The 8 Rudest Things You Can Do at the Grocery Store

My first job was at Grand Union, a once-popular grocery store chain throughout the Northeast. I mostly worked the register, checking out customer after customer and their dizzying barrage of items, but I also stocked shelves, cleaned messes, and, when necessary, gathered stray carts from the far reaches of the parking lot. As far as first jobs go, it was… fine. I earned a few bucks, met many wonderful people from town, and made friends with coworkers. But there are plenty of things that irk me to this day, and they mainly stem from customers not following some basic, unspoken rules. Want to avoid being one of your local store’s least-favorite customers? Here are a few things to avoid the next time you go shopping.

Bringing All the Coupons

Nothing slows a checkout line like coupons. A few money-saving slips of paper are fine, but if you plan on showing up with a wad of them in a rubber band like some titan of industry dishing out cash tips to anyone who does something pleasant, please shop during off hours. Some coupons, especially ones not found in the circular, don’t scan, meaning the cashier will have to call over a manager for approval. When a customer has a few dozen coupons — it happens more than you’d imagine — this can slow the line to a halt. I’m not saying don’t use your coupons, but please be aware of when you’re shopping and how many people are behind you if you have a fistful of them ready to go.

Leaving Your Cart in the Parking Lot

I get it. You just finished shopping, and the cart corral is oh so far away. But I encourage you to do the legwork and put your cart in the proper place. Those carts become runaway freight trains on a collision course with someone’s Kia on windy days. They block parking spots and sometimes leave few, if any, at the entrance for new shoppers. They also require workers to track them down, and I can’t tell you how far away I found stray carts.

Not Respecting the Express Lane

Oh, the many ways I’ve seen customers try to circumvent the “10 items or fewer” rule. “I have four boxes of Cheerios, but that’s just one item.” “It’s only a few items over.” “I didn’t see the sign. Can’t you just ring me up?” This one should seem obvious, but it’s also the most abused on this list. Plenty of people pop into the store to grab one missing ingredient. Give them the courtesy of one lane meant to expedite their checkout.

Not Offering to Help Bag

Caveats exist — there’s a dedicated bagger, you’re physically unable to, you have an elite bagging machine behind the register — but few things slow the checkout process, like having the cashier ring up your groceries and then bag them. If you have a large order piling up as the cashier scans item after item, lend a hand by starting to fill up your bags. There’s a reason there are plenty at the end of the checkout aisle. Better yet, bring your own.

Putting Items Back in the Wrong Place

If you’ve ever stumbled upon a lonely bag of chips next to the paper towels at your local grocery store, you know someone had second thoughts about those Doritos. It happens. That impulse purchase, given more time to marinate, doesn’t align with the diet someone is trying to follow. If you’ve done this, and I’m sure you have, add a few steps to your daily total and bring the item back to where it belongs. When the store gets quiet, workers have to scour the shelves to find these Easter eggs — and it’s not always easy. If the item is small enough, you could also hand it to the cashier when you’re checking out and mention you no longer need it. At least they won’t then have to locate coffee beans in the freezer section (I’ve seen it)  before finding their rightful home.

Not Using a Divider

A speedy cashier needs a little help differentiating orders. If you don’t use the divider, the start of your order could quickly get added to the order before yours. If the lane has no dividers available, try to create enough space and keep an eye on what’s happening so the cashier doesn’t accidentally start ringing up your goods. 

Not Respecting Reserved Parking Spots

Unlike handicapped parking spaces, there’s no law against parking in the “Expectant Mothers” or “Online Order” spaces when you are neither pregnant nor waiting for a worker to load your trunk. But you still have to respect the store’s right to reserve those spaces for specific groups. Yes, they are most often premium spots close to the store, and yes, lots fill up, but do those people a solid by leaving them open.

Leaving Your Cart in the Middle of an Aisle and Wandering Off

Doesn’t it seem like every shopping cart has one lousy wheel, and you’re constantly veering off in unintended directions? As annoying as that is, try to stay near your cart. Parking it in the middle of an aisle and heading to another to bring back items creates a traffic jam, and most shoppers are leery about moving someone else’s cart. 

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