The supermarket check-out enigma.

[Workingman]

I have seen other people do this so I know that I am not odd. We are not being pernickety, but we do load the conveyor in a general order of robustly packaged good first, fragile stuff last.

So why is it that check-out operators pick things up randomly? They will reach over things for the loose mushrooms followed by tins of beans, four bread rolls before a tin salmon and jar of jam.........grrrrr.

The next time I am asked: "Would you like help with your packing?" I will reply, "If you go all random on me with stuff on the conveyor belt, then yes!"

[TheOstrich]

That's interesting. I've never noticed that.

As the Asda checkout folk round here go at the speed of light, I'm probably too busy packing ....

[Diflower]

You're right WM, some of them do

[saundra]

I panic at a check out in case I hold the queue up
People are so impatient at times

[Kaz]

They do that here too, and it annoys me as well

[shazsha]

My pet bug bear in the supermarket is when people stand in a long queue, get served, then start searching through their bag for the money/card to pay with. Why don't they get the money/card ready to hand when they are standing waiting their turn? Grrrr

[molly]

My pet bug bear in the supermarket is when people stand in a long queue, get served, then start searching through their bag for the money/card to pay with. Why don't they get the money/card ready to hand when they are standing waiting their turn? Grrrr

That drives me nuts as well. They wait until all their packing is done and back in the trolley before they look for their card or cash. I have mine in my hand so that the cashier can deal with it while I am still packing.

[meriad]

I'm the same as you Frank with the way I load the conveyor with what I've bought and I've often had to ask the cashier to scan a certain item next so I can continue packing the way I like my groceries packed.

And as for the not getting your purse / payment card out until right at the very end -

[debih]

I tend to use the self scan tills most of the time now if I go in one of the bigger supermarkets, even if I have a trolley full. That way I can scan what I want and pack it how I want.

If you go in Lidl or Aldi you don't have that option and I do tend to avoid buying anything fragile - they whizz through the stuff on the belt so fast you feel as though everything is being thrown at you. And of course you don't get chance to put it in a bag - you have to throw it in your trolley. Though I do like that I can then take my time to pack my things at their packing shelf thing.

[Workingman]

That's interesting. I've never noticed that.

You will from now on!
And as for the purse/wallet/card palaver. I can feel people blushing as they read........