Ah, now I understand (mini sighting)

[MrSunshineState]

Not much of a story here as I didn't stay to see the entire thing unfold.

I am at Publix yesterday picking up a few things to make one of my awesome pizzas for dinner (I love cooking!). Being in Orlando and having yesterday be a Saturday afternoon and all, the place was absolutely slammed. Every single lane was open with queues 3 to 4 people deep. Nobody complaining about the wait though, people are used to waiting in line in this city

So anyway, this lady with a cart overflowing with groceries goes into the 10 Items or Less lane. Now, stores can be pretty liberal at times and if you have like 14 items or something, they'll let you slide, but this was a card overflowing. Filled to the top.


Cashier: This is actually the Express Lane, 10 items or less.

Customer: Yeah, but I'm in a hurry.



Well, now that we know she was in a hurry, I guess that changes everything and makes it all okay

[jjllbb]

Oh, oh the pain i would have brought down upon her. I've gotten stuck in an "express lane" for fifteen minutes behind one person when all I had was a loaf of bread.

I am not okay with stretching that rule.

[MrSunshineState]

Dunno about where you are, but in Florida if you have like 2 or 3 items you can usually check out at Customer Service

[MergedLoki]

People abuse the express lane rule all the time because it's NEVER enforced (not that i've seen).

I mean yea ok a few items over the limit no problem (like if it's 8 or less and you have 10. whatever takes 5 seconds to scan them in)

but if the limit is 8 items and you have 43 items... get the hell to a regular line.

Or... do self scan. I love self scan check outs. the ONLY time i use a regular cashier anymore is when the SCO's are closed for the night (midnight @ my local 24/7 grocery store). or if there's a huge line at the SCO's and waiting in a 'regular' line is quicker.

[fireheart]

We have a similar rule at work. I'll let it slide on two conditions.

1) We are absolutely dead on the express lanes and the larger lanes are flat-out.

2) They have a few more items AND aren't a humungous jackass.

I'll take up to 20 (limit at my store is 15) but if you start being a jackass to me....nope. I don't get paid to take your shit.

[bainsidhe]

Our store policy forbids us from refusing service to the idiots with over twenty items items in the express lane. And you bet the SCs know it.

[MergedLoki]

Our store policy forbids us from refusing service to the idiots with over twenty items items in the express lane. And you bet the SCs know it.

in that case there is literally no point in having an 'express' lane... as it's just a regular lane with an extra sign on it :P

[wolfie]

Our store policy forbids us from refusing service to the idiots with over twenty items items in the express lane. And you bet the SCs know it.

In that case, what you need are some good regular customers to send in complaints every time they're behind an "over limit" person in the express lane. Management needs to know that while they're satisfying one customer by not enforcing the limit, they're DISsatisfying multiple customers.

[Chromatix]

I suspect that a numerical limit is self-defeating. Better IMHO to have baskets vs. trolleys. The express lane is then "baskets only", and is easy to enforce by simply making it too narrow to put a trolley through.

[fireheart]

I suspect that a numerical limit is self-defeating. Better IMHO to have baskets vs. trolleys. The express lane is then "baskets only", and is easy to enforce by simply making it too narrow to put a trolley through.

Only problem with that is that people can squeeze a LOT into a basket, or bring multiple baskets at a time in. We used to do it before the revamp and let me tell you, the number of people I saw with multiple baskets just made me go

Oddly enough, most people don't like using express because the big lanes are supposedly faster. Apparaently they don't get the idea that big line with people only having a few items=faster.

[mikoyan29]

Back when I was a cashier and doing express, I would let anyone with a basket through, I figured if they could carry it they didn't have that much. If we were really slow, I'd let the brimming shopping cart though but that was rare as we were a pretty busy supermarket.

But now it seems like all the express lanes are u-scans which kind of sucks when you get stuck behind some jackass that can't seem to read or follow instructions....

"Please put item in bag" "Huh? what item..."

[gremcint]

I find other lanes to be faster usually.

5 people with 2 items each
vs.
2 people with 5 items each

5=5 greetings, request for reward cards, 5 payings
2=2 greetings, request for reward cards, 2 payings


it doesn't take long to scan items usually but can take a while to pay depending on method.