Would You Say Something in This Situation? (ALDI Checkout)

Try and picture this.

2 checkout lines. Left checkout line has 2 people in it as it is closing.

In my line we have about 5 people. Lady in front of me and myself have not yet reached the conveyor belt to put items on.

Cashier in the "closing" lane then points to the lady in-front of me and myself to come to her checkout as it is actually not closing, she just did not change the indicator.

Middle aged lady behind me goes from 0 to 100 and pushes her trolley in cutting off lady in front of me and myself.
Cashier lady was not impressed but did not say anything. Customer begins to put her shopping on the belt and gives us a face.

I stayed calm then I lashed out. Just basically said to her what a rude selfish bitch she was for doing that, and that others were waiting with the right intentions especially the lady in front of me.

Is this just an Aldi thing? I have actually experienced this behaviour before regarding this. What happened to us as a society?

My question to you is, would you have said something as well or let it slide?

edit: I actually forgot to mention she tried cutting in front of us earlier but didn't see the line had snaked out past the freezer. (Due to covid distances)
Then she waited behind us before she pounced.

Poll Options

  • 477
    YES I would have pulled her up on her behaviour
  • 93
    No I would have not engaged
  • 129
    Cashier should have said something

Related Stores

ALDI
ALDI

Comments

  • +86

    its always like that at Aldi. When the little sign lights up indicating a new lane opening, its a free for all… HOWEVER, if you called a person a bitch, thats a bit OOT

    • +34

      I thought it was justified. The fact of the matter was she actually cut the lady off in-front of me in an aggressive manner.

      • +39

        There's never any need for that. If you are right, you can say it in calm normal way and it will be clear you are right. If you feel the need to use insults and speak angrily, that's a sign you're in the wrong.

        • +27

          Yeah I probably still could have been the better person by not calling her that. Unfortunately in the heat of the moment, I thought she deserved it.

          • +21

            @iNeed2Pee: My suggestion is learn an appropriate term in an obscure foreign language. That way you get the satisfaction without incurring the backlash.

            • +3

              @try2bhelpful: Yeah, the one that rhymes with hunt. The Aussie way!

          • @iNeed2Pee: If you search Karen motherf+#$ing on YouTube you actually not that bad :)

          • -1

            @iNeed2Pee: It's alright man. I was like that before I turned 30. After 30 just ceeb lol. Lots of crazy people past the age of 40. Like literally physical degradation of the brain cells for them to act like that.

          • @iNeed2Pee: I can relate to that. I've been faced with increasing encounters like this in all stores, and it takes a bit of time and practice - lol- to get it right. I always regret not handling or saying it differently ,but the audacity and entitlement of people is so surprising. Even last weekend a woman rammed my ankle in bunnings with her trolley and when I turned and said you just hit me, she continued the abuse with a verbal rant. In your situation I would have tried to just go ahead of her if there was space and said "not today lady"

        • +3

          Disagree - just because he is right and can say it in a calm manner and be right doesn't mean she will change her behaviour or care at all about his input. Some people absolutely deserve a spray

          • +1

            @sakurashu: What will you achieve by "giving a spray"? She won't change her behaviour and you've just made yourself unhappy and everyone around you as well. She's getting free rent in his head, as people like to say nowadays.

            • +19

              @Quantumcat: Ah, a question of ethics and results eh?

              Based upon this example, The "cutting off woman" will continue to cut people off, and continue to do so until the end of time.

              By standing up to her, the OP has challenged the woman's belief that she entitled to "cut people off". As a result, the "cutting off woman" now has the oppertunity for personal growth, by employing empathy and re-evaluate her actions should this situation occur. Before you say it, yes, conversely she also has the oppertunity to reinforce her belief system and associate the OP as "a rude (profanity)". However in this second scenario, the end result is still the same so there is no oppertunity loss.

