Dear Mrs. A – July Issue
Dear Readers,
I’d like to talk to you about a thing that happened to me while shopping and how it made me a more courteous and informed shopper. I’m talking about the queue with the impulse buying. You know, HomeGoods has the longest one, but they are common, and they come with a code of navigation that includes etiquette, unwritten social norms and some practical logic.
As for me, if you’ve stopped to shop for additional sundries in the queue to check out, my natural inclination is to pass you (if there is room) and move further forward in the checkout line. But recently I was scolded by a woman who said, “Hey, I’m in line here!”
So, dear readers, I have fully researched the situation, interviewed several managers at said stores, observed countless same situations, talked to all my friends, and have come to this conclusion:
Impulse sections tempt people to wander, but there are unwritten and widely accepted rules for queueing, with the key principle being people’s belief in its fairness and efficiency.
And here’s where we get confused: It doesn’t feel efficient to stop and shop during checkout. I want to get in the line, pay and get out; and maybe while I’m there, I’ll take a look at the offerings around me. But here’s the nuance: If you are in the queue, you are technically “in line.” And that is where we must employ grace and patience. One hundred percent of the people I observed had the natural inclination to stop and allow the customer to continue shopping. Here’s where the ambiguity lies and communication is essential.
The shopper would (or should) almost always say, “Oh, go around me,” or the person wanting to check out would say “Are you in line?” And either way, we win when we allow politeness to rule.
Mrs. A. loves learning. I hope you do too!
