Inspired by DISboard pet peeves...Shopping Pet Peeves

[Missy1961]

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.

Another pet peeve. (boy I have more than I knew!) And here's another: the customer who sees one long line, 3 or 4 open cashiers and "doesn't realize" the one line is for all customers. Yeah, we're standing here in this long line for our health.

 

[coliebird]

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.

This same thing happened at Costco when I was there. A man was on line with 2 items in his hand. The lines were really long. We got behind him. About 5 minutes or so later, here comes this woman with a fully loaded shopping cart and gets on line with him. I, of course, can't keep my mouth shut and made a few comments about the rudeness of it all. The man gave me a dirty look and looked away. The woman pretended she couldn't hear me. My husband was mortified by me, but I didn't care. It really annoyed me.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Believe it or not I'm feeling so much better now after reading other pet peeves!

And it did remind me of others that I didn't encounter today at Costco.

I agree that the cashier should say "hi" and "thank you", at the very least. When a cashier doesn't, I still say "have a nice day" before I leave, which humors me because many times after I say that they STILL don't have a clue. But it leaves me snickering at least (yes, I'm a cheap date).

I also don't like it when it's my turn to check out and the cashier is still chatting with the person in front of me. It makes it hard for me to even ask for paper bags, etc when I can't get a word in. I feel like I'm interrupting them.

I rarely shop at Wal-Mart, but when I do it's true that people seem to hold family reunions there. I was there with my son recently and we couldn't believe the l-a-r-g-e families, talking, blocking the aisle, etc. Guess it's not just our Wal-Mart.

And I also do not want someone standing over me when I'm scanning my credit card. I can literally feel them breathing down my neck.

Our Safeway is the store that has the workers of all kinds greet the customers. It may have started for a good reason, but it does get so fake. And c'mom, Petsmart, when I'm buying dog food does the cashier, each and everytime really need to ask me what kind of dog I have??? Next time I'm going to walk up and announce, "I have 2 mutts" just to get it over with. You don't give a rat's behind about what kind of dog I have (only care that I am actually buying my food there as opposed to Petco), so quit making the cashiers ask!

When I buy the kitten's food at our local pet store, they talk and are friendly, but I can tell that it's genuine and it is nice.

You know, a lot of these things, such as blocking an aisle, out of control children, etc, wouldn't even be an issue of people would simply say, "excuse me" or "I'm sorry". It's doing these things and acting as if you are more important than everyone else that really irks me. There's been plenty of times that a person has cut in front of me, but then realized it and said, "sorry" and I am so forgiving. Makes such a difference!

 

[Marseeya]

You know, a lot of these things, such as blocking an aisle, out of control children, etc, wouldn't even be an issue of people would simply say, "excuse me" or "I'm sorry". It's doing these things and acting as if you are more important than everyone else that really irks me. There's been plenty of times that a person has cut in front of me, but then realized it and said, "sorry" and I am so forgiving. Makes such a difference!

And that can apply in any number of peeve situations in general.

 

[Laura]

Does every store have some kind of card you can apply for now? I swear, every time I go somewhere that isn't a mom-and-pop shop, I get hassled by the cashier if I want to apply for X card, blah blah blah.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

-
-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

-

There is an employee at our local Giant who is TERRIBLE about complaining about her job. Drives me nuts and I try to not get in her line. One day she had the shortest line, but I still went to a longer line just to avoid her. I probably should complain the next time it happens. Very unprofessional.

And I agree about opening a new line and not taking the next customer in line. Of course some customers run up from behind, but then I can nicely tell them that I was next.

And I love the Bob Weaver comment! Sounds like my son when we're walking home from the bus--I'm going to start calling him Bob Weaver!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

And that can apply in any number of peeve situations in general.

VERY true!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

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

LOL, I'll take one, too!

 

[PneumaticTransit]

I agree with most of the pet peeves listed. Here's one I have to add:

I can't stand when people at the grocery store eat the food while they shop. You know the ones I'm talking about. They open the bags of chips, eat the donuts straight out of the bakery displaycase, drink the sodas out of the cooler. CAN'T YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU GET HOME???!!!

I always wonder if they finish them off in the store so they can stash the packaging and not pay for it.

This is very common on those family reunions at Wal-Mart. They send the little ones to the toy section to play, the adults wander around chatting... and when they get hungry they just go the grocery side and help themselves to a snack.

It's a department store, not a park pavillion.

 

[Kermit]

My biggest pet peeve is when they put the raw meat in the same bag as food I'm not going to cook. That's disgusting. I do put my meat in one of those produce-type bags, but that isn't enough. I don't want my apples in a bag with raw chicken.

 

[jennyl772003]

I can't stand when people at the grocery store eat the food while they shop. You know the ones I'm talking about. They open the bags of chips, eat the donuts straight out of the bakery displaycase, drink the sodas out of the cooler. CAN'T YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU GET HOME???!!!

This is the one I was going to say. I would also like to add those parents that grab a box of cookies or crackers, and crack it open right there and give some to little junior.

I mean seriously, if Jr needs something to nibble on, bring it with you!