              The standard you walk past is the standard you accept. The OP's world view is that people employ empathy before taking actions against their fellow humans. If a person does not, then they are socially shamed. Not exactly the worst thing to happen, and honestly if it did infact change the "cutting off woman" mindset and actions, I'd say it's worth it.

              • +2

                @Shroomlet:

                now has the oppertunity for personal growth, by employing empathy and re-evaluate her actions should this situation occur

                This will never, ever happen. Not once in the universe has someone changed their behaviour due to being yelled at and called names by a stranger. Guaranteed, it will reinforce the behaviour as it makes her feel like the rational one and OP the crazy one who she needs to try to avoid and do the opposite of whatever he says. Remember that she started off taking an action that she thought was the right thing. She didn't cut in while thinking "this is the wrong thing to do". If she is capable of thinking that it is the wrong thing to do she wouldn't have done it, or she would have stopped when she saw people looking at her oddly as she was wondering if it was the wrong thing to do. She is doing something she thinks is right, and then a crazy man starts yelling and swearing at her. She will just think he is some mentally ill drug addict, and either defend herself or get the hell out of there. No chance she will look at her own behaviour and wonder if her behaviour made a random stranger go crazy at her.

                If you did something that felt completely rational to you, and then someone started yelling at you and calling you a (profanity) bastard or whatever (for no reason that you can discern as everything you do you think is the normal thing to do), would your first thought be, "I wonder which of my perfectly rational actions has caused this person to become mentally ill", or, "wtf is this crazy person doing, let's get the hell out of here"

                I feel like this is one of those life lessons that everyone learns eventually.

                • +11

                  @Quantumcat:

                  This will never, ever happen. Not once in the universe has someone changed their behaviour due to being yelled at and called names by a stranger.

                  Then you and I live in very, very different universes. Social shaming is a very powerful tool and is regularly utilised within the world.

                  You are correct when you state that she started off by completing an action she thought she was entitled to complete. However you are absolutely incorrect when you state so soundly that

                  She will just think he is some mentally ill drug addict, and either defend herself or get the hell out of there. No chance she will look at her own behaviour and wonder if her behaviour made a random stranger go crazy at her.

                  There is absolutely no possible way for you to know for sure that she will think that, and it's a logical fallacy to assert so. All you can reasonably do is assume.

                  In conclusion, what will most likely happen is that she do exactly what the OP has done. Take this scenario and run it by others. What we reasonably assume is that she will cherry pick out the details which highlight she was "entitled" to her actions, thereby indirectly acknowleding that her actions were not acceptably by current societal standards. Another option potentially may be that she feels guilt towards her actions and doesn't mention it to others.

                  If you did something that felt completely rational to you, and then someone started yelling at you and calling you a (profanity) bastard or whatever (for no reason that you can discern as everything you do you think is the normal thing to do), would your first thought be, "I wonder which of my perfectly rational actions has caused this person to become mentally ill", or, "wtf is this crazy person doing, let's get the hell out of here"

                  My first thought would be "what the hell is this person on about?" and I would probably respond with a "what the fk are you on about mate?". From there OP and I would discuss what about my actions rattled him so. Your arguement insinuates that there are only two options available, when in infact there is an entire spectrum including mine, and from the "cutting off woman" just giving the OP the finger.

                  • +2

                    @Shroomlet: I find it hard to believe people don't know social norms/expectations when they break them. Sure there are exceptions, like maybe walking on the wrong side of the path in a foreign country or more subtle etiquette.
                    But lining up orderly, not cutting people off, wearing masks, general courtesies;
                    I believe there always will be a minor percentage who think they are above the norms, or that they know/are better. These people simply don't care to do the right thing.

                    And if this person OP talks about really was totally oblivious, she wouldn't have made a face after doing so.

                • +1

                  @Quantumcat: You're thinking about it as if it needs to be constructive growth on her part - simply deciding not to go to that shop anymore is a win for the rest of the people if every time she goes there she is shamed for her behaviour and doesn't want to deal with it anymore.

