Inspired by DISboard pet peeves...Shopping Pet Peeves

[Tigger&Belle]

What are your shopping pet peeves?

I went to Costco this morning, which is not a fun place if you have pet peeves.

Mine are poeple who walk on the wrong side. They push their cart at the person walking on the correct side hoping that they will move. I usually just stop my cart and let them move. Today I was approaching the end of an aisle and someone, with her husband and cart behind her, came around the corner on the wrong side, grumbling at what seemed like me.

The other is people who leave their cart in the middle of an aisle, blocking everyone, to go get something. All they have to do is push their cart to the side.

This doesn't happen often, but did today at Costco...when a cashier takes the signed credit card slip with the card # and puts in on the counter, without putting it in the drawer or wherever it's supposed to go. Today I told her that I didn't want it left on the counter and she said, "it will be ok". I then told her it was a security issue and I wasn't moving until she took care of it. I wasn't trying to be nasty, but I wasn't going to have it fall off the counter and end up in the wrong hands.

So, how about you all?

 

[jbdreamer]

I hate it when the cashier doesn't smile your even say thank you.
Or when people use the express lane with more than 10 items!

 

[kelleigh1]

I hate the serious lack of customer service at many places...where the employees are either all talking to each other or on the phone, so they are not even paying attention to the customers.

And whatever happened to saying "hello" at the beginning of a transaction and "Thank you. Have a nice day." at the end?

And then there are the customers...the ones who will be pushing their cart down and aisle and then stop and stand between it and the opposite shelf to look at something, blocking the entire aisle. I also like the children who run around the store, seemingly without any parents or adult supervision whatsoever.

Two weeks ago I was at Target on a Friday night. (yes, my life is that exciting.) And there were two women with about 6 or 7 kids with them. One or two of the kids would wander off and then stand about 8 aisles away yelling "MOM". And of course the Mom wouldn't answer. Then there was a 2 year old in the carriage who was crying "Mommy, can I have this." for a good 5 minutes, over and over and the mother was too busy talking to the friend and never even acknoweledged the kid.

 

[Crankyshank]

- shoppers who take up the entire aisle with their carts and stare at a product like they're waiting for it to speak to them. completely oblivious to people trying to get by

- shoppers blocking aisles that don't move when you politely say excuse me
- shoppers who check out and then block you from moving up to the credit card machine because they are busy analyzing their receipt.
- shoppers who block the exit to the store because they are busy analyzing their receipt or chatting
- cashiers too busy chatting on the phone to even say hello as they ring you up.
- people who let their children run through the store and don't apologize or teach their child to say "excuse me" when the child inevitably runs into someone.
- people who allow their children to race the shopping carriage up and down the aisles

 

[Nickimouse]

Ahh, my favorite thing to do! Shop! Not!!

Yes, how hard is it to stay to the right?? I say this other places too,not just the grocery store. I think WDW should have lanes painted on the streets,paths etc. Though my DH pointed out that would confuse folks from the UK.
Also, it seems as if our Super-Walmart is the place for family reunions. Then they look at you like you have three heads when you try to get something from the shelfs they're blocking.

Oh, had to add... people who stand over my shoulder as I put in my debit card info. A little personal space and privacy please!

I could go on and on,but I'd just drive myself crazy!

 

[jbdreamer]

I think WDW should have lanes painted on the streets,paths etc.

I totally agree!

I also hate it when you are walking behind someone, and then they stop out of no where in the middle of the path and you have to stop yourself from crashing into them. Move your bu** to the side!

 

[OhMari]

Budgers,

I hate it when you are waiting to get to a certain area, and someone comes up behind me walks in front of my cart and grabs the item I am waiting for. Hello, I am waiting for the person to move out of the way, so I can grab that same item. then I get the look like," why are you trying to push your cart on me, when I am attempting to get this item".

 

[Missy1961]

I also find the shoppers who block aisles to be a major pain! I know sometimes it's not your fault , but please be alert when I'm saying "excuse me". And that's another pet peeve: the stores filling the aisles with displays--that adds (or sometimes creates) to the problem.

