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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that supermarket etiquette works like this

164 replies

franklymydear · 26/09/2009 13:04

in a busy supermarket like Sainsburys on a saturday, you finish shopping and join a horribly long queue.

Suddenly you remember something which happens to be in the next aisle along, so you leave your trolley in the queue and dash to get said item.

When you come back you expect your trolley to be in the same place and not to have been moved to the side and an old bloke with a basket in front of you starting to unload his basket.

Shopping etiquette says you wait your turn right even if the owner of the trolley in front is not there for a couple of minutes.

OP posts:
CNyle · 26/09/2009 13:27

i HATE it when peopel only just start getting their purse out at the VERY END

Morloth · 26/09/2009 13:27

There is supermarket etiquette!? Shit.

GingGangGillyGilly · 26/09/2009 13:28

Saying "Oh" very pointedly is pretty rude imo.

Leaving the trolley to save your space in the queue is also rude, unless you mention it to the person behind.

I think it's a bit unfair to expect some poor old fellow to have to wait till you get back. And if he didn't have much you should have offered to let him through ahead of you anyway.

AvrilH · 26/09/2009 13:29

So, you had a trolley full of stuff left unattended at the checkout.

Old bloke with a basket came along and started unloading it.

YABU on several levels - it would have been nice to let him ahead anyway since he only had a few items. You can't expect all old blokes to be familiar with the finer points of supermarket ettiquete, so it would have been nice to give him the benefit of the doubt. It is not clear what etiquette actually dictates in this situation, so again, nice to shrug.

Ergo, you are not nice

cornsilk · 26/09/2009 13:29

I want to slap people who produce a pile of vouchers.

Tn0g · 26/09/2009 13:30

I know, Morloth, I didn't realise such a thing existed either.

He had a basket, he was old you had a trolley he couldn't wait.

I really wouldn't let it bother me, we all get served in the end.

Original poster
franklymydear · 26/09/2009 13:31

I said "Oh" pointedly because he moved my trolley and went in front of my place without asking.

For the 5th time - there was nobody behind me to ask - if there had been I'd have said "Oh I forgot xx, do you mind if I just go and get it, it's only there" and they'd have said OK because that's what you do.

He was not a "poor old fellow" he was a rude, grey-haired man who thought he was more important than other people.

and he had the same amoutn of things in his basket as I had in my trolley

And I am proud of my restraint because my internal litany was a killer - it really was

OP posts:
catski · 26/09/2009 13:31

Sounds like a close call. He was next in line (behind your trolley), and the person in front was finishing up. He didn't know if you'd popped to the next aisle along, or the other end of the shop or when you'd be back. I think I'd have done the same as him to be honest based on your description.

Swedish supermarket etiquette is much more cut throat. I've never been offered to go in front of someone with a big trolley full of stuff if I've only had a couple of thing, and am generally regarded with suspicion if I offer others to do so. There's no 'five items or fewer' type of aisle either so it's a major PITA if all you want is a pint of milk.

GingGangGillyGilly · 26/09/2009 13:32

I know why you said "Oh" very pointedly, and I still think you were rude to do so.

Original poster
franklymydear · 26/09/2009 13:32

He had an extremely full basket and I had a rather empty trolley - should i just copy and paste this bit?

OP posts:
Tn0g · 26/09/2009 13:34

Ok, in that case, FMD, I'd have to batter him around the head with my french stick until he apologized.

Original poster
franklymydear · 26/09/2009 13:34

is it more rude to say Oh or to move someone else's trolley so that you can go in front of them without asking or apologising?

I was reacting to the situation

I could have said a whole lot more

OP posts:
Original poster
franklymydear · 26/09/2009 13:34

I had no french stick but that is a fine idea - I should have pelted him with the hamster food

OP posts:
dogonpoints · 26/09/2009 13:34

They had the same amount of shopping, peoples.

Some of you are now imaging a crackerjack mountain of goods in a trolley versus one sweet old man's vesta curry and can of sweetheart stout.

FranSanDisco · 26/09/2009 13:34

I left my trolley and two dc's in a queue once and when I cam back a woman had moved all of them behind her. Dc's were 5 yo and 3 yo and dutifully let the woman in front. I asked her why she had pushed in front and she said she didn't see them . I'd gone to get bread about 20 feet away. YANBU but some people are cheeky feckers

GingGangGillyGilly · 26/09/2009 13:35

As for your internal litany about Karma and so on being a killer, you don't sound very Zen yourself.

madusa · 26/09/2009 13:35

you should have asked the checkout person to get a runner for you.

That way you get to stay in your place and someone else gets your one forgotten item.

Easy.

Tortington · 26/09/2009 13:35

completly agree cornsilk - vouchers are the work of the devil

Original poster
franklymydear · 26/09/2009 13:36

The person in front was not FINISHING UP

THE PERSON IN FRONT HAD a lot (oops caps) of their shopping on the conveyor belt which was yet to go through the checkout - there was only about 10cm clear space to put stuff when I returned and the bloke hadn't even started to take anything out of the basket

OP posts:
Tn0g · 26/09/2009 13:36

Yeah hamter food, now that would be fun.

Tortington · 26/09/2009 13:36

am roffling at the people who really want a barny over this.

SardineQueen · 26/09/2009 13:36

People do sometimes adandon their shopping at the checkout though, maybe he assumed you had just gone.

I would have said "Oh" too though, but probably not pointedly. I may have given a look.

dogonpoints · 26/09/2009 13:37

gilly's brushing off her knuckle dusters

Tortington · 26/09/2009 13:37

more supermarket rules

if you put your shopping on the belt put the 'next customer' thingy on when you finish. you twats

also DO NOT put your tesco clubcard in the 'next customer' thingy - thats twattish - just pop it over when finished.

cornsilk · 26/09/2009 13:38

Tnog - I always buy a french stick for this very purpose.