ATTN: CUSTOMERS! DON'T F***ING WRITE CHECKS IN THE EXPRESS LANE!

[Mr Hero]

My biggest issue with the "20 Items or Less" is that it should be "20 Items or Fewer"

Back when I actually wrote out my checks to pay for groceries, there were things I could fill out while in line: the name of the store, the date, and my signature. The only thing left was the amount. With everything all filled out, that hardly took any time to complete.

Now I pay with a debit card so it's all a moot point now.

[notalwaysright]

In the express lane today, guy in front of me (youngish, college type) waited until he had paid for his purchase, then instead of leaving... Asks cashier to explain the rewards program for this chain of stores. Cue me abruptly shifting to glare at him. Luckily whatever the cashier said was pretty quick, but STILL.

Here's to wishing we could have security officers in front of each cash register, inspecting purchases and redirecting customers to the appropriate lane.

There are people directing traffic for the registers at this grocery store. They very often direct me to the express lanes, even though I have lots of items. I'm not sure the reasoning on this. The only thing I can think of is preventing huge backups on the regular lanes?

[mjr]

Here's to wishing we could have security officers in front of each cash register, inspecting purchases and redirecting customers to the appropriate lane.

That. Would. Rock.

"I'm sorry, ma'am...you have 22 items there. Lane 3, please."

[cindybubbles]

Here's to wishing we could have security officers in front of each cash register, inspecting purchases and redirecting customers to the appropriate lane.

[Thana]

Newer cashiers usually get put on the express lane because it's only three bags to use vs six bags...which in theory means they get more experience in the way to bag stuff since it's less bags and more customers. However... when it comes to Wally...even though the lanes says Express and 20 items or less...it's never adhered to. When I worked for them..we were told on our first day that we couldn't turn people away from the express lane even if they had more than 20 items.

I hear ya on the check thing though. Absolutely hated dealing with checks when I was a cashier... though I did love the people who had everything filled out and were just waiting for a total..or the people that understood that when the check was run through the check machine, it printed the name of the store, total and void on the check so they didn't have to fill anything out if they didn't want to. Happily now I work in fast food and don't have to deal with checks!

[Estil]

All I care about is that they enforce the "or less" part. One or two over I can overlook but if the company won't allow the express checker to politely direct customers to the regular checklanes as appropriate, then do everyone a favor and just not have "express" lanes at all.

[Bright_Star]

The only thing about the "Express Line" is the name. It doesn't mean anything. You wanna know why? Wal-Mart lacks a certain backbone to enforce it.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

My big complaint with Wally World express lanes is that they deem 20 items or less "express". Express shouldn't be more than 10.

That depends on the retailer. At the Litter Box, Express Lanes are for 12 or less (but who reads those pesky lighted signs at the kiosk, eh?)

But I do see the 20 or less being abused constantly at the usual Wallyworld I shop at. But of course, one risks being physically assaulted if ones opens their mouth about it in that store, so nobody says a word about it.

As for putting the slower cashiers on Express: I have to agree it's a bad idea. I still have flashbacks to being on my first day out of training and being stuck on Express Lane back at Phillips Avenue - on the 1st of the month no less!

Don't ask me how I, back then a mere 21 year old just getting her feet wet in the workforce good, how I survived without committing homicide. I couldn't tell you that to this day myself. All I can tell you is that I survived it enough to not only become full time (even though it took me 3 years) and moved off that front end and into the pricing manager role.

*stomps cane*

Git off my lawn, yer young whippersnappers.

[Seanette]

I would have gone to a self checkout, but I had a bottle of wine, and I don't know if they'll let you use self checkouts for those.

Not in California. I don't do alcohol, but can read signs posted on SCOs (which I can't seem to get along with, so I go to cashiers).

I second the "don't put the slowest cashier on the 'express' lane" sentiment.

[ThirdGenRetail]

As for the limit...? Doesn't matter. The assholes who ignore the limit and bring an overflowing cart through Express are gonna ignore the limit, no matter what it is. As a bonus, they'll probably complain about not having enough conveyor belt space to put stuff on, too.

Like the couple in line in front of us that one time(Story buried somewhere in this very sub-forum) with TWO over-flowing carts in the express lane!

The ones I always hated seeing at Self Checkout were the military discounts... Who told me AFTER they'd finished scanning everything, when the store is so busy I'm running around without stopping between 4 machines, to say, "Hey, I have military!" That's nice, but I cannot do them on the machine proper. "Well I've done it BEFORE!" Unless there's some magic way to do it on the machine itself, you never did it on the self checkout themselves. I don't care to know at this point if they ever actually added it or not(They need to!).

[bhskittykatt]

Don't ever go shopping with me, guys. I always get behind the people who pay for a $50 transaction in quarters. Or take forever writing a check. Or realize after everything is rung up they don't have enough and can they get this voided or this voided, or realize the milk is leaking and have to wait while someone runs and grabs a new one....it's like I'm cursed to always be behind these people. It's so bad my husband no longer lets me pick check-out lanes anymore when I'm with him.

[notalwaysright]

...Or buy 10 delicate vases which need to be individually wrapped in tissue paper. Or want a raincheck. Or decide to let your 3 year old pay with her piggy bank money. There are so many ways a SC can screw up what should be an easy fast checkout.

[EricKei]

...Or digging through their purse for their checkbook and pen...AFTER having been told their total, even though they knew all along they'd be writing a check

As for the limit...? Doesn't matter. The assholes who ignore the limit and bring an overflowing cart through Express are gonna ignore the limit, no matter what it is. As a bonus, they'll probably complain about not having enough conveyor belt space to put stuff on, too.

[mjr]

In my experience, a customer paying by check doesn't take much time, if the customer is doing it right.

That may be true, but in my experience, many don't "do it right".

And a "new" employee doesn't always mean a slow lane, whether it's express or regular lane. You will always have employees that scan slower, bag slower, get confused, etc.

I don't blame the cashier. She was an older lady, and I'm guessing she was new to the job, so her learning curve was probably steeper. I'm generally fairly patient with the folks on the "other side" of the transaction, having been there myself (albeit in fast food).

Sounds like you got into a lane with a perfect storm of slow customer and slow cashier. It's hard not to get frustrated. Rant away.

That's probably what happened. Though I'm inclined to lean toward entitled/incompetent customer.

20 items probably is a few too many for an "express" lane, but I'd guess the people in the non-express lane next to me had 20+ items, as did the people behind them. And they got checked out first.

That's what was frustrating.

If you have to do things you mentioned (digging through their purse for loose change, or can't swipe a card properly, etc), get in a different line! Heck, Wally World has self checkout lines! Get into one of those!

I would have gone to a self checkout, but I had a bottle of wine, and I don't know if they'll let you use self checkouts for those.

[bainsidhe]

In my experience, a customer paying by check doesn't take much time, if the customer is doing it right. Any payment method can be delayed by a customer, if they stand there digging through their purse for loose change, or can't swipe a card properly. And a "new" employee doesn't always mean a slow lane, whether it's express or regular lane. You will always have employees that scan slower, bag slower, get confused, etc.

Sounds like you got into a lane with a perfect storm of slow customer and slow cashier. It's hard not to get frustrated. Rant away.