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Sorry if this isn't a 'great debate' i wasnt sure which category this would go under.
The other night i was on line in a supermarket and had 3 items, the woman in front of me had about 15 or 20, she had produce that needed to be weighed and of course, she wasn't using cash. I thought she might have let me go ahead of her if i had 1 item, but 3 might have been the 'cutoff'. Personally i give the person behind me a lot of leeway, if i have over 10 items and they have 1 or 2, i always let them go no matter how long i've been waiting, many take the offer and are very appreciative.
So, what do you think is the 'ratio' of items where the person in front should let the person behind them go in front? (this is probably a good curb your enthusiasm episode topic!)
I figure that if someone is nice and offers to let me jump in front of them because I only have a couple of items, great. They don't owe me anything. I may ask if no one offers, but if they turn me down, I don't let it bother me. If there's someone over at the Customer Service desk, I'll go there, and they usually ring up my 2 or 3 items. Otherwise, I just chill, and wait for the person with the big basket to get done.
What is aggravating is when you have something like a DVD...sometimes the cashier wanders off to get the doohickey to open the container some DVDs are in...or they call for it, but nobody shows up for a long time! A certain chain store is especially bad about that! Now, would it break the bank for the store to get one for each cashier line that's open? Then there's items where the UPC # isn't on the computer and they have to send someone to look for the item elsewhere in the store to get the price. Sometimes they'll just accept whatever price you say it is. Then there's gift cards...sometimes they don't work right and the cashier just repeatedly swipes them without it working.
Sorry if this isn't a 'great debate' i wasnt sure which category this would go under.
The other night i was on line in a supermarket and had 3 items, the woman in front of me had about 15 or 20, she had produce that needed to be weighed and of course, she wasn't using cash. I thought she might have let me go ahead of her if i had 1 item, but 3 might have been the 'cutoff'. Personally i give the person behind me a lot of leeway, if i have over 10 items and they have 1 or 2, i always let them go no matter how long i've been waiting, many take the offer and are very appreciative.
So, what do you think is the 'ratio' of items where the person in front should let the person behind them go in front? (this is probably a good curb your enthusiasm episode topic!)
Personally, I often let others go in front.....typically when I'm unloading a full basket and someone steps behind me with one or two items, in their hands. I did this last week, when two young men who obviously were buying their lunches got behind me.....They were very thankful.
I think what needs to be looked at is unrealistic expectations. If you don't expect it, it doesn't upset you. And when someone is gracious it is a pleasant surprise.
I've been in plenty of supermarket checkout lines, i haven't seen a person paying cash take any more time than normal, cards on the other hand, take time, and now, with the 'chip' the machine 'thinks' a few seconds, so that adds to the time.
Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean that it never happens. Cash can take just as long as cards because the cashier then has to sort the money into the till and in some cases make change. That takes just as long as the few seconds it takes my card to process.
Line 1 - 2: No talking line, no problems, debit card only, 10% overcharge if debit info not in computer before last item checked out. Every item with problem, 100% overcharge. No coupons
Line 3: Same as above, less than 12 items. 200% overcharge of total if more than 12 items without prior approval. No coupons
Lines 4 - 6: No talking, either cash or debit, no charge for problems or slow debit entry. No coupons without prior approval.
Lines 7-8: Regular, whatever you want except checks. Coupons OK
Lines 9 and 10: Talking and socializing line. Anything goes. Checks
When cash is used, someone has to make change. Cashiers are paid to do this, so let them do their jobs. Resist the urge to "help them out" by fishing around in your purse or pockets for that third penny. Give them bills and let them hand the coins back to you. They have little trays full of them just sitting there waiting.
And letting a person with just a few items jump ahead of you in line is hardly as much as giving up your seat on the subway to a pregnant or handicapped person. We all live in communities, after all. We are supposed to help each other out where and when we can. That's part of OUR jobs.
That's when I walk out. And I have. One time early in the morning, the only thing available was the self check out. I had a cart loaded with around $150 worth of groceries and the clerk told me that they didn't open up manned registers until 8:00 AM; I would have to use the self checkout. I told her, ”Fine. Since you're too busy to ring me up (she was just standing around) you can put these groceries back up." I left the store without them.
It most likely wasn't her choice, it goes way higher up than that.
Wow, I am surprised how many people have issues with waiting in line. I mean, there are times people are being rude by really taking their sweet time, but that is rare. If someone is using coupons, thats their business. If they are paying with cash, a chip card, check...what ever. That is what those are for. Who cares if one takes 30 seconds longer then the other option? The whole point of checking out is to get a total and then pay for it. How am I going to be mad if someone is doing that? I don't get it.
As for the original question...if someone gets in behind me and I haven't started putting my stuff on the belt yet, and they have a couple items, I will offer. Or if they have some other hardship going on (new born, ill, very elderly). But rarely people take me up on it unless they are in a hurry.
I do most of my grocery shopping at super target or trader joes and both places are really good about lines. But sometimes you get stuck waiting a while...cause stuff happens. Its not worth getting upset about.
So, what do you think is the 'ratio' of items where the person in front should let the person behind them go in front? (this is probably a good curb your enthusiasm episode topic!)
Ratio of items?? Should?? No such thing. Luck of the drawl, you are behind the person, just wait patiently. And who knows, maybe that person already let someone go before them.
You know what it sounds like??!!! ---> A First World problem!!
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