Whether you look forward to your weekly grocery run or consider it a necessary chore, there are a few unspoken rules everyone should follow to keep the experience smooth and pleasant for all. We covered all the things you should never do at the drive-thru, so naturally, we had to follow it up with another place where bad behavior tends to crop up: the grocery store.
We combed through Reddit threads where shoppers and employees alike shared their biggest grocery store pet peeves and unwritten rules. Drawing from their insights, we’ve put together this essential list of grocery store etiquette everyone should know.
Here are seven things you should never do at the grocery store.
Leave Items Where They Don't Belong—Especially Perishables
Maybe you put a box of cereal in your cart and don't want it anymore. That doesn't mean you should leave it on a shelf in the cosmetics aisle. It's even worse if it's a perishable item like milk or meat, which will spoil if not refrigerated. No one wants to pick up a gallon of melted ice cream left on a shelf.
Use An Express Lane When You Have Too Many Items
The express lanes are there for a reason—to speed things up for people with just a few items. If the items in your cart are over the limit, don't use the express lane. You'll appreciate it the next time you're in a hurry.
Block Aisles With Your Cart
This should be a no-brainer, but we see it all the time. Avoid leaving your cart in the middle of the aisle. It blocks other shoppers and stops the flow of traffic. Try to keep it pulled to one side.
Leave Your Cart Unattended
Yes, maneuvering a shopping cart through a busy store isn't always easy. But leaving your cart abandoned while you run off to grab an item (especially when you're in the checkout line) just blocks other people from getting what they need.
Ask To Cut The Line Because You Only Have A Few Items
This is why there are express lanes. Perhaps someone will offer to let you move ahead, but don't ask to cut the line.
Eat Your Food Before Paying
Whether you open a bag of chips or snack on a few grapes, people have mixed feelings about eating while grocery shopping. Our take? It depends on what you're munching on. Avoid bulk foods that need to be weighed or anything too messy.
Be Ill-Prepared At The Checkout
Maybe you're fumbling for your wallet or coupons or even counting coins. No matter your method of payment, be ready when you enter the checkout lane. And save phone conversations for when you're finished.
Fail To Return Your Cart Or Basket After Shopping
You've already made it through the busy grocery store; what's one more step? Returning your shopping cart to the corral or your basket to the basket pile keeps things tidy and makes things easier for the next shopper.
