Holding up Lines – Is it Acceptable when Manufacturing Spend & How Should You Behave?

For me, its not about the person using coupons or or anything that goes on during a typical transaction. Its those passive aggressive people who insist on lingering at the counter when there transaction is complete and they have no earthly business being there anymore, whether it be putting their money away, or making a phone call, they know there is a line behind them and they move at the speed of dont give a damn.,

I usually only do two transactions at a time. But I also feel that it is fair to take about as long as an average transaction would take. I will sometimes warn people that I may take some time and they might want to choose another checkout.
I basically think that people are too critical and irritable. Nowadays, if someone in front of me is taking a long time, I do my very best to convey with my body language or verbally, if appropriate, that they should not feel bad for using coupons or whatever it is that’s making their transaction take a little longer. And that I am happy to patiently wait my turn.
At WM, at the CS desk, I once asked something like, “would it be okay if I also load my bluebird after buying this money order?” and she said, “honey, when you are at the front of the line, you are my customer. We can do whatever you need to do.”.
It’s a grey area and requires courtesy, but also a bit of a thick skin. Just because we are doing something that most customers are not doing, does not mean that we are not customers too.

How about a quick apology? If my transaction is taking more time than expected, I always turn and look at the person behind me with a plaintive, “I’m so sorry!” Invariably their response is “that’s ok” (even if it’s not)

I also limit myself to 2 transactions, then get into another line. This is especially true if I’m alone loading BB/Serve @ WMT – I have to be careful when walking to the parking lot after having loaded $1000 to $2000 – regardless of the neighborhood. I may think this is not much money, but those around me may disagree.

Shawn – regarding the older woman behind you – keep your cool! Just remember you know how to travel and make a good living ! Too bad she couldn’t appreciate your son’s achievement – just know that all your readers do!!

Whenever I’m doing a transaction that may be a bit more “difficult” I always try to go early in the morning, shortly after the store opens, especially if going on a weekend. This way I’m hedging my bets when trying not to disrupt other people.

I do work at home, so I’ll typically be able to do those types of transactions on a weekday and very rarely have a problem.

Of course, the other issue is stores not having enough staff on hand and having minimal registers open. But that’s hardly my fault. =)

Ha ha ha on rude thoughts…if they could kill, I’ll be behind bars for life with no chance of parole 😛

I can honestly say that I don’t deliberately intend to hold the line. If I’m loading Serve with cashier, soon as someone comes in line, I finish that load and go to the end of the line or find another register. The cashiers appreciate this gesture at my go-to WM, they know I don’t hog the register just to “serve”.

There were instances where the cashier couldn’t load a VGC and there was a queue forming. This is beyond my control if it was taking a long time for the CSM to fix the problem. I maintain a cool attitude, I don’t roll my eyes on cashier or tap my feet in disgust. I just smile and say, you’re okay. If others behind me get annoyed, it’s their problem, they can always go to SCO or find another lane which is what I’d do in the same situation. I value their time as much as I value mine but being rude doesn’t solve issues, negativity breeds contempt.

I don’t let negative people affect me; as much as I refuse to inconvinience others, stuff happens and if it’s beyond my control, sorry to say, they just have to deal with it.

I was just thinking this same thing today. I was just at Walmart attempting to get my last few transactions for my EDP. I had 5 items and was in self checkout with no one behind me. After I finished the first one people started lining up and one customer was having a credit card issue. This Walmart also enabled the chip on the reader so I had to insert instead of swipe so I think that’s what was messing up the other guy. Anyway, I tried to go fast but more people got in line so I ended up with 4 transactions and got out of there. I was there maybe 3 or 4 minutes but that line piled up quick. So I’ll stick with you Shawn on the 4 transaction limit.

I love that you posted this today, as I was finishing up the Smart & Final deal earlier today and it got me thinking about this very topic. I ended up spending $1,200 during the S&F deal, but I made sure to do it over multiple trips. The largest of the trips involved three cards, and every time I wondered about the person behind me. One of the times I let someone go in front of me because they only had a couple items, but the other times someone was usually behind me.

My thoughts are to keep it small and simple. I will let someone go in front of me if they only have a couple items, but if their transaction looks equal to mine then they get to wait. I think the biggest issue, and I was telling me wife this earlier today, is that people see you with little to nothing and think you will be a quick transaction. They are now creating an expectation that will not necessarily be met because they want to see a couple swipes and you’re gone. When the teller has to keep ringing you up for such a small amount of items that expectation is out the window and I think that creates more disdain from their standpoint.

I have never had anyone say anything to me, but I would just laugh it off if they did. I am getting a good deal, and they are clearly unaware of what they have missed. If they knew the deal, they would not be commenting because they would be worrying about the person behind them.

Sometimes it’s unavoidable. But I never like to spend more time doing a transaction than is “normal” – maybe 5 minutes is tops at WM (where sending a Moneygram can take 10 mins or longer). Most of the time it is the cashier’s attitude/expression that let’s me know when to stop – the cashiers are the one’s facing the line and can see how restless and how long the line of waiting customers are. I’m particularly sensitive when it’s just one cashier as any delay caused by me can make the rest of the customers testy – and that then makes me a “problem ” customer who can’t expect great treatment the next time I visit.

For S&F, try to flag down a manager and ask them to do your Amex purchases with them, to avoid holding up the line, especially if you have a lot of cards…

I used to be an extreme couponer and tried to be sensitive to that. Usually when people got behind me I would tell them that I was going to take a long time. Usually they’d say “oh that’s okay” but then after they saw what I was doing, usually they’d just go find another line 🙂

My rule is to try to figure out the time that an average transaction takes and limit my time to that. If it is a grocery store where people normally buy 20 items and it takes a few minutes, I would limit myself to that.

this is the problem with society, everybody thinks it’s about them. In this case, it seems the ladies felt their time was more important than you saving money. Forget them. I hate going to Walmart because even when it isn’t busy, they never have enough registers open and it takes forever. Do I get mad at the person in front of me that decided to do their monthly grocery shopping and has one overflowing cart? No, it’s not their problem, they have every right to buy as much as they want. They got in line first, and while it is polite, they certainly don’t need to let me cut because I have fewer items. People need to get over themselves. I get frustrated with people that still write checks and use coupons at the register because they take forever, but I don’t say anything (like use a credit card, you can earn points). It is their right. I’m glad you responded that way, I would have done the same.

It all depends on where you draw your line. In the coupon case, I am with you. Even if there are no registers, if the cashier needed more time it is what it is. When I am doing MS with multiple Visa cards etc, if people are coming with carts, I tell them “I am loading money and it may take tim, just so you know.” Some people don’t car, some chose another reg, some leave with gasps. On the other hand if the lines get longer, I will break my activity tell the cashier and go back in line. That is where I draw my line. I had not-so-good experiences but never horrible ones.