Sqwertz wrote:
> I've devised a new tactic. When somebody in line in front of you
> has more than 10 items, I just cut in front of them, look back at
> them and point to the sign, and say, "This lane is for people with
> 10 items or less".
>
> And since that worked so well, loookie he the next person in
> front of me has about 14 items, so lets do that again... Worked
> again [evil stare].
>
> And then the next person in front of me already had her stuff on the
> conveyer. She was apparently watching this, counts her stuff, then
> looks at me and asks if I'd like to go in front of her, too. I
> said, "Nah - I don't want to press my luck."
>
> I'm going to do that more often. Since the stores won't enforce
> these policies, then it's up to the customers.
>
> What's interesting to note is that both people I cut in front of
> went to other lines after being called on it. It'll be interesting
> to see how many people do that, and how many will stand there in
> back of me mumbling obscenities. And how many follow me home and
> come back later that night with automatic weapons.
>
> -sw

Hmm. Interesting. It would depend with on the situation in the store at
the time. Since I usually do self checkout with 15 or less items, if the
self checkout line are too long, I use the express checkup if the lines
are shorter. If somebody tried what you did with me, they'd find a size
14 planted up their ass....

On Fri 27 Mar 2009 09:18:22a, George told us...

> Sqwertz wrote:
>> I've devised a new tactic. When somebody in line in front of you
>> has more than 10 items, I just cut in front of them, look back at
>> them and point to the sign, and say, "This lane is for people with
>> 10 items or less".
>>
>> And since that worked so well, loookie he the next person in
>> front of me has about 14 items, so lets do that again... Worked
>> again [evil stare].
>>
>> And then the next person in front of me already had her stuff on the
>> conveyer. She was apparently watching this, counts her stuff, then
>> looks at me and asks if I'd like to go in front of her, too. I
>> said, "Nah - I don't want to press my luck."
>>
>> I'm going to do that more often. Since the stores won't enforce
>> these policies, then it's up to the customers.
>>
>> What's interesting to note is that both people I cut in front of
>> went to other lines after being called on it. It'll be interesting
>> to see how many people do that, and how many will stand there in
>> back of me mumbling obscenities. And how many follow me home and
>> come back later that night with automatic weapons.
>>
>> -sw
>
> Hmm. Interesting. It would depend with on the situation in the store at
> the time. Since I usually do self checkout with 15 or less items, if the
> self checkout line are too long, I use the express checkup if the lines
> are shorter. If somebody tried what you did with me, they'd find a size
> 14 planted up their ass....
>

My, what big feet you have. Or do you just wear oversized shoes for this
purpose?

--
Wayne Boatwright

"One man's meat is another man's poison"
- Oswald Dykes, English writer, 1709.

On Mar 27, 11:18*am, George > wrote:
> Sqwertz wrote:
> > I've devised a new tactic. *When somebody in line in front of you
> > has more than 10 items, I just cut in front of them, look back at
> > them and point to the sign, and say, "This lane is for people with
> > 10 items or less".
>
> > And since that worked so well, loookie he the next person in
> > front of me has about 14 items, so lets do that again... *Worked
> > again [evil stare].
>
> > And then the next person in front of me already had her stuff on the
> > conveyer. *She was apparently watching this, counts her stuff, then
> > looks at me and asks if I'd like to go in front of her, too. *I
> > said, "Nah - I don't want to press my luck."
>
> > I'm going to do that more often. *Since the stores won't enforce
> > these policies, then it's up to the customers.
>
> > What's interesting to note is that both people I cut in front of
> > went to other lines after being called on it. *It'll be interesting
> > to see how many people do that, and how many will stand there in
> > back of me mumbling obscenities. *And how many follow me home and
> > come back later that night with automatic weapons.
>
> > -sw
>
> Hmm. Interesting. It would depend with on the situation in the store at
> the time. Since I usually do self checkout with 15 or less items, if the
> self checkout line are too long, I use the express checkup if the lines
> are shorter. If somebody tried what you did with me, they'd find a size
> 14 planted up their ass....

That's be great. After you were criminally prosecuted, I'd sue you.
It's be really easy, you know, with the security cameras.

--Bryan

sandi wrote:
> Dan Abel > wrote in
>
>
>> Anybody else remember back in the old days when the checker
>> unloaded the cart?
>>
>
>
> All 3 of the local grocery stores do here. Kroger/King Soopers,
> Safeway & Albertsons.
>


The checkers here unload the cart, then the sacker (bagger?) carries the
groceries to your car. It may depend on where you live.


