Right of Way in a Supermarket Queue at ALDI

Lmookieconster on 20/02/2022 - 15:03
Last edited 20/02/2022 - 15:34 by 1 other user

I've put myself in a slightly embarrassing situation in the morning and hope to get some opinions on whether I did the wrong thing or not.

I was at Aldi earlier today doing my weekly shopping. It was announced that a new checkout was opening up as soon as I joined a queue, so I started pushing my trolly towards it. The lady who was in front of me in the old queue turned to me and demanded that I should let her go first since she had queued up earlier than me.

Opening up new checkouts is of course quite common at Aldi, and as far as I have observed whoever is closest to the checkout that is about to open would join the new checkout. I wasn't in a rush, and I've always made it a point to give way to the shopper behind me if they are paying for just a few items. However I don't have a high tolerance for self-entitled people as well, so I refused to give way, which caused a brief scene.

Was I being an a-hole?

Poll Options

  • 102
    Yes
  • 728
    No
Food & Grocery

Related Stores

ALDI
ALDI

Comments

    • serpserpserp on 21/02/2022 - 11:37
      +1

      To be fair they have posted more bargains on this site then yourself. Arguably better forum posts too.

  • trapper on 20/02/2022 - 21:38
    +6

    With the proper situational awareness you can anticipate the new checkout opening well before the worker starts waving people over.

    You will often hear the PA call for assistance at checkout, which is a clear early warning, or even just see a worker approaching the checkout area.

    If you're ready to go and moving at the earliest moment, then you will be far ahead of the pack. Your position at the new till will be unquestioned.

    • 82norm on 21/02/2022 - 08:01

      Sometimes you find the cashier takes forever to arrive and by the time she gets seated, waiver you through, etc the other checkout is almost cleared and you may have been better off at that one instead! But 100% correct, situational awareness is key, there are tell-tale signs that a new aisle is imminent.

  • sassypants on 21/02/2022 - 01:49
    +1

    Depends on the situation.

    Ideally, the people in front of you get to go first as they've been waiting longer. BUT, when a new checkout opens nobody is going to be waiting to see whether the person in front intends to go to the new checkout or stay, and you shouldn't be expected to have to guess. Therefore, practically, first come first serve.

    Also, if I'm behind someone with a full trolley and I'm only buying a couple of items, there's no way I'm letting them go first to the new checkout.

  • Stevecro on 21/02/2022 - 03:17

    Survival of the fittest

    • holdenmg on 21/02/2022 - 03:24

      Aisle 2 is open now, no waiting. (3:24 AM) lol

  • trev likes bargains on 21/02/2022 - 06:55

    First in the new queue get served first. Don't stress

  • Hedgehog on 21/02/2022 - 07:31
    +1

    Dog eat Dog in all supermarkets, no common courtesy, tis the Aussie Way!
    Shame really but honestly if ALDI just kept their checkouts open this constant problem would not occur, ALDI is particularly bad and damned if I can work out what they are doing when not open because the staff called were not stacking shelves, just "something out the back'

    • juzza87 on 21/02/2022 - 08:56
      +2

      Aldi are able to offer the prices they do and are able to compete with the duopoly because of how streamlined everything in their stores are. They won't waste staffing and resources keeping multiple registers open for no good reason when the staff can be building the special buys out the back, repairing the displays destroyed by customers or filling the shelves.

    • Ozpit on 21/02/2022 - 10:12

      “Something out the back” means cigarette, loo or Facebook, not necessarily in that order, sometimes all at once.

  • dcash on 21/02/2022 - 08:06
    -1

    I guess that's one reason I don't shop at Aldi. Although Coles and Woolies get their fair share of lowlifes, at least the checkout staff generally indicate for the next (longest waiting) customer in the adjoining queue to move to the newly opened register. It's just common courtesy. To come to OzB to seek validation for acting like a git is a bit rich, IMHO.

  • juzza87 on 21/02/2022 - 08:52
    +1

    Think of it like this, if you weren't waiting in line behind her and just happened to be standing in that location when they announced the register was opening would it feel right to step aside and let them get in front of you? It's a new register unrelated to the previous one with no obligations. They open the new registers to reduce the amount of people waiting in the line but it's not moderated and there's no rules.

