I get mad when someone with a couple of items wants me to let them in line. I waited patiently for my turn and isn't that the purpose of the express line?
2007-10-21 10:50:06 · 51 answers · asked by tab 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
wow I never expected to get so many responses. You comments have been great!
I usually do offer for others to go before me. I always have a big load. Sometimes 2 carts. It is the ones who ask and expect it. I actually had someone get out of the express lane and ask in a not so nice tone to cut. I said sorry but no.
2007-10-21 15:17:34 · update #1
Absolutely correct. The express line is designed for people with only a couple of items. I doubt anyone in the express line would be willing to let you cut in with your buggy load of groceries, so it works both ways. If that thinking was followed through to the extreme, it would mean anyone with a full cart could expect to be 'cut in' on by anyone with less than a full cart - which means you could spend all day at the back of the line.
Just politely say, "no" next time someone asks. If you feel magnanimous, you could say, "Sorry, I'm in a hurry too."
2007-10-21 12:38:56 · answer #1 · answered by old lady 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree, we all should wait our turn, it certainly isn't rude to not allow someone to get in front of you unless they had a very compelling reason!
Now I must add, I don't really know this from personal experience since I make a small store-run almost daily rather than doing a lot of shopping once a week; I rarely have more than about 5-10 items myself. Anyone asking to go ahead of me would tick me off since they'd consider their time so much more important they couldn't wait for those few things... if I had a full cart I think I'd be more understanding. Still I only say it'd be nice to let them go in front; wouldn't go as far as to say it is rude if you don't. Waiting your turn is how lines work.
Btw, our grocery doesn't have an express lane so I'm often behind someone with a full cart; no matter how big a hurry I'm in I'd never ask to go ahead. If someone offers I'll be happy and thank them, but it's up to them to offer and I don't ask, even if they had two full carts and me one single item.
2007-10-21 12:17:03 · answer #2 · answered by Sheriam 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
lol I actually had this problem the other day. I went grocery shopping at a store that only had 1 line (can you believe that) and yes I had people with only a couple of items ask if they could go through, so I let 2 in front of me...but then it's like if I keep doing it I'll never get out of the shop.
So the next person that asked me I said, I'm sorry, I can't because I'll never get out of here, and I already let a couple people through...sorry about that. (With an nice voice tone...didn't want to seem nasty)
So I would say you could maybe let in 1 or 2 people but that's about it. You want to get out of there just like they do.
2007-10-21 10:55:39 · answer #3 · answered by Nikki 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't consider it rude; however, if the store & all the checkout lanes happen to be extremely busy at the time, I usually will let someone with just a few items go ahead of me. This is especially true when I have a basket full of stuff that I know will take awhile to check out.
2007-10-21 11:14:07 · answer #4 · answered by Nobody's Fool 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A man a couple weeks ago let me go ahead. He had a basket full of groceries, I had a couple of items:bread, milk, the jug was heavy. I thanked him profusely, he seemed embarrassed.
I let a lady go recently, same thing. She thanked me, and went in line, and was quick.
But I have said no, one woman with a cart load asked me, after I had put 1/3 of my groceries on the belt. She huffed and sulked. I paid cash, so it was quick as I could make it.
I have also regretted letting someone ahead. I let one lady, and she paid with food stamps. Then she had the items she had to pay for, and did not have enough money.[ I could almost hear my premium ice cream melting away, it took so long} She dug in her purse looking for change, and put items back.
And there was one last Sunday, same story, I had items on the belt, and I had few things still in the basket. . Some lady kept trying to stick her face around so I could see her, she was ignored. And I had someone cut in line, some lady almost got run over while I was steering a top heavy bas-cart into the line. She had the nerve to exult in her victory, big ole grin on her face, kept turning around to grin again. Poor pitiful thing, I felt so sorry for her, to have no life, and to sit at home and plan to go to Wal-mart and cut in front of people to have a life. So sad.
I would ask before I let someone cut in who had asked to do so, "are you going to be quick? when they say yes, yes.
If they did not ask, and just get in line and stand there waiting patiently, say, "if you are going to be just a minute, I have to get home" then let them go.
2007-10-21 14:02:23 · answer #5 · answered by riversconfluence 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ah get over it! Very rude indeed!
I have asked many people to let me cut if I have one item & am paying cash or ATM. What does piss me off is the person standing in line while the other one is shopping and bringing stuff back filling up a cart that appeared to be not that full...
I have yet to say no to anyone asking me because what comes around goes around.
Can't believe some one can actually be that petty. Bet your the same guy that wouldn't let someone change lanes either.
2007-10-21 10:59:15 · answer #6 · answered by theladygeorge 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Most express lines limit purchases to 20 items or less. Therefore, the wait shouldn't be all that long. Still, if I have 20 items and someone behind me has one or two, I do a random act of kindness. Makes my day and their's too.
You are under no obligation to do so, but why get angry about it? Stress kills. Chill.
2007-10-21 11:44:12 · answer #7 · answered by amazingly intelligent 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've let people cut in front of me before. If I have a cart full of groceries and it looks like a mom with her two kids is in a hurry to get home and only has a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread then I'll gladly let her cut in line, especially when there are only a couple lanes open.
2007-10-21 10:54:09 · answer #8 · answered by ~*Bella*~ 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
You're not required to let someone with just a few items cut in front of you, but it is polite. I don't like it when the person asks to go in front of me, but sometimes I offer to let them go ahead. Not all stores have an express lane, either.
2007-10-21 10:53:42 · answer #9 · answered by darylsgirl1114 4 · 6⤊ 0⤋
It could be rude if that person did not ask politely. On the other hand, I always will let one or even two go ahead of me if I have a big order. But two is my limit. You can always say, "Sorry, but I've already let two go ahead and I'm starting to run late" There are no hard and fast rules here, just behave with common courtesy.
2007-10-21 10:55:49 · answer #10 · answered by Tira Misu 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