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

[MarkerMouse]

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.

Exactly what I was thinking.

I'd much rather do what was right, than "BE RIGHT". Sure, they should have taken a ticket, but I really don't want to be the sort of person that be that inconsiderate of others.

Guess I just don't have it in me to live in that sort of environment.... but I'm ok with that.

 

[mjkacmom]

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.

Since you don't use numbers, I see your point, but here, I've never seen anyone not grab a number, and you would really have no idea who was there first.

 

[MM27]

If the deli is using a number system, why are people standing in line?
We do the numbers. If my number is called, I'm next.

 

[anniemae]

I go to the deli every week and NEVER have I seen a line! Everyone grabs a number and just kind of loiters in front of the deli case until you are called. Some stand in the back, some dash around to grab items nearby, but no one forms a line.

 

[Alex187]

Just so its clear. If one person walks up to a deli and no one is there, then someone else walks up and grabs a ticket knowing the other was there first and gets called, the person who showed up first who was waiting gets priority. Why grab a number and waste the paper at an empty deli? The workers should always recognize who the first customer is regardless.

 

[soccerdad72]

Just so its clear. If one person walks up to a deli and no one is there, then someone else walks up and grabs a ticket knowing the other was there first and gets called, the person who showed up first who was waiting gets priority. Why grab a number and waste the paper at an empty deli? The workers should always recognize who the first customer is regardless.

Ummm, welcome to the DIS?

 

[aprilgail]

I am still stuck at the take a number and stand in line LOL- the reason you take a number is to not HAVE to stand in line- we grab a number and then shop for other things in the area and hopefully make it back in time for your number to be called- if not then grab a new number and try again LOL.

 

[Hrhpd]

Just so its clear. If one person walks up to a deli and no one is there, then someone else walks up and grabs a ticket knowing the other was there first and gets called, the person who showed up first who was waiting gets priority. Why grab a number and waste the paper at an empty deli? The workers should always recognize who the first customer is regardless.

No, that is not clear.
If there was no one there and nobody had a number yet, why was the first person still just standing there? If the deli people were busy, you better believe I would grab a number to secure my next place in line.

It would depend on so many factors for me that it would have to be a decision based on the circumstances of each individual situation. Did other people grab tickets while standing there so that an example was set and the customer still did not grab one? Did they ask nicely to go ahead of me or did they order me to stand back? How much of a hurry am I in?

On the other hand, if I was the person without the ticket and they called somebody else's number, there is absolutely no way I would ask to go in front of that person no matter how long I had been waiting. I would realize my mistake, and fix my mistake by going a getting a number. It has happened to me in the DMV. I was preoccupied and sat down without grabbing a number. As soon as the next number was called, I kicked myself and went and grabbed one. I would never look at the people that came in and took numbers after me and say "I was here first." I screwed up, I own it.

 

[Marchand63]

Hope noone is still standing at the Deli since 2009

 

[FlightlessDuck]

There's what "technically right" and there is what's helpful and nice.

"Technically right" is going next.

"Helpful and nice" is letting the person in front of you go. And politely tell them that this deli has you take a number so they know for next time.

 

[disykat]

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.

This is important. If you give away your turn, technically they would just call the next number and you would have missed your turn. I wouldn't give away my turn without knowing I'd be accommodated as well. It wouldn't be a problem with a smaller place, but if there are crowds and multiple workers I could see it being an issue.

 

[disykat]

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.

.

You wouldn't step forward when they call your number? That's how number systems work! It wouldn't occur to me NOT to step forward when they called my number. If I thought someone was standing there without a number I probably would have already pointed it out to them.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

I grab a ticket and roam around for the most part.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Okay, since this popped back up, I handle the deli a little differently when there is a big line.

I typically get 3-4 different kinds of meat when I go to the counter. After each, the cutter has to wrap the old meat up & put the old meat back before moving on to the next selection. So, when my portion of meat #1 is finished, I’ll turn toward the line and shout out, “Anyone else need ham while she’s slicing?”. Typically, 2 or 3 people will want some, so the cutter gets their portion done as well before moving on to Turkey, salami, and pepperoni.

“My” belief is that it speeds up the overall process, but I get some weird looks when I do it.

Thoughts?

 

[mmouse37]

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.

Yep, why was there a line at all? If you have a number there is no reason to stand in a line.

MJ

 

[CarolAnn856]

Okay, since this popped back up, I handle the deli a little differently when there is a big line.

I typically get 3-4 different kinds of meat when I go to the counter. After each, the cutter has to wrap the old meat up & put the old meat back before moving on to the next selection. So, when my portion of meat #1 is finished, I’ll turn toward the line and shout out, “Anyone else need ham while she’s slicing?”. Typically, 2 or 3 people will want some, so the cutter gets their portion done as well before moving on to Turkey, salami, and pepperoni.

“My” belief is that it speeds up the overall process, but I get some weird looks when I do it.

Thoughts?

Honestly, I would be completely irritated to be stuck right behind someone pulling that, since I would end up waiting much longer for my turn that I should have to. Whether there is a line or numbers, just use the system as it was intended. I would speak up and ask the deli employee to honor the line/numbers.

Anyway, I can't even imagine that 2-3 people want the exact same kind of ham, turkey, or whatever as you do. For kicks I just looked at my local store's online ordering page, and there are over 15 different kinds of ham. There's no way that that many people want the exact same kind.

Thank goodness I can use online or kiosks around here if I need deli stuff, so I don't have to deal with this.

 

[Hikergirl]

I am still stuck at the take a number and stand in line LOL- the reason you take a number is to not HAVE to stand in line- we grab a number and then shop for other things in the area and hopefully make it back in time for your number to be called- if not then grab a new number and try again LOL.

I thought the number was so you knew what order you were "in line" since there really isn't a single line, its just people gathered around the deli.

We have a little kiosk where we order what we want and then go shop. We come back and it is waiting for us.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Honestly, I would be completely irritated to be stuck right behind someone pulling that, since I would end up waiting much longer for my turn that I should have to. Whether there is a line or numbers, just use the system as it was intended. I would speak up and ask the deli employee to honor the line/numbers.

Anyway, I can't even imagine that 2-3 people want the exact same kind of ham, turkey, or whatever as you do. For kicks I just looked at my local store's online ordering page, and there are over 15 different kinds of ham. There's no way that that many people want the exact same kind.

Thank goodness I can use online or kiosks around here if I need deli stuff, so I don't have to deal with this.

Honestly, it adds very little time to the overall transaction. The time is lost switching from one meat to the next. And people tend to get less picky about “which” ham they want when they can get some NOW.

But yes, I can see where if you were the very next person in line and didn’t want the same ham why that might be irritating. I’ve probably spent too much time in production control LOL

 

[CarolAnn856]

Honestly, it adds very little time to the overall transaction. The time is lost switching from one meat to the next. And people tend to get less picky about “which” ham they want when they can get some NOW.

But yes, I can see where if you were the very next person in line and didn’t want the same ham why that might be irritating. I’ve probably spent too much time in production control LOL

Good grief, how long does the staff at your deli take to replace the flap of plastic and toss the ham back in its place? And "maybe it's regional," but around here people know exactly what kind of brand, style, etc. they want and would not just take whatever is up on the slicer. But even if they did want the same, they'd still need to specify amount and kind of cut (shaved, thin, etc.). Seriously, I think you'd get yelled out of the store if you tried that around here, but hey, that's what visiting NJ would get you!

 

[trip]

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).

That's the way it is at our deli. I wander around deciding what I'm going to order when my number comes up.