Wait until you've actually paid for your item before you start to consume it!

 

[delilah]

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.

Wow, you lost me when you were talking about people walking on the "wrong side". For me, the "right side" is the side where I think the item I need to purchase might be. I didn't realize that the lanes in the grocery store were one way streets. If somebody gets blocked in, I usually will stand clear and let them out before I go through, but, I never realized that I couldn't shop on both sides of the aisle on one trip through. Let me know when you shop so I can adjust my schedule to accomodate your needs. Our store aisles are generally wide enough to accomodate two way traffic. I usually stop my cart near the item I need, so I can keep my eye on my purse, which is in my cart.

 

[ARLO1]

Background: Just me and my husband and no kids

We went to toys r us and was looking at something. 2 little boys(brats) with their mother. Little boys kept kicking a ball around - well guess who got hit with it. Yup me...I told the little kids politely to watch it and mother turned around to me and said - I guess you dont have any kids do you. I said no but if I did I would keep control of them.She started going off on me so I returned the verbal attack. Needless to say my husband did nothing but look mortified. Tough....

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Wow, you lost me when you were talking about people walking on the "wrong side". For me, the "right side" is the side where I think the item I need to purchase might be. I didn't realize that the lanes in the grocery store were one way streets. If somebody gets blocked in, I usually will stand clear and let them out before I go through, but, I never realized that I couldn't shop on both sides of the aisle on one trip through. Let me know when you shop so I can adjust my schedule to accomodate your needs. Our store aisles are generally wide enough to accomodate two way traffic. I usually stop my cart near the item I need, so I can keep my eye on my purse, which is in my cart.

Chill out!!!

If the aisles are wide enough for 2 carts, how does it work if people are walking up the opposite side of the flow of traffic? A bit of a zoo! If someone is walking on the right (or whatever the correct side is for their country), but whatever they need is on the right, I don't have an issue with them moving their cart to the left when they have reached the item in question, especially if they have a baby that they need to have their hand/eyes on. It really depends on how busy the store is as far as how I handle it. Sometimes I'll move my cart to the far right, out of the way (unless someone wants an item that my cart is now blocking and bring my purse with me. Other times I'll push my cart to the left where the item is.

However, I said WALKING down the wrong side. If we are willy nilly walking wherever we happen to want to walk, given the day of the week, stage of the moon, etc, it gets a bit hard for everyone else to walk.

And most of the aisles here are only wide enough for 2 carts. Many aisles in our Costco will fit 3 carts, but I noticed today a couple times one cart was stopped (and deserted) and the right, one stopped (and deserted) on the left, and then someone stopped their cart right in between the 2 carts and went to pick out something. He was clueless enough that it was actually humorous.

And the line "Let me know when you shop so I can adjust my schedule to accomodate your needs" is snotty and rude to me. You should think before you type!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

This is the one I was going to say. I would also like to add those parents that grab a box of cookies or crackers, and crack it open right there and give some to little junior.

When my kids were little this is one that I did a few times. Only with boxes that could easily close back up without spilling and I would tell the cashier she he/she wouldn't accidently turn it upside down. And never with something that needs to be weighed, which I've seen other people do. Sometimes we'd be out doing errands and end up taking longer than I expected, hence the hungry child. They are now old enough to wait until we are home, however (not that my 15yo wouldn't like to think that he is starving to death and needs food *then* ).

 

[ARLO1]

Another pet peeve - when youre at the deli counter and are waiting to be called.why do you have to stand in front of the counter before you are called. By doing this you are blocking the way of people whose number has been called and are blocking the way of people trying to get a number.

 

[KristaTX]

I didn't realize that the lanes in the grocery store were one way streets. If somebody gets blocked in, I usually will stand clear and let them out before I go through, but, I never realized that I couldn't shop on both sides of the aisle on one trip through.

They aren't one-way, which is exactly the point. They are like two-way streets. In general it is polite to stay to your right just as one does when walking on walkways, stairways, etc. And when going around corners, this is also helpful to prevent "collisions".

Stepping across to grab things off the shelf on the other side is fine and dandy as long as you get out of the way when someone going in either direction needs by. I even will move my cart over to the left temporarily if the store is not very busy and I am studying a product on that side.

I think we are all saying the same thing which is basically be polite and don't hog the whole aisle so that no one can pass you.

Or maybe we have we discovered a new DIS debate topic ??

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Another pet peeve - when youre at the deli counter and are waiting to be called.why do you have to stand in front of the counter before you are called. By doing this you are blocking the way of people whose number has been called and are blocking the way of people trying to get a number.

Ours doesn't have numbers to pull, which is sure a good idea. Normally it's not an issue and people queue up without a problem, but I bet when it's busy it's a different story. And you're right, people should stand back so they don't block others.

 

[MoniqueU]

When people ring up a cart full of stuff then decide they don't want it and have to have each item taken back off. Arghhh.

 

[Shugardrawers]

Another I haven't seen yet, how about when people get their order rung up and then suddenly remember something else they needed. We all stand there waiting while they run off for it. I think they go to the store in the next county looking for it! Either that or they go hide and watch everyone else in line to see who explodes first!