                  Also, the more people that do this and the more frequently they do it the more effective it becomes.

                • @Quantumcat: "This will never, ever happen. Not once in the universe has someone changed their behaviour due to being yelled at and called names by a stranger"

                  so how do you explain japan?

                  if you pull this crap there, people will tear you a new ar$ehole.

                  • -2

                    @hueylewis: I think this is unlikely. Japan has the culture of social harmony being the most important thing in the world. If a non Japanese person did this my bet would be on everyone else just standing there agog. And I say non Japanese person on purpose because I doubt a Japanese person in Japan would actually do this (unless they have some kind of emergency where they can't explain themselves, and know they're doing the wrong thing and feel terrible all the time they're doing it - we are talking about someone who thinks they're in the right here).

                    • +1

                      @Quantumcat: and how, exactly, do they have a culture of social harmony? does it appear via osmosis? respect and consequences of actions are instilled in them from birth. you literally have no idea what you are talking about.

        • +1

          People who speak angrily are always wrong? I guess I learned something today

          • @belongsinforums: They appear wrong. If you're right, then you'll be able to say it calmly. If you shout, the conclusion unconsciously in people's mind is that if you'd said it calmly it would have been clear you were wrong so you had to shout to make people pay attention to it. Therefore you are probably wrong.

            • @Quantumcat: Nice logic

              • +2

                @belongsinforums: rightly or wrongly the person yelling in public looks like the crazy one.

                • @telljoolz: Hate it when someone's getting stabbed and they start yelling. Can't they just get stabbed quietly? Smh

                  • @belongsinforums: Sure. Keep adding more dramatic events to the scenario.

                    • @telljoolz: You must be wrong because you're yelling

                      • +1

                        @belongsinforums: "People who speak angrily are always wrong?"
                        "You must be wrong because you're yelling"

                        no one said these things but you. So I dunno.

                        • +2

                          @telljoolz: Read more.
                          If you feel the need to use insults and speak angrily, that's a sign you're in the wrong.

                          • +1

                            @belongsinforums: What on earth are you talking about? I insulted no one. Nor was I angry.

                            I think you've misunderstood much of the thread.

                            • +1

                              @telljoolz: I don't know why you're responding to me when you didn't even read what I responded to. I just quoted that cat

                              • +1

                                @belongsinforums: I understand now that you were quoting cat. Actual quotes "" help.

                                The point cat made was being calm is more effective communication and I was seconding that.

                                Even if you're in the right, creating a scene will put people off side.

                                "a sign youre in the wrong" , is different from "You must be wrong because you're yelling".

                                Also if you start abusing someone (verbally) i'd say the party in the 'right' is shifting to being also in the wrong.

                          • +1

                            @belongsinforums:

                            If you are right, you can say it in calm normal way and it will be clear you are right. If you feel the need to use insults and speak angrily, that's a sign you're in the wrong.

                            queue credits, turn back on the lights, we're done here

                            • +1

                              @Shroomlet: That's a quote from QuantumCat

                              • @belongsinforums: ozbargain forum rookie mistake, i didn't realise pressing > wouldn't let me change the name, and you commented before I could put in the "ACKTSHULLY" edit :( now I look like foolish like the plebeian I am,

        • +1

          If you are right, you can say it in calm normal way and it will be clear you are right. If you feel the need to use insults and speak angrily, that's a sign you're in the wrong.

          Police to Armed Robber: FREEZE M*****F*****! PUT THE GUN DOWN!

          Yep, I guess the police were wrong…

        • +1

          There's never any need for that. If you are right, you can say it in calm normal way and it will be clear you are right. If you feel the need to use insults and speak angrily, that's a sign you're in the wrong.

          Strong disagree.

          Personally, I would just let it go because I just can't be bothered.

          However, OP is perfectly justified in letting the person who pushed in have a piece of his/her mind.

          If the person who pushed in doesn't like it, maybe don't push in. Problem solved.