Becca

"Goro" > wrote in message

I like it when a person goes thru the self-check line with a grocery
cart FULL of stuff. Isn't the self-checkout supposed to be a form of
express lane?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

No,it is just another lane. Our Stop & Shop has an express self check lane
though, but the others are open to anyone. Even you.

l, not -l wrote:
> Far worse, IMO, than the 20 item folks in the 10 item line are the ladies
> who seem surprised that they are asked to pay for their groceries (not
> sexist, just probability, since 90+% of the shoppers in the store are
> female). She stands around watching the checker scan the items; then,
> completely caught off-guard when told the total of her goods, spends 5
> minutes rooting through her purse to find her wallet/credit card/checkbook.

I am glad the hear that I am not the only one who sees that and gets
upset. If I am paying cash I have my wallet out and enough money in my
hand to cover what I expect it to be, or else I have my debit card in my
hand before the cashier rings up the total. These old girls wait until
the total is rung up and then start the search, as if they didn't really
expect to actually have to pay. There should be a trap door with a short
timer for people like that.

"Dave Smith" > wrote
>
> True. But they can one one person through with woo items faster than they
> can do ten people with ten items because it is usually the cash
> transaction that takes up the time.

Hafe anothe beir

l, not -l wrote:

> Hey, now you listen to me missy!!!!! ;-) Retired guys have things to-do
> also; often, things that are just as important as yours. We have
> appointments, dates, lists of errands to run; we don't all sit around all
> day watching Matlock reruns and figuring out ways to get in the way of
> "working" people. Hell, sometimes we are even running errands and doing
> things for "working" friends and family who think "the retired guy's" got
> nothing better to do. I'm retired; but, I have a full life and deserve the
> same respect as "working" folks - the big difference, I've already served my
> time working for "the suits".

Tell me about it. I was busy all day today. Okay, so I didn't get up
until almost 9 and didn't get out of the house until after 11. But I had
to drive into the city to drop off income tax paper, pick up a book at
the music store, go to the library and the cheese shop, then go home in
time to check email and newsgroups before getting cleaned up to go to a
dinner party. I was busy all day and was not bored for a single minute.

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> "Goro" > wrote in message
>
> I like it when a person goes thru the self-check line with a grocery
> cart FULL of stuff. Isn't the self-checkout supposed to be a form of
> express lane?

> No,it is just another lane. Our Stop & Shop has an express self check
> lane though, but the others are open to anyone. Even you.

Funny you should say that. My local store has self check
stations that are not conducive to buying more than a few
items. They're very small and really awkward. I found myself
at a Stop and Shop last week and the self check lines are
actual ... lines, with a whole belt to load your purchases onto.

I would still be inclined to use a cashier, myself, for the reason
other people mentioned, saving jobs. Still, it was interesting to
see.

nancy

Ed Pawlowski wrote:

>> I have to admit that most of the local grocery stores are much more
>> efficient than they used to me. At one time there was a limited number of
>> grocery stores in this area and one of them was notoriously slow. There
>> were a couple times when I was waiting in line so long that the ice cream
>> I was getting started to melt, I walked out and told someone they will
>> need to put everything back.
>
> If I went to the store and only bought ice cram, I'd be PO'd if I had to
> wait for a few people with full carts.


I wasn't there just for ice cream. I had my week's groceries in the
cart. I should add that I always pick up the frozen goods last and then
head straight to the checkout.


That place had very slow checkout service. They also had lots of
checkout counters. They just didn't have any staff manning them. They
had 15-20 counters, but I never saw more than half of them open, even at
the busiest times. They are no longer in business. The one that opened
up across the streets has half as many checkout counters, but have tried
the novel approach of actually having people working at them. It is rare
to have more than two people ahead of me in line.


While you may not want to wait long enough in line that your single
item, the ice cream, starts to melt, it is just as bad for the person
getting all the weekly groceries.



> There is always the self checkout option, but I hate it and refuse to use
> it.

I refuse to use self checkout.