    We had a two trolley shop being scanned at the same time I was still loading the belt up, a lady asked me if she could go in front of me and when I said our transaction was already in progress she seemed so bothered and let out a large sigh of entitlement

  • Leanne59 on 21/02/2022 - 09:07
    +1

    I think common decency dictates that if the person in front of you hasn't unloaded her trolley then she should be the first person at the newly opened checkout. Obviously you were in a better position to race over to the new checkout as she was blocked until you moved.

    • jellykingdom on 21/02/2022 - 09:12
      +1

      I agree with the thinking but i've certainly never seen it work like this.

      I've always preferred the mass queue system (like at the airport) where you're all in a common line and going to individual checkouts, rather than luck of the draw whether your line is faster or whether the checkout chick happens to be a trainee/incompetent

    • Slippery Fish on 22/02/2022 - 16:04

      LoL I disagree, new checkout new line. She had the option to stay in her line and keep her place or move, she chose to move and have "new circumstances" they did not take her spot she moved.

      Stuff her op.

  • RolandWaites on 21/02/2022 - 09:11

    It's the law of the jungle out there.

  • SteveB00 on 21/02/2022 - 09:15
    +3

    I don't have a high tolerance for self-entitled people

    Is that how the other shopper would describe herself, or is it just your way of justifying your treatment of her?

    I refused to give way

    You had an opportunity to do something nice, do someone a favour, make the world a slightly better place, but you declined. That's a fail in my book.

    • Slippery Fish on 22/02/2022 - 16:06

      Lol I often do the same but I don't agree with you all, new checkout new line. Want your place in line stay in your line ..

  • GordonD on 21/02/2022 - 09:54
    +3

    Aldi is in the wrong for creating a situation that causes ill-feelings and arguments between its customers.

    For example, when they open a checkout they could allocate a second person temporarily to direct the first few customers to the new line. And if they don't have enough staff to do that, they should employ them. Or they could have a single checkout queue. Or they could have self-checkouts and solve the problem altogether. And if that conflicts with their cheap as possible business model, they should change it.

    Its Aldi's responsibility to solve this problem. Not their customers.

  • TEER3X on 21/02/2022 - 10:01
    +1

    It's basic etiquette at all supermarkets, but if she was being rude then you could just say "I would normally, but you didn't ask nicely"

  • Poor Ass on 21/02/2022 - 10:13

    It's full on war every time a new checkout opens

    But if the new checkout person invites you over its solves the issues

  • Series4Episode10 on 21/02/2022 - 10:14

    Call the Waa Waa Wambulance

  • EyyBanane on 21/02/2022 - 10:17

    This happened in Aldi near me on Saturday and cops had to be called as two couples involved in this issue went berserk on each other while the store manager happily continued her scanning frenzy.

  • Homr on 21/02/2022 - 10:18

    One simply does not go into Aldi and not expecting a brawl with a granny

  • YTW on 21/02/2022 - 10:19

    You weren't in a rush. You had only just walked up. The cashier sided with the other customer. You caused a scene and refused to back down - and yet you call them the entitled and demanding one?

    You have no idea how long she had already been waiting - probably a while if they'd opened another checkout. She had definitely been waiting longer than you.

    It is rude not to offer for her to go ahead and she called you out on having bad manners.

    Here's the thing - if you need to ask if you're being an AH, then you probably are.

    • dcash on 21/02/2022 - 21:05
      +1

      I totally agree!

    • Slippery Fish on 22/02/2022 - 16:10

      LoL I disagree, new checkout new line. I wouldn't expect special treatment just because I was in my line first, if you want your position stay in your line.

  • Ozpit on 21/02/2022 - 10:26

    Having read all the various opinions above, I think Aldi needs to come up with ‘Aldi’s Ten Commandments of Checkout Queuing Etiquette’ and post it above each checkout. The 10th Commandment could say, ‘Sinners will be sent to the end of the longest checkout queue’. That should sort out bad queuing behaviour once and for all.

  • skillet on 21/02/2022 - 10:32

    You should tell her that your Ancestor was born earlier than hers so you have the right to go first.

  • GrueHunter on 21/02/2022 - 10:38
    -1

    If she was at the register, then she can GTFO.

    New register goes to whoever is behind that person.

    Everyone else gets to make a call about whether they fall in behind them at the new line, or move up in the current line.

