18:22

It's interesting that some of you seem to assume I visibly show annoyance in a supermarket queue when faced with this.

Where did I say that

I am merely posing an AIBU question.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 27/10/2008 18:26

Here, here, Sobernow.

pointygravedogger · 27/10/2008 18:37

oh I always prefer it when people pack up everything before paying. These checkout people go far too quickly and I just feel harrassed.

I like to put my trolley at the end then put my bags into is as I go along. I don't want someone fumbling around for their cheese strings.

jenk1 · 27/10/2008 18:38

re scanning rate,they do that in morrisons as well,we,d get the supervisor coming round and sayin oh your rate is down but we,d say well what are we supposed to do shove em out of the way?

think most supermarket checkout staff are on scan rates nowadays,and we were also told to limit the amount of little bags you put meat in etc.

MrsGhoulofGhostbourne · 27/10/2008 18:39

Dalrymps - YES

LazyLinePainterJane · 27/10/2008 18:43

But the only reason this happens is because the checkout staff pass items through at a rate inappropriate to the speed of the customer packing. I hate having to start packing my stuff when someone has paid and is still packing and the cashier starts whizzing my stuff through.

I do not start packing until the last person has gone and I don't pay until I have packed. I am already paying to shop there, why should I have to feel as if I am part of a high-speed production line as well?

LazyLinePainterJane · 27/10/2008 18:45

Dalrymps, I have had someone do that to me, nudge their trolley right up past the chip and pin terminal, trying to, well, I don't know the fuck what they are trying to achieve? I mean, what is going to happen? I looked at them and said "can you move back please?" and they looked at me like I was an alien!

LostProphet · 27/10/2008 18:46

If you pay then try and continue packing, they take it as a sign that they can shove the next person's stuff down.

Poor old guy at the petrol station today - he was having problems finding the right money. Just me behind him, not in the tiniest bit of a hurry... the cashier was being all rushy with him, and then as soon as she had closed the till was reaching out for my stuff half shoving the poor bloke out of the way who was still trying to turn round He kept apologising He'd done nothing wrong.

Original poster
tigermoth · 27/10/2008 18:48

I like paying as soon as possible so I can escape! I quite like the shopping bit, wandering round the aisles, but there's not much fun to be had at the checkout. No one enjoys that bit, surely, so why make it longer than necessary?

OP posts:
misdee · 27/10/2008 18:49

' By tigermoth on Mon 27-Oct-08 18:09:12
IME of my local supermarkets (Sainburys, Somerfield, Marks and Spencers) unpacked stuff that is paid for can be moved to one side of the counter, so the customer can pack it away.

In the meantime, the next customer can start getting their stuff scanned by the cashier.

The cashier can't start scanning the next customers shopping however, till the previous customer has paid, so if the customer does not pay during or before packing, everyone is waiting for them to finish before the scanner can be used again. '

IME as a long serving cashier this is heavily frowned upon by the managers. it is not good customer service and is considered v v v rude and could get the cashier hauled up in front of the boss.

jenk1, scanning rate, if you have to wait for a customer or to help pack for any reason, then hit the total/subtotal button and it should hold your scanning rate level. at least it used to in the old days.