11 Checkout Habits Grocery Store Cashiers Hate

Everyone has places to be, but if there’s one errand most people have to run, it’s going to the supermarket for the week’s food haul. Going grocery shopping isn’t exactly a riveting adventure. It can be fun to scope out new items or scan freshly clipped coupons, but for the most part, it’s a task you just want to cross off of your to-do list. 

With so many busy people going in and out of those automatic doors, grocery store employees have seen it all—messy shelves, disgruntled customers, abandoned carts, long lines, and more. Treating the people who ring up your groceries with courtesy and respect goes a long way, but that’s the bare minimum. There are other ways you could make their shifts a little easier. If you’re guilty of the following annoying habits, this is your sign to kick them—not your cart—to the curb.

Making Too Much Small Talk

Some supermarkets see upwards of thousands of customers per day, so the employees are pros at keeping things moving. You should greet your cashier and use your manners, but if there’s a line forming behind you, try not to get caught up in small talk. Cashiers are on the job, and a backed-up line can be stressful for them. This doesn’t mean you can’t exchange pleasantries, but try to keep it brief.

Asking Cashiers to “Check the Back” for Out-of-Stock Items

Some items fly off the shelves, which can be frustrating when you can’t find what you were looking for. Contrary to popular belief, grocery stores don’t keep a huge supply of inventory in the back. However, they may have a few days’ worth of food in the mysterious “employees only” section, but some supermarkets don’t keep a backlog of goods at all. There’s only a small chance that what you’re looking for is stored elsewhere. 

If you really need to know, don’t wait until you’re checking out to inquire about the item. Try to find an employee stocking the shelves and ask if they’re available for an inventory check.

Entering the Express Lane With Many Items

Thanks to express lanes, gone are the days of waiting in a long line just to buy a couple items. Most express lanes allow up to 15 items, though some have a cap of 10 items or fewer. While the cashier won’t name and shame if you go over by one or two items, it defeats the purpose of having an express lane for quick trips if you walk up with a full cart. Respect the rules of the fast lanes so everyone can get through quickly (and so cashiers don’t have to deal with the customers huffing and puffing behind you).

Using Self-Checkout Slowly

Self-checkout lanes are popping up in most grocery stores. They help keep labor costs low, which could mean lower prices on groceries. However, similar to the express lane, it’s easy to throw off the equilibrium of the self-checkout lane. While no one expects you to checkout in record time, it’s designed for customers to move through swiftly. Unloading, scanning, bagging, and paying is quite a few steps—if it’s too much for you, cashiers would rather you make use of the regular lanes where the pros have it down pat.

Dumping Unwanted Items in Checkout Lanes

The grocery store may seem like a wholesome place, but it’s a business like any other. That’s why supermarkets conveniently place candy, gum, magazines, and other quick-grab items near the checkout—so you spontaneously throw them in your cart. What those displays aren’t there for, however, is to dump the items you changed your mind about. If you no longer want an item, simply hand it to the cashier. When you leave it in a random spot, it only creates more work for the employees.

Holding Up the Line to Grab One More Item

Have you ever gotten to the front of the line just to remember that you needed to grab a jug of milk? We’ve all been there! To you, it’ll just take a second to run and grab that forgotten item. But to the cashier (and other customers in line), the clock is ticking. Other people’s time is precious, so if you forgot something, it’s best to get back in line when you’re fully ready to pay.

Placing Full Baskets on the Counter

Small grocery trips call for small baskets—you know, the handheld ones that hold just a few items. If you fill it up, it’s your job to empty it. Cashiers don’t love when customers place their entire basket on the conveyor belt or counter. This just creates more work for them to unload and discard of the basket. So do your part and empty out the contents of your basket when you’re next in line. There’s usually a spot for you to place the emptied basket when you’re done.

Loading Heavy Items Onto the Conveyor Belt

Fresh herbs, loaves of bread, and flowers weigh next to nothing, making them easy to scan and bag. But those cases of water bottles? Large bags of pet food? Cat litter? Bundles of firewood? Those are heavy! Fortunately, grocery stores are prepared for those heavy items. Simply leave them in your shopping cart and let the cashier come around with a handheld scanner. Sometimes they can reach by simply leaning over. Other times they can punch in a code without having to scan at all. If you think an item is too heavy to lug onto the belt, it probably is. Just let the cashier know so they can enter it another way.

Bagging Your Own Groceries

Employees who bag your groceries often split their time between multiple lanes. So if a bagger isn’t available, it’s helpful for you to pitch in and bag your own groceries, right? Not always. Grocery store employees are all about efficiency, so they’re faster than you might think. Rather than bag your own groceries, check with the cashier first. A bagger might be around the corner, and it’s faster for them to bag everything rather than finish a job started by a customer.

Telling Cashiers How to Bag Your Groceries

Your job is called your “profession” for a reason—when you do something day in and day out, you’re a professional at it. Grocery store employees are no exception. The people who bag your groceries know the drill—eggs on top, cans on bottom, etc. Let’s leave that to the pros. They probably know more tips and tricks than the rest of us, so making demands is likely redundant (and maybe even a little hurtful).

Not Having Your Payment Ready

To get customers in and out as efficiently as possible, grocery store employees and customers have to work in tandem. That means doing your part, such as punching in your rewards number (if applicable) and getting your payment method ready to go. Have your cash, card, or phone—and any coupons—at the ready so when your groceries are scanned and bagged the only thing left to do is pay and thank the kind folks who helped you out.