Supermarket Etiquette?

Question

I'm just curious to know how many people pick things up off the supermarket shelf and how often they put them back in the same place they got them from.

How many people don't ALWAYS put things back in the EXACT same place?? Do people deserve to be verbally abused for not putting things back in the same spot?

Answer 1

Funny you should ask this.

Just a few days ago, I was at Wal-Mart (Only because I was waiting on my friend to get done at the hair salon across the street), just browsing. I was near the front of the store, and I had a books that I was considering buying. Then my friend called and told me that she was done, so I put the books on a nearby shelf and started walking away. And then I hear this huge sigh and I look back at this cashier is practically freaking out. She goes, "Ma'am, are you not buying these?" And I said, "No, I'm sorry..." I was about to tell her that I had to leave but she interrupted me and said, "Well, are you aware that this isn't the shelf for books?" And I told her that I did, but that I really needed to leave, otherwise I would be happy to go the complete opposite end of the store to put one single book back in it's place. As I was walking away for the second time, she sighs again and picks up the book and starts trudging towards the book section with a huge scowl. I thought it was quite ridiculous. Normally, I do put things back where I find them, but sometimes I just don't have time to go to the entire other end of a superstore. I don't think people should be verbally harassed for that.

Answer 2

I always return the items to their proper spot.
Many of the answerers have worked in retail and understand the work involved but one answered that it is "their job" so i need to explain how it is directly related to the cost of the item.

Business is run on a profit and loss scale.

One way for sales to increase is to just make the shopping experience enjoyable by keeping the place clean and neat.

Payroll is allotted by a percentage of profit of the operation.

Therefore, if the sales decline then you have less money for payroll and it becomes a "chicken and the egg" scenario where you don't have the money for the staff payroll to keep the place clean and your business goes down from there.

So if you want the business to run at a profit and be able to offer YOU the client discounts on merchandise then it is in your best interest to put back the item on the proper place on the shelf.

Sounds simple eh?

Also, if you feel there are never enough sales associates to help you...keep in mind that there is so much of this needless cleaning up - and it is getting worse - that there are people paid in evening shifts (when the store is closed) to put stock out and put away "returns" or "recovered" items.

The available payroll is being used when you as a shopper aren't even in the store because there is so much of this needless restocking to be done!

Answer 3

I never put things back in the place where I got them. By the time I get my wits about me and realize that I do NOT need the $15 jar of lemon curd, but a $3 bag of lemons, and I could make it homemade and it would be much better, I'm all the way over in the diaper/formula section. I just set it on a shelf wherever I am. Isn't that why grocery stores employ baggers/stock people/cashiers?

If it's something perishable (meat, frozen foods, etc.) I always put them back. I always put the cart in the cart return too...does that count?

Answer 4

I usually do put stuff back in the proper spot. Or at least as close as I can. I had it happen once that I picked up the last particular item and couldn't remember exactly where I found it. When people just stuff the item wherever, it makes the shelves messy and sometimes it can be hard to find what I'm looking for.

Answer 5

It's actions such as not putting the item back where you found it, or leaving the shopping cart by your car instead of the cart return that raises the costs of items.

That's not to say that these actions are the ONLY reasons, because they aren't. However, not putting things back where you picked them up does increase the cost of everything because the store has to pay someone to do that, because no one is going to shop at store for very long that isn't neat and in order.

Answer 6

I worked in a supermarket for nearly 10 yrs and that was one of the biggest gripes of mine. If people only realized how doing stuff like that raises grocery prices they wouldnt do it. Some one has to be paid to put all of that stuff back where it belongs or if it is a perishable item it is ruined which in turn also raises prices.

Answer 7

It drives me crazy. I managed a small grocery when I was younger. Things like this just drive prices up as now we have to pay someone to return it to its' proper place. People are so selfish, thinking only of themselves. Grocery store, movie theatre, driving, etc. Whoa, better cool down here. Anyway, when I decide I don't want an item that is already in my basket, I WALK back to where I got it and return it.

Answer 8

That's a pet peeve of mine. I've seen frozen stuff crammed on a regular shelf. I find that very inconsiderate.

I always try to return things where I got them.

Answer 9

I get tempted to but always go all the way to put it back on the original shelf.

Answer 10

I am so nuts about this. My roomate NEVER puts things back where she got them from. I think it's a sign of pure laziness. I used to work in a grocery store. That's probably why it's a big pet peeve of mine.