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D'vorahDavida
Yetzirah

Step AWAY From The Checkout Counter
Tue Sep 21 2004


Dang. I started this paragraph three times. Every time it sounded like some kind of newspaper article.

I am NOT the news.

Let's just get that out of the way.

I'm feeling kind of feisty today. Full of energy, and not wanting to spend it in frivolous ways.

We had rain. The first rain in MONTHS and the air is so clear and crisp, it makes me want to do crazy things.

I have just decided I am NOT doing a weblog review today. I'm on strike for the day.
I'm going to do other things. Like work on a gourd. I'm tired of talking about it. I'm going to DO it.

* * * *

I don't think it's me. I refuse to take responsibility for it. I'm not that slow.

But yesterday I came to the end of my patience with it. What is it?

I was in line at Costco. We had picked out a modest little pile of things that we needed and I was paying for them. Now I have to get out my Costco card, which I had ready. Then the guy scans the stuff and tells me the total. I even gave him CASH this time instead of a check. So out comes my wallet. He gave me change, and my card back and my receipt. So there I am with my hands full of stuff. I need to put my card back in the little zippered container I have in my purse, I need to put my money back in my wallet, I need to keep the receipt out to show the inspectors at the door who make sure you aren't absconding with a widescreen TV while no one is paying attention.
But NOOOOOOOO...... I can't do any of that.... the person behind me is already crowding me out of the line. We don't even have 15 seconds for me to put my stuff away? So I'm walking along trying to cram all this shopping detritis back into place, and finally I stopped and perched my purse on top of a garbage container and finished my transaction there.

What I want to know is: WHAT IS THE ALMIGHTY RUSH ABOUT? Can't I just get my stuff put away before I leave the counter?

This happens to me at the grocery store too, and it's getting on my nerves.

I suppose what we are going to end up with is a chip under our skin and we just scan it and move along. That's creepy. Move along, move along. It reminded me of Obi Wan Kenobi...
"You don't NEED to see his identification. These aren't the droids you're looking for...
Move along."

At Wal-Mart now-a-days you can bypass the checker altogether and do it yourself. But people are standing behind you there too. Waiting impatiently. Shopping is stressful enough, without people pushing you through the lines like cattle being prodded from behind.

Grrrrrrrr. Back off Bozos!!!

13 Comments
  • From:
    Calantha (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 20 2004
    I remember being on my way to a weekend visit with my hubby before we were married. I had picked out some sexy little nightgown and also was purchasing a bottle of wine. I went to the line where you scan your own stuff mostly for privacy. There was this obnoxious man right behind me as close as he could get trying to see what I was buying. It was soooooo rude! Yeesh.

    The world is truly getting more impersonal by the day.

    Calantha
  • From:
    Calantha (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 20 2004
    Is there such a thing as a sexy little nightgown? I just didn't know how to spell 'longerie'. hehehe
  • From:
    MissTick (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 20 2004
    I know how it feels. Two types of following me individuals I really hate big time:
    those from supermarket checkout queues and those not keeping distance on motorway. Time to take actions...Hmmmmm...how about - change scattering and brakes slamming? ;-)
  • From:
    Pragmatist (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 20 2004
    I manage to absolutely need something right now, so I hie meself to Albertson's during the coming-home-from-work-and-pick-up-a-few-things time of day. Stand in the 15-or-less line (which moves slower than the over-15 lines), and the cashier hands me the cash register receipt, my change (in bills and coin) all at one time. Oh, yeah, and the single bag of whatever it is I needed is down at the end of the check-out stand.

    Think I'll ever learn to either do without or shop during the off hours?

    Shalom
  • From:
    AeolianSolo (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 20 2004
    Oh, yeah, I freaking *HATE* that.

    I always wait my turn and let the person in front of me collect him/herself and move on before I step up. It costs nothing to just smile and say, "It's okay, I'm not in a hurry." A second of kindness.

    I have the same problem with my wallet, and they hand you a reciept and change and a coupon and your damn bag all at the same time and the next person is practically stepping on your feet. Grrr!

    I think I'll stand up for myself next time and turn to the person and say, "Excuse me, I'll be just a moment," and finish what I was doing and not let myself get rushed and get grumpy.

    Of course, on the other end of the spectrum are those disorganized people who wind up scrounging at the bottom of their bags looking for that elusive nickel while the line backs up.

    In the immortal words of Steven Wright: "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?"

    --Solo
  • From:
    Supertrooper (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 20 2004
    Hi you .

    Hows life ?

    I hear you on the line up and being pushed along too quickly thing ..such a pain for us peri's eh !
    Love and huggers
    Linda
    xxxxx
  • From:
    RealmOfRachel (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 20 2004
    I know what you mean I hate the mad rush at the end of the checkout that makes you feel like you're in some kind of timed olympics race just to cram all your stuff in and move on.

    BUT as an experienced checkout sock monkey don't judge them too harshly lots of management (including my last foray into the 9th circle of hell that was till work) set their workers timed targets- ie you must scan 40 items per minute you must not have an idle till time between customers longer than 0.8 seconds.

    Want to help me invent a time machine so we can go back to the days of chatting with the customer?

    Hugs
    Rach xxx
  • From:
    InStitches (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 20 2004
    Aaannd.......if you are not stressed enough, have you noticed how the clerks always put the coinage on top of the bills and the receipt on top of the coins so it is nothing short of awkward as it all slips and slides in different directions from your out-stetched palm giving you no control as you try to stuff it into your purse before the person behind you mows you down?

  • From:
    Enchantedbutterfly (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 20 2004
    Oh I hate that to, then if I stand there and put my things away at the counter, I almost feel bad for holding up the line, so I usually end up doing the "walk n'stuff". Everyone is in a rush these days and noone has patience for waiting in line.

  • From:
    Fairywishes (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 20 2004
    couldn't have said it better myself, it drives me ROUND THE TWIST, I think to myself can't you have a bit of courtesty? How long does it really take for someone to put their purse away/get their keys - 20 secs at most grrrrrr

    x
    x
  • From:
    Ichandra (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Sep 20 2004
    i read somewhere that people who are waiting in line for the cashiers and are susceptible to panic attacks get them the most then
    rush along for the next business transaction
    i hate when that little beeper scanner goes off that says you have store merchandise still tagged but you really dont and it is the only time in my life that i made to feel like a criminal what a scene ha ha
    a la prochaine mon amie
    where is the cyber kittie today napping
  • From:
    Bookworm (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Sep 21 2004
    Grr, I wouldn't be able to stand that. If people give me a shove I tend to say something to them, as I can't stand that kind of rudeness. Not that it happens often. Must be `cause there's so many more people over there. I think that chip under the skin isn't all that far off, either. ;-)
  • From:
    Ichandra (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Sep 21 2004
    hey where is that little cyber tiger i thought he would be up and around after that premiere showing