Having worked at a grocery store for three years now, I’ve seen a lot of weird, random, annoying, and great things. It’s a great job to have in high school and through college because of the flexibility and constant need for cashiers, but sometimes it is just not fun. Here’s a list of pet peeves everyone who works at a grocery store or will work at a grocery store has. Be a nice customer and don’t be one of those people! We all thank you.

1. Put your cart in the cart return.

Yes, sometimes it’s a rainy or cold day and you don’t want to put your cart back in its proper place, but think about the people that pick those up all day. By taking twenty seconds tops to return your cart instead of leaving it in the middle of the parking lot, you eliminate the need for the cart person to walk the entire premises picking up stray carts in every kind of weather, you eliminate the risk of the cart scratching or otherwise damaging someone else’s car, and you are taking responsibility for what you used just like everyone else. Long story short: take the extra few seconds to put your cart away!

2. Talking to your long lost relative right in front of an aisle or checkout line.

We get it, you haven’t seen them in forever! But can you please move this family reunion inside the aisle or into an area where you aren’t blocking the paths of people around you and causing even more unnecessary traffic?


3. Wait your turn in line.

We get you’re in some kind of rush that you weren’t in five minutes ago when you got in line, but you need to take a breath and be patient. If we aren’t even done with the customer in front of you and you’re throwing coupons and store loyalty cards in our face, things happen slower not quicker. We do this for hours on end and have a system down so please just wait a minute and don’t worry because we’ll be right with you just like we were for the person ahead of you. 


4. Get off your dang phone.

Okay, sometimes emergencies happen and we get that, but telling your kid to share the Frisbee with their brother is not an emergency. As cashiers, we have a job that needs to be done, and it cannot be done when you’re gabbing on your cell phone the whole time.

Not to mention, it’s just plain rude to talk on the phone in the checkout line. Sending someone to voicemail and calling them back two or less minutes later will not kill you. The same goes for texting and playing on your phone. Please be respectful.


5. Make up your mind.

Mistakes happen occasionally and you pick up one too many of an item, but if you’re giving us back half your order and saying you don’t want it anymore, chances are you didn’t want it in the first place. Look at the price tag when you pick it off the shelf and think about if you really want it. It’s a hassle to page someone over every time you decide you didn’t want those three packages of raw meat, the fresh fruit, and all twenty yogurts.

6. Yes, the pen is broken and no, we can’t magically fix it.

Chances are, by the time you have to sign for your credit card, we are well aware that the VeriFone pen is broken. We’ve been joking about it all day now, so please just sign with your finger and move on; it’s not the end of the world.

7. Just accept the endless questions we ask you.

Think you’re sick of hearing all the stuff we must say to you and ask every time you come shopping? Try saying it over and over for 6+ hours and then complain to us about how annoying and intrusive it is. We can say it in our sleep by now.

8. We come prepared to work, just like you came prepared with your list.

Every time we ring an item up, you don’t have to tell us it was on sale. We look at the ads before we come to work, and are aware of what’s going on in our place of work unless something changes last minute. Not to mention, the screen will confirm your comment, so don’t worry, it’s all under control. You’ll get the sales you wanted.

9. Reusable bags. Need I say more?

They’re great because they hold a lot, and save the million plastic bags you would’ve left with, but if we don’t have a bagger and you don’t intend on bagging, be prepared to wait an extra minute or two, and for us to pack the bags the way we find best. If you have a certain way or weight you want your bags packed at, do it yourself.

Don’t complain at how we pack your bags if you’re going to just stand there and watch us do it without offering to help. And yes, we gave you the bag credit, so congrats, you saved three cents.

10. When the light to our aisle is off, we are closed.

Just because someone is still in the line, doesn’t mean we aren’t closing. Pay attention to the lights on our aisles and the signs that say ‘closed.’ We are entitled breaks which we greatly appreciate, and not to mention, we also have lives and don’t want to work an hour overtime, nor do our managers.

If you have a small order, sure, it’s not a huge deal, but don’t come through our line with two full carts when we are clearly closed and it’s time for us to clock out. No, you don’t know when we get off work, but be considerate of closed lanes. You may have to wait an extra minute or two in another line, but it won’t kill you, I promise.

With all this being said, working at a grocery store isn’t the worst thing in the world, but the smallest things can really get to you especially on long days. Think about these things the next time you go to the grocery store. You could make a cashier’s day without even knowing it, just by being kind and respectful of those around you and the people working there. If not, you may end up being a story at someone’s dinner table that night – just saying.