      • Maybe she also needed to pee

      • +1

        You're an aggressor. Police will deal with you.

      • Don't justify it by white knighting for someone else. She is still a bitch though, I would have said the same but not referenced the other person since you're dragging them into the conversation when she might not want to be.

    • +10

      pretty much, Aldi seem to close and open lanes every few minutes

      can't wait for self service registers to be rolled out in all aldi

      • +4

        Completely agree with this. I only ever want to buy a few things in Aldi, and queueing behind people with full trolleys is such a pain.

        Sure, occasionally people will let you go ahead, but you are always a chance of encountering the swoopers like OP did.

          • +3

            @BobLim:

            Where does it stop? If you've got a whole stacked trolley and there's 6 people with one item each, how many do you let in?

            I feel that you may be overthinking this one.

          • @BobLim: don't think too hard, you might hurt yourself

          • @BobLim: Just wear a sign around your neck saying 'don't talk to me @ checkout'.

            Problem solved. 👍

          • @BobLim: I get where you are coming from, but you are overthinking it.

            I recommend Coles and Woolworths for you.

      • +1

        Yeap so then the idiots will take half an hour to scan 4 times.

  • +11

    I lashed out. Just basically said to her what a rude…

    Was that you?

    ╭∩╮ (︶︿︶) ╭∩╮

    • You would never have done such a thing.

      • +1

        I have to agree that, social etiquette has definitely gone down hill.

        FOMO, Scarcity, WIIFM seems to be the signs of modern times.

        Selfish & transactional base behavior in society seems quite prevalent.

        • +4

          If I am doing a big shop at Aldi, and I see a customer with only a few items, I generally ask them if they want to go ahead.

          Does not happen often, but I still ask them because I feel it is the right thing to do.

          Even in this situation, I could not give a shit about myself, the fact she cut off an older lady with no awareness pissed me right off!

          • +10

            @iNeed2Pee:

            the fact she cut off an older lady with no awareness

            Trust me. She was very aware. There are some odd people out there.

            • @Muzeeb:

              Trust me. She was very aware. There are some odd people out there.

              If she wasn't before, she very much is now!

          • @iNeed2Pee: There are 3 parties to this situation.

            Mr Pee.
            Ms. Karen.
            Aldi Inc.

            IMO, the highest ranked entity should be responsible for this. In this case Aldi inc, they enable an environment where such altercations can occur. Had Aldi inc, managed the queue rules, then a free for all situation could not have played out…

            Next time, blame Aldi Inc. Get upset with the Cashier, telling them to make sure the right people are lined up in the queue, their shop, their rules. Otherwise they are avoiding their responsibility, causing Mr Pee to do Aldi inc's job without the authority. Aldi Inc should be the one taking the heat on this one. :)

            • @SF3: I'm genuinely not sure if aldi cashiers are allowed to get fully involved? I mean, if someone can elaborate on that great, but what I understand it very much boils down to one's personality and ability to manage people / queues.

              • +1

                @mincemeat: Honestly, retail workers often don't get paid enough for the hassle (or even abuse) they get. It gets to the point that they're told not to stick thier neck out.

                As a 20 year old I was threatened by a customer (aparently a big CEO of a top modelling company, because he kept telling me who he worked for). I was verbally abused and threatened with legal action becuase the department store I worked for wouldn't accept a personal cheque for a purchase.

                Strangely enough I've dealt with him twice since. 2nd time had similar treatment for not returning a pair of used jeans. Third time almost went there for not replacing his "faulty earphones", but he calmed down when I showed him the different bud sizes make a difference to the sound too.
                Neither time did he recognise me. He was too important to remember anyone he had abused in the past.