  • cloudy on 21/02/2022 - 11:09

    One reason why I dislike Aldi. Even when you are right (in OPs case), you feel wrong, or guilty to an extent or people despise you for going to the opening checkout. And to some degree, I feel their pain, they’ve waited longer but now they’re stuck in that lane way and gives people outside the narrow lane easier choice of switching.

  • qazadex on 21/02/2022 - 11:25

    https://www.reddit.com/r/ich_iel/comments/swe4sc/ichiel/

    Relevant meme from the german meme subreddit.

  • serpserpserp on 21/02/2022 - 11:39
    -1

    It is a cold, harsh world out there. You gotta take what's YOURS.

  • gimme on 21/02/2022 - 11:40

    Aldi checkout is a game of strategy and a little probability. You can pretty much figure out when a new checkout will be opening and position accordingly. First in best dressed as long as you don't physically push people out of the way.

    On many occasions I've guessed right and lined up at a checkout even before the announcement. I enjoy seeing people's reactions.

    • kyle on 23/02/2022 - 07:25
      +1

      Up voting you for being strategic. Don't know why someone would give you a down vote.

      • gimme on 23/02/2022 - 08:03

        Because internet lol May have been the karen from the story

  • kaleidoscope on 21/02/2022 - 12:35

    At ALDI its always weird when this happens. I do go into newly opened counter but if there is someone with lighter basket or few items I always offer them to go before before.

    For an entitled karen like that? No way i’d offer that place.

  • jv on 21/02/2022 - 13:10
    +1

    Was I being an a-hole?

    Yep

    • LFO on 21/02/2022 - 13:31

      Yep for feeling bad or yep for doing bad?

  • LFO on 21/02/2022 - 13:30
    -1

    The lady who was in front of me in the old queue turned to me and demanded that I should let her go first

    Selfish self entitled "lady".
    Was she old as well?

    How about the person in front of this "lady"? Should she let them go first too?

    First in first served.
    Ignore the losers OP.
    Let other first if we feel like doing it but there are no "rules".

  • Ryk on 21/02/2022 - 13:39

    Karen was in front in the old queue. If she leaves said queue she no longer in front. easy. Though this is all on aldi for their silly and constant lane opening and closings.

  • fastnbulbous on 21/02/2022 - 13:44

    as long as you did not rush violently or push anyone, but assume you would've already had a clearer path from the back of the queue.

    LIFO

  • mecusherb on 21/02/2022 - 14:19
    +3

    You are all defending OP but I bet if it was you that were in the ladies position you’d be sounding off for days.

    • Slippery Fish on 22/02/2022 - 16:15
      +1

      Has happened before and will again, I understand my place is only my place while I stay in line.

  • Ghost47 on 21/02/2022 - 14:50

    If the lady asked/demanded you in a rude manner I wouldn’t fault you for not letting her go, but if she asked nicely like “do you mind if I go first, I was in the queue before you” then maybe you should have let her go (unless you had like a few items and she had a full trolley — but who knows, maybe in that case she might have let you go first anyway, I see this pretty regularly at Aldi and it’s happened to me a lot).

    We live in a society but some people don’t seem to care anything other than themselves, those people are the assholes.

    • mdavant on 22/02/2022 - 06:22

      Well said.

      But I bet that person was ranting

  • HangryCakeStore on 21/02/2022 - 15:44
    -5

    Seriously why are Whites always so up in arms with etiquette? and the moment you're not in line with standards they have in mind, you'd see how hostile and racist they get in the comments to a point they want you to go back where u came from.. like you fk off! you're not the owners of this country

    • pompompom on 21/02/2022 - 23:09

      Calm your tits yo

  • Terra Australis on 21/02/2022 - 15:52

    best thing to do op is to completely ignore the person trying to talk to you, it really aggravates them and sends them in a rage and since you aren't engaging, she looks extremely crazy being the only one yelling and screaming

  • wtfnodeal on 21/02/2022 - 15:54

    I have 2 questions, who is Karen and why did she ask OP to give way to her instead of to anyone else lined up in front of her in all other queues at other checkouts?

  • CheeryCheapskate on 21/02/2022 - 16:03

    It's first in, first served but it is just nice to allow people with light loads or people in front of you to go in first. To be honest, Aldi (IMO) should direct queue traffic as I know some of the Aldi stores do this by saying "gentleman at the end, can you please go to checkout 5" and I've never seen any incidences from this.

