Grocery store etiquette

[RedHedd]

If they still made paper bags with handles this probably wouldn't happen much.

In San Francisco most of the papers bags DO have handles and they're very sturdy bags.

[sumbirdy]

I personally don't have a problem with that as long as the kid is not making a mess or anything. But technically until you've actually paid for it, it's not yours to eat or use. The store has no way of knowing which people are going to pay and which ones aren't. Plus alot of people do that with things that are priced per pound like grapes/produce. As a cashier I had people hand me an empty grape bag full of stems and expect me to ring it up. Oh I rang it up alright but I guarantee you it was priced as if they had about 10 pounds of grapes.

I've never done it with any pay by the pound item. I can understand how that's a definite no-no.

[Daisy and Delilah]

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

I love this thread. It's about time somebody brought this up. Thank you, Mary. I agree with everything that's been said. However, the above quote has been something that's plagued me for a long time!! Ok....so you feel it's okay to cut me off and plow forward without any consideration to getting out of my way. Who ever said which one of us has the right of way?? When I go to the stores, it seems like I'm always the one that doesn't have the right of way, as well.
Thank you Emerald Green for pointing this out. I am also the one that apologises and the other person never says anything to me like it actually was my fault to almost "accidentally" go in front of them. They run me over and I feel bad?? It's insane isn't it??

The question I always ask........what in the world would these cell phone users have done if they grew up in the 60's and 70's(Oops--I think some of them did)? A lack of a phone in my hand didn't bother me then and it doesn't now. I realize there are some emergency calls and urgent calls going on but certainly not all of them. In fact, most of them seem to be idle chit chat. It amazes me that the grocery stores are havens for cell phone use. I still don't have a problem with it as long as they're being responsible in looking where they're going and paying attention to what's around them. Unfortunately, I don't see much of that.

[shepgirl]

I personally don't have a problem with that as long as the kid is not making a mess or anything. But technically until you've actually paid for it, it's not yours to eat or use. The store has no way of knowing which people are going to pay and which ones aren't. Plus alot of people do that with things that are priced per pound like grapes/produce. As a cashier I had people hand me an empty grape bag full of stems and expect me to ring it up. Oh I rang it up alright but I guarantee you it was priced as if they had about 10 pounds of grapes.

Forgot to mention the fact that when the kid is finished with whatever he or she is eating the mom puts it back on any shelf - NO...it never is paid for it. I wouldn't mind the kids doing this if it kept them quiet and the parents rang the items up but I remember having to go back to the store with a bag of half eaten cookies that someone put back on the shelf.
I have yet to see any parent bring the item to the cash to have it paid for.

[smokey the elder]

People hogging the middle of the aisle, and who can't keep their kids under control.

Some points about bags: I find if I don't double-bag heavy or dense items like liquids, the belly (bottom) seam often fails or at least gets holes in it. Also, I re-use them to deal with the pre-owned kitty litter that 18 cats and kittens generate!

[Cataholic]

We have "self-serve check-out" lines, so people in a hurry can go to those, I have not seen or had anyone break into a line.

Okay, here is one for you, Karen. Guess who LOVES to scan things at the self serve check out? We could have a cart full of groceries, and Jonah insists that we scan them. (Okay, I admit, I like to scan things, too ).
Anyhow, I had this guy glaring at us when we were doing the self serve check out...cause it was taking prolly twice as long for Jonah to scan as it would me. He wants to push the buttons, run the card through, insert the money, etc.

I smiled at him and said, "a trip to the grocery is all the fun for him I can afford" and turned away. He he he...

[Cataholic]

Another big one that I forgot is when I'm trying to get my groceries done and parents have these wailing kids in tow who run into people until they are put in the basket, then the screaming starts, so to quiet them down the moms take a bag of cookies, chips, or whatever off the shelf, open it and let the kids help themselves. This disgusts me to no end.

I am single (by choice), work a full time job, and have a 4 year old. There are times that mandate I shop for food. I can't always judge my child's hunger level appropriately, and sometimes that little bugger wants some crackers/juice/water you name it, with no regard for a schedule!

I find it much easier to plunk the little one in the bascart, give him the juice and a light snack and shop away. Works for me, works for him, I am spending the money at the store- so, I presume it works for the store, too.

I am proud to say that in 4 years, I have *never* not returned a cart to the corral when out shopping. I just park right next to the the corral and putting the cart away, while safely keeping an eye on my child, isn't an issue. I don't understand the whole, "I have a child so I can't be concerned about your property" issue.

On the issue of cell phones in the store- I use my phone with courtesy. That might mean I hang up, it might mean I don't answer the phone, etc. But, what gets me is how the cashier can't hardly lift her eyes to meet mine, or open her mouth loud enough to issue an audible, "hello". The paying customer is often times the reason you have a job!

[Taz_Zoee]

I usually shop at Safeway and they ALWAYS ask if I need help out. I take it depending on where I parked and how much I bought. The parking lot is slanted in some places and it's difficult to hold the cart and load groceries in the trunk at the same time. I try not to park there, but sometimes have no choice.
Oh, and if it's busy I'll bag groceries and/or load the full bags into the cart for the bagger.
I usually return the cart, because I try to park as close as possible to it.
Now, I am guilty of the being on the phone thing. BUT, I have an ear piece and I told my mom (on the other end of the phone) that I was checking out. So while I was checking out I didn't talk to her on the phone. She just waited until I was done to resume the convo. And that time I included the cashier and my mom in a conversation. It was funny! The girl was very nice.

I don't have too many of the issues described here. Not too often anyway. People are always fairly polite, at least that I notice. Maybe I just ignore the rude people. LOL

[shepgirl]

Cataholic do you not pay for the items you give your child, or do you return a half eaten bag of whatever to the shelves when he's done with them? That was the only thing I meant by that comment...absolutely nothing wrong with buying the kid something to eat when he's hungry, I would do the same...but pay for it and not return the crums on the shelf...

