Look, we’ve all been there at the grocery store checkout, right? You’re tired, you just want to get home, and honestly, you’re not thinking about how your actions affect the person ringing you up. But cashiers have seen it all, and there are some habits that drive them absolutely crazy. I mean, these are pretty simple things to avoid, but people do them all the time anyway.
Dumping your entire basket on the counter
If you’re using one of those small handheld baskets, don’t just plop the whole thing on the conveyor belt. Cashiers really don’t want to dig through your basket to unload everything themselves. It’s basically creating extra work for them when they’re already dealing with a ton of customers. And honestly, there’s usually a spot right near the register where you can place your empty basket after you’ve unloaded it yourself. Every time I’ve watched someone do this, the cashier’s face just says it all. They won’t complain out loud, but you can tell it’s annoying. Just take the few extra seconds to empty your basket onto the belt. It’s not hard.
Treating the express lane like a suggestion
Express lanes exist for a reason. They’re typically for 10-15 items max. But some people roll up with a completely full cart and act like the rules don’t apply to them. I mean, come on. Everyone behind you can count, and they’re definitely counting your items and getting more irritated by the second. And the cashier? They’re stuck dealing with you AND the angry customers behind you who actually followed the rules. It defeats the whole purpose of having a fast lane. If you’ve got more than the limit, just use a regular lane. Pretty much everyone will appreciate it, especially the cashier who doesn’t have to deal with the tension.
Not having your payment ready
This one’s super frustrating. The cashier finishes scanning all your items, gives you the total, and then you start digging through your purse or wallet like you didn’t know you’d need to pay. Why does this keep happening? You’ve been standing in line for several minutes. That’s plenty of time to get your card out or count your cash. But instead, everyone waits while you search for your payment method. And if you have coupons, have those ready too. Basically, the transaction should be the fastest part of checkout, not the slowest. At least have your stuff somewhat organized before it’s your turn.
Leaving heavy items in your cart is actually helpful
Here’s something that might surprise you. Those giant water bottle cases, heavy bags of dog food, cat litter containers? Don’t haul them onto the belt. Seriously. Leave them in your cart. Cashiers have handheld scanners for exactly this reason, and they can scan them without you lifting a finger. I’ve noticed that people always try to be helpful by hoisting these huge items up, but it’s actually making more work. The cashier either has to lift them again to bag them or figure out where to put them. And sometimes they can just punch in a code without scanning at all. So if something feels too heavy to lift, it probably is. Just let the cashier know it’s in your cart.
Getting chatty when there’s a line behind you
Being friendly is great. You should definitely say hello and be polite to your cashier. But there’s a time and place for extended conversations, and it’s not when ten people are waiting behind you. Some stores process thousands of customers daily, so cashiers need to keep things moving. After trying to make small talk when the line’s backed up, I’ve definitely seen the stress on cashiers’ faces. They’re trying to be polite to you while also aware that they’re being timed and other customers are getting impatient. Exchange pleasantries, sure. Ask how their day is going. But save the long story about your grandkids for when the store isn’t busy. The cashier will actually appreciate brief, friendly interactions more than forced extended conversations anyway.
Abandoning items randomly throughout the checkout area
So you changed your mind about something. That’s totally fine. But don’t just stick that package of chicken behind the candy bars or hide ice cream under the magazine rack. Does anyone actually think that’s helpful? It creates so much extra work. Perishable items can spoil if they’re not found quickly, which means the store loses money and potentially wastes food. And someone has to go put everything back where it belongs. Just hand the item to the cashier and tell them you don’t want it anymore. They deal with this all the time. It’s part of their job. But making them hunt for abandoned items all over the checkout area? That’s just inconsiderate. Hand it over and move on.
Telling cashiers how to do their job
Cashiers and baggers do this every single day. They’re professionals. They know eggs go on top, they know not to mix cleaning products with food, they know how to distribute weight in bags. Yet people constantly give instructions like “make sure my cold items are together” or “don’t make the bags too heavy.” I mean, they already know this stuff. They’ve been trained. It’s sort of insulting to assume they don’t know basic bagging techniques. And here’s the thing – the cashiers who have been doing this for years are WAY better at it than you’d be. The last time I tried bagging my own groceries, it was a mess compared to how the bagger organized everything. Let them do their job. If something’s actually wrong, then say something. But micromanaging every item just slows everything down and honestly makes you look kind of difficult.
Using self-checkout like it’s your first time
Self-checkout is designed to be fast. That’s the whole point. But some people treat it like a puzzle they’ve never seen before, slowly scanning each item, forgetting to put things in the bagging area, getting confused by the prompts. If technology isn’t your thing, that’s completely okay – just use a regular lane where cashiers can help you. They’re faster anyway. Self-checkout works best for people who can move through it quickly. When someone’s taking forever, it backs up everyone else who chose that option specifically to save time. And there’s usually an employee monitoring the self-checkout area who has to keep coming over to help. Not everyone needs to use self-checkout. Total honesty here – I sometimes avoid it myself if I’m not in the right mindset. Know your limits.
The “I forgot something” dash
You finally get to the front of the line, and suddenly you remember you needed milk. Or bread. Or whatever. So you ask everyone to wait while you run and grab it real quick. But here’s the reality – it’s never actually quick. You can’t find it, or you start grabbing other things, and meanwhile the cashier is standing there with a line of increasingly annoyed customers. I’ve been guilty of this myself, and looking back, it was pretty inconsiderate. If you forget something, the better move is to let the cashier know you’ll get back in line after you grab it. Yes, you have to wait again. But that’s better than holding up everyone else. The cashier can move on to the next customer instead of just standing there waiting for you. Though honestly, if it’s truly just one item and you can literally see it from the register, most cashiers will be understanding.
Grocery shopping doesn’t have to be stressful for anyone involved. These are all pretty simple things to keep in mind that make the cashier’s job easier and keep the line moving for everyone. And look, we all mess up sometimes – I’ve definitely done a few of these things without thinking. But being aware of them means you can do better next time. Cashiers deal with hundreds of people daily, and a little consideration goes a long way in making their shifts more manageable.