On Mar 27, 10:56*pm, Dave Smith > wrote:
> l, not -l wrote:
> > Far worse, IMO, than the 20 item folks in the 10 item line are the ladies
> > who seem surprised that they are asked to pay for their groceries (not
> > sexist, just probability, since 90+% of the shoppers in the store are
> > female). * She stands around watching the checker scan the items; then,
> > completely caught off-guard when told the total of her goods, spends 5
> > minutes rooting through her purse to find her wallet/credit card/checkbook.
>
> I am glad the hear that I am not the only one who sees that and gets
> upset. If I am paying cash I have my wallet out and enough money in my
> hand to cover what I expect it to be, or else I have my debit card in my
> hand before the cashier rings up the total. These old *girls wait until
> the total is rung up and then start the search, as if they didn't really
> expect to actually have to pay. There should be a trap door with a short
> timer for people like that.

It still ****es me off, even though I have to kind of pity them. It
seems to me that they are trying to prolong the rare human interaction
they get at the checkout. It's pathetic, but maybe pitiable.
Loneliness is sad, and I try--often unsuccessfully--to be empathetic.

I'm sleepy. Goodnight RFC.

--Bryan

On Fri 27 Mar 2009 08:59:35p, Dave Smith told us...

> l, not -l wrote:
>
>> Hey, now you listen to me missy!!!!! ;-) Retired guys have things
>> to-do also; often, things that are just as important as yours. We have
>> appointments, dates, lists of errands to run; we don't all sit around
>> all day watching Matlock reruns and figuring out ways to get in the way
>> of "working" people. Hell, sometimes we are even running errands and
>> doing things for "working" friends and family who think "the retired
>> guy's" got nothing better to do. I'm retired; but, I have a full life
>> and deserve the same respect as "working" folks - the big difference,
>> I've already served my time working for "the suits".
>
> Tell me about it. I was busy all day today. Okay, so I didn't get up
> until almost 9 and didn't get out of the house until after 11. But I had
> to drive into the city to drop off income tax paper, pick up a book at
> the music store, go to the library and the cheese shop, then go home in
> time to check email and newsgroups before getting cleaned up to go to a
> dinner party. I was busy all day and was not bored for a single minute.
>

Poor you! I should already be retired, but finances won't permit it.

Instead, I spent an hour and 15 minutes each way getting to and from work.
Arrived at the office at 7:00 a.m. Had several non-productive meetings and
one good one. Spent the rest of the time resolving some serious database
issues. Leaving at 5:00 p.m., on the way home stopped at the drugstore to
pick up a prescription after they had called to say it was ready...it
wasn't. Waited half an hour until it was ready since I need it tomorrow
morning. Then on to the supermarket to pick up items for dinner. Went
through the shortest self-check line I could find so I could get the hell
out of there and reclaim some piece of my life.

--
Wayne Boatwright

"One man's meat is another man's poison"
- Oswald Dykes, English writer, 1709.

Lil' Wayne Boatwrong blabbles:

> On Fri 27 Mar 2009 08:59:35p, Dave Smith told us...
>
> > l, not -l wrote:
> >
> >> Hey, now you listen to me missy!!!!! ;-) Retired guys have things
> >> to-do also; often, things that are just as important as yours. We have
> >> appointments, dates, lists of errands to run; we don't all sit around
> >> all day watching Matlock reruns and figuring out ways to get in the way
> >> of "working" people. Hell, sometimes we are even running errands and
> >> doing things for "working" friends and family who think "the retired
> >> guy's" got nothing better to do. I'm retired; but, I have a full life
> >> and deserve the same respect as "working" folks - the big difference,
> >> I've already served my time working for "the suits".
> >
> > Tell me about it. I was busy all day today. Okay, so I didn't get up
> > until almost 9 and didn't get out of the house until after 11. But I had
> > to drive into the city to drop off income tax paper, pick up a book at
> > the music store, go to the library and the cheese shop, then go home in
> > time to check email and newsgroups before getting cleaned up to go to a
> > dinner party. I was busy all day and was not bored for a single minute.
> >
>
> Poor you! I should already be retired, but finances won't permit it.
>
> Instead, I spent an hour and 15 minutes each way getting to and from work.
> Arrived at the office at 7:00 a.m. Had several non-productive meetings
and
> one good one. Spent the rest of the time resolving some serious database
> issues. Leaving at 5:00 p.m., on the way home stopped at the drugstore to
> pick up a prescription after they had called to say it was ready...it
> wasn't. Waited half an hour until it was ready since I need it tomorrow
> morning. Then on to the supermarket to pick up items for dinner. Went
> through the shortest self-check line I could find so I could get the hell
> out of there and reclaim some piece of my life.