And I agree with the ones who block exits staring at receipts. Yes, I don't leave until I know everything's OK, but I get out of other's people's way first. In fact, my favorite grocery store has a very roomy entrance/exits (even has benches!) where you can look everything over. But people still block the exit. Go figure.

 

[kelleigh1]

I totally agree!

I also hate it when you are walking behind someone, and then they stop out of no where in the middle of the path and you have to stop yourself from crashing into them. Move your bu** to the side!

I walk from the train station to my office and back everyday. Without fail, at least once a week I end up behind a sudden stopper...especially once we get into the train station. Or the ones who sort of weave from one side of the sidewalk to the other when you're trying to get past them so they're always blocking your way. I like to refer to them as Bob Weaver since they're bobbing and weaving all over the place.

 

[Shugardrawers]

OOOOH OOOOH I'll weigh in! I hate having the receipt and change shoved in my hand and then being kicked out of line with my wallet in one hand, change in the other, purse wide open in the cart and trying to steer it out of the way so I can get myself organized. Good lord give me a minute will ya? It only takes me less than 15 seconds to put it in my wallet and put my wallet back in my purse.

Also despise people who take up the whole aisle and then give you the death ray look when you politely say excuse me.

Fake cheeriness and concern. When every "associate" I see smiles and asks me how my day is going it's fake. They don't care, they were told to say that. I'd rather they just smile a bit and do their job. If I look confused or lost ask if you can help other than that just what they pay you to do.

Shoppers, please keep your kids under control. The clothing rack I'm looking through isn't a fun place for hide and seek and tag in a crowded aisle isn't a great way to pass the time. So what if they are screaming? As long as they are under your physical control I can get my shopping done. And please don't let your 4 year old steer your cart. Bruised ankles are painful.

And here's my favorite lately: When a woman has a bald head adults know it generally means cancer or other serious illness. Please quietly inform your 8 year old of that and don't allow them to laugh, point and loudly ask the person in question why they look like a boy. It's probably a sensitive issue for them to begin with.

 

[Marseeya]

My biggest shopping peeve? Shopping! I hate shopping.

You speak of Costco, well this is something I've seen at Sam's Club, but not nearly to the extent it happened here: My DD and I were shopping and the lines were pretty long at the checkouts. I got into line behind about 4 other customers who all had full carts. Directly in front of me, there was a man standing with two women. When they were juuuuust about finished at the checkout and I was ready to finally take my turn, this woman comes running up with a full cart and tried to cut in front of me (and there were 3 or 4 other people behind me).

Well, here, the guy standing with the two women wasn't really with them, he was saving his wife's spot. It's not TOO bad when someone has to make a quick dash for something they forgot, but apparently, this woman just went and did all the shopping while her DH waited in line.

You wouldn't have liked hearing my grumbles. The husband at least had the good grace to look embarrassed.

 

[imsorry]

The new thing seems to be shopping with a cell phone. They get on the phone, call someone and start describing the items. Oh blubber butt, sweetie pie, whatever, do you want the 10 oz or the 14 oz? Vanilla or chocolate? Blah Blah Blah - MAKE A LIST BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME!

You stand there waiting for them to get out of the way in every aisle.

 

[Marseeya]

The new thing seems to be shopping with a cell phone. They get on the phone, call someone and start describing the items. Oh blubber butt, sweetie pie, whatever, do you want the 10 oz or the 14 oz? Vanilla or chocolate? Blah Blah Blah - MAKE A LIST BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME!

You stand there waiting for them to get out of the way in every aisle.

That would be me, talking on the phone with my 14 year old trying to figure out what he wants. He's not the most communicative person in the world.

 

[Missy1961]

The new thing seems to be shopping with a cell phone. They get on the phone, call someone and start describing the items. Oh blubber butt, sweetie pie, whatever, do you want the 10 oz or the 14 oz? Vanilla or chocolate? Blah Blah Blah - MAKE A LIST BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME!

