Grocery Store Pet Peeves

[goofinoff]

I just got home from the grocery store and I left in such a bad mood!! So many things about the grocery store erk me....

I HATE that they put so much crap in the main aisle that you can't get through with your cart! Walmart is infamous for this!!!

I HATE when other shoppers leave their carts in the middle of the aisle and go off to look for something! You are not the only ones shopping, people! Move your cart to the side so the rest of us can get through!

And my #1 pet peeve.....not enough cashiers! Another Walmart goody! Our Super Walmart has about 32 registers and there were about 4 open today, not including the express lanes. It's so frustrating!!!! Especially when the line is so backed up and there are 3-4 what appear to be managers standing there talking. I was in a line that was about 7 deep and there were a few employees standing back watching the lines. I asked if they were going to open another register and one of them said "Oh, yeah, I guess we should!"

I know I could go to a different grocery store but I would pay double for the basics that I got today. So I guess I just need to suck it up! But it makes me feel better to say that I hate that place!

 

[Philagoofy]

The amount of plastic bags used. People should bring reusable canvas bags. Sometimes only 3-4 items are put in a plastic bag, for a week's worth of groceries, just think how many plastic bags are used, especially when doubled up.

Also, people who leave shopping carts in the parking lot instead of walking them back to the store or to the provided corrals.

 

[Coconut36]

Poorly rotated/stocked produce..when DH worked produce he was taught to pull all the old fruit/veggies (or whatever it was) off the display, put the new product down and then the old on top (as a part of this process they would cull out anything that was not in good shape, was rotting, broken skin..etc)..I almost never ever see this anymore..they just pile new on top of old and as people dig through you can end up with some nasty stuff pulled to the top or have nice new fruits sitting on top of rotting fruit. Same goes for the dairy cases...often I find the workers are not checking product expiration dates and as a consumer nothing ticks me off more than buying something that expired 2 weeks ago (I know I need to look too but honestly IMO the store should not have expired product out on the shelf..ever. There is no excuse when it is out of date by several days).

Not a fan of overstocked aisles where you can barely get one cart down and people who spend 30 minutes blocking the aisle while they try to choose a bottle of ketchup or something like that (because the aisles are so tight you often can't get around them).

 

[minniecarousel]

I hate when they place the quarts of milk on the top shelf, and the next container doesn't slide forward. I can't reach way up/back there!

Generally stuff on the top shelf can be difficult for me to reach. I've gone to the gift wrap aisle, gotten a roll of wrapping paper to knock an item off of a top shelf, just to get to it. And yes, I return the wrapping paper to where I got it.

 

[everylastbreath]

Ok, my pet peeve is not about the actual store but more the patrons...
1. If someone only has 1/2 items LET THEM GO IN FRONT OF YOU, it is sooo rude to have a basket full of grocerys and not allow someone with a few items to go first.
2. Do NOT break your order into multiply orders!!! I was once behind someone who broke their order into 3/4 sep orders, it took FOREVER!
3. PLEASE PLEASE (this is my BIGGEST PET PEEVE) do not look thru all pockets / handbags to find CHANGE! if the change is over 50 cents, BREAK THE DOLLAR! I once stood behind someone who looked for 98cents in change, unbelievable

Grocery stores ALWAYS put me in a bad mood..

 

[minniebeth]

I hate that just when you figure out where everything is, they move it around!

I'm from NJ where the deli people know how to slice deli thin and quickly.
Here, no matter how thin I ask deli meat to be sliced (not shaved), it's still thick.
...and it takes forever! And they seem to get annoyed when I ask for more than 1 or 2 items. Yeah, well I'm feeding 5 people deli sandwiches for lunch each week. Sorry if I'm asking for hand AND turkey!

 

[Coconut36]

I hate that just when you figure out where everything is, they move it around!

