Even more supermarket annoyances: ‘Ugh, a half-sucked banana on the conveyor belt’

Besides dirty carts, warm loose change and badly behaved children, there are plenty more supermarket annoyances, as we read in the responses to the article 12 things supermarket employees find super annoying. We selected the best ones: ‘I got a half-chewed, saliva-covered banana on my checkout. And when you say something about it…’

Banana for the road

Some people give their children something tasty to eat while they’re in the supermarket. Maybe it’s the only way to keep junior quiet, or perhaps little Avalanche or Roderick-Willem would otherwise suffer a traumatic hunger meltdown—you never know. But then to put a half-sucked currant bun on the conveyor belt… ‘I once had a half-chewed, saliva-covered banana placed on my checkout,’ says Marleen. ‘Ew! But heaven forbid you say anything about it, because then you don’t understand that the child is “just hungry”.’

Can I help you?

Astrid is being wonderfully customer-friendly, but is everyone grateful for that? ‘And if you ask an elderly person “Can I help you?”, you get a mouthful in return. “I’m not disabled or stupid” (while they can barely move forward with their walker). That look in their eyes!’

You’re air, you’re invisible

‘Nothing is more annoying than customers who flat-out ignore you, feel too important to deem you worthy of even a glance, consider their phone conversation more important and continue chatting with their neighbor while throwing the money at you.’ As if you don’t exist, Willeke describes it.

An important phone call in the middle of it all

Customers on the phone at the checkout are a whole thing in themselves. Suzy can relate: ‘When people keep talking on the phone or fiddling with their mobile while they should be packing, or when they unpack their cart with one hand while their other hand is free but their handbag is hanging from it. Those are also incredibly irritating situations.’ Linda knows what you can do about customers who simply keep talking on the phone. ‘Then I call out extra loudly: GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU!’ Willeke has a better solution: ‘My mother taught me that it’s rude to disturb people who are having a conversation. So I calmly sit down a little farther back and wait until the other customers in line start getting involved. Success guaranteed.’

It’s about the principle

People make mistakes. So if someone discovers a small error on their receipt, no problem. But the situation Bart describes goes a little too far… ‘When another Gerda has paid and checks her receipt a meter farther down, only to discover that she has paid a full 20 cents too much. Waving the receipt at the cashier and screaming that she has been wronged and that this must be fixed. That’s what we have the fucking service desk for, Gerda! And then she finishes with: “It’s not about the 20 cents, it’s about the principle.” ARGH!

Stop it, Gerda doesn’t find it funny anymore

A response to the irritation Bart describes. ‘Thank you for making me look like an idiot. You didn’t have to mention a name either. Now they’ll think everyone named Gerda behaves like that.’ Signed: Gerda.

Nice, soggy receipt

Ooh, Denise describes a particularly awful irritation. Disgusting, too. And relatable. ‘When the customer is putting her groceries on the belt and keeps the deposit-refund receipt between her lips. You end up with a half-wet receipt.’

Just dump it there

Groceries being put back in the wrong place are a major annoyance for supermarket employees. ‘They eat croissants and then put the packaging by the soft drinks,’ says Anita. Or, even crazier, in the freezer. ‘Custard, fresh pastries, sandwich fillings and a jar of peanut butter. I’ve found all of them in the freezer. I’ve also found ice cream by the crisps. Or meat by the soft drinks.’ It can get even stranger: at An’s checkout, someone left behind… a full cart. ‘Because there are too many people at the checkout, we (who apparently have far too much time) can clean it up.’

Where are you going to pack?

A long line, and as a cashier you’re trying to process everything as smoothly and efficiently as possible, and then… a slow packer throws a wrench into the works. Ada’s frustration: ‘People taking their time packing their bags at the checkout when there’s a line stretching from here to Tokyo. How about taking your cart to the packing table and putting your things in your bag there?’

Catch!

‘Loose change that is literally thrown at you!’ writes An. ‘It makes me want to throw the change straight back.’

Ask and you shall receive

A customer asked Johan whether there was any sauerkraut left. Johan went to the cold room: no, the sauerkraut was sold out. ‘So I told the customer. Thirty seconds later she asked the manager, who gave her the exact same answer. Don’t ask me if you don’t believe me!’

Do you work here?

Sometimes they really don’t see what’s right in front of them, Ewout observes: ‘Customers who ask whether you work here (while you’re wearing the supermarket uniform).’

Don’t make the supermarket lady angry!

Parents threaten their children with ‘just wait until you make the shop lady angry,’ Ada knows. ‘Raise your own children and stop turning cashiers into witches!’

Tap, tap, tap: KEEP WORKING

Everyone is in a hurry at the checkout. And some customers make that known in an irritating way. ‘Tapping their fingers on the belt,’ says Tineke. ‘Or waving their loyalty card around while you’re still serving the previous customer.’

Also read:

• Supermarket employees on: how do you recognize a hoarder?
• 10 of the strangest names on supermarket packaging
• This supermarket has shopping carts with bicycle bells to maintain distance