What a spineless whining pussy you are, Lil' Wayne...wonder what you'd do if
you had any *real* problems, lol.


--
Best
Greg

On Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:24:30 -0700 (PDT), Bobo Bonobo®
> wrote:

>Ideally, that's the way it should work. Perhaps you do hail from a
>more civilized community.

Amen, brother.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:47:16 GMT, "James Silverton"
> wrote:

>Yes, I've been invited into a fast lane by a cashier who had no
>customers and then had someone come along later and audibly count my
>number of items :-)

The cashier didn't say anything? I have never experienced a customer
tantrum because I was in the short line with an overage. Every person
who has come up behind me (transaction in progress, btw) that even
appeared to question why I was there has been set straight by the
cashier - in a very diplomatic way.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:12:00 -0400, TFM®
> wrote:

>I can picture Swertz and me in a wrestling match in the express lane. Heh.

If you two ever do wrestle, please do it chocolate pudding not mud...
ok?




--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:14:21 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

>Just a few weeks ago something happened, strangely enough
>in the About 10 Items or Fewer line I mentioned earlier.
>
>I got on line and the woman in front of me became a little
>flustered. Seems she had too many items for that line.
>She said would you like to go in front of me? I have too
>many items. Verbatim, I said No, stay, I'm not in a hurry.
>
>Suddenly this hostile cashier hissed at me, I can take you
>over here. Uh ... okay. She says You know, Line 10 is
>open. That's great. Was there a survey of what lines
>were open and I failed the test? All I can think is that she
>heard enough of the conversation with the too-many-items
>lady to think I'd been giving her a hard time. Because this
>cashier was ****ed off at me.
>
She wasn't ****ed off at you. She's seen a lot of ****ed off
customers and knew she needed to point out an empty line - or it was
company policy. It was probably policy.

Maybe she was in a bad mood; maybe you were reading too much into what
she said... but she did the right thing by telling you there was an
open line. I would have gone to the other line - after assessing the
travel time was worth it.

All's well that ends well.




--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:19:54 GMT, "l, not -l" > wrote:
>
>On 27-Mar-2009, "Nancy Young" > wrote:
>
>> I turned around and this
>> retired guy with probably all day to kill had the good grace to
>> look embarrassed.
>>
>> nancy
>
>Hey, now you listen to me missy!!!!! ;-) Retired guys have things to-do
>also; often, things that are just as important as yours. We have
>appointments, dates, lists of errands to run; we don't all sit around all
>day watching Matlock reruns and figuring out ways to get in the way of
>"working" people. Hell, sometimes we are even running errands and doing
>things for "working" friends and family who think "the retired guy's" got
>nothing better to do. I'm retired; but, I have a full life and deserve the
>same respect as "working" folks - the big difference, I've already served my
>time working for "the suits".

You retired guys know how to stay active, physically and mentally. I
learned all about the evils of derivatives this week - thanks to my
husband. As far as that other stuff, he's taken over what I used to
do. He need the work! Since his heart scare (he loved red meat,
bacon, cheese - etc, etc) he's been *good*. He made carbonara with
bacon that he cut all the fat from. He even cuts fat from lean
chicken now. Who does that? LOL! To make matters worse, he walks at
least a hour a day and part of his exercise is going up a hill with
the slope of a cartoon mountain.

I often wonder how it's going to be when we're both retired. I used
to wonder if I could stand him after I retired, now I'm wondering if I
can keep up with him after I retire.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:31:32 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

>l, not -l wrote:
>> On 27-Mar-2009, "Nancy Young" > wrote:
>>
>>> I turned around and this
>>> retired guy with probably all day to kill had the good grace to
>>> look embarrassed.
>
>> Hey, now you listen to me missy!!!!! ;-) Retired guys have things
>> to-do also; often, things that are just as important as yours. We
>> have appointments, dates, lists of errands to run; we don't all sit
>> around all day watching Matlock reruns and figuring out ways to get
>> in the way of "working" people. Hell, sometimes we are even running
>> errands and doing things for "working" friends and family who think
>> "the retired guy's" got nothing better to do. I'm retired; but, I
>> have a full life and deserve the same respect as "working" folks -
>> the big difference, I've already served my time working for "the
>> suits".
>
>(laughing) You kidding, being retired is a lot of work. I know that!
>Just saying, no need to be getting nasty or bent out of shape
>because some witch had what you thought were too many items.
>It would not have killed the guy to just chill instead of making a
>(silent) fuss. My stuff was already being checked out when he
>walked up. What did he think, they'd back it all out and send me
>packing?

