Grocery shopping can often be a stressful experience, especially when you have to deal with long lines, out-of-stock items, and other shoppers who don’t know the etiquette. But did you know that your own habits may be causing problems?
According to grocery store employees from around the country, there are certain annoying behaviors that customers exhibit, which make their job more difficult. From not knowing what they want to failing to observe basic protocols, these bad habits can lead to longer wait times and an overall unpleasant experience for everyone involved. We’ll discuss 14 of the most common customer annoyances as reported by grocery store workers—and how you can avoid them!
Waiting patiently (without a number)
Waiting patiently in line at the grocery store is an essential part of shopping – it’s how we all get a chance to buy the food we need and get back to enjoying life! However, with cramped stores and long lines, it’s no surprise that some shoppers can become a bit impatient.
Unfortunately, this impatience can manifest itself in the form of annoying habits that grocery store employees have to endure every day.
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Bothering employees to put items away
It is important to remember that grocery store employees are there to help you find items and answer questions, not put items away for you. If you have picked something that needs to be put back in its place, do it yourself or make sure your children do so. This kind of behavior is extremely annoying for employees and should be avoided at all costs.
Taking too many free samples
If you love free samples, then grocery stores are like an all-you-can-eat buffet. But while taking free samples is a great way to try out new products and save money, it can also be annoying for store employees if customers take too much.
In fact, many grocery store workers have seen shoppers take more than their fair share of the sample trays or help themselves to multiple servings. This kind of behavior may seem harmless enough, but it’s actually quite rude and inconsiderate. To avoid this problem, keep your sampling habits in check by taking only what you need, leaving some for other customers, and being respectful of the staff who provide these treats.
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Telling baggers “whatever’s easier”
One of the most important rules is to be respectful towards the baggers who help pack your groceries into bags. A common mistake that many shoppers make is telling a bagger “whatever’s easier” when packing their items. While this may seem like an innocuous statement, it can actually cause more trouble for store employees than necessary.
By being specific about where each item goes in the bag, shoppers can help ensure that everything fits properly and reduce strain on staff members’ backs as they try to fit heavy items into small spaces in the bags. So next time you’re at the grocery store, skip saying “whatever’s easier” and instead give clear instructions on how you’d like your items packed.
Sneaking into the express line
One of the most annoying habits shoppers can have when they go to the grocery store is trying to sneak into the express line. This not only slows down other customers who are waiting in line, but it also inconveniences and annoys employees who have to tell them that they must wait in a different line.
Not only does this hold up everyone else’s shopping trip, but it also makes employees feel disrespected and taken advantage of. Even though you may be tempted to try and jump ahead in the express lane, remember that there are rules for a reason – so do your part by following them.
Lifting everything out of your cart
If you’ve ever been to the grocery store, then you know how annoying it can be when people don’t follow proper shopping etiquette.
One of the most common complaints from store employees is shoppers who take everything out of their cart and put it on the conveyor belt. Not only does this create an unnecessary bottleneck in line, but it also slows down the checkout process for everyone else.
Loading all your items onto the belt
One of the most annoying habits shoppers have is loading all their items onto the belt at once. This can be disruptive to the checkout experience as it can slow down the process, leading to long lines and an overall poor customer service experience for everyone involved.
To make sure your shopping trip goes smoothly, customers should try their best to keep items separated on the belt and wait until the cashier has finished scanning one item before placing another one on the belt. Doing so will help keep lines moving quickly and efficiently, allowing everyone to get out of the store in a timely manner.
Not consolidating your fruits and veggies
Grouping them into one area of the cart can help grocery store employees quickly find and bag items that need to be refrigerated or frozen. Not consolidating items can cause confusion, slow down the checkout process, and annoy other shoppers who are waiting in line behind you.
Filling out a check at the register
If you are using a check to pay for your order, you may not have to fill in every part of it. Generally, the machines can process the check even if it is blank, and can also cancel it out. Trying to balance your checkbook at the checkout is not required and can cause delays for other customers waiting in line.
Too much chit-chat
Customers should try to limit their conversations with the cashiers and other employees in order to keep the line moving and prevent delays. Not only is it frustrating for the workers, but it can also be stressful for customers who are in a rush. Employees recommend that shoppers ask questions when necessary, but otherwise remain respectful of everyone’s time and space while they shop.
Expecting your cashier to know what type of fruit is in season
Employees are familiar with the products they sell and will do their best to point you in the right direction if you need assistance. However, it is unreasonable to expect them to be experts on all types of fruits that are in season, even though they may have a good understanding of what’s available.
It’s important to remember that cashiers are not responsible for stocking shelves, so they may not be aware of what is currently in season. It’s always better to ask questions before making assumptions.
Not letting employees bag your groceries
Many shoppers are so eager to get out of the store that they take over the job of bagging, often causing chaos and disorganization in the process.
Not only does this slow down checkout lines, but it also makes it difficult for cashiers to do their jobs efficiently and accurately. To ensure a smooth shopping experience, let your grocery store employee bag your purchases.
Counting out change
One of the most annoying habits that can be seen in grocery stores is when customers count out their change. This can take an incredible amount of time and cause a line of other customers to back up behind them.
To save time and make everyone’s shopping experience more efficient, it’s best to have exact change ready before you reach the register. Planning ahead will help ensure that your check-out process runs smoothly.
Using the divider wrong at checkout
One of the most annoying habits shoppers have when going to the checkout is using the divider wrong. Grocery store employees often observe customers putting two items in a single slot, which could lead to confusion for both them and the customer.
To avoid this, make sure to separate each item properly into their own slots so that it can be better processed by both you and the cashier. This simple task can make your checkout experience smoother.
