Why do stores even have express lanes?

Funny I have been in the store when I miscounted, I had 13 item in a 12 or less lane, and was told I couldn't be there. This was when express lanes first opened. I don't object to the idea of enforcing express lanes but then the question is if someone goes over where do you draw the line. one or two over shouldn't be a problem. I also have gone in the express lane, and there were those with large full cart, I asked for the manager, some people looked at me as though I were the gum stuck to the bottom of their shoe, some were glad I said something. For me that is what I would have done I would have asked the manager what was the deal? Made a complaint about the issue. There are times when a store will have a couple of express lanes open and have only two regular lanes open. I do not think you are wrong, since the guy was in a hurry it would have been one thing for the cashier to say that she understood but since it was the express lane she would have to take your who was the one complying with the 15 or less, first or he could wait in one of the other lines. Or if she did not wish to risk a confrontation she could have at least called her manager, and explained and had the manager deal with it. I think it is because people don't voice their problem with the manager that this thing keeps happening. Many times it is just up to the cashier since they are not paid that much to begin with they don't feel it is worth the hassle. But if the store gets enough complaints on the issue they the manager will set up a policy which will insist the cashier speak up when it happens.

There was a time when express lanes were "cash only" lanes. This meant that old ladies with coupons and checkbooks, and people weren't allowed to slow everyone else down. This concept has been bastardized and become politically correct so that people who can't count are allowed in line. However, kudos to both of you who can at least count that your number of items is less than 15. There was a shooting at a grocery store near me a few years ago after someone got annoyed that someone else had too many items in their line. You might be wrong here because first-come-first-serve seems to be the general rule. Cashiers aren't enforcers. They are barely literate, and can barely do their jobs in most cases.

Sometimes people just don't notice the signs. And by the time they get to the cashier, it's kinda late to be telling them to leave. Someone else in line could say something. I often find that waiting behind 6 people with just a couple items takes just as long as waiting behind one person with a full basket. They only have to pay once, as opposed to 6 times.

Yeah, that's my luck to. I even count to make sure I don't exceed the limit before getting into an express lane. But for some reason the check out clerks don't say anything. The other one that gets me is people in and self check out who don't know how to work the scanner. You just want to tell them go to a cashier and get out of the way.

I agree that it's very frustrating to those of us that try to follow the rules. In today's age it just seems that more and more people only care about themselves. I too have been in the express lane with a couple of items with someone in front over the posted amount. I have also been headed with a large cart of groceries to a non-express lane when the express person has called me over to her lane, stating there is no one here, but never fails get half way through and someone comes up in a big hurry. I start apologizing and explain the circumstance but it has fallen on deaf ears. I even spoke to the manager about it once, he had stated that store/chain policy was that if no express people were in line then they were to call someone else over regardless of how many things were in their basket. I also think that the management must enforce the policy for it to be effective. The problem lies in offending people and loosing customers. This is my 2 cents worth. Good luck to you here at mylot!

I don't know why stores even have express lanes either. They always allow people who more then the allowed items to go through. You can't tell me that those people don't know what they are doing. I only recall one cashier saying to the person. "I am sorry this is an express item, you will have to reload the cart, and move to a different register." I could have jumped up and down. Stores need to follow that policy. Otherwise, don't bother having the stupid express lane.

This happened to me a couple of weks ago. I went grocery shopping and had forgotten to buy tape. I went back and grabbed the tape and got in the express lane. The couple in front of me easily had 50 items and wic checks. Inside I was fuming, but I am not the type of person to say anyhing. Then my 11 month old started crying, I had been running around all day and he was fed up. The man finally noticed us and let us go which I appreciated, but they should not have been in the EXPRESS lane to begin with.

That is really annoying and that kind of situation always happens in markets here so everytime I shop for small amount or jsut a few stuffs I don't go for express lane casue it has no good ..I will stay the same time as i will in other counters. That is true, supermarkets admin should implement this policy for the comfort of their customers.

i totally agree. the man should have let you in front of him. by the time you were donr he could have had all his stuff on the counter ready to be rung up, and you wouldnt have to wait for someone who obviously couldnt read the sign 15 or less. ive worked in retail and it used to tee me off that the only time my store would open the express lanes was black friday because of the volume we did. the managers didnt have to deal with customers attitude.

hi there, no your 100 % correct, he shouldn't of been in that lane if he had more than 15 items, he should of been in the trolley lane, that's just stupid tho if the cashier never said anything to him because then obviously there not sticking to the rules and regulations or the guidelines whatever there called!

I have been in a few stores where this happened to me. The sign says 10 items and cash only but it never fails that the woman in front of me has 20 items and pays with a credit card. The cashier is afraid to say anything to these people. I just want to ask these people can't you read?

the "less than 10 items" should be monitored by the Head Cashier...

You have all the reasons to get irritated. I would have been under the circumstances. This guy was obviously undisciplined...and the cashier? He/she must have been intimidated of the guy instead of politely reminding him that it was an express lane. Well, everyday challenges lurk in every corner to test our patience :)

I don't get it either...why do they have such if it's not going to what your expecting right? I mean express so that means it's suppose to be fast, not like takes you centuries before you get off that freaking line.

I was in the express line at the grocery store. The sign said 10 items or less. This older woman was in front of me. She had at least 18 items so she split them into two groups so she could use the "express" line. I only had one item and would have asked to go ahead of her but I was in no hurry that afternoon.

i think they want to trick you into thinking they're faster. i also think people can't read because if they could they wouldn't use the lanes if they had over 20 items in their cart. i don't think the cashier could have done anything in that case. honestly. the only thing they can do is tell their managers later on during their shift. they don't have the authority to tell someone where they can and can't go as far as lanes. i think the managers should be more forceful as far as this goes.

I hate when people do that! Its such a pain to see someone unload a trolley in the express lane!

i think u r absolutely right

I feel the same way. Why have EXPRESS LANES if they are not going to be faster check out. That is rude and how does people in front of us with buggy full not know we are there because we have below the limit for that cashier to check us out.

I personally have worked in a store with an express line. Although it does say express, we cannot "politely" advise someone to switch lanes. Customers come first, we cannot pass them to other lanes, it has happened where we have tried this and have just gotten complaints to customer service and our managers. It annoys me that people do this kind of stuff, and I do feel for you but the truth is, the employees dont want to lose there jobs, or have bad customer rapport so we stay out of the entire mess.