Since Audrey posted about one of her gripes today, I guess I should write about one of mine, too. Especially since it just happened again today.
People who cut the line.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m in one of those ambiguous, no-real-decipherable-way-of-telling-who’s-next lines (the deli counter, for example), I always look around to see who was there before me. You know, just to be sure that I’m not intentionally cutting anyone in line when the deli person/cashier/whomever says, “Who’s next?”
Twice this week I’ve had encounters with people who obviously don’t follow that rule.
At Panera Bread last weekend, my dad and I were standing in line and these two guys literally walked right around us and just stood in front of us. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, so I didn’t say anything immediately.
But then when the cashier said, “Can I help who’s next?” and the two guys walked up to her, I was like, Oh hell no!
I’m not aggressive, but I’m not passive either. Assertive? Yes.
“Excuse me,” I said. “We were here first.”
That was all it took. The guys said they didn’t realize we were in line (strange, as we were, in fact, in the line), and Dad and I went up to the counter to order without further incident.
I didn’t blame the cashier there because she had said, “Can I help who’s next?” and obviously just assumed the guys in the front of the line were next.
But today at Whole Foods, while at the meat counter, it was a different story.
There was no ticket dispenser, so I made sure I knew who was there before me. Once the guy behind the counter helped the last person in front of me, instead of saying, “Who’s next?” he just looked up and said to the first person he saw, “What can I get you?”
The first person he saw, of course, was not me. It was a woman who came after me.
Total pet peeve alert!
In my opinion, it is first up to the counter person or cashier to make sure that they are taking waiting on people in the correct order. But if that person isn’t on the ball, then the people in line need to step up to the plate. You know, look around to make sure they’re not cutting anyone.
I know this isn’t exactly the most important thing in the world, but it really annoys me. That, and I am just a fan of common sense.
Again, I had to use my assertiveness and notify the offending parties that I had been there first. The lady gave me a dirty look, but I didn’t care. My doggies were waiting for me in the car, and I wanted to purchase my ground beef and get out of there.
I think the banks do it right with that maze type of line you have to follow. Sure, it’s annoying when you’re the only one there to have to snake through the ropes, but no one’s going to cut you in that line.
There’s my gripe. And as I finish this post, it’s the official start of my birthday weekend, so no more griping! (As long as no one cuts me in line.)
- Jane
Ugh. 
