Ok, so grocery stores. We all got to get our buts to them, at least once a week, and no matter how many times we tell ourselves we’ll be the well-organised, prepared human that goes in first thing on a Saturday morning, athleisure on, with a highly organised shopping list in one hand, and super duper broccoli spinach kale good vibes watermelon wellness smoothie in the other… We usually end up there late on a Sunday arv with everyone else, barely anything in the fridge at home, and our only hope of dinner being whatever we can find that doesn’t require cooking. Let’s be honest..
And we all know how frustrating it is when the person in front of us takes forever. They’re trying to figure out what kind of detergent they want while their cart is blocking the aisle. Or they have a million questions for the cashier and are taking up the whole line. But there are some unspoken rules of grocery store etiquette that we should all be following, eg:
– Don’t be that person who takes forever in the aisle, standing in front of the cereal with 47 boxes in your hand, trying to decide between Honey Nut Cheerios or Fruit Loops. They’re all bad for you, so just make a decision and move on.
1. Failing To Use The Checkout Divider
We’ve all been there. You’re in line, waiting patiently (or not so patiently) to check out, and the person in front of you has their groceries spread out all over the conveyer belt, making it impossible for you to unload your own items. And sure, sometimes it can’t be helped. But if you’re able to, please use the checkout divider to keep your items separate from the rest of the line. It’s just common courtesy. and saves us all from putting our backs out as we try to lean over your mountain of groceries to get to the little divider thingy that you’ve decided not to use.
2. “Returning” Items To Random Places
Ok, so this one might seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how many people do it. If you take something off the shelf and decide that you don’t want it, please return it to the same spot that you found it. Putting it back in a different place just to confuse the next person who comes along and is looking for that item. They’ll spend 10 minutes searching for it, before finally giving up and going to ask a staff member, who will then have to spend another 10 minutes trying to find it. Just save everyone the hassle and put it back where you found it.
3. Using The Express Line Way With Too Many Items
This was probably you yesterday. You’re in a rush and you need to get in and out of the store as quickly as possible. So you head to the express lane, with 10 items or less. But then the person in front of you has, like, 20 hundred items. And they’re taking their sweet time, chatting away to the cashier who for some reason has accepted their monster load of groceries while you’re standing there impatiently, trying not to tap your foot too loud or huff and puff too much. But here’s the thing.. The express lane is for people with 10 items or less. So if you have more than that, please use a different line. Simple as that.
4. Leaving Your Trolly In The Middle Of a Car Park
I mean talk about a gear grinder, you know when you’ve not been that “well-organised, prepared human that goes in first thing on a Saturday morning” blah blah blah person? so your hungover ass is circling the car park on a Sunday afternoon, and you finally spot a free space! but WAIT. what’s this? a trolley, just chillin in the middle of the car park, as if it doesn’t have a care in the world. Mate, if you’re a trolley leaver, sure we’re all in a rush, but please don’t be that person that leaves their trolley in the middle of the car park. It’s just common decency.
5. Taking Items From Other People’s Carts!
Yep, I know, people actually do this! I mean imagine it, you’ve finally made your way to the cashier after what felt like hours of walking up and down every aisle in the store, just to get halfway through unloading all the questionable health choices and realise that someone has taken an item or two from your trolley! I mean, how dare they! So please, don’t be that person. Just because someone else’s cart is full of good stuff, doesn’t mean it’s up for grabs. Respect other people’s property/ icecream.
So next time you’re doing your weekly shop, make sure you’re not being THAT person, and we’ll all live happily ever after. and you know what forget the “super duper broccoli spinach kale good vibes watermelon wellness smoothie” a Maccas ice coffee with extra vanilla is where it’s at!