                • +1

                  @dizzle: Blimey. I find that these encounters described by OP, and now your angry CEO, are a regular day for the perp, out in the wilderness, abusing others at every chance. And agree, the workers are right to choose their battles wisely. I've seen "angry little ceo" types point their finger under the newish perspex glass cashier barriers and verbally abuse and threaten aldi workers. One guy even shouted at a worker "speak English!" Just completely crazy what they go through. I have heard also by employees that customers also call head office and complain about them, its so out of order, how could you ever mess with someone's livelihood like that.

  • +7

    Sounds like you had a special buy

    • +2

      🥴 Ironically, she had loaded her trolley up with special buys. Might have been reselling. Might have triggered me more!

      • That should be irrelevant. She might have been buying for the family. Who knows? None of our business.

  • +10

    Just basically said to her what a rude selfish bitch

    There's your problem. You shouldn't use male-female gender distinctions in Aldi. "rude selfish canine" would have been acceptable.

    • "rude selfish canine" would have been acceptable.

      …or you 'mother of a pup'

    • +5

      Oi ya dumb faken dawg

  • +13

    People act different at aldi checkout lines, I have no idea why. In no other supermarket has anyone ever offered for me to go ahead of them if I had a few items. Only in Aldi.

    By the same token, I've seen what you've experienced. People are animals.

    • +3

      In no other supermarket has anyone ever offered for me to go ahead of them if I had a few items

      I've had this happen to me in Coles

      • I only use self serve check out in Colesworth whenever possible. One Coles near me still only have manned checkouts (shock! horror!) so forced to use it.

        Funny enough my experience mirrors Sprinter99- twice in Aldi the person in front of me (with a full trolley) asked me to go first as I only had a couple of items.

      • I've had this happen in Aldi…maybe because I didn't call anyone a selfish bitch???

        • Same here, and I often let people go on front if they've only got a couple of things and we have a big shop.

    • +2

      Aldi local store near me always manage to have few staff. I guess its all about cost cutting despite long queues. One of the reasons why I barely go there. Very shopper hostile setup too, but probably just here

      • It might just be the one/s you go to.

        I find them as customer friendly as Colesworth. They are focused on making sure stock is full and easy to get. When the queue gets to the end of the conveyer they are supposed to open another line (but a lot of customers don't realise the slowness in opening is so you have time to unload the trolley, and then they can scan quicker). Sure, it's not about customer service in the aisles, but if you ask for help, they normally do.

        Coles/Woolies also don't seem to help in the aisles either. They encourage you to use the self service now, to cut down on registers/staff (similar to unloading your own trolley). They have a couple of aisles open (maybe just one), but the staff seem less friendly in that checking you out as well.

    • +2

      I used to work in supermarket, I did offer customers with 1-2 items to go first (sometimes I asked permission to my current customer beforehand, sometimes I didn't).

      And if someone cut the line, I usually told them, the other lady was here first, and asked the other lady to come forward.

      But it depends on the cashier really.

    • Seen it happen often around where I live, in the Harris Farms and the Woolies Metro near me. Obviously, it doesn't happen all the time, but it is somewhat common courtesy imo.

    • +2

      In no other supermarket has anyone ever offered for me to go ahead of them if I had a few items. Only in Aldi.

      That's simply because Aldi does not believe in having an 'express items' lane like Coles/Woolies do.

      Which is sad because I hardly ever trolley shop in Aldi.

    • +2

      That's because in Colesworth there's self check outs where everyone has 1-100 items. But in Aldi where there's only 2 registers and usually people load up their trolleys, lots of people have offered to let me go ahead when I only buy eggs or milk lol

    • +1

      It's embarrassing to still be loading my trolley when someone behind me has 2 items. I always let them in front. Just more efficient

      • Now what would you do if the person behind them had 2 items, and the person behind them…

  • Shazza is that you?

  • +8

    What could go wrong if you call her out? 100 things.

    Don't bother - you can't preach to people, it achieves nothing.

    That person clearly has a miserable life and thats punishment enough.

    Move on and don't take it personal. Ego is a flaw and only serves to harm.

