i used to be like that Alex - then I got the “make a list” brainwave 
Jeeps - That’s an interesting angle also, you’re right there are people who don’t care how long they take, this also infuriates me - i’d move to another checkout lane if they were really just acting around
It’s really weird…I don’t think any of us like to stay long in the shops unless its techy/book shopping I don’t know why I feel so surprised 
Great thread… Im a great" people watcher" some would say nosy
Anyway I was shopping this morning in a small store (rural) an English Couple i’round 50ish were at the check out, had some problem with an item they had bought, one of them was a diabetic & wanted to know if the jam had added sugar,weeeeeeeel they were shouting at the poor checkout girl, who had’nt a word of english nor they french so they thought by shouting at her , she would understand. they turned to me & said “speak you english”
Honestly true !!! there was sugar in the jam !!!
HAHA, Yeah that same thought crossed my mind while I was reading Mizwizzy’s list. That type is common here; Trust me, you can’t win an argument with a Trini woman. And I doubt you’d want to… :injured:
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“The aspiring product photographer looking for things to shoot shopper” - - Spends half an hour unpacking the grocery’s shelves in order to find that one bottle of x that doesn’t have part of the label peeling or dings in the can.
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omg i must confess I also go through alot of products to find one that isnt damaged or looks ok and if only just to have it look pretty 
@nuala - some ppl can be very ignorant indeed, obviously they were twits…what did you say back to them?
They… “thank God you’r English” No No I’m not says I, I’m Irish, " much the same says she" sorry I did’nt let them buy the jam with sugar !!!
Never said thanks for your help, She was the boss, spent forever rooting for the money to pay … eejits !!!
I don’t shop, I buy. Spending the whole day in the Trafford center, that’s shopping. I go somewhere that sells what I want, I buy it, I go home. 
Something to occupy all you busy shoppers: 15 things to do in Tesco’s!!!
01.Get 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in peoples trolleys when they aren’t looking.
02.Set all the alarm clocks in houseware to go off at 5 minute intervals.
03.Make a trail of tomato juice on the floor to the toilet.
04.Walk up to an employee and tell him/her in an official tone, “Code 10 at Pharmacy”…and see what happens.
05.Go to the service desk and ask to have a bag of M&M’s put on hold.
06.Move a “CAUTION - WET FLOOR” sign to a carpeted area.
07.Set up a tent in the housewaresection and tell other shoppers you’ll only invite them in if they bring pillows from the bedding department.
08.When an assistant asks if they can help you,begin to cry and ask “Why can’t you people just leave me alone?”
09.Look right into the security camera and use it as a mirror while you pick your nose.
10.While handling the knives in the kitchen ware department ask the clerk if he/she knows where the anti-depressants are.
11.Dart around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the theme from Mission Impossible.
12.In the car accessory department practice your Madonna look using different size funnels.
13.Hide in the clothing rack and when people browse through shout,“PICK ME ! PICK ME !!!”
14.When an announcement comes over the loud speaker assume the fetal position and scream,“NO! NO!,It’s those voices in my head again!”.
15.Go into a fitting room and yell real loudly…"Hey!,We’re out of toilet paper in here.
Having worked in jobs where I’ve had to deal with customers of the “general public”, I can only say that a frighteningly large proportion are stupid, ignorant, impolite or incredibly selfish - or a combination thereof.
I’m all four of those, but I try to enjoy it.
Great thread… Im a great" people watcher" some would say nosy
Anyway I was shopping this morning in a small store (rural) an English Couple i’round 50ish were at the check out, had some problem with an item they had bought, one of them was a diabetic & wanted to know if the jam had added sugar,weeeeeeeel they were shouting at the poor checkout girl, who had’nt a word of english nor they french so they thought by shouting at her , she would understand. they turned to me & said “speak you english”
Honestly true !!! there was sugar in the jam !!!
Man, reminds me of Me Talk Pretty One Day… the author is in France in a tram or something and this loud American couple talk loudly about how much the French are sleazy and stink etc. assuming nobody in Paris can speak English. I guess both assumptions (that anyone can speak your language in another country, or that nobody can) are dangerous.
You’ve missed one more. A lone shopper watching other shoppers, then reporting on forums. 
Me! But with a little bit of “zombying” rather than rushing - I don’t rush unless I really have to.
Nothing like that here, at least from my experience. They’re hard workers, are helpful and polite. It’s amazing how fast they get around. And I can’t help but feel sorry for those poor girls seeing never ending lines and seeing how really tiring it is, especially knowing that they work for beans. It’s like a slave factory!
In general, I don’t like shopping, maybe because I used to do it almost daily for at least 5 years! So these days I don’t really do that - I make others do it!
If it’s for more than a very few items I make a list that I usually remember to bring with me. I walk so I usually go to the same closest stores that have what I need. (1/2 mile and 1 1/2 mile to). Comparison shop for lowest price. Fill my basket (no dawdling) and go to the checkout. The cashiers are great here. Fast, efficient, and friendly if you initiate the chit chat. Usually the bagger is halfway through before I even finish unloading. I unload from the front and then need to move around to the back to finish. Sometimes an anxious shopper will have “pushed” but so far all I’ve ever needed to say was “Excuse me but I need to get around” and they move. Then I carefully load up my backpack and hands and I’m off.
uh oh, not good to say an Irish person is English! It’s like saying all Canadians are American that’s evil Nuala about not letting them buy the Jam
yeah Saul, what can I say I’m a bit of a looney on these Forums …eh I heard that! 
How were u shopping daily for 5 years Saul? :scratch: Can’t picture you as a shopaholic!
I do agree with checkout operators having a hard job, but some can really take the biscuit, really lazy and rude, it doesnt take much to be nice or appear to be, if they dont like it they can get another job else where!
well thats very efficient I must say! I find with local shops they can be very expensive compared to the big supermarket chains, i live out in the sticks and its daylight robbery the prices they charge for like bread or milk, like something small, they just take advantage of being situated in a rural setting where not many ppl have transport etc to get into the big towns!
@JJMcClure - I at 11, 12… no 3…I nearly fainted
I am the puzzled shopper. On the phone with my wife asking which aisle the product she asked for is, or asking a store associate.
When not puzzled, I am the no-nonsense shopper.
i hate buying things for people when im out shopping, usually I never get the right thing or I buy something I think might be what they’ve said but its a different colour or something…
Usually in the grocery, sometimes the staff are unpacking products to put on the shelves, usually what im looking for is always out on the shelf but sometimes I might ask an assistant do they have a certain item in stock, would they mind checking the storeroom for me…so they say sure, go off and come back, sorry there isnt any in stock…but somehow i just dont believe them!
I know ppl who work in supermarkets and they tell me the same thing, u just go to the storeroom wait a minute or whatever is required and go back out and say there’s that their item isn’t in stock how infuriating is that
:lightbulb Try to match your clothing to the uniform of an assistant when you go shopping and sneak in to the storeroom yourself.
Where’s the fun in that? I like asking for things I dont need and run away when they go off looking for it
not really thats just mean!!