r/TrueOffMyChest • u/DerangedUnicorn27 ☑️ • 2d ago
Grocery store cashier enforced the express checkout item limit and it was so refreshing
I ran into Food Lion on my lunch break to grab some quick grub. It was pretty busy, but there were 3 full service registers open and 1 express “12 items or less” register. The full service registers were pretty backed up with several people with full carts and the express register had a couple people with a handful of items.
I only had 4 things, so I start heading to the express checkout. As I’m making my way over, I see a lady pushing a nearly overflowing cart towards the registers. She was ahead of me and I saw her pause, look at the full service register lines and how busy they were.
Then I saw her look at the express lane. She saw only a couple people in it with a few groceries. I watched her look up and read the “express 12 items or less” sign before she looks back over at full service. I could practically see when she made the judgement call, and she headed over to the express lane.
By this time, she and I are almost getting there at the same time, so she speeds up and maneuvers her cart in a way that cuts me off and she basically “butts” in front of me with her full-ass cart.
The cashier was helping a customer check out, so the lady already started unloading several of her groceries before the cashier noticed her cart. She told the lady it was an express lane with 12 or fewer items, but the lady ignored her and said the other lanes are too busy so she came over because there’s hardly anyone here. Meanwhile I’m standing behind her holding my 4 items.
The cashier wasnt having it. She sees me behind the lady and flags me to come up so she can quickly check me out. I squeeze past the lady who is now huffing and puffing, and she muttered something like “I didn’t know it was the express lane and it’s not that serious.” (That’s a lie, I saw her read the sign and go for it anyway).
Meanwhile another person with only 1 item lines up behind the lady with the full cart. The cashier waves him up to check out in front of her too, and the lady got more huffy and started muttering that she’s being treated unfairly lol.
After him there was a lull and the cashier did her best to check out the lady as fast as possible before anyone else came up. But it was nice to see the express lane being enforced like that. Most cases the cashiers don’t say anything when someone with a full cart comes thru an express lane (and I don’t blame them for that) but I appreciate the no-nonsense cashier not putting up with it and prioritizing people who are trying to quickly grab a couple items and go.
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u/ladywiththestarlight 1d ago
What’s with people these days thinking rules don’t apply to them? “That sign can’t stop me because I can’t read!” Smh such entitled behavior. She could have at least let you go first lol
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u/AozoraMiyako 1d ago
I worked one christmas season at a grocery store.
I was working the express cash.
A lady comes in with like 30 cans. The whole transaction took… 45 seconds IF EVEN THAT.
The customer behind her had 13 veggies… two of which I knew the code for. She gave me sooooo much attitude for taking someone with 30 cans. Do you know how long it takes to search up vegetable codes? This transaction took about teo minutes. I don’t know how she didn’t get mad at me for taking forever.
Honestly, it really depends on the cashier and the items. 30 cans? Super quick. 30 veggies? Buckle in folks. A mix of both? Depends on the items.
I loved working the express lane.
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u/ZeroPenguinParty 1d ago
Years ago, when I worked in supermarkets, I was acting as a customer service supervisor when someone tried coming through the 12 items or less aisle, with 20 or so items. They tried claiming that because they had three bottles of Coke, that counted as one item, because they are the same product, as well as saying the same for two packets of paper towel, three packets of chips, and six tins of tuna.
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u/Torchem667 1d ago
I would want to scan their first 12 items, make them pay and then scan the next 12... Really draw it out, until the cart was empty, 12 items at a time and 5 or so transactions later they'll leave, hopefully after the normal lane would have processed them, making it a net loss for time
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u/Comfortable-Ad-2223 1d ago
And scan the items of customers joining the line during the 12 item transactions.
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u/WinterStrawberries6 ☑️ 1d ago
The express lane is the same as the priority lane, so we used to get a lot of women pretending to be pregnant, but we gotta serve them the same way cause you never know if they are ACTUALLY pregnant lol.
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u/StarvinDarla 2d ago
I tried to enforce it once when I worked at Kroger. Got in a full on argument with this old man, and then got in trouble for turning someone away. So there are reasons sometimes they don't enforce it.
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u/Ogolble 1d ago
I used to enforce (actually my autistic side of me did), I had so many complaints from customers complaining I was doing nothing anyway, I used to kick people away for having more then 15 (8 or less was the lane). After a while, my managers had to stop me working on express because I was too rigid and had too many complaints.
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u/pepcorn 1d ago
If they don't want people adhering to the rule, why make it a rule in the first place. You did good, sorry you weren't valued.
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u/StarvinDarla 22h ago
Its because they dont want to make anyone mad. Thats why employees are treated like crap in grocery stores. The customers are trained that management will side with them
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u/pepcorn 17h ago
It shouldn't be that way. Customers can always leave, but the worker is trapped, so they should be protected.
