At the Checkout at a Store.....

United States
January 4, 2007 6:28pm CST
Would you let another shopper go in front of you? I do this quite often. If the person behind you only has a few groceries and my cart is full, I will let them go ahead of me. If the person has children with them and they are anxious to leave the store (I have been there plenty of times too!), I will let them go ahead of me and I will try to entertain the children to keep them quiet. Practice random acts of kindness. The world will be a better place for it.
26 people like this
107 responses
@patootie (3592)
5 Jan 07
I do practically all my shopping online because of my disabilities .. but on the rare occasions I do go shopping if there is someone in the queue behind me with just a couple of items and I have a basket full I always let them go in front .. it takes me a while to get myself organised and for the check out girl to get a packer to help me bag up my shopping .. so why not let folks go in front .. usually they are done and gone by the time I am ready to get started so I've lost nothing .. but gained a friendly smile now and then ..
3 people like this
• United States
5 Jan 07
I love to see people smile. It leaves me with a good feeling when I have made another's day, just a little bit better.
2 people like this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
5 Jan 07
Yes I do this all the time! And I really appreciate when people do it for me. I won't entertain the kids... but I'll let them go first and get out of my hair (not much of a kid person). I believe in random acts of kindness because the kinder you are the strangers, the better your chances someone will be kind to you :) It's good karma!
3 people like this
• United States
5 Jan 07
I love kids and love to entertain them. Bringing a smile to a child is wonderful.
2 people like this
@Mighty (1)
• South Africa
5 Jan 07
sure i let people go in front of me too. But have u ever noticed that some people looks at u like there is something wrong with you when u tell them that they can go first? Also, i never let people go before me who are trying to squeeze in in front of me.
@Jshean20 (14349)
• Canada
5 Jan 07
I think that this is a very kind thing to do, I do it as well provided that I'm not in a big hurry myself. People seem so appreciative when I do this sort of thing and it makes me feel good inside, so it's worth it. Plently of times though, I will be behind someone (I might have a bag of milk and like two other things) and the person ahead of me will have a heaping grocery cart full of goodies, they'll just kind of look at me and look away and go about their business...Ohwell
3 people like this
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
5 Jan 07
Yes, I have done this as well and for the same reasons. If I have a lot of groceries and there is someone behind me that has has less groceries, I will let them go ahead. I have had people let me go ahead of them as well so I believe it is fair that I do the same for them as well. The world would be a better place if we did more random acts of kindness. Very good topic discussion. Thank you.
• United States
5 Jan 07
You are welcome. Thank you for responding. : )
1 person likes this
@nuttmeg (440)
• United States
5 Jan 07
Yep, I always let someone in front, whether they have a smaller load than me or seemed in a hurry. It's nice to see how people react at small acts of kindness that you show them, even something as simple as letting them through.
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
5 Jan 07
grocery store in davao city - taken in a grocery store here in davao city, philippines
yes. we should practice random acts of kindness. it's true. you're such a nice person. the world needs more people like you. mine is a case to case situation. here in the philippines, the stores have three kinds of lines for grocery shoppers, there are those for senior citizens, for those who just used a basket and those who shopped with carts. so, it's not much of a problem here. sometimes, i let a person behind go ahead of me if she/he talks to me and ask for it. if it's reasonable enough, i let him/her go before me.
3 people like this
@pookie92 (1714)
• United States
5 Jan 07
I do the same thing. I an usually not in a hurry, and sometimes I can just see the relief in the eyes of the people, especially the ones with little kids.
@aimee750 (1116)
• United States
5 Jan 07
I have let people go ahead of me in lines many times. And have had people let me go ahead of them also. It's just a nice thing to do. As they say, Do unto others as you would like done to you.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
5 Jan 07
Yes, I do this. It is how I would lie to be treated, so that is what I do.
3 people like this
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
5 Jan 07
That's why they have express lanes. ha ha Just playin' Yes, I have done this often. It sucks to have to stand behind someone with a full cart and you only have a couple items. So, I often will let the person go in front of me. But sadly, I do seem to have that favor returned when the roles are reversed. But there are just people like that. I don't worry about them. I will still do it. :)
2 people like this
• United States
5 Jan 07
YOu are a hoot Tia. Some people look dumbfounded when I let them in front of me, even if I have a small cart. If they have one item, why not let them go ahead.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157016)
• United States
5 Jan 07
I have done this, and I have had people do the same for me. One day hubby and I were shopping in an Aldi's. They often only have one check out, and people drive one or two hours to shop sometimes. We were behind a couple with lots of groceries, in a really long line, with a fussy preschooler. Between my hubby and I we were able to "turn the frown around" and turn it into a pleasant wait. The couple had driven an hour and a half to shop, were tired and hungry, and really appreciated us playing with their daughter.
@melanie652 (2524)
• United States
5 Jan 07
Yes I do. I've done it many times. It's one of those acts of kindness that people really notice. I like to think (or hope) they will do it for someone else and it will continue to be carried on.
3 people like this
@tanaclark (570)
• United States
5 Jan 07
Yes I have done this too. If I have a lot of groceries or what not, which I usually do. I will let someone go in front of me. Especially if they only have a few items, or they are elderly or they have kids. I also will hold the door open for someone if their hands are full, or they have kids, or elderly or just because they are behind me. It is just commom courtesy or at least it should be.
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
5 Jan 07
We always let people go ahead of us if they have just a few items and we have a cart full. Usually the people are appreciative, but many look surprised. We had a clerk tell us once that absolutely nobody is courteous like that any more. We grew up in an era when people did more courteous things for people than they do now. I'd love to see society go back to the old ways.
2 people like this
@tammytwo (4298)
• United States
5 Jan 07
I have done this many times. I don't feel that they should have to wait for a long time behind me if they just have a few items. Just a little courtesy.
2 people like this
@missyd79 (3438)
• United States
8 Jan 07
if i have alot of items, and the person behind me only has one or two, i will let them go ahead, but i have also been in line 20 minutes with one little thing and the person in front of me had 2 buggies full of food and would not even let me go in front of them....and there was no other register open...UGGGHH
2 people like this
• United States
5 Jan 07
I do this often too. Esp in the morning when I get off work (walmart). I will use it as one of my acts of kindness. I try to make it a point do use at least good thing for someone each day. Because like you I agree about random acts of kindness makes the world a better place:)
2 people like this
@vikceo (1301)
• India
5 Jan 07
yes even i let it do for a number of times and for a number of reasons. and really if i am not in too hurry then i feel it good if i can help someone this way.
2 people like this
@absfive (145)
• Philippines
5 Jan 07
yah i sometimes do that but not as much and depend on the person is that,i hate this when after helping them they dont look back or at least say thank you to me.
2 people like this