Thursday, September 27, 2012

Grocery Store Hell


I go to the grocery store . . . a lot.   I wish I were one of those perfect wives/mothers/ homemakers who actually make grocery lists and dinner menus.   I'm not.   I don't like cooking.   I don't like grocery shopping.   I don't like cleaning up.   I don't like anything but the eating part.   You'd think, since I don't like going to the grocery store that I WOULD plan  and make a list and shop . . . just ONCE a week . . . instead of torturing myself SEVERAL times a week.   Sigh.

What's worse for me than actually walking into the grocery store, however, is the experience at the checkout stand.   It wouldn't be so bad if the cashiers would just do their job and check me out (you know what I mean).   I do not want to know their plans for after work, or for the weekend, or for the rest of their lives.  I just don't.   Tell me how much I owe and let me leave.   A few weeks ago I was at the store (major chain) and there were several people behind me waiting to pay for their groceries.   The cashier felt it necesssary to tell me all about an acquaintance who was an aspiring singer.  That's really nice, but I had already paid for my groceries and was trying to leave.   He kept looking me in the eye and talking very animatedly, using his hands.  I kept making little steps toward the exit, and looking back apologetically at the line of people who were growing very impatient.   Contrary to what my children believe, I do not like to be rude.  So, I just smiled and said something stupid like "that's nice" and walked away.   He was still talking.

But the WORST part of the whole grocery store checkout experience is when the cashier does a running commentary on almost every single item I'm buying.   They scan, they pick it up, they read the back, go "hmmm," look me in the eye, judging, and then put it in the bag.   What business is it of theirs if I have Ben and Jerrys and cheetos for dinner???!!!    Torture.

And, guess what?  We're out of milk so I have to go to the store today!   Maybe I'll do self-checkout.

34 comments:

  1. put off going to the last minute and then I HAVE to go. I just went Monday and when Nicholas asked me to make dinner last night (it is rare, my friend) I had nothing thawed or even remotely ready to cook. We had Taco Bell.
    I don't mind going to the store, I hate loading, unloading and putting away.

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    1. I hate the putting away, too. BUT, I don't like for anyone else to do it for me! They always put things in the wrong place and then there's another thing to be irritated about! haha

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  2. We were out of everything this week and still I put it off....I too hate everything to do with food except the eating of it.

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  3. I do self Checkout all the time, if I can! Let them Judge, they are jealous they can't eat Ben and Jerry's with Cheetos for dinner. LOL

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  4. I am one of those people who does the lists and plans out meals, but I hate and dread going to the grocery store. People just irritate me, and the one thing that absolutely drives me crazy is the fact I'll try to put things in a certain order on the checkout belt. And it never fails, the bagger just randomly throws things in with each other despite my organization. Drives me crazy!

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    1. Totally forgot about the baggers! That's a subject for another post, I think!!

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  5. Hahaha! You're just like me. I hate shopping, but I never make a list or plan meals. I think I had better fix myself.

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  6. I do not care one tiny bit with a check out person thinks about my grocery order.

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  7. I kind of like the grocery store and all of the possibilities, but unfortunately I never have all of the stuff in my bags when I get home to make those wondrous ideas come to fruition!

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  8. Lol! I always wear my iPhone earbuds when I'm shopping, it works as an excellent deterrent to chatty checkout chicks.

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    1. Great idea, Kellie . . . maybe I'll give it a try next time!

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  9. I feel your pain! I loathe the grocery shopping chore and I do it once a week. I try to go early in the morning so I can get in and out as quickly as possible. What I hate is when the cashier knows the person in line in front of me and they decide to catch up on all the latest news. Or the person in front of me waits till the bitter end to decide how they are gonna pay and then they can't figure out how the debit card machine works. I was in line behind someone a few months ago who was trying to split her order up b/t 3 credit cards and food stamps. It took one manager and 2 cashiers and nearly 30 minutes or more to figure it out. It never fails, I ALWAYS get behind these people.

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  10. Ugh! How about "price check" and no one can find the product?!!

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  11. Oh no!!! Grocery shopping is one of those "MAKE IT STOP" moments for me--I'd rather break an arm--especially if that means that I don't have to put it all away! ;)

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    1. I was thinking that home grocery delivery would be nice, but I don't want them knowing where I live!

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  12. I am NO fan of the grocery store either - except very early on Saturday mornings! I often take the dogs on an early morning walk and the Saturday walk includes walking the downtown streets and stopping at the grocery to carry back a few items. There's something kinda cool about being in there at 5:30 or 6:00 am - you can wander around the aisles undisturbed.

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    1. 6 am might not be too bad - but I have a hard time getting up that early if it's dark :)

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  13. Self check-out confuses me. Why does it always yell out orders about the bagging area? Yet between that and a running commentary on my Nutella purchases....

    You may be onto something.

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    1. That's true - the self checkout robot is kind of a bully :)

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  14. Hahahaha. You're so much nice than me. Depending on the day or my mood, sometimes I'll say something like, "Do I look like Oprah? I don't have time for your life story, how much do I owe??" Other times I'll just leave.. Poor you. I usually use the UScan and I'm outta' there in no time.

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  15. Amen on this post! Oh and lists, I try that all the time either I leave home without it, or get there and don't come close to getting everything on it. There should be a support group for those of us who hate to go to the grocery store!

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    1. What a great idea - - we could all meet once a week and tell our grocery store tales of woe! haha

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  16. or do what i do and send your husband

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    1. My husband would spend way too much on things we don't need :)

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  17. So funny Judy! I am laughing. My husband used to do the food shopping. Up and down with a list ...he had a system. I'm in full ADD mode..no list, randoming walking through the store with items I don't need.

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  18. I know exactly what you mean! The cashiers at the grocery store we go to are always chatting with my kids, much to the despair of those behind us.

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  19. Oddly enough I have no life and I love to grocery shop. Some of the cashiers know me to see me and we do chat, but never too much. We should live closer and I could be your personal shopper. We could also have that way cool Halloween party.

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  20. I resisted self check out because it seemed like a hassle, and every time I tried it, I ended with the cashier coming over to help me. But thanks to my children, I've mastered it, and I love it. No more awkward conversations, no more judgments! Oh, happy day!

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