What would you do?? Deli line etiquette...

[acejka]

So its a busy evening (right after work for most people) at the deli in your local supermarket...

You go to the deli, take a number, and get in the line that has formed.

You are standing in line behind another customer for about 10 minutes, knowing only that the person ahead of you has been there at least 10 minutes if not longer.

They are using the number system, but you have no idea if the cusotmer ahead of you has a number or not.

Then they call your number, so you step around that person to order, when the person ahead tells you that you need to wait your turn, and that you are cutting.

Who is in the right here?

You got a number, they were clearly using the number system that evening, and even on a huge screen, not just calling the numbers out, or the person who has been waiting ahead of you in line, but didn't take a number like everyone else?

I should say, it didn't happen to me, it happened to the couple in front of us... Didn't get too ugly or anything, just simple words explained...

We left the line as it was going on because we noticed one of the deli attendants coughing without covering her mouth near all of the meats, we decided it would probably be best to go with prepackaged cheese tonight, not fresh cut.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I think the person with the number is (technically) in the right, but if it was me I'd let the other person go ahead of me anyway - because I know that person has been waiting longer than I have.

Teresa

 

[Disney Doll]

Number system wins. If the line is going by numbers, take a number.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I think the person with the number is (technically) in the right, but if it was me I'd let the other person go ahead of me anyway - because I know that person has been waiting longer than I have.

Teresa

Ditto

 

[Piecey]

Ditto

Ditto for me, too. But I'd of said something to the deli person so that after they waited on them they didn't think that they were the ones with MY number.. and I didn't somehow lose out in the action.

 

[happygirl]

I think you were in the right

 

[wdwmom2]

I would give the person in front of me the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they didn't know about the number system, even though it was right there practically smacking them in the face. Or maybe they had a bad day at work, or with the kids, and their mind just wasn't on taking a number and honestly forgot.

 

[mjkacmom]

Number - no one lines up at ours, but just kind of stand somewhere in front of the case, or meander about (there's usually between 3 and 10 people waiting).

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I think the person with the number is (technically) in the right, but if it was me I'd let the other person go ahead of me anyway - because I know that person has been waiting longer than I have.

Teresa

Agreed...

 

[scanmom]

if the person with no number was nice about it, I would let them go first. If they were rude and ugly about it, I would go first.

 

[acejka]

I should say, it didn't happen to me, it happened to the couple in front of us... Didn't get too ugly or anything, just simple words explained...

We left the line as it was going on because we noticed one of the deli attendants coughing without covering her mouth near all of the meats, we decided it would probably be best to go with prepackaged cheese tonight, not fresh cut.

 

[TennisGirl80]

Sorry, but if your stupid enough to stand there for 10-20 minutes WITHOUT a number, while everyone else is getting picked BECAUSE of their NUMBER, then you deserve to not get picked. How hard is it to take a little piece of paper from that thing?? Give me a break!
ETA - I would most likely let them go (as long as they weren't rude), just to make things to smoothly.

 

[Parkers_girl]

I would have told the other person to go ahead since they were technically there first, whether or not they grabbed a number. But I would make sure that I would be next!!

 

[L107ANGEL]

Sorry, but if your stupid enough to stand there for 10-20 minutes WITHOUT a number, while everyone else is getting picked BECAUSE of their NUMBER, then you deserve to not get picked. How hard is it to take a little piece of paper from that thing?? Give me a break!

well, you just don't know. Maybe they were just dealt devestating news, and were in a fog.
I can't remember where I read this, but it was a long time ago, about a waitress coming to you and saying "hi my name is Amy, I will be taking care of you this evening" She set the bar right?
Then she fails to meet your expectations, but again, she set that up, not you.
She fails to fill your drinks in a timely manner, ask her to bring something and she forgets, etc. Absent minded, Horrible service!!!
What you don't know is that Amy just learned that a loved one back home is not well. Amy is not only upset, who wouldn't be, but distraught, with trying to think of what Paul she will have to rob to pay Peter aka, the ticket home. How will she get her shifts covered so she doesn't lose her job, etc.
Its a deli counter, not the end of the world. I pick my battles, deli counter is not even a thought.
I choose to think about what the other person is going through, fictional or not, at least I try to think compassionately about others when they are displaying what others may consider rude behavior.
Guess what I am saying is, you just never know.

 

[Stacerita]

if the person with no number was nice about it, I would let them go first. If they were rude and ugly about it, I would go first.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Then they call your number, so you step around that person to order, when the person ahead tells you that you need to wait your turn, and that you are cutting.

Who is in the right here?

I am. I'm always right

But seriously - after work? Okay, it's just taken me an hour and a half to drive twenty miles; the last five minutes' delay was caused by no other driver understanding how a four way stop intersection works.

I would have shown them my number and said, "No, see, it IS my turn - this is my number, and it's the one they just called - look at the monitor".

 

[Liann]

I'd let them order their selections with me. I've been the dope who didn't know I needed a number MANY times.....

Ever been to an air show where the kiddie rides say $5 but when you get to the head of the line they tell you that you need to go buy a $5 ticket across the way?

 

[PattnFmly]

Well here in my area, EVERY deli counter uses tickets. That would have to be some fog to not grab one! I'd say "look they called #.. and I have #.., it's my turn". While I do like to be nice, when there are mechanisms put in place to stop the confusion of whose turn is when, its best to use them, then everyone is on the same playing field. If the deli people progress the #'s because someone went without a number it will mess up all the people in line until it gets straightened out. Especially if there's that many people there. I've taken my number at our deli and had it be #28 but when I look at the counter they're only on #9. I've waited 20 numbers for my turn many times. If we don't go by the number it's just mass confusion!

 

[java]

Around here you get a ticket and wander around. Nobody stands in a line ever. Even if they are not using tickets.- in that case you just slug it out for who goes first.

But the person with the ticket trumps the non-ticket daydreamer.

 

[MushyMushy]

It would never have occurred to me to step around the person in the first place. If I knew they were there waiting first, I would have let them go.

Our local places don't use numbers anyway. The deli clerks are pretty good about noticing who was there in what order, but if they don't, most people don't make a fuss about it.