I had to think about it. Yes, I needed to. LOL!

It would have taken a lot longer to cancel out your groceries than it
would have taken to complete the transaction and move on. The
transaction would have been a good object lesson, if he was
intelligent enough to learn from the experience (which isn't likely)
and if you and the cashier had been in cahoots.

> He was a jerk who seemed to think he deserved to
>breeze in and out of the place.
>
sw was behind you and you didn't recognize him?

Is this the mug you saw???
http://www.recfoodcooking.com/mug/sh...ve%20Wertz.jpg

Jusr kidding.



--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

"Dave Smith" > wrote in message
>
> That place had very slow checkout service. They also had lots of checkout
> counters. They just didn't have any staff manning them. They had 15-20
> counters, but I never saw more than half of them open, even at the busiest
> times. They are no longer in business. The one that opened up across the
> streets has half as many checkout counters, but have tried the novel
> approach of actually having people working at them. It is rare to have
> more than two people ahead of me in line.

There are two possible causes. The first is poor management. Someone is
supposed to keep an eye on the checkout load and open additional lanes or
get baggers as needed. The other though, is the lack of qualified help. In
some places, it is difficult to get good help for the low paying jobs. Fast
food places have similar problems. When Mc Donald's opened up along Rt. 95
in well-to-do Fairfield CT, they had to bus in help from the Bronx.

At the store I go to, there is a core of workers that have been there for 5
or 10 years. Some full, some part time. There is also the "checker of the
week" that seems to not last very long at all. You see them a couple of
times and never again.

sf wrote:
> On Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:14:21 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> > wrote:
>
>> Just a few weeks ago something happened, strangely enough
>> in the About 10 Items or Fewer line I mentioned earlier.
>>
>> I got on line and the woman in front of me became a little
>> flustered. Seems she had too many items for that line.
>> She said would you like to go in front of me? I have too
>> many items. Verbatim, I said No, stay, I'm not in a hurry.
>>
>> Suddenly this hostile cashier hissed at me, I can take you
>> over here. Uh ... okay. She says You know, Line 10 is
>> open. That's great. Was there a survey of what lines
>> were open and I failed the test? All I can think is that she
>> heard enough of the conversation with the too-many-items
>> lady to think I'd been giving her a hard time. Because this
>> cashier was ****ed off at me.
>>
> She wasn't ****ed off at you. She's seen a lot of ****ed off
> customers and knew she needed to point out an empty line - or it was
> company policy. It was probably policy.
>
> Maybe she was in a bad mood; maybe you were reading too much into what
> she said... but she did the right thing by telling you there was an
> open line.

She was opening a line for me. The other line was irrelevant.

> I would have gone to the other line - after assessing the
> travel time was worth it.

I wound up going to the line she opened for me one lane over while
she and some other woman glared at me. It was fun. I was happy
where I was and I should have told her to kiss off. Politely, of course.

nancy

sf wrote:
> On Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:31:32 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> > wrote:

>>> Hey, now you listen to me missy!!!!! ;-) Retired guys have things
>>> to-do also; often, things that are just as important as yours. We
>>> have appointments, dates, lists of errands to run; we don't all sit
>>> around all day watching Matlock reruns and figuring out ways to get
>>> in the way of "working" people. Hell, sometimes we are even running
>>> errands and doing things for "working" friends and family who think
>>> "the retired guy's" got nothing better to do. I'm retired; but, I
>>> have a full life and deserve the same respect as "working" folks -
>>> the big difference, I've already served my time working for "the
>>> suits".
>>
>> (laughing) You kidding, being retired is a lot of work. I know
>> that! Just saying, no need to be getting nasty or bent out of shape
>> because some witch had what you thought were too many items.
>> It would not have killed the guy to just chill instead of making a
>> (silent) fuss. My stuff was already being checked out when he
>> walked up. What did he think, they'd back it all out and send me
>> packing?
>
> I had to think about it. Yes, I needed to. LOL!
>
> It would have taken a lot longer to cancel out your groceries than it
> would have taken to complete the transaction and move on. The
> transaction would have been a good object lesson, if he was
> intelligent enough to learn from the experience (which isn't likely)
> and if you and the cashier had been in cahoots.

