Have you ever offered to let someone cut in front of you at the store
By firecracker
@sacmom (14192)
United States
March 6, 2008 3:10am CST
while waiting in line if they have only a few items and you have a full (or almost full) basket of groceries? Or has some offered to let you go ahead of them for this very reason?
I'll be the first to admit on here that I don't always offer to let someone cut in front of me when they have only a few items, though that is usually because one or both of my kids are with me and pushing my buttons and driving me crazy that I don't even think about the person behind me. However, the majority of the time I will offer if someone has less items than I do as I don't want them to have to wait for me to get done with my turn.
Just yesterday when I was at Wal-Mart I had several items in my basket and both my kids. My turn was next, but there was a woman behind me that had only a few items. I offered for her to go ahead of me since my kids were being good, but she declined. I guess she wasn't in a hurry. LOL
The tables were turned last night when I went to make a quick stop at another store. I only had two items and the couple in front of me had a basket full of groceries. They knew I was behind them because they saw me, but didn't offer to let me go ahead of them. Well that's okay, but what made it bad was that the woman ended up holding up the line because she was paying with a large bill and the cashier didn't have sufficient change to give to her. So I, along with my oldest son and another customer had to wait. Fortunately it was only for a few minutes, but it still was a bit irritating to say the least.
And whenever someone was generous enough to let me go ahead of them because I only have an item or 2 and I accepted, I always make sure to say thank you to them, as I am grateful to them for letting me go before them, and not have to wait for all their things to be scanned and bagged.
So, what about you? Do you let someone who is behind you in line go ahead of you if they have only an item or 2? Why or why not? Please share your thoughts. Thanks.
54 people like this
165 responses
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
6 Mar 08
I've had people let me go in front of them even when I have more stuff than they do! That's happened twice or three times, but it's always been because my son was NOT behaving. He does really well when we are shopping, until we get in the checkout lane. Then he is ready to go right away. We're finally getting him past this stage, but it was a long one, and I always felt sorry for anyone around us if we had to wait for more than 10 minutes. I couldn't just not buy the stuff, or we wouldn't ever be able to get groceries! If my husband is with us, one of us usually takes him out to the car as soon as he gets cranky, but when my husband is working 14+ hours at work, I just have to go without him sometimes.
As far as letting other people go in front of me, I did it a lot before my son was born, and still do if my husband has already taken my son out to the car, especially if they have small children.
3 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
8 Mar 08
Ah finally, someone that understands! LOL
I've tried to tell my husband this, but he thinks that if either of the kids are misbehaving while in the store that I can just haul their butts out of there, put them in the car, drive home (a 20 mile drive round trip minimum), wait for him to get home, then go run back up to the store again by myself! He doesn't seem to understand that if I was to come home from such a trip I would not go back up again the same day as I would be too drained from it all, especially if I was so close to checking out the groceries the first time around...
2 people like this
@gandatwo (602)
• Australia
6 Mar 08
yep I do,and I have experienced others extending the courtesy.The there was the incident about two months ago,I was in a hurry,in the twelve items or less queue, and somewhat preoccupied thought wise.There was two queues,I came out of my thoughts,spotted a empty line and preceeded to walk to cashier.It was then that a shriek from a older woman told me I had jumped the line!Horrors of horrors,I was shocked and apologised to this "Lady" who in turn tut tutted me,did not believe my mistake,nor did she accept my apology.Decided to go to the far end of the store and stand in a regular long line,rather then be around this hostile energy,was worth the wait..Lol
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
9 Mar 08
I don't know why she had to get upset, it sounds to me like it was an honest mistake. :)
@asawako48162 (3321)
• United States
6 Mar 08
yes, and it is something my wife and I both do but few people ever let us cut in front of them.most people rush you to the line and then glare wehn they lose the raise..but I will them they can go first..and then they put n a sweet smile..Phony but that is ok..even in some peublic places like on an airplane deboarding people will hit you with suitcase and not say sorry but push on by..very rude
2 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
9 Mar 08
Ouch! Did you get hit by somebody's suitcase before? And if so what did you do about it?
