I don't understand people waiting in a line

L

LoveTulips

Senior Member
Location
British Columbia, Canada
So it has happened numerous times, I and or hubby, or hubby and me have been at Walmart getting in line for the cashiers. If you know what I'm talking about - it's usually one aisle for the customers, but there is are two cashiers (on either side, one cashier is a little further down the same aisle).

So there are like 7 people lined up at at the first cashier and at the second cashier, one customer. So sometimes we ask politely, is anyone going to the second cashier (since they are before us these customers). And they all look at us with askance ; like what are we talking about. So we just zoom on ahead and to the now free cashier. Sometimes I don't even ask, I just go to the free cashier, are people morons or what?? Maybe they just liking hanging out in lines waiting.
 

LoveTulips said:
... we ask politely, is anyone going to the second cashier (since they are before us these customers). And they all look at us with askance ; like what are we talking about. So we just zoom on ahead and to the now free cashier. Sometimes I don't even ask, I just go to the free cashier, are people morons or what??
Click to expand...

They may not be morons, maybe they're daydreaming, or reading a label, or in conversation.
In the past, 'accosting' was frowned upon, that is people didn't speak to strangers. When an occasion arose to speak to a stranger, they began very carefully with a smile and, 'Please excuse me ... '
Maybe they looked at you oddly because they were unexpectedly being addressed by a stranger.
 
Last edited:
I use the Self Cashier Registers too. Especially in grocery stores.
I like them.
I don't get crushed chips or pretzels anymore.
I get to bag (organize) the way I put my food away.
I get to double bag if bottles are too heavy for bag, or item tears bag.
I go during the hrs that are less populated, so lines are much shorter.
The stores around here have 1-line, with an attendant monitoring, who goes to the next available register.
 

LoveTulips said:
So there are like 7 people lined up at at the first cashier and at the second cashier, one customer. So sometimes we ask politely, is anyone going to the second cashier (since they are before us these customers). And they all look at us with askance ; like what are we talking about. So we just zoom on ahead and to the now free cashier. Sometimes I don't even ask, I just go to the free cashier, are people morons or what?? Maybe they just liking hanging out in lines waiting.
Click to expand...
Sounds like the store needs an organized system of who goes to what register.
The stores around here have 1-line, with an attendant monitoring it, guiding the customer to the next available register.
 
LoveTulips said:
So it has happened numerous times, I and or hubby, or hubby and me have been at Walmart getting in line for the cashiers. If you know what I'm talking about - it's usually one aisle for the customers, but there is are two cashiers (on either side, one cashier is a little further down the same aisle).

So there are like 7 people lined up at at the first cashier and at the second cashier, one customer. So sometimes we ask politely, is anyone going to the second cashier (since they are before us these customers). And they all look at us with askance ; like what are we talking about. So we just zoom on ahead and to the now free cashier. Sometimes I don't even ask, I just go to the free cashier, are people morons or what?? Maybe they just liking hanging out in lines waiting.
Click to expand...
Same thing happens here. I went to a cashier, there were 5 people waiting in line, another employer came along and opened a new till, she asked who wanted to be served, I am at the back of the line and asked a couple of them, you are ahead of me, you going over there?
"I am in line now" was their response. So I went over and was served before all the others still waiting in line. Hoomans, stupidity abounds. :rolleyes:
 
I haven’t noticed this. Maybe I will now that you’ve mentioned it.

Remember that we’re Canadian and may not think it’s polite to head to the front of the line - even if it’s a different one.
 
I’m one of those morons.

I have never had any luck in changing lanes or being urged, by a front end manager, to go to customer service because I only have a few items.

Usually, the other register only appears to be free and I end up waiting for them to change cashiers, get change, clear a problem, etc…

I usually have similar experiences when I let someone go ahead of me and they end up needing some specialized service that stops the line.

I just stay where I am.
 
I hate standing in line, period... and I also think we should get a discount, standing in line because they are trying to save money, So we put out all our food, scan it, and then we have to bag it...Back in the ol'days they bagged it for you... and if YOU go through the line to scan and bag... again I should be getting a discount, scan it and bag it...

