10 entitled habits shoppers do that annoy the hell out of checkout workers

"Sometimes I want to scream and tell them to think of someone other than themselves!" How many do you do? 

Supermarket workers have had enough of entitled shoppers and their annoying habits. Image: Supplied

There’s something that is annoying people at your local supermarket and it’s not the insane, increasing cost of everyday pantry items.

It’s actually... you!

OK maybe it's not you, but there's a good chance you've done something that has ticked someone off while at the checkout without realising it. Supermarket workers have had jack of it and are now speaking out to make us all aware of just how entitled we can sometimes act. 

"Some customers are so lovely, but unfortunately, the ones we remember are the ones that treat us with disrespect," Catherine, who has worked at a NSW Coles for almost 10 months tells Kidspot. "Sometimes I want to scream and tell them to think of someone other than themselves."

To get an idea of what is exactly irking workers, Kidspot nailed down a handful of checkout chicks and blokes and came up with a list of the top 10 entitled habits that are commonly witnessed during any given shift. 

*GULP* Strap yourself in for a reality check...

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1. Forget something and hold up the line to go get it

"Oh I forgot the eggs... would you mind if I quickly grabbed them while you keep scanning?"

Admit it, you're guilty of this. More often than not, customers take longer than expected and guess what? They've now finished scanning and are waiting for you to return with your jumbo free-range carton while the line keeps piling up. 

"I find it so annoying when customers come to the register to pay for goods and then realise they forgot something. It is annoying because they hold up other customers waiting to be served at the checkout," Mary, who has owned her independent grocery store for 30 years.

Unfortunately a guilty "sorry" to all around you doesn't cut it and you've been flagged as that person. 

2. Customers ask for a bag … for one item

When plastic bags were banned in Aussie supermarkets, the nation was divided. Some were all for the ban because #theenvironment and others were panicking over how they'll get by without them. 

No matter how environmentally conscious some shoppers are, there is always one person who requests a bag the moment they realise the store they're in isn't going to charge them for it. 

"I get really annoyed when a lot of customers in my area claim to be environmentally friendly however are opportunistic when it comes to plastic bags. Unlike the majors, we don’t charge for our plastic bags, which are made from 50% recyclable plastic. Customers will ask if we charge for plastic bags and when we say no, they agree to get one, forgetting about their concern for the impact on the environment," Mary vents. 

Even worse is when it's just for one item. 

"It's also extremely frustrating when customers purchase one small item and request a bag," she adds. 

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3. Insufficient funds

Lorenzo, who is also the owner of an independent grocer, lists customers who aren't aware of how much (or how little) money they have in their account BEFORE scanning their items at the checkout. 

"I find it annoying when they have insufficient funds on their EFTPOS cards and are declined by their banks. They often then say, 'I have got money, just give me a minute to transfer it'. This impacts time management and holds up other customers," he shares. 

Adding to this, Catherine says she also finds it annoying when customers ditch items at the registers because they change their minds at the last minute. 

"I watch customers put things they don’t want on the confectionary racks next to the registers as if I can’t see them," she laughs. 

Yes, she saw you. 

4. Daydream at the self-checkout

Here's a tip from those behind the checkout - work out if you are paying "cash or card" before you line up to scan through the items yourself. 

"Self-checkout usually moves quite quickly and often customers find themselves not realising they’re at the front of the line when there are registers open and available," says Catherine, adding: "Everyone behind them gets impatient and I get impatient having to yell out ‘next waiting’ all the time."

5. Ignoring an item that they’ve knocked down

"Cleaners to aisle three please, cleaners to aisle three."

We get it, accidents happen. But how about at least offering to help clean it up? Catherine says she is constantly shocked to see how many people walk on by after being the cause of a spillage.

"I once had four yoghurts smash in the self-checkout zone all within 15 minutes between three different customers. Not one of them offered to help out," she says. 

And Mary agrees.

"A really bad habit is when a customer knocks a product off the shelf or it falls from their hands and they ignore it and walk away. This means I have to pick up the product and put it back where it belongs, or if it has broken out of the packaging, I need to clean up the mess to ensure no safety risk to staff or customers." 

Plenty of shoppers don't offer to clean up their mess at the supermarket. Image: iStock

RELATED: Mum’s ‘entitled’ supermarket act with her toddler enrages shoppers

6. People comparing prices

Inflated supermarket prices are a heated topic right now, and while it's a competitive industry for the big names, independent grocers like Mary and Lorenzo suffer with high expectations from shoppers. 

"Customers will ask me why a product is cheaper at the majors. I try and explain that cost comparison with majors is unfair as they are massive national supermarkets. I feel like telling them that they should just go buy from them, however, I am aware that it is often more convenient for them to come to us. It upsets me as I feel the tradition of loyalty to an independent family-run grocer has gone," says Lorenzo. 

Catherine adds: "Also when they get angry at the 16-year-old workers for the prices on display. What do you think we can do about that? It is beyond our entire store!"

See it cheaper elsewhere? Shop there. Simple. 

7. Shoppers expecting ZERO mistakes

For Dimitri, who works at his local Woolworths in NSW, the biggest gripe he has is when the customer expects everything to run perfectly at the checkout. Reality check: they're not bots. 

"I find it so hard when customers think they’re the boss of us - like when I make a simple mistake and the customer just goes straight for my throat," he shares. 

One of these "mistakes", according to entitled shoppers, is the checkout worker packing the shopping bags "wrong" and the shopper making an issue of it. 

"They repack the bags in front of your face," Catherine shares. "If you wanted to pack it yourself or have a specific way of packing, either let us know what you want where beforehand - or kindly do it yourself from the start."

8. The customer is always right

Zero tolerance for error brings us to the next entitled habit: when the customer insists they're always right. Hint: they're not. 

"When they try and tell us when we are wrong and put all the blame on us, it's very upsetting," says Dimitri.

"One time I was serving a guy and was going a bit slowly and he said to me ‘My parking is going to run out so hurry up!’ The customer car park has three hours for shoppers!" 

Do you let your child help with scanning and paying for items at the supermarket checkout? Image: iStock

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9. Letting your child scan products in self-checkout

A debate erupted online recently when a parent boasted about allowing their child to help scan items at the self-checkout - despite the line of people building up behind them. 

"Sunday mornings - this supermarket is designed for families. Kids trolleys/carts, and even checkouts that are low down ♥️ Take a step back if you think this is moving too slow; I think we make a pretty great team #toddlerlife," the mum wrote. 

But not everyone was having it.

"Being aware and considerate of others is another important lesson for our kids," one person said. And another added: "This is why they make developmental toys that they can use at home without being inconsiderate to others."  

While delaying everyone around you is an obvious reason to not do this - regardless of the life lesson at play - Catherine says it's more the confusion of what has actually been scanned and what hasn't that workers dislike about parents doing this. 

"A customer told me to ‘f-off’ in self-checkouts because I asked if he’d scanned his dog food - which he hadn’t," she shared. 

10. Talking on your phone

Talking on the phone while someone is serving you is up there with one of the rudest things you can do when ordering anything. Not just at the supermarket. 

"Customers who are on their phones is an annoying habit. There's no respect and no appreciation for the service provided to them," says Catherine. 

Just tell them you'll call back when you're done. It's common courtesy. 

So, let's talk. How many have you done?

Originally published as 10 entitled habits shoppers do that annoy the hell out of checkout workers