The way the cashier cut him off at the knees, he must have been
making quite a fuss. It just wasn't necessary, and I don't know
where he came from that he thought he had a legal right to an
express lane. Too bad for him, he should have learned more
patience somewhere along the line instead of raising his blood
pressure over nothing. I didn't do anything wrong, so I didn't
really care. I just remember him looking embarrassed when I
turned around to see what was going on.

Besides, if there are people in a line, and a cashier standing
there with nothing to do, no customers, what kind of business
wouldn't say they should take care of a paying customer. I'm
a second class citizen to this entitlement guy? Someone should
be paid to stand there waiting to be blessed with his presence?
(laugh)

>> He was a jerk who seemed to think he deserved to
>> breeze in and out of the place.
>>
> sw was behind you and you didn't recognize him?

You know ... now that I think back ... nah, it wasn't him.
heh. sw's just in training for that guy.

nancy

Nancy wrote on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 08:30:03 -0400:

> sf wrote:
>> On Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:14:21 -0400, "Nancy Young"
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> Just a few weeks ago something happened, strangely enough
>>> in the About 10 Items or Fewer line I mentioned earlier.
>>>
>>> I got on line and the woman in front of me became a little
>>> flustered. Seems she had too many items for that line.
>>> She said would you like to go in front of me? I have too
>>> many items. Verbatim, I said No, stay, I'm not in a hurry.
>>>
>>> Suddenly this hostile cashier hissed at me, I can take you
>>> over here. Uh ... okay. She says You know, Line 10 is
>>> open. That's great. Was there a survey of what lines
>>> were open and I failed the test? All I can think is that
>>> she heard enough of the conversation with the too-many-items
>>> lady to think I'd been giving her a hard time. Because this
>>> cashier was ****ed off at me.
>>>
>> She wasn't ****ed off at you. She's seen a lot of ****ed off
>> customers and knew she needed to point out an empty line - or
>> it was company policy. It was probably policy.
>>
>> Maybe she was in a bad mood; maybe you were reading too much into
>> what she said... but she did the right thing by telling you there was
>> an open line.

> She was opening a line for me. The other line was irrelevant.

>> I would have gone to the other line - after assessing the
>> travel time was worth it.

> I wound up going to the line she opened for me one lane over
> while she and some other woman glared at me. It was fun. I
> was happy where I was and I should have told her to kiss off.
> Politely, of course.

It is mildly irritating when a new line opens and people waiting behind
you get there first. There are some places, notably Trader Joes, where
some attempt to preserve the sequence is maintained. However, there are
many more important things in life!

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Wayne Boatwright > wrote:

> Heinen's, a locally-owned chain of supermarkets in th Cleveland, not only
> does that, but they do not allow you to take your shopping cart to your car
> in the parking lot. All carts go to a loading area. You retrieve your car
> and drive past the loading area where they place all your bags in the trunk
> or back seat. They also do not accept tips for this service.

At the Whole Foods Headquarters, there is no way to get a cart full
of groceries to your car in the garage underneath. They use a
manned dumb-waiter system instead. I'm not sure if you drive past
and pick them up, or wheel them from the waiter to the car. I've
never been down there.

-sw

Dan Abel > wrote:

> Anybody else remember back in the old days when the checker unloaded the
> cart?

I like Whole Foods solution to this. Post a sign that reads:

"So that we may protect our employees from Repetitive Motion Stress
Injuries, please unload your own cart or handbasket".

-sw

Joseph Littleshoes > wrote:

> I finally made a scene at local market the other day when the kid
> standing in front of me with nothing to purchase waved over its mother
> who had a shopping cart full of stuff and was standing in another line,
> at which time 2 other kids standing in 2 other lines joined her in front
> of me.

Nobody does that to me, though they've tried. I kindly <ahem>
explain that I chose this line based on the number of people and the
number of items in front of me waiting to check out. And I'll be
damned if I'm gonna let your ugly, white trash, Oreo and potato-chip
munching ass cut in front of me.

OK, so I exaggerated a little. I don't call them ugly.

Gawd, I love grocery store confrontations. Of course nothing beats
the time I took the tri-tip roast out of that lady's cart when she
cut in line in front of me at the butcher counter.

-sw

George > wrote:

> Hmm. Interesting. It would depend with on the situation in the store at
> the time. Since I usually do self checkout with 15 or less items, if the
> self checkout line are too long, I use the express checkup if the lines
> are shorter. If somebody tried what you did with me, they'd find a size
> 14 planted up their ass....