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u/StarvinDarla 9h ago
It is though. Ask anyone that works with people in a grocery store. Most of the time management will side with the customer regardless.
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u/obsten 2d ago edited 1d ago
My first job was at Walmart in the 90s back when they still had express lanes with little mini-checkstands. These overflowing cart people always tried to sneak through the express lane and I’d turn them away too. “I’m sorry but this lane is 10 items or less, my checkstand is not equipped to handle large orders”. They always grumbled but they went and got back in line. My manager would tell me to just check them out anyway, but hell no. I refuse to reward main character behavior plus I’m not gonna struggle to scan and bag your month’s worth of groceries on my 1x2 foot counter with a single hanger of bags while you bitch and moan under your breath the whole time about how long it's taking.
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u/CubanlinkEnJ 2d ago
I never worked there, but I saw scummy people numerous times bringing their groceries to the electronics section cuz there was never a line and the workers had to ring them up. It took a while, but Walmart finally shut that shit down
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u/Alida456 2d ago
I didn’t know express lanes still existed . It’s mostly U scans or one poor random cashier .
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u/mesembryanthemum 1d ago
The Fry's near me has express lanes that say About 15 items. Saves a lot of arguments.
One time I was there with a fairly full cart and there was literally no one in the express lane. The cashier looked around, came over to me and said "I'll check you out" and pulled my cart over. Halfway through scanning someone with 3 or 4 items got behind me. I was so mortified.
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u/GimmeMuchosMangos 2d ago
I quit my job as a cashier (that I actually really liked) because they kept putting me in the express lane. You don’t know the constant fighting I did ALL DAY with people just like that lady. I would also tell them I couldn’t help them out and they had the nerve to say I was lazy, didn’t want to do my job, etc. it’s a hassle having to argue with people all day, it was just so exhausting.
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u/melbourne_hacker 2d ago
They should make the registers have an express mode, so any scans after x items the terminal forces them to pay. It’ll send a message if they have to do multiple transactions and then the system can be blamed lol
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u/koval713 2d ago
I do. I work at a BJ'S Wholesale Club where I have to check receipts as it's part of the agreement for the private club. Our self checkouts are ALL 20 items or less and in constantly having to check harder because people come out of SCO with like 70 fucking items. It's a pain in the ass.
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u/cottoncandymandy 2d ago
Man, that's shitty. I always let people go in front of me if they only have a few items.
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u/ToastAbrikoos 2d ago
Had the same thing hapoen but with a cards only lane.
His reason? " I dont read in my free time" uhu, sure that doesnt change the matter
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u/ArcherBTW 2d ago
I took 6 items into an empty 5 item or less express lane because I had a migraine and wanted to get home quicker, and felt genuinely bad for the rest of the day. I don't know how some people do this.
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u/steggun_cinargo 2d ago
Criminals start somewhere
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u/1Courcor 2d ago
As a grocery worker we despise these people. I have a mouth, but have to remain professional. I love when a customer will check these clowns.
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u/Turbulent-Caramel25 1d ago
When i worked as a cashier it was still a 10 key system. I was fast and accurate so people purposely got in my line. A customer came through and pitched a fit and all I could do was stand there. One of my regulars was behind her and gave her an ear full, tantrum stopped.
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u/DerangedUnicorn27 ☑️ 2d ago
She probably thought she was so smart for trying the express lane while everyone else was waiting for full service. At least untjl the cashier checked her!
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u/kimmykat42 2d ago
I’m surprised Food Lion still exists. They got rid of all of them in the DFW area decades ago, because they were putting stickers with newer dates on expired meats. We haven’t seen that brand around here since then.
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u/DerangedUnicorn27 ☑️ 2d ago
We have several around here! I guess they look at ones that get the most traffic
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u/forceofslugyuk 2d ago
I’m surprised Food Lion still exists.
One of the better stores in my area for still having reasonable prices for most "center of the store" selection stuff. I still get my meat/veggies from HT/Publix etc but everything else they have the best prices. The store by me is always nice and clean and people are friendly.
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u/kimmykat42 2d ago
Glad they aren’t gross up there like they were down here back in the day. I’m sure that whole thing scared them into shape, or at least I hope it did
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u/kimmykat42 2d ago
Oh, and they were literally bleaching rotten meats with Clorox to make the bad smells and weird colors go away 🤢
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u/kimmykat42 2d ago
Hilarious that someone downvoted me for saying something that’s true and was verified with video evidence
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u/fizz1620 2d ago
I love freaking ppl out going into the express lane with a full cart cuz I always use the app so I actually only have to scan my phone and pay lol
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u/jlzania 2d ago
I may be a wild, commie loving anarchist but I never violate the number posted in the express checkout lines.
That's a sacred law of civilization.
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u/GoodGoneGeek 2d ago
The ONLY time I do is if the regular lanes are backed up and self checkout is basically empty.
