Grocery store etiquette

[Medusa]

No Mary, it isn't an OHIO thing. Matter of fact when we cross Ohio to go warm up we find the people going out of their way to be pleasant to us.

Wait. What? You come to Ohio to warm up? I want to move out of Ohio because it gets so bloody cold! Where in the world do you live, Antarctica?

[Catlady711]

I can sypathize with ALL of you including the cashiers. I worked for a few years at a 24/7 grocery store, although at that time we had old fashioned cash registers with buttons, not scanners and I worked the off shift so no baggers available, but if slow we'd bag for each other.

I have encountered all of the rude/inconsiderate people you have regardless of which side of the register I'm on.

However my BIGGEST pet peeve is baggers. Now maybe it's because I bagged my own customers stuff (never had a one complain) or maybe I'm just finiky by my gosh no one seems to know how to bag anymore!

I mean does it take a genius to figure out if you pick up an item and it's cold you should probably put it in a bag with other items that are cold? This whole 'bag by shape' thing is ridiculous. I don't want my 5 frozen meals spaced out in 3 different bags with boxes of cereal, boxes of trash bags and my cake mixes. I definately don't want my frozen OJ bagged with my canned veggies. and I CERTAINLY don't want 20 separate bags because the person can't figure out more than ONE bag of chips can fit in a bag or if you put the eggs on the bottom you can still put a bag of chips or a loaf of bread or something on top that won't squish it. (yes it's the one area I allow the cold to be different).

It's so bad I've seen stores with a little chart showing shapes that are allowed to go into same bags. Heaven forbid if you buy something that doesn't fit the shape they don't know how to bag it.

And to top that all off I've OFTEN told them I want to bag my own groceries and was told that they'd get into trouble if I did. I tell them, 'if your manager has a problem with it please send him/her over here and I'll gladly speak with them, there is no need for you to get into trouble over this'. Most times nothing happens because it's busy and they can use the baggers on another full line.

Only thing that bugs me is I'm not as fast bagging against a scanner as against the old fashioned cash register, but close. lol Besides I've gotten so I always put my items on the belt the way I want them bagged to TRY to avoid having dumb bagging if I'm not doing it myself. They STILL manage to get it wrong.



Oh and it isn't just people in grocery stores that stop carts in the middle of the isle to chat. I'm starting to see ALOT of that on the street with people in their CARS!!!!

[DJFyrewolf36]

Around here there are a LOT of people on cellphones that are oblivious to the fact that they are taking up the entire isle...
People who don't put carts away bugs me too. I usually end up putting carts away, especially if they are in a close parking space

[ILoveMyAbbyGirl]

I have to add, because I worked at a grocery store for three years, lol.

-Yes, the cart thing is annoying as h*ll. Even now, I work at Petco, and granted, we don't have a cart corral, people are still too lazy to walk 20 feet and bring it back in.
-CELL PHONES! Don't get me wrong, my cell phone is my LIFE, but I make an effort to NOT BE RUDE and GET OFF MY PHONE when it's my turn in line, or wait out of line until I'm off the phone. I HATED that as a cashier!
-People getting mad at cashiers for items coming up wrong. Not my fault, thanks!
-Crabby people! If I'm nice to you, please try to be nice to me and acknowledge my existence. Don't take your bad day out on me. =]

I hated working there. People are so rude.

You know what? I think all of us PT'ers should just buy our own town. We'd be wonderfully mannered citizens with tons of lovely animals, lol.

[sparks19]

OH OH OH... AND... the people who park in the firezone right along the curb because GOD FORBID they park the car and walk an extra few feet. NO they park right there on the curb so no one else can get around them to get to a parking space. FIND A PARKING SPACE LIKE THE REST OF US

[Emeraldgreen]

Here in B.C. we have to pay for our carts. At one store you have to put a quarter in the slot and at another, it's a dollar coin. It really works because everyone puts their carts away so they get their deposit back. And any carts that are left in the parking lot are quickly scooped up by people who want a 'free' cart or the coin they'll get when they return it to the corral.

The thing that bugs me the most in grocery stores is how people come flying out of an aisle as if they have the right of way. lol They definitely should be yielding for the cart drivers on the end aisles. I just about get T-boned 3 or 4 times by people everytime I shop. And because I'm so ridiculously nice, I apologize. I don't even mean to but I'm usually startled and then say 'sorry' and then THEY glare at me. I'm working on my own mean glare for my next shop. No more 'sorries' from me! LOL

[Medusa]

I'm working on my own mean glare for my next shop. No more 'sorries' from me! LOL

Go get 'em, killer. Grrrrrrrr LOL

[sumbirdy]

We went into a grocery store today and it looked like they had what seemed to be 2 thirteen year old boys there. I don't think it would have bothered me quite as much if they were actually mature and doing their job. It's a small store and you could hear them running around the store. The cashiers had to go over the speaker several times while we were there (which was only for about 20 min) telling them to come back and bag some groceries. They were shoving each other around the store, one shoved the other so hard he almost ran into an elderly lady. They were also making perverted jokes to each other with little children nearby! They should fire them and give the jobs to two people that actually need them. I have never seen anything like that before. I've seen workers in stores joke with one another but it was always clean, in no way harming anyone, and they were always doing there job at the same time. Luckily that store is not one we shop in often.