I'm from NJ where the deli people know how to slice deli thin and quickly.
Here, no matter how thin I ask deli meat to be sliced (not shaved), it's still thick.
...and it takes forever! And they seem to get annoyed when I ask for more than 1 or 2 items. Yeah, well I'm feeding 5 people deli sandwiches for lunch each week. Sorry if I'm asking for hand AND turkey!

I believe the bold is very deliberate and a "marketing" move (for lack of a better term). If they move stuff around, you are forced to wander around and hopefully see things that you decide to buy that you wouldn't have if you weren't forced to wander. It's one of the reasons they put staple/common items like milk, bread..etc often in the back of the store.

 

[Princess Dolly]

Ok, my pet peeve is not about the actual store but more the patrons...
1. If someone only has 1/2 items LET THEM GO IN FRONT OF YOU, it is sooo rude to have a basket full of grocerys and not allow someone with a few items to go first.
2. Do NOT break your order into multiply orders!!! I was once behind someone who broke their order into 3/4 sep orders, it took FOREVER!
3. PLEASE PLEASE (this is my BIGGEST PET PEEVE) do not look thru all pockets / handbags to find CHANGE! if the change is over 50 cents, BREAK THE DOLLAR! I once stood behind someone who looked for 98cents in change, unbelievable

Grocery stores ALWAYS put me in a bad mood..

Why is it rude? The person with more groceries has stood in line and waited his or her turn?

My pet peeve: people who go shopping with unrealistic expectation of what the grocery shopping experience entails. And yes I have broke up my orders as well. I used to all shop for my MIL when she was sick and it upset her to thnik I was paying for her stuff. So in order to give her some comfort in a way that I could, I would have her items rung up seperately so I could give her her own receipt.

 

[sbell111]

I just got home from the grocery store and I left in such a bad mood!! So many things about the grocery store erk me....

I HATE that they put so much crap in the main aisle that you can't get through with your cart! Walmart is infamous for this!!!

I HATE when other shoppers leave their carts in the middle of the aisle and go off to look for something! You are not the only ones shopping, people! Move your cart to the side so the rest of us can get through!

And my #1 pet peeve.....not enough cashiers! Another Walmart goody! Our Super Walmart has about 32 registers and there were about 4 open today, not including the express lanes. It's so frustrating!!!! Especially when the line is so backed up and there are 3-4 what appear to be managers standing there talking. I was in a line that was about 7 deep and there were a few employees standing back watching the lines. I asked if they were going to open another register and one of them said "Oh, yeah, I guess we should!"

I know I could go to a different grocery store but I would pay double for the basics that I got today. So I guess I just need to suck it up! But it makes me feel better to say that I hate that place!

The stuff in the main aisle is there to get you to buy it. Keeping the number of cashiers to a minimum lowers the store's costs. These two things both help keep prices down so you will continue to shop there.

 

[TifffanyD]

Why is it rude? The person with more groceries has stood in line and waited his or her turn?

My pet peeve: people who go shopping with unrealistic expectation of what the grocery shopping experience entails. And yes I have broke up my orders as well. I used to all shop for my MIL when she was sick and it upset her to thnik I was paying for her stuff. So in order to give her some comfort in a way that I could, I would have her items rung up seperately so I could give her her own receipt.

Yeah I don't thnk it's rude not to let someone with 1-2 things go ahead of you. You know what is rude tho? If you are in line, there are people behind you, and you let someone cut in front of them as well as you. NOT COOL!

My Pet Peeves include:

Those stupid car carts. Man I hate those things.

Also most of what posters above said... but I just solve those by not shopping in certain stores (like Walmart)

 

[goofyintoronto]

My pet peeve is when the customer waits until the cashier indicates the total before digging thru their purse/pocket looking for their wallet! Seriously, couldnt you have your wallet in your hand at least while the cashier is ringing the stuff thru? That way when s/he says "thats $78 please" you can whip out your cash/cards quite quickly! Instead, youre holding up the line cause you cant find your darn wallet. Grrrr!!

