Peeves – Grocery Stores
Top 10 Grocery Store Peeves
1.The Leave My Cart in the Middle of the Aisle Shopper
Let’s say you’re making a quick stop at your local grocery store, hoping to get in and out in time to get dinner on the table at 6 sharp. You navigate the produce without any issue and start down the <insert whatever else you need> aisle when you realize that you’re blocked by an unmanned cart conveniently left on the diagonal and the owner nowhere in sight. You try to quickly move it out of your way, usually encountering the owner glowering at your presumption.
2.The Leave My Cart at the End of the Aisle Shopper
I confess, I was the proud partner to one of these odd folks for a long time. Instead of pushing their carts leisurely up and down each aisle they choose to stop at the end of the aisle, peer down it as if what they need will magically appear, and then dart about trying to fill their arms with everything before returning to retrieve the abandoned cart. Over the years I asked him many times why he did this and his only response was that he thought it was more efficient. Uh huh.
3.The if I Ignore My Screaming Child, Everyone Else Will too Shopper
Before I even get started let me state that not only am I a mother but I’m also the mother of an occasionally screaming child, and a single mother with no one to watch my screaming child mother. I HAVE BEEN THERE! All you want is to get some food and you’re exhausted and want to get home as quickly as possible BUT trust me, letting them scream their heads off while you try to ignore it doesn’t help – leave your cart, take the screamer outside and help them calm down BEFORE you go back into the store. We’ll all thank you later, and your child will be better for it.
4.The Texting While Pushing the Cart Shopper
Ok, so I’ve been guilty of this one from time to time. Something important comes across your phone and you, not thinking at all, look away while you’re pushing a metal cart directly into some poor old ladies ankles. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION.
5.The Standing in the Middle of the Aisle Shopper
Do you think it’ll magically appear if you stare long enough? Or is it that you’re just completely undecided on brand, type, flavor or confused by chopped vs diced? Making a bunch of folks wait while you sort through your foodie existential crises is bad F’n karma, get out the way!
6.The I Didn’t See You There Shopper
Picture this… I’m full on hangry and I’m only 8 items from fixing my little blood sugar problem when I’m cut off reaching for that green pepper I so desperately need. Forget that I’m a full sized human pushing a black mini cart, that alone should make me easy to spot, but that she had to maneuver around me, push her cart into a tiny space and then hip check me to get to the damn peppers… but she said “Oh sorry, I didn’t see you!” so it’s supposed to make me feel less like beaning her with a starfruit?! Maybe I’ll start texting and push my cart into her ankles instead…
7.The Deliberately Left Something I Didn’t Want Where it Didn’t Belong Shopper
Let me tell all of you lazy shoppers in on a little secret – there are people that will gather unwanted items at the checkout and PUT THEM BACK WHERE THEY BELONG!! I know, RIGHT?! Magically unicorn like folks, aren’t they?! Soooooo stop leaving the three pack of grilled chicken caesar salad jammed into the frozen pizza section – I know, I’m conflicted at times too but do that focused salad eater a solid and let the professional put it back.
8.The Wait Until the Last Minute to Unload the Cart Shopper
Maybe they were afraid to invade the space of the person in front of them, or to focused on the tabloids to notice the empty conveyor belt in front of them, have to finish that text or get flustered and just decide they can’t possibly continue. WAKE UP!! You’re holding me up so go with the tide people!
9.The Question Every Price Shopper
Oh yeah, I’ve been poor, poor to the point where I’ve had to hand that one item that put me over my budget over to the cashier kinda poor. And I get keeping an eye on the sales and your coupons…but when every price is up for debate, you’re better off going to the customer service desk and having it out with a manager than taking it out on a cashier who neither has the power nor deserves the wrath of the impatient folks behind you.
10.The I’m going to Idle My Car Wherever I Want Shopper
I see this less these days but it really is my all time biggest peeve at the grocery store, those folks that are waiting for someone to finish shopping but instead of just parking in, oh I don’t know maybe a parking spot, they idle their car in front of the exit…blocking anyone trying to get their cart full of groceries to their car, or in the lane…forcing everyone to walk in traffic. If there is just enough space for two cars and you park, guess what?! Now there is only enough space for one car and none at all for pedestrians.
As my grandmother always said, no one was ever killed for being considerate or patient.
Esprit De Escalier 