[Cataholic]

Cataholic do you not pay for the items you give your child, or do you return a half eaten bag of whatever to the shelves when he's done with them? That was the only thing I meant by that comment...absolutely nothing wrong with buying the kid something to eat when he's hungry, I would do the same...but pay for it and not return the crums on the shelf...

Not until check out time...kind of like a restaurant. Jonah eats first, and pays later. (not from the produce section...)

[shepgirl]

That's what I meant...as long as you pay for it and don't return the empty packs to the shelf I don't see anything wrong with that. Hey, if a kid is hungry, feed him, no problem with that. It's the parents who just open stuff, let the kids eat and then put the half empty things back on the shelves that I find amazingly rude.

[NicoleLJ]

My pet peeve is people who complain about a dog in the store as their kids are running around making noise and a mess.

Or the floors being so slippery that Sheena has a hard time keeping her footing. This is the worst after it has rained or they just washed the floor. drives me nuts watching her trying to get her footing on the slippery floor, even with her nails and hair and on her pads clipped.

Or those who will avoid an aisle or a line to pay because Sheena is there with me. Luckily since moving here I have not had to deal with this much.

[Cinder & Smoke]

... do you not pay for the items you give your child, or do you
return a half eaten bag of whatever to the shelves when he's done with them?
... absolutely nothing wrong with buying the kid something to eat when he's hungry,
I would do the same ... but pay for it and not return the crums on the shelf ...

Not until check out time ... kind of like a restaurant.
Jonah eats first, and pays later. (not from the produce section ...)

I do that, too - since I never pay attention to Mom's old advisory to "Never shop
for groceries when you're HUNGRY!" I always seem to need a *snack*!
I open the baggies of Hard Salami and Swiss, pull out a few slices, then *roll* a
poor-man's sammich (no bread) and *munch away*. If anybody objects,
MY reasoning is the bags are pre-weighed and pre-priced ... Who Cares
if the bag is half-empty when I pay full price for it at checkout?

Then there's the OTHER extreme - which I experienced not that long ago
whilst shopping in the Big Burd Store >>>

"Mom" & 13-15 yo Daughter were *SHOUTING* their way through Produce and
stopped to order 'dinner' at the hot foods deli counter ...
Mom: "Gimmie 2 drumsticks (that BIG one) anna couple wings."
"HEY - go get us a couple Cokes out by the registers - COLD ones!"

Kid returns with the Cokes and they push on - *SHOUTING* instructions and
questions back and forth for all to enjoy. Later, I noticed it was *quiet*.
Reason?

They were stopped in Beverages ... *munchin* on hot chicken drumsticks!

A few minutes later, they're in canned goods - polishing off the wings!
All done? They cleaned up with the lil nappies in the bag.
"Here, git ridda this!" (And Mom hands over the bone-filled styrofoam take-out box.)
Kid walks over to the Beans section, pushes some #10 cans around on the bottom shelf;
and shoves in the bone box (WITH the contents & PRICE sticker)!
Dinner was GOOD - and FREE!

And I KNOW there were two chilled but very empty 20oz Coke bottles
sitting on display somewhere between Canned Goods and checkout!


Grocery Shoppin is ALWAYS an Adventure!

[king2005]

Oh the stories I could tell when I was working at the Post Office!

TO make a long story short, I didn't take customers BS. I treated them well untill they abused me.. then they were told off & NOT served.. I would move to another cash & server the next customer leaving that nasty BEEP standing with a blank look...

Once I was in a rather good mood & was stupid polite (not backing down though) to a nasty customer.. I had MANY of my regular customers yell at that person & MADE them leave Actually that happened a lot

The only time I got ganged up on is when they thought I was 14yrs old & working everyday during "school hours". They threatened to call the police & blah blah blah... Showing my ID almost didn't work I was 23 at the time

[jennielynn1970]

The last few days have brought out the cranky old people for some reason. I had one woman at my lane tonight, and I swear on my grandmother's grave, this lady had to be atleast 65 or 70. She had badly dyed black hair, chunky eyelashed and thick and nasty looking eyeliner and silvery shiney eyeshadow on. There was also the fire engine red lipstick that got you if the rest didn't. She was very snotty. Very "I'm just above all of you, and you are my servants, so kiss my feet" kind of attitude. I was not in the mood for it, and I was hungry too cause break time was late, lol.

So, I'm ringing through the order. She's tap, tap, tapping, her ugly long nails that are painted some electric blue color, and she's tapping her feet as well. I was a bit annoyed. I'm scanning, then bagging what would go together, and she's standing there doing nothing, and the guy she was with seemed hardly to be coherent. I thought he was drunk. So, I'm ringing up more stuff that he plunked down, MADAME actually puts a few things in a bag, and then while I'm waiting for the man to pull together the cash to pay the bill, the lady says, loudly, "Well, you can finish this now honey." in a not very nice tone. I stood there, looked at her husband, and said, "I am guessing she's speaking to you, as I don't know her well enough for her to call me honey." He just kinda smiled at me like, yeah... sorry bout her. She tapped her foot and said that she most certainly did not mean for him to finish bagging groceries, as that's my job. I just said, fine, but the next time you address me, I prefer Miss, or Ma'm, and not a term of endearment when it's certainly not meant as one. I smiled, told her to have a nice night, and to drive safe.

We all watched as they walked out. Her in her knee high leather boots, her skin tight leopard print spandax pants (or something not so shiney), and her tight tank top and black leather short jacket.

And yeah, again, remember the age adn face description. It really didn't go well together. Quite scary.