Certain behaviors make grocery runs far more frustrating than they need to be.
Mostly due to ignorance, sometimes outright selfishness, and occasionally simple carelessness, these pure villain habits make shopping almost impossible.
Here is a breakdown of the most annoying things shoppers do at the supermarket, why they are a problem, and how to avoid them.
1. Hovering Too Close in Line
Personal space ought to be a universal concept, but unfortunately, not everyone has proper queueing etiquette.
Only a few things are worse than someone breathing down your neck when you are trying to pay.
Even worse are shoppers who keep inching forward, practically pushing you with their cart. No Karen, that will not make the line move faster.
Like you, I want to finish up and leave. So, give me space.
2. Eating Before You Pay
Don’t start munching on snacks you haven’t paid for yet.
“But I’m going to pay for it anyway,”
Yes, but that food isn’t yours until you’ve checked out. This is wrong for three reasons.
One, it’s technically stealing. Until you’ve paid for the item, it belongs to the store. If you decide you don’t want it after eating some, what happens then? Employees will now have to deal with a half-eaten product that can’t be resold.
Two, it’s unhygienic. Eating in a supermarket means touching food with hands that have been on shopping carts, shelves, and other surfaces. If you are handling produce or other groceries afterward, that’s not exactly sanitary.
Lastly, it sets a bad example for the young ones. Kids take cues from adults. And if they see you eating from an open bag of chips before paying, they may assume it’s okay to do the same.
To avoid all this, wait until after you’ve paid to enjoy your snacks.
3. Leaving Your Cart Anywhere
Sure, it’s not your responsibility to return carts to their rightful place. There are store employees for that.
But that’s no reason to abandon carts in the middle of the parking lot, sometimes wedged between parked cars. Some shoppers even push them so they roll aimlessly into someone’s vehicle.
It is inconsiderate for the (already underpaid) workers to have to drag these carts back.
If you are physically capable of pushing a cart around the store for 30 minutes, you can certainly return it after you are done.
4. Leaving Items in Random Aisles
Changed your mind about that bread? Great—but don’t just drop it beside the soaps! One of the worst shopping habits is dumping unwanted items anywhere.
Again, you are giving the store employees a harder time than they already have. You also risk letting perishable goods to spoil.
When you decide you don’t want something, either return it to its proper place or hand it to an employee.
5. Blocking the Aisle
It’s frustrating when you have to go round the other way because someone blocked one side of the aisle.
When standing for more than a few seconds, a rule of thumb is to scan around and make sure you’re not creating traffic. If you are, push your cart aside and leave room for others to pass.
6. Loud Phone Conversations
It’s okay to make a phone call while shopping. No one has a problem with that. It’s perfectly within your right.
But there’s a difference between a quick, quiet call and a loud, obnoxious conversation. I don’t want to hear about your breakup with Kevin while picking out toilet paper.
Keep your voice reasonably low, or better yet, make the call after you are done shopping. I’m pretty sure it can wait.
7. Stopping Suddenly in High-Traffic Areas
Supermarkets are busy, with everyone moving in every direction. The doorways and aisle entrances are especially busy. As such, avoid stopping abruptly at these spots, or you risk other shoppers crashing into you.
This mostly occurs when you pull out your phone to make a call or check your shopping list.
If you need to pause, step aside. Find an area that isn’t blocking the natural flow of foot traffic like the empty space near the shelves.
8. Price Disputes at the Register
If there’s a pricing issue, that’s cool. But do you really have to hold up the queue over a 10 cent difference?
9. Taking Too Long at the Self-Checkout
Not everyone is a technophile, and that’s fine. If you are having difficulties with the self-checkout technology, maybe the cashier checkout is a better choice.
These checkout lanes were designed for efficiency. Common offenders here are shoppers who scan items painfully slowly, those who take forever to find the barcode on every item, and customers who ignore the system’s weight-checking prompts, causing it to freeze up.
If you are unfamiliar with self-checkout, you are better off at the regular cashier lane. And if you must use self-checkout, be prepared to follow the prompts, scan quickly, and have your payment method on standby.
10. Blocking the Produce Section
Some shoppers are extra careful about what they eat. They hover over the produce and inspect every grocery item.
If you are the type to do so, don’t be oblivious to the fact that others are waiting. Be mindful and move aside if someone is trying to grab something.
Shopping Made Easy
It takes a little awareness, courtesy, and common sense to make the shopping experience smoother for everyone.
Follow the rules, finish your business, and leave. If you are having any problems, the attendants will be more than willing to help.