    • +9

      See I thought that, then I thought they will keep doing it maybe because they know they can keep getting away with it. So I called her out on it.

      • +4

        Calling someone names just makes them more sure they're right. All you achieved was upsetting yourself and making everyone around you cringe with embarrassment. No one ever got yelled at and sworn at and thought, "oh, I might change the way I do things from now on!". No, they get defensive and just feel very "anti" whatever it is that's getting yelled at them.

        • -1

          that's getting yelled at them.

          Lol?

        • +2

          Deterrents work. People aren’t NOT getting vaccinated because fear of losing their job is making them double down. Calling somebody a prick for cutting in line will make them think twice next time.

        • +2

          People act the way they do because society is happy to roll over and take it. You call someone out and suddenly everyone takes notices and makes them think twice (most of the time).

          • @smartazz104: That's what you wish was the case but it isn't how people work. People listen to those they trust, or how they observe others behave to know what's normal. It does not happen from people yelling obscenities at them.

        • +1

          "No one ever got yelled at and sworn at and thought, "oh, I might change the way I do things from now on!"

          so how do you explain japan?

          if you pull this crap there, people will tear you a new ar$ehole.

          They get away with it here because people are too pi$$ weak to call out bad behaviour, and usually some enabler pokes their head up to stick their nose in and DEFEND THE SCUM …then has the temerity to abuse the person who called out the grub.

          • @hueylewis: What do you mean how do I explain Japan? No one would do that there as social harmony is the most important thing in society, and if someone did do it everyone would be too polite to comment on it, let alone try to explain to the person that this behaviour isn't acceptable.

            • +2

              @Quantumcat: try leaving your safe space area at your gender studies course and actually go to japan before opining with your theories. then come back and talk to me.

        • +1

          I love it when assholes are called out, especially in aldi queues. I dont cringe. Last time a woman behind me told an entitled guy off for crowding her - and she handled it brilliantly, the 'offender' just stood there deer in headlight style.

          • @mincemeat: Did she tell him off confidently and calmly (eg "excuse me, there's a line here, what do you think you're doing?"), or did she scream and calling him a (profanity) bastard or other obscenity? The first is the way to go.

  • +10

    I'm not sure what you achieved in calling the person names.
    Ideally, the cashier should have addressed the situation, but I understand they are under pressure to push customers through.

    If it were me, I probably would have initiated a conversation with the lady in front of me and had a laugh about the attitude of the lane-cutter. You would have both left in a better state of mind, and it wouldn't have ruined your day.

    • +9

      We did initiate a conversation 🤣🤣.

      Her exact words to me were "where has the manners gone in our society?".

      She actually thanked me for backing her up.
      I felt sorry for her. She was in her late 70s for sure.

    • +1

      Cashier probably didn't want to confront a rude customer, bit risky

  • +2

    I only ever buy a couple of items at a time in Aldi and almost always get offered to go ahead whilst waiting in line. One thing I have no hesitation calling out is the people who leave their trolleys in the carpark, blocking spaces, in garden beds or propped up against a pole instead of returning them. Got no time for self serving, non community minded people like that. If you can push a trolley all the way around a supermarket and to your car, you can take it back to the return bay. And then there are the ones who dump them outside apartment buildings, yet they never get caught..

  • +1

    The queuing system in Aldi is a lottery at the best of times.

    I've complained to head office before now about the lack of open tills and size of the queues.

    I have lost count at the number of times I'm about to finish up only to hear the announcement say that they are closing a register.
    They never check the volume of customers in the end aisles who are about to finish their shops to work this out.

    The biggest problem though is the convenience to pay for a small basket full of items as everyone is all lumped together in a handful of tills.

    Regarding saying something I have in the past but I've also learned you have to be very careful these days as there is a lot of anger out there and it is usually the most trivial of things which sparks the biggest flames. Some people are rude and inconsiderate, and some people may have valid reasons to behave like arseholes that we may not appreciate or fully understand.

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