    For OP's case, we don't know both sides of the story but if the person was rude (a "Karen") then you probably did the right thing.

  • bomhee13 on 21/02/2022 - 17:44
    +1

    Personally I give leniency to people that were in front of me and try my best to avoid conflict. That said, I also hate self-entitled people and think you were fully justified in your actions.

  • Saver Scott on 21/02/2022 - 17:44
    +2

    This is one of my biggest peeves at the shops. When a new checkout opens, the person waiting the longest has first dibs - not some guy who just joined the back of the line. Stores need to make it a priority to serve the longest waiting customer. Same applies for when the phone rings. A customer waiting 20 minutes should have priority over someone who just called up.

    • heal on 21/02/2022 - 18:11

      What if the person has 20+ items on the conveyer belt? They might not want to move, sometimes I can't be bothered. If you wait to find out you're at the back of the new line often with one thing to buy and stuck behind someone else with a full trolley.

      • Saver Scott on 21/02/2022 - 19:40
        +1

        Anyone who has that many items on the conveyer belt and then wants to move to the next checkout would be an idiot as that would take more time. I’m writing about the people waiting in the line before the conveyer belt.

        The problem here is, the people at the back of the line who think they have priority are egocentric and lack the capacity to think of others, like the people waiting in the line in front of them. There’s no logic to their train of thought believing they can be first in the next checkout that opens up other than, “I got their first.” It’s a self-centred way of thinking that lacks compassion.

        What’s concerning are the results of this poll. Currently, the “me first” people are leading the poll by a huge margin and that says a lot about Australians.

        An answer to this checkout problem has been the implementation of the one line multiple checkouts that some stores like JB Hi-Fi have.

        But the other problem regarding human decency… that’s a lot tougher to solve in our society where everyone buys up all the toilet paper for themselves or goes all Karen when they’re at the back of the line because they have been stopped being first at the new checkout.

        • Slippery Fish on 22/02/2022 - 16:20

          It's the most logical, new checkout new line. Your way is silly.

    • Slippery Fish on 22/02/2022 - 16:18

      Different examples .. in a phone cue you stay in your cue, a true example would be I believe if I call at 6am then call back at 11 I should keep my place in line from 6am. Exaggerated but like for like. Leave your line you reline .

  • heal on 21/02/2022 - 18:06
    +2

    Reminds me of what happened a couple of weeks ago. I was at my local IGA. An elderly gentleman and i arrived at a register at the same time, I stepped back and motioned for him to go first. A middle aged 'lady' took the opportunity to brush past us and put her things on the belt. There was a customer already being served at that checkout. Staff opened a checkout next to us, so the elderly gentleman and i put our few items on the conveyer and moved across. She again pushed in and went first. We had a great laugh at her expense loudly commenting about some people's bad manners and supposing as to what she is such a hurry for. The checkout operator thought it was hilarious and I could see she was getting mad.

    My 2c re the ops predicament, it doesn't appear that she made any movement to the new register. If I am behind someone and we both go to move to a new register then they automatically get in front of me even if I am quicker to move as long as they don't have heaps more items than me.

    Should be a Seinfeld episode.

  • TigerWoops on 21/02/2022 - 18:39
    +1

    This is why I don't shop at Aldi.

  • jinny7 on 21/02/2022 - 19:30
    +2

    I was in china shopping a Dept store tired walking all day.
    Saw a free seat the only one in the area, started towards it.

    My body language fairly loud and was reflecting my tiredness and clearly starting for the seat to sit down.

    Random girl just suddenly rushed and beat me there and sat down like nothing's happened.

    Is she first to the seat? Yes, so first come first served.

    But would she be ethically right? Well that's another question..

    If we're wanting to live in a pleasant world we can think of others..otherwise we're just running a rat race.

    • kyle on 23/02/2022 - 07:31

      You should see those buffet videos where the mainlanders fight for food.

  • Punda on 21/02/2022 - 22:26
    +1

    I usually don’t bother going into the new lane because it takes an age for the person to finish what they’re doing and jump on the till.

  • morse on 21/02/2022 - 22:49
    +2

    It’s the polite and nice thing to do to let the person that started queuing before you go first.

