Angst in the checkout line and other pet peeves of shoppers

Sacramento Bee ^ | June 29, 2005 | Gwen Schoen

[RayChuang88]

Are you one of those people who stands in the quick-check line at the grocery store and counts how many items the person in front of you has in his cart? Would you like to holler "move it" when another shopper blocks the aisle?

We gave readers a chance to vent their frustrations with grocery shopping. Oh, the tales we heard!

[RayChuang88]

Believe me, most of the pet peeves about supermarket shopping mentioned in the article are definitely mine, too!

But I also have another pet peeve not mentioned in the article: they don't bother to properly re-stock items in the right shelf locations during the day. That explains why when I go to the grocery store in the early evening many shelves are a mess and I can't find the item I want! Small wonder why I usually go shopping in the mid morning when the shelves have just been neatly restocked--probably the first time that day.

[cripplecreek]

I shop in the middle of the night. I fell into the habit when I worked a second shift job. It's the only way to shop.

[RockinRight]

-rotten fruit in produce bin
-selling plants in the garden center area that can't POSSIBLY survive in said climate
-35 cartons of milk that expire TOMORROW
-people who swear at their cell phone because they can't get a signal in the store
-people who park in the fire lane for an hour with their hazard lights on

[afnamvet]

Would you like to holler "move it" when another shopper blocks the aisle?

I would rather use a TOW missle launcher.

[Publius6961]

I can't acces the article or register at the Sacbee.

But these articles are always behavioral hand grenades because there is an endless supply of nutcases... specially in supermarkets.

[Zacs Mom]

I can't access the article so my pet peeve may or may not be included ~ but here it is:

Items that ring up at a higher price then they should but (because they are no longer individually marked with the price), unless you commit all the item prices to memory, you usually can't spot the errors. (it also ticks me off the these errors in pricing are always in the stores favor!)

[MotleyGirl70]

Best time to go is early evening (during the week) around 7:00 or so.

For me I try to avoid going on Saturday or Sunday's. Too many people with their bratty, crying kids wanting everything on shelves whining, "I want this...", "I want this...".

Although, I see the well behaved children, there are far more parents that let their kids get away with behaving like little apes.

When I go grocery shopping I have an agenda. I know what I need, I get it and check out.

[grellis]

Are you one of those people who stands in the quick-check line at the grocery store and counts how many items the person in front of you has in his cart?

I used to be, right up until I started working late nights. Shopping at 3am is pretty darn hassle free.

[Doogle]

Items that ring up at a higher price then they should .....

When it happens to me I do one of two things, I either walk over to the courtesy counter and demand the difference BACK, or walk over to the courtesy counter and demand a refund. People are too kind to stores who use this practice.
We are too busy to complain and they know it, that practice depends on most people to just take it and go. If more people took the time to "bother" the manager, the manager would take the time to make sure items were properly priced.
If it happens numerous times the store's headquarters would be notified with the manager's name and store location. Keeping customers in this day and age is important.

Doogle

[RayChuang88]

For me I try to avoid going on Saturday or Sunday's. Too many people with their bratty, crying kids wanting everything on shelves whining, "I want this...", "I want this...".

Oh gawd, you are so right! I'll never forgetting grocery shopping on Saturdays (especially at the warehouse-sized supermarkets like WinCo) and you see whole families with a gaggle of bratty children causing all kinds of havoc in the aisles. It's even worse at Costco on weekends, where just the sheer number of shoppers drive you totally nuts.

That's why I like to shop in mid-morning on weekdays. The crowds are less, and most importantly you get well-stocked and organized shelves where finding the item you want is easy to do.

[carlr]

Too many people with their bratty, crying kids wanting everything on shelves whining, "I want this...", "I want this...".

Those I don`t mind as long as they stay with their parents.The ones I hate are the ones running around or using the "kiddie carts" that are impossible to get around.
At the other end is the two senior citizens going opposite directions in the isle who are picking up the conversation that they had yesterday in the store.
It only gets better when one of them finally gets out of the way they give you the glare that says why are you bothering us while we`re standing here talking.

[Tidbit]

For me I try to avoid going on Saturday or Sunday's. Too many people with their bratty, crying kids wanting everything on shelves whining, "I want this...", "I want this...".

Wow, lighten up and show some compassion. You must not have children. For mothers, shopping without children is a luxury. Grocery stores are overstimulating places for kids--lots of light, color, and people. They make ME want to whine! I am one of those extremely fortunate moms who rarely has to shop with her kiddos. But I count my lucky stars and smile at the moms who are having a hard go of it. Someday it might be you trying to negotiate the aisles with your "bratty little whiners." Karma and all.

[MotleyGirl70]

Wow, lighten up and show some compassion.

I'm not being a "compassionate conservative" enough for you.

You must not have children.

Correct. By choice.

As a child I went grocery shopping all the time with my mom, and thought of it as a mini-field trip and being her little helper. I wasn't allowed to behave as though the grocery store was my own circus with "-lots of light, color, and people". Maybe it's just the way I was raised at an early age to have manners in public as a child and that included the department store, restaurants, etc.

Someday it might be you trying to negotiate the aisles with your "bratty little whiners."

Chances of that happening are pretty doubtful.

I understand that children can get cranky sitting in those shopping cart seats, but I'm talking about the ones whose parents let their children behave as though the grocery store is their own personal playground.

Is it really that difficult for parents to have some control over their children to make them behave for a one hour shopping trip.

[Hawkeye's Girl]

(it also ticks me off the these errors in pricing are always in the stores favor!)

Well, as a grocery store cashier, most of the time the item rings up more because while it should be on sale, it hasn't been readjusted by pricing yet; either someone there missed it or it's not in the computer file.

As for my pet peeve, it's stupid customers. 95% of you are great, but I hate putting up with that insane 5%.

[Doogle]

Well, as a grocery store cashier, most of the time the item rings up more because while it should be on sale, it hasn't been readjusted by pricing yet; either someone there missed it or it's not in the computer file.

..back in the day when I worked at a supermarket and pricing was done with a handy little ink flipper pricing hinging that had to be changed for every item manually...
that meant, that when a price change came, each can of Campbell's soup had to be removed, the old price removed by this foul selling bleach product,wiped clean, the new price manually restamped and then restocked back on the shelf.
(and that was just the chicken noodle)shall I go on to the Gerbers baby food?..or maybe move on to trying to stamp ink on frozen food items. *smiles*
You said it yourself, THEY didn't put it in the COMPUTER.
Today's scanners and electronic pricing (price changes)..
... be thankful you only have 5% of us that complain.


Doogle

[Hawkeye's Girl]

You misunderstand me. Customers who ask to check a price like reasonable adults are fine and in that 95% of nice people; if it's wrong, it needs to be fixed, and you should be charged the correct price.

What I don't like is the 5% of people who shouldn't be in a grocery store in the first place. Those who throw things, start screaming, swear at me, touch another customer's food without permission, etc. The people I cannot reason with when something rings up at the wrong price because they think I am out to get them. They believe that I have some power over the situation, and that's simply not true. All I do is check people out.