 

[Princess Dolly]

Yeah I don't thnk it's rude not to let someone with 1-2 things go ahead of you. You know what is rude tho? If you are in line, there are people behind you, and you let someone cut in front of them as well as you. NOT COOL!

My Pet Peeves include:

Those stupid car carts. Man I hate those things.

Also most of what posters above said... but I just solve those by not shopping in certain stores (like Walmart)

Yes! Those are the worst. They take up the whole aisle and it seems they can't be manuevered easily.

 

[pumpkinmomma]

The only thing that really bothers me is when people block the aisle so no one else can get past. If you want to have a chat with a friend in the store, move your cart to the side so others can get past. Don't stop in the middle.

Our local market is usually really good about keeping items out of the aisles, opening registers if it gets too crowded, and keeping things clean. I shop there over cheaper places because the service is better and I am willing to pay extra for it.

 

[POOHsie]

I hate when they place the quarts of milk on the top shelf, and the next container doesn't slide forward. I can't reach way up/back there!

Generally stuff on the top shelf can be difficult for me to reach. I've gone to the gift wrap aisle, gotten a roll of wrapping paper to knock an item off of a top shelf, just to get to it. And yes, I return the wrapping paper to where I got it.

I needed a quart of milk but didn't see it. I asked a nearby tall, young stockboy where it could be found. He pointed to the top shelf of a tall fridge case and walked away. BTW, I was seated in my ECV. Ya' think he could've reached it for me?

 

[Piper]

If you think the aisle is difficult to maneuver with a cart--try using an ecv. Unfortunately, this is the only way I can shop, so I'm very familiar with the challenges. Fortunately, my own is much easier to drive (and smaller) than the store ones!

 

[cluvsdisney]

There are so many things that are annoying about grocery shopping:

- when the aisles are blocked by employees stocking shelves during prime shopping hours. This past Saturday at 11am half the bread shelves and dairy case was blocked because of this.

- when someone stands directly in front of me when I am scanning a shelf. I am pretty sure you can scan the same items by standing next to me. I am not talking about reaching for something...standing right in front of me to look at the same things I am trying to look at.

- when someone leaves their cart on line to get other items. Finish shopping, then get on line.

 

[mzozzietj]

LOL! These are funny

My pet peeve is trying to get groceries with my 3 yr old in tow... which I usually have to do. I've been using Peapod for delivery since I was pregnant and it helps a great deal but they don't always carry things and many items are much pricier than in the stores. I usually place an order every other week for big items or things on sale, then I can make quicker trips with her in tow. Why do 3 yr olds HAVE to use every public bathroom you walk past, even when you have them go before leaving home?

 

[goofyintoronto]

The only thing that really bothers me is when people block the aisle so no one else can get past. If you want to have a chat with a friend in the store, move your cart to the side so others can get past. Don't stop in the middle.

YES! This is sooo annoying! some ppl will go out of their way to go around the two ppl who are chatting. Nope, not me. I'll blurt out "excuse me" and get them to move out of my way. Why should i maneuver around you when youre clearly the one blocking the path!?

 

[phorsenuf]

The amount of plastic bags used. People should bring reusable canvas bags. Sometimes only 3-4 items are put in a plastic bag, for a week's worth of groceries, just think how many plastic bags are used, especially when doubled up.

I prefer getting the plastic bags myself. I use them when I scoop the little box.

 

[KristaTX]

Why is it rude? The person with more groceries has stood in line and waited his or her turn?

I agree. It's generous to let someone with a couple of items go in front of you if you have a lot, but it's certainly not rude not to let them. That's kind of like saying that a big group at WDW who has waited in line a few moments longer than you should let you go first if you are by yourself, or else they are being rude .

I hate it when things don't ring up at the right price.

I also hate it when a store has not trained their employees to specify exactly which customer can should get in the newly opened line first. I hate it when they just say "I'll take whoever's next in line", and the person in the back of the long line leaps into the newly opened line first even though there are people in front of them who have been waiting longer. Now THAT is rude .