  • Timothy-Mineworker on 21/02/2022 - 23:50

    My Vote is No, you are not the A-hole, however, In relation to the belt, where was she?
    If her trolly was already roughly 5cm past the beginning of the conveyor belt she should have stayed there and not complained, if it wasn't, maybe she had a leg to stand on that she should have been next

  • burns13 on 22/02/2022 - 01:44
    +1

    I had little a super market situation last week. Up front in line at the self serve section. Leaned over to grab a shopping bag and this dude and his 2 kids just automatically placed himself in front of me. I suppose to infer that I wasn't ready enough despite no service machine being available yet anyway. Nearly gave him a tap on the shoulder but held back. I didn't think it was worth causing a scene in the end.

  • burns13 on 22/02/2022 - 01:47

    As for OP…. I would say No, she isn't entitled.

    But I would also normally look ahead and not assume you two don't have the same idea. Id give way as a courtesy first instead of causing this dilemma.

  • mdavant on 22/02/2022 - 06:19

    No man it isn't like you got the last toilet paper or any other life essential.

    Talk about this Karen, the country is full of them.

  • So Was Red on 22/02/2022 - 10:24
    +1

    Story time! Recently I was in an ALDI queue for 10-15 minutes, it was pretty quiet but cashier was having issues and the queue was growing, they opened a new checkout and I moved across but to the wrong checkout, everyone behind me moved over to the right one. I'm not a Karen and I couldn't bring myself to join the end of the other queue so I returned to my previous position, now the end of the unmoving queue. One person ahead of me was finally sorted out but then the next person was having/causing the same issues. Once about 5 people who were behind me got through in the other checkout my lunch break was almost over so I left my single item and walked out, angry and embarrassed. Please send your thoughts and prayers or don't ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

  • Ozbargainasaurus on 22/02/2022 - 12:46
    +2

    If you had of waited for her, 3 other people would have got in before she had even moved.

  • OzBestDeal on 22/02/2022 - 13:14
    +1

    I don't shop at aldi anymore
    They used to be selling cheap good quality stuff, however now they're pretty much on par with Coles.
    If you count those flybuys bonus points, coles gift cards discounts, shopping experience, etc Coles wins hands down!!!

  • Qazxswec on 22/02/2022 - 13:21
    +1

    I just can't wait to see Pam's post about how someone at Aldi wouldn't give her right of way when a new register opened up today

  • oO0Dam0Oo on 22/02/2022 - 15:45

    I would have challenged her in the carpark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_d_lYWHZuY

    • smurftastic on 23/02/2022 - 13:10

      I vote that this is how all shopping centre related grievances are sorted out

  • imurgod on 22/02/2022 - 15:52
    +3

    How would you have known whether that person was going to opt for the new checkout or just stay in the current one?
    Nope, it's first come, first served I'm afraid.

    I don't shop at Aldi, but I remember many moons ago, my wife sent me down before they opened to buy a sewing machine or something that ended up (and still is) in the garage still in it's box.

    Here I was standing in a crowd of aged people awaiting the doors to be opened, when a couple of old folks started arguing and smashing each other trolleys out of the way in an attempt to get pole position! It was insane and very funny to me!

    But I digress…. the correct manner to solve a checkout line dispute is a fist fight. Everyone knows that. Coles was recently the more hardcore option as they were giving away knives with some Flybuys promotion.

    When I was told about it by a lovely lady at the checkout (I had no idea), I found that I was eligible for around 7 knives!

    That would've been a bad day for anyone trying to push in line.

  • bdl on 22/02/2022 - 18:08

    If she had red hair and said "please explain", I would have told her where to go and hit her with trolley too

  • funnysht on 22/02/2022 - 19:44

    No but you should have said "Of course your majesty" and bow down so she looks like an idiot.

  • Miss B on 23/02/2022 - 10:02

    You were both right and you were both wrong.

    ETA: Also, there's no such thing as right of way in this sense in Australia

  • Mattec078 on 23/02/2022 - 16:02

    Was The Lady in Front of you next to be served ???
    Or where there other people in front of her before she got to the cashier ???
    As she should have offered people in front of her to go first thru the newly open register also if this is the case… as this is what she demanded from the person behind her….
    But Really i would say first in first served… Like getting a car Park

  • boretentsu on 27/02/2022 - 15:15

    It's up to aldi to referee the behaviour. They know opening a new register turns it into a FFA so if they want their customers to be orderly, they should work an invite system. Otherwise… FFA.

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