You stand there waiting for them to get out of the way in every aisle.

That's annoying, but what also drives me nuts is when they are having a non shopping related conversation while checking out. I understand that time is precious for many of us, so if you want to use your phone and talk to someone while you shop, OK. But while checking out, you're being rude to the cashier. (and if I'm trapped behind you, I really don't need to hear the details of your surgery).

 

[PrincessKitty]

My shopping pet peeve has nothing to do with people. I absolutely can't stand those 3-waymirrors in fitting rooms that are purposely distorted to make people look slimmer. Both the JCPenny and the Macy's in my town have them. They are so distorted that I can't tell whether anything fits right!

 

[Crankyshank]

Oh another thing, please do not give your baby one of the store's stuffed toys to chew on unless you plan on actually purchasing it.
That used to be a huge pet peeve when I worked retail and it still remains when I go to buy a cute little stuffed animal for a baby gift for someone and I can't find one without slobber on it

 

[KristaTX]

-Lack of eye contact by employees

-Mumbling

-Employees touching their faces or messing with their hair as they work (esp. when dealing with food items)

-Employees who when opening a new checkout line do not take care to specifically take the next person in line

-Employees complaining about their job in front of customers

-People waiting to write out their checks after everything is rung up

-Having long lines of customers in just a few lanes but a dozen check out lanes closed (Sam's and Walmart are the worst)

-Telling an employee that I just want to look around, and then having them suggest and even bring stuff to me. That happened last week when I was shopping for some new glasses, and I just left.

-The pushing of store credit cards. I was going to take a part time job just for fun at Eddie Bauer recently, but I just could not bring myself to force credit cards down people's throats.

-When grocery stores run out of stuff they have on sale.

-Kiosk people in the malls asking me if I have "natural nails" and wanting to mess with my hands. That happens to me nearly every single time I go to the mall. I guess I have that "natural" look about me. I don't like having my fingernails sanded, thank you .

 

[Sparx]

1. Cashiers who talk about every single thing you're buying. I don't care if your mom's uncle's, brother's, sisters cat prefers another kind of litter!
2. Cashiers who go REALLY slow. It shouldn't take 25 minutes to price 5 things.
3. People who just walk away and LEAVE their cart there. Oh, its ok, theres only 150 other people in this store, and I am sure NONE of them need to get into the milk cooler.
4. People who don't put stuff back. PLEASE don't leave your gallon of milk in the PRODUCE! That might get just a little stinky before anyone notices.
5. express lanes with more than 10 items. Its not express if you have to wait LONGER than you do in other lanes.
6. Shoppers that just stand there, and refuse to move whenever you say excuse me. Ok, I've been polite. I said excuse me. don't make me move you, myself.
7. People on cell phones. "but booger butt, now what do you want, chocolate or vanilla" *takes two steps* "ok, how bout here, now white or wheat?" *three steps* "oh, thats nothing, thats just the line of people I am blocking. So what did you say you wanted?" For the love of bunnies BRING THEM WITH YOU!
8. Screaming children, crying children, running children, annoying children. Children that step out infront of you when you almost can't stop, then you get ugly looks from their parents for ,'nearly running over little bob who ran out in front of you, but we don't care, because my kid is totally perfect"

I could go on.

 

[Marseeya]

-Employees who when opening a new checkout line do not take care to specifically take the next person in line

I know! How hard is it to just say, "Can I have the next person in line please?" It seems when a cashier says those magic words, customers do the right thing and let the next person through. But when they just say, "Register 8 is open," everyone at the ends of the line make a mad dash for it.

Which is rude in itself. When I'm at the end of a line and a cashier opens a new register, I always offer the people in front of me to go ahead since they were waiting longer.

 

[imsorry]

My shopping pet peeve has nothing to do with people. I absolutely can't stand those 3-waymirrors in fitting rooms that are purposely distorted to make people look slimmer. Both the JCPenny and the Macy's in my town have them.

Wow, where can I get one of these mirrors???