How to Practice Supermarket Checkout Etiquette

Last Updated: October 19, 2022

You've gotten everything that you need on your shopping list, but see long lines in the checkout area. This may tip your patience level, especially if you're in a rush. This article will show you how to practice checkout etiquette at the supermarket.

Steps

1
Obey the express lane item limit. Express lanes are created for people who have a certain amount of items, such as a little snack or a little handful of groceries. This limit may be set between 6 to 15 (on average), depending on the store. Cashiers will probably look down at customers who have more than the limit and try to use the express lane to get out quicker.
2
Avoid standing in the walkway. Between the conveyor belt and the store aisles, people need to get through. Leave about a shopping cart length of space between the last person at the conveyor belt and yourself. Like traffic intersections, you may move forward if there's sufficient room for you and your cart on the checkout side.

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3
Double check on your groceries. While waiting in line, please be sure that you have everything you need and anything that you do not want. Avoid giving cashiers food, especially perishable items, because you have changed your mind at the last minute.
4
Have membership cards and coupons ready. Coupons that need to be subtracted manually with the specific item can set things back a little if the cashier is unaware of it. Be prepared to give any membership or store club cards to the cashier in advance. It saves time and the savings can be subtracted as the items gets swiped.
5
Bag your own groceries. If there is no bagger at the check-out station that you're on, it's in good faith to bag your groceries instead of waiting for the cashier to ring up everything and then have to sort and bag themselves.
6
Relax and have patience. Huffing and getting impatient will make it feel like a longer line. Read a magazine, arrange your items in the shopping cart in preparation for efficient bagging, or distract yourself in another positive way. Don't scan other lines to see how fast they're moving or how many people there is in a line. These thoughts will probably cause you to move into another line; a position that may or may not be better than the previous line you were in.
7
Respond to the cashier in a positive manner. A polite greeting followed by a short conversation will make the transaction pass faster for the both of you.
8
Be sure to allow ample room between your cart and the person standing in front of you. There is nothing worse than taking a step back and hitting someone's cart because they are too close. Think of when you are driving, do you like people to tailgate? Its the same with shopping carts.
9
If you are in line at the checkout and the adjacent register appears to be opening, ask it the cashier is opening a new line. If the cashier says "Yes", move into that line. This is not line cutting.
10
If you believe someone cut in front of you in line, relax and don't be a jerk. Take a deep breath and go to your happy place and enjoy an extra minute of meditation.

Community Q&A

Question

Is it rude to start putting things on a counter next to a person who is being checked out and then reach over to pay before the other customer is out of the way?

Community Answer

Yes. Generally, if you have to reach around someone to do something, what you're doing is probably rude. It's always best to wait until the next person is finished and out of the way.
Question

If I'm in line waiting to check out and there is no room to move forward, but the person behind me in line wishes to set items down, should the person wait?

Sylghouls

Top Answerer

Yes. It's good manners to wait your turn in any situation, and particularly if not doing so would be an inconvenience to the people in front of you in line.
Question

Can I assist with packing stuff into paper bags while my partner is still scanning items?

Community Answer

Yes, you can assist your partner in packing the items in bags.

Warnings

Do not attempt to tell the cashier how to do his/her job! They have been sufficiently trained to do their job and claiming to have superior knowledge about this can be seen as rude. Making comments about their bagging skills, speed, or ability is unacceptable. When an item rings up wrong or is tagged wrong, DO NOT BLAME THE CASHIER. It is never their fault, and it makes them go into their office and talk about you for being rude.

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