So, I never scan my groceries, they can, and do it a reasonably quickly, and if I have to stand in line to spend money, well, they lost me, I will leave the cart, and walk away. I don't think YOU ever should stand in line waiting your turn..To the stores, Put out more cashiers on...Stop trying to save money on my buck, as it is, YOU are asking to much!
 
mike4lorie said:
I hate standing in line, period... and I also think we should get a discount, standing in line because they are trying to save money, So we put out all our food, scan it, and then we have to bag it...Back in the ol'days they bagged it for you... and if YOU go through the line to scan and bag... again I should be getting a discount, scan it and bag it...

So, I never scan my groceries, they can, and do it a reasonably quickly, and if I have to stand in line to spend money, well, they lost me, I will leave the cart, and walk away. I don't think YOU ever should stand in line waiting your turn..To the stores, Put out more cashiers on...Stop trying to save money on my buck, as it is, YOU are asking to much!
Click to expand...
They enjoy the right to run their business as they see fit, just as you enjoy the right to leave, never to return.
There's no reason to be angry.
 
I think the younger generations are more judgmental of others, and with good reason. Remember, the latchkey kids, and the covid time of isolation, and today's runaway crime and drug abuse. These generations may have little experience of their fellow man.
They are contemptuous, if not afraid. And cold, if not rude.
 
Those single lines merging into multiple cashiers always bothered me too because people don’t “follow the rules.” It bothers me when something or someone doesn’t do what’s expected (I’m a little on the spectrum).

But even if I have $200 of stuff at Walmart, I always do self check out. And I’m slow so if people don’t like it, oh well. I like to organize my bags by how I put things away at home. I also don’t like to mix non-food vs food, etc. I find that cashiers these days don’t have the training that I had in the 80s.
 
TinaM said:
Those single lines merging into multiple cashiers always bothered me too because people don’t “follow the rules.” It bothers me when something or someone doesn’t do what’s expected (I’m a little on the spectrum).

But even if I have $200 of stuff at Walmart, I always do self check out. And I’m slow so if people don’t like it, oh well. I like to organize my bags by how I put things away at home. I also don’t like to mix non-food vs food, etc. I find that cashiers these days don’t have the training that I had in the 80s.
Click to expand...
Same here w the organization.......I put the stuff on the conveyor in the order I want it packed. The last 3 items are always pears, avocados, and eggs which IME are the 3 items most easily ruined by mishandling I buy.
 
To be honest, I find Walmart and Target checkouts somewhat confusing, when they have checkout counters way behind the front row of a checkout. Since it seems nobody is using them, are the checkouts or the lost & found dept.?
 
LoveTulips said:
So it has happened numerous times, I and or hubby, or hubby and me have been at Walmart getting in line for the cashiers. If you know what I'm talking about - it's usually one aisle for the customers, but there is are two cashiers (on either side, one cashier is a little further down the same aisle).

So there are like 7 people lined up at at the first cashier and at the second cashier, one customer. So sometimes we ask politely, is anyone going to the second cashier (since they are before us these customers). And they all look at us with askance ; like what are we talking about. So we just zoom on ahead and to the now free cashier. Sometimes I don't even ask, I just go to the free cashier, are people morons or what?? Maybe they just liking hanging out in lines waiting.
Click to expand...
What do you consider a "moron"?
 
i like when the store has everyone wait in one line and the one in front goes to whatever register is open and so on. it works.

i put my items on conveyor belt in order too; hot items first, refrigerated items, etc. Easier for the bagger, easier for me to unpack at home. If there is no bagger, i bag them myself; saves everyone time.
 
I use self check out so I can get out sooner. I only have a few items as most of the time I order online. I notice some customers even have their children doing the self check out machines. I wonder if there are mistakes made by them.
 
againstthegrain said:
Same here w the organization.......I put the stuff on the conveyor in the order I want it packed. The last 3 items are always pears, avocados, and eggs which IME are the 3 items most easily ruined by mishandling I buy.
Click to expand...
we have to pack our own groceries... so it makes sense for the most fragile items to go on the belt last
 
Rae said:
I use self check out so I can get out sooner. I only have a few items as most of the time I order online. I notice some customers even have their children doing the self check out machines. I wonder if there are mistakes made by them.
Click to expand...
We always use self check out..Then we know we aren’t getting ripped off. It’s also usually faster plus we pack our own groceries so handle everything with extreme care.
 
Doesn't it come down to who/what you trust more. Is it the human cashier or the machine? At this stage in the game it is "neither ". :)

Stores are becoming big vending machines. I wonder if that will be the future. Everything done by a machine.?
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top