Well then, I look forward to seeing you at the Giant Eagle at
McIntyre Square the first week of July and you can try and put that
14 shoe to the test.

-sw

Wayne Boatwright > wrote:

> My, what big feet you have. Or do you just wear oversized shoes for this
> purpose?

Every time somebody mentions big feet, there you are drooling like a
delirious puppy dog.

Get a grip, dude.

-sw

Nancy Young > wrote:

> You know ... now that I think back ... nah, it wasn't him.
> heh. sw's just in training for that guy.

Pbbbt. I'm ready for the Olympics of Supermarket Confrontations.
I've stopped there about 5 times a week during rush hours for close
to 20 years to prepare myself for this.

I'm ready coach!

-sw

James Silverton wrote:
> Nancy wrote on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 08:30:03 -0400:

>> I wound up going to the line she opened for me one lane over
>> while she and some other woman glared at me. It was fun. I
>> was happy where I was and I should have told her to kiss off.
>> Politely, of course.
>
> It is mildly irritating when a new line opens and people waiting
> behind you get there first.

Oh, they're like vultures. It is annoying. Who knows, maybe
some customer was annoyed seeing me going into this new
line. I didn't ask for a new line, I was harrassed into going
there! (laugh)

> There are some places, notably Trader
> Joes, where some attempt to preserve the sequence is maintained.
> However, there are many more important things in life!

My usual store, they point at who should get into the new
line, I appreciate that. You, over here. Acknowledging that
you were there first.

All this angst, the fact is the majority of the time there is no
drama whatsoever in my supermarket trips. I just have my
fair share of incidents just like everyone else. A few times
just stick out in your mind.

nancy

Sqwertz wrote:
> Nancy Young > wrote:
>
>> You know ... now that I think back ... nah, it wasn't him.
>> heh. sw's just in training for that guy.
>
> Pbbbt. I'm ready for the Olympics of Supermarket Confrontations.
> I've stopped there about 5 times a week during rush hours for close
> to 20 years to prepare myself for this.
>
> I'm ready coach!

Express lane abusers, watch out! Sometimes I'll have 11 items,
be prepared, I won't feel guilty and I won't move if every other
line is 3 deep with full carts.

Cheer up, I bag and I pay real quick. You won't be inconvenienced
much. Besides, maybe you should make more big shopping trips
so you're not always in the express line? There is just too much
opportunity for aggravation there.

nancy

Nancy Young > wrote:

> Sqwertz wrote:
>
>> Pbbbt. I'm ready for the Olympics of Supermarket Confrontations.
>> I've stopped there about 5 times a week during rush hours for close
>> to 20 years to prepare myself for this.
>>
>> I'm ready coach!
>
> Express lane abusers, watch out! Sometimes I'll have 11 items,
> be prepared, I won't feel guilty and I won't move if every other
> line is 3 deep with full carts.

I wouldn't cut in front of you for 11 or even 12 items. 14 is 40%
over the limit, and I will do something about at that level. Even
though I know those extra 4 items are only 12-15 seconds worth of
extra groceries. But then that person may want a pack of cigarettes
.... behind the counter all the way on the other side of the store.

> Cheer up, I bag and I pay real quick. You won't be inconvenienced
> much. Besides, maybe you should make more big shopping trips
> so you're not always in the express line? There is just too much
> opportunity for aggravation there.

I don't have a car, so I do lots of little trips. Which is fine
with me since I never know what I want to eat for dinner from day to
day. Tastes change. And there's always the forgotten item or
sundry that so much cheaper at the grocery store than anywhere else.

-sw

Sqwertz wrote:
> Nancy Young > wrote:
>
>> You know ... now that I think back ... nah, it wasn't him.
>> heh. sw's just in training for that guy.
>
> Pbbbt. I'm ready for the Olympics of Supermarket Confrontations.
> I've stopped there about 5 times a week during rush hours for close
> to 20 years to prepare myself for this.
>
> I'm ready coach!

I shall stand by to watch and hurl abuse and point at you!!

I had an experience with an express line once that sticks out in my mind.
The express line was empty. Every other lane was clogged. I had about
twenty items. After standing in a stalled line and watching her pick her
nose, primp her hair and various other things, I went over there and started
putting my things on her conveyor. I had some $25 packages of meat. She
rang a couple, then said this was the ten item express line.