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
6 Mar 08
I do try to be considerate of others as much as I can but sometimes I'm either absent minded or in a hurry which makes me forget to be considerate however I do try to be because I try to feel what they're feeling by putting myself in their shoes. So yes I'll let someone go in front of me when they have less than I do. I don't like people waiting on me. Just like I'll let a car or two or three out when I see them waiting. Most people won't or they'll get upset with me and start honking their horn. I'll just laugh at them and wave which only makes them all the more angrier but I don't care. They need to walk a mile in their shoes too and learn to be considerate as well. More like "Get over it!" lol
2 people like this
@gavsmomjamie (319)
• United States
23 Mar 08
I used to do it all the time, sometimes even if the person had more items than I did! I figured it would be good karma, right? Well lets just say I dont do it as often anymore!
2 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
26 Mar 08
Oh my! Do you care to share what happened to make you feel this way?
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
6 Mar 08
yes, i usually let the person behind me to go first if they only have few items... but that really depends on the circumstances... if i am in a hurry, then i won't let it... but if i am not in a hurry, then i will definitely will... for my case, i seldom have people let me go first even though i have few items... sometimes it feels very annoying especially if i only have 1 item...
2 people like this
@xingzengwu (1)
• China
10 Mar 08
I had ever have the same experience,
but all for the woman behind me asking for going ahead from me before I speak! --- I think that's not easy to accept.
2 people like this
@subha12 (18441)
• India
6 Mar 08
yes, as i remember sometimes i have let people go before me. it was very recntly while we were visiting super market. our basket were full and there were lots of items. a person standing behind us had just a pack of chocolate to bill. so we let him come forward.
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
19 Mar 08
I always let someone in line in front of me, if they only have a few items. I think that anyone who doesn't isn't very polite. Why would a person not let them in. I have always let old men and women cut in front of me even if they have more than just a few items, out of respect for them. Also because sometimes they have a hard time standing that long and so I think I am just be curtious.
Sometimes when I offer someone to cut in front of me, they have said no thanks. I guess sometimes they want to kill some time and don't mind waiting. I am the same at times, don't mind waiting.
2 people like this
@dont_pick_your_nose (2279)
• Australia
19 Mar 08
yeah i do, Heaps of people have offered me their place inline so i just return the favour. It is karma and it goes around the person you didn't let in front when you were having a bad day must have had some good karma in their favour that only just reached you.
I think be done to us as we do to others.
2 people like this
@blueangel51 (94)
• United States
19 Mar 08
yes I always let folkd with few items go ahead because I have a cart full and when you talk wal-mart they don't have all their lanes open when it so busy, and if they are older folks and then I really let them go first, I have always been this way.
2 people like this
@marspotato (8)
• China
8 Mar 08
If the people in front of me have a full basket of groceries to pay for, I must be desperate. So I can somewhat understand what the people waiting behind me feel when I have a lot of items. To let them go ahead of me is not a big deal, but it can make me feel better, you know, not that guilty, though I never expect to be offered such a kindness :)
2 people like this
@drew181818 (22)
• United States
7 Mar 08
I did the other day and she went in front of me and i thought that she only had this one item. And then her son comes up with a whole buggy. I thought it was funny and just let her do it.
@graceandowen (1637)
•
20 Mar 08
Yes I have often done this to the annoyance of the people behind me but the majority of cases when i have let someone go ahead of me is when the person is elderly or disabled, even if they ahve loads of shopping I dont like to see them waiting and struggling.
@fec139 (810)
• United States
7 Mar 08
Yes, if it's an elderly person who looks like he is about to keel over, or someone with 1 or 2 items. If a mother is dealing with a screaming or otherwise fusst kid, I'd rather help her get out of the store for everyone's sanity. If someone asks me nicely and I am not in a hurry, I will let them in too.
2 people like this
@crazylady (470)
• United States
7 Mar 08
I almost always do- except when I was pregnant with my 10 month old- I could barely hold my weight up at Walmart, so I needed to hurry thru myself.
The only other times I don't is if I have been in a line a while and they finally saunter over. I hate shopping as it is, and want to be in and out ASAP. But if someone walks up right after I do, I let them in front. When they see my cart full they thank me profusely! LOL
2 people like this
@valerie37 (1002)
• Christiansburg, Virginia
7 Mar 08
I usually will offer to let someone who only has a few items in front of me. But there are times when I'm just in a hurry and want to get out of the store that I won't.
2 people like this
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
7 Mar 08
Yes, I have done this many times. I do it because I know how it feels to be the one behind someone with a full cart. I like to think that others would do the same. On occassion I have had the favor returned.
2 people like this