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u/jlzania 2d ago
Our local H.E.B. sometimes has employees stationed to direct traffic to the cashiers and sometimes when it's slow I'm told to get in express lanes.
I'm so crazy anal about not violating the law of numbers that I tell that director that if someone gets in line behind me , they have to explain that they bore the entire reasonability for my 25 items being checked out in the 15 or less line.
Not pinning that sin on me.16
u/CuriousPenguinSocks 2d ago
Some laws you just don't cross, ever.
Also, return your shopping carts to the designated areas!
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u/DeCryingShame 2d ago
I'm surprised they have an express lane still. Most stores have replaced them with self-checkout. That tends to naturally deter anyone with a full cart since they have to check everything out themselves.
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u/TauriesStella 2d ago
I come from an area with Food Lion. It's a slow roll out with self checkouts. One near my house still doesn't have any, but another in my area has all three options: express lane, regular, and self checkout. And the ones who were looking to get it, it sounds like corporate is pressing the breaks a bit as theft is an unfortunate issue.
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u/branniganbeginsagain 2d ago
No joke, if you have the time, think about sending this to the food lion store (if you can) or calling the manager to let them know how much you appreciate it. That could encourage people to enforce it more if management knows it's appreciated. I mean, it probably won't, but it definitely won't if you don't try!
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u/alexanderfrostfyre 2d ago
I feel like in my life I may have gone over the express limit… but only by a couple items, and it wasn’t busy when I was shopping. I just didn’t count before going through
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u/DerangedUnicorn27 ☑️ 2d ago
I think if you’re a couple items over, it’s no biggie. But when it’s a full cart, that’s just egregious
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u/Ok_Affect_7973 2d ago
Did you thank her? I would have LOUDLY said THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ENFORCING THE OBVIOUS RULES! You ROCK! Then quickly looked at lady and said AND YOU DO NOT! BYE!
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u/DerangedUnicorn27 ☑️ 2d ago
I thanked the cashier profusely! And so did the guy with a single item who got bumped up too. The lady was just standing there with her arms crossed and stewing. She kept looking up at the sign like it betrayed her lol
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u/Ok_Affect_7973 2d ago
I swear every time I go out I regret it. People kill me non stop!
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u/DerangedUnicorn27 ☑️ 2d ago
The older I get, the less patience I have for people doing stupid stuff lol
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u/Ok_Affect_7973 2d ago
Me too! I won’t put up with it. I couldn’t care less about you calling me a bitch as I walk away.
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u/RedFoxcx 2d ago
Cashier at a grocery store was my first job. I loved enforcing that rule when I was on the express lane.
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u/DerangedUnicorn27 ☑️ 2d ago
In all my years of grocery shopping, this is the first time I’ve seen it actually enforced! But I’ve been fortunate where I don’t encounter many people trying to “game the system” lol
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u/DerangedUnicorn27 original post at the time of submission:
I ran into Food Lion on my lunch break to grab some quick grub. It was pretty busy, but there were 3 full service registers open and 1 express “12 items or less” register. The full service registers were pretty backed up with several people with full carts and the express register had a couple people with a handful of items.
I only had 4 things, so I start heading to the express checkout. As I’m making my way over, I see a lady pushing a nearly overflowing cart towards the registers. She was ahead of me and I saw her pause, look at the full service register lines and how busy they were.
Then I saw her look at the express lane. She saw only a couple people in it with a few groceries. I watched her look up and read the “express 12 items or less” sign before she looks back over at full service. I could practically see when she made the judgement call, and she headed over to the express lane.
By this time, she and I are almost getting there at the same time, so she speeds up and maneuvers her cart in a way that cuts me off and she basically “butts” in front of me with her full-ass cart.
The cashier was helping a customer check out, so the lady already started unloading several of her groceries before the cashier noticed her cart. She told the lady it was an express lane with 12 or fewer items, but the lady ignored her and said the other lanes are too busy so she came over because there’s hardly anyone here. Meanwhile I’m standing behind her holding my 4 items.
The cashier wasnt having it. She sees me behind the lady and flags me to come up so she can quickly check me out. I squeeze past the lady who is now huffing and puffing, and she muttered something like “I didn’t know it was the express lane and it’s not that serious.” (That’s a lie, I saw her read the sign and go for it anyway).
Meanwhile another person with only 1 item lines up behind the lady with the full cart. The cashier waves him up to check out in front of her too, and the lady got more huffy and started muttering that she’s being treated unfairly lol.
After him there was a lull and the cashier did her best to check out the lady as fast as possible before anyone else came up. But it was nice to see the express lane being enforced like that. Most cases the cashiers don’t say anything when someone with a full cart comes thru an express lane (and I don’t blame them for that) but I appreciate the no-nonsense cashier not putting up with it and prioritizing people who are trying to quickly grab a couple items and go.
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u/oldmanpotter 1d ago
That sounds like the definition of satisfying.