Oh, really, sez me. I'll just go back to the other line, so I went to the
one on the farthest end from her. Left my items, which she then had to call
the manager on for a void.

I saw the manager come to her and converse. He came to me, and said I could
go back and she would finish my groceries.

She was ****ed, and from the look of the conversation, the manager chewed on
her a bit.

I had seen the manager many times before that, and he knew I bought a lot of
groceries there.

Steve

Sqwertz wrote:
> Nancy Young > wrote:

>> Express lane abusers, watch out! Sometimes I'll have 11 items,
>> be prepared, I won't feel guilty and I won't move if every other
>> line is 3 deep with full carts.
>
> I wouldn't cut in front of you for 11 or even 12 items. 14 is 40%
> over the limit, and I will do something about at that level. Even
> though I know those extra 4 items are only 12-15 seconds worth of
> extra groceries. But then that person may want a pack of cigarettes
> ... behind the counter all the way on the other side of the store.

All kidding aside, I rarely use the express line to start with, then
there is the fact that the people in that line tend to be the most
annoying as far as things like the cigarettes. There's always
something.

>> much. Besides, maybe you should make more big shopping trips
>> so you're not always in the express line? There is just too much
>> opportunity for aggravation there.
>
> I don't have a car, so I do lots of little trips.

I forgot. Been there, done that.

> Which is fine
> with me since I never know what I want to eat for dinner from day to
> day.

I'm the same way, except I prefer to plan two days ahead.
In other words, I don't want to get dinner, then start all over
the next day. Every few days is good for me, grocery shopping-
wise.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:

>
> All kidding aside, I rarely use the express line to start with, then
> there is the fact that the people in that line tend to be the most
> annoying as far as things like the cigarettes. There's always
> something.




Sometimes a regular line can be faster than an express line. If there is
a big lineup at the express it can be quicker to wait behind a couple of
people with carts full of stuff.

Thank goodness the lottery tickets are sold at the courtesy counter.
Some of the old folks buying loot tickets can be worse than kids at a
candy counter.

Nancy Young wrote:
>
> All this angst, the fact is the majority of the time there is no
> drama whatsoever in my supermarket trips. I just have my
> fair share of incidents just like everyone else. A few times
> just stick out in your mind.
>
> nancy


Yep, i used to shop at a couple of really big 'supermarkets' and the one
thing i don't miss, with or without the drama are the long lines i used
to routinely encounter.

A couple of years ago i finally convinced the elderly relative that
there is no really good reason to go to one of those big 'supermarkets'
during the winter holidays just to get a cheap turkey.

Its sheer bedlam around here in those big markets at that time of year
(even in other times they are very crowded) just getting a parking spot
can be challenging.

Now days i just pick up a big (10 lb. or so @ $1.10 - 20 per pound)
capon at the local butcher, no hassle no waiting in long lines to pay
for it.
--
JL

Dave Smith wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:

>> All kidding aside, I rarely use the express line to start with, then
>> there is the fact that the people in that line tend to be the most
>> annoying as far as things like the cigarettes. There's always
>> something.

> Sometimes a regular line can be faster than an express line. If there
> is a big lineup at the express it can be quicker to wait behind a
> couple of people with carts full of stuff.

Seems like the paying part is the most troublesome, waiting
behind 2 people with half full carts beats being behind 5 people
with 5 items each.

> Thank goodness the lottery tickets are sold at the courtesy counter.
> Some of the old folks buying loot tickets can be worse than kids at a
> candy counter.

I've seen that in action. That's a brutal scenario.

nancy

On Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:26:03 -0600, "SteveB" >
wrote:

<snip>
>
>I saw the manager come to her and converse. He came to me, and said I could
>go back and she would finish my groceries.
>
>She was ****ed, and from the look of the conversation, the manager chewed on
>her a bit.
>
>I had seen the manager many times before that, and he knew I bought a lot of
>groceries there.
>
>Steve
>
LOL! Good story!


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Sat, 28 Mar 2009 09:53:39 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

>Express lane abusers, watch out! Sometimes I'll have 11 items,
>be prepared, I won't feel guilty and I won't move

I used to feel guilty going into the check out line with *exactly* the
top number on the limit of items and then picking out a magazine or
something else from an endcap (or whatever they're called) and going
OVER the limit. Yiiiikes! I felt almost criminal, not obeying the
signage.

I'm over it now.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West