Mom is one of those people that just stop in the middle of the aisle where no one can get around. I always have to move it for her. And usually apoligize to the people behind us.

[Catlady711]

Worst one I ever saw?

I was checking out at a store and the entire time the CASHIER was on the cell phone. I had to lean over to see her display just to find out my total. She never once acknowledged me.

[jennielynn1970]

Worst one I ever saw?

I was checking out at a store and the entire time the CASHIER was on the cell phone. I had to lean over to see her display just to find out my total. She never once acknowledged me.

Dang!!! That would never be allowed at our store! At our store, you don't even get a "warning" any longer, if they are caught texting or talking on the phone, they just get sent home. It is mostly the teens who have issues with this. I, for one, have my cell phone for emergencies. I really don't like talking on the phone at all anymore. I avoid my house phone as well (maybe too many bill collectors?! ).

Bagging is an issue for me. You can't please anyone any longer. I have some people who insist on using paper bags, which we are "discouraged" from having out. I have others who insist on paper in plastic. Fine, whatever. I have others who insist on double paper and double plastic together. That one, I don't get. It's a waste.

I have some people who insist on putting the frozen foods in a paper bag. UMMMMM.... is it just me, or do the thawing packages not make your paper bag a big soggy?

I've had other people take a bunch of folded paper bags home because they needed "recycle" bags. I've had others who take a bunch of the plastic bags that haven't been used, just rip them off the bagging area. Ummm... can you say cheap. Everything extra adds up to higher prices that the stores are going to charge.

Honestly, the ones who really tick me off, are the ones who see there are no baggers available, they have a HUGE order, and they stand there and do absolutely nothing, and huff and sigh because you don't bag their stuff fast enough. Lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy. If you have a baby in your arms, or you're older, or have a handicap, that's one thing. If you are able bodied, know that the store is busy and that the line is going on forever behind your order, a little help from you would be appreciated. I don't get a ton of these, but enough that they annoy me (and they are almost always women... make of that what you will).


I like the idea of the carts being a pay as you go thing, and you get your deposit back. That's good.

[Ginger's Mom]

Worst one I ever saw?

I was checking out at a store and the entire time the CASHIER was on the cell phone. I had to lean over to see her display just to find out my total. She never once acknowledged me.

Yes, that has happened to me, too. I am still not sure how I managed to walk out of the store without demanding to see the manager.

[jennielynn1970]

We went into a grocery store today and it looked like they had what seemed to be 2 thirteen year old boys there. I don't think it would have bothered me quite as much if they were actually mature and doing their job. It's a small store and you could hear them running around the store. The cashiers had to go over the speaker several times while we were there (which was only for about 20 min) telling them to come back and bag some groceries. They were shoving each other around the store, one shoved the other so hard he almost ran into an elderly lady. They were also making perverted jokes to each other with little children nearby! They should fire them and give the jobs to two people that actually need them. I have never seen anything like that before. I've seen workers in stores joke with one another but it was always clean, in no way harming anyone, and they were always doing there job at the same time. Luckily that store is not one we shop in often.

That's management not doing their job. They should tell the kids to either do their jobs, watch their language, or leave for the day. If they can't do that when they are there, then they should find another job, or if they're 13, mature a little more and then get a job. Some of our baggers are younger kids, like 16, and they are goofy, but they are definitely kept on top of. We're all discouraged of talking while working. Sometimes if it's late at night, and it's more relaxed and no one has anyone in the lines, we'll chat a bit, but usually there is someone there. We're a 24/7 grocery store, and we're by a few colleges, so we get a lot of business. Haven't done an overnight yet, but I know if they aren't busy they do stocking upfront, cleaning and stuff.

[ChrisH]

For all those reasons I do my grocery shopping online, at either Tesco or Asda, from the warmth and comfort of home. It's extra great Christmas time.

[moosmom]

Where I work, we are not allowed to have our cellphones on the floor. That means, not in our pockets turned off...NOTHING.

Another BIG peeve of mine is when someone comes up to my register talking on the cellphone and expects me to unload their cart. I refuse to wait on anyone who is on their cellphone not paying attention. I'll just stand there and stare at them. When they look at me, I simply say, "That must be important, I'll wait till you're done." You should see how fast they hang up. I think it's rude. I don't do it when I'm shopping so I expect people to give me the same courtesy.

I've noticed that Americans have become very lazy. Having worked in retail for 3 years, I think I've seen it all. From what you guys are saying, I guess I have yet more to learn.

Only in America.

[Pam]

Here in B.C. we have to pay for our carts. At one store you have to put a quarter in the slot and at another, it's a dollar coin. It really works because everyone puts their carts away so they get their deposit back. And any carts that are left in the parking lot are quickly scooped up by people who want a 'free' cart or the coin they'll get when they return it to the corral.

There is a Shop Rite about two miles from me that does that and I think it is a terrific idea. The little slot only accepts quarters so you have to make sure you have the correct change before you go shopping. I now keep a quarter in my console just for shopping and I get it back when I am finished shopping if I return the cart.

Getting back to Medusa's first post, I would have had to look and see what book that girl was reading! It must have been quite good to hold her attention like that. I would have to go out and buy it!