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General discussionWhy Do People in Grocery Stores Do This?(53 posts)(53 posts)
(53 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted February 22, 2016
I started working at a grocery store not too long ago, when I noticed a strange habit by some of the customers. They'll walk up to the hand baskets, and Instead of taking the topmost one, they pick it up, reach for the one below it, and put the topmost basket back. They'll do a similar thing with the grocery carts, removing the last cart in the row and taking the one behind it instead. This baffles and frustrates me, as I cannot understand the rationale for this.

My only guess is that the people who do this are neurotic germophobes. They must think the last cart or the topmost hand basket must be dirtier somehow than the next cart or next lowest basket. This makes no sense to me. The idea that baskets and carriages are hotbeds of germs and disease have been blown out of proportion by the media. Germs can't live or thrive on metal and plastic.

It also gets me a little miffed when I see people wiping down their carriages and baskets with moist wipes. Millions of years of natural selection and fine tuning our immune systems, and we're afraid of plastic and metal handles? This proliferation of needing to sanitize everything before we touch it, and irrational fear of germs needs to stop. As long as you wash your hands from time to time, keep them away from your eyes, nose and mouth, you'll probably be alright 99% of the time.
Posted February 22, 2016
Same reason they reach into a loaf of bread instead of grabbing the 1st piece, or grab the 2nd back of chips in the stack, or the 3rd t-shirt back on the rack, etc etc etc.
Posted February 22, 2016

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/711/699/155.png
Posted February 22, 2016
high rated
OK, I'm not supposed to tell you this, but... This is all part of a grand conspiracy scheme, with one ultimate goal -- To annoy you.
Posted February 22, 2016
What's in the basket or cart that they won't take? I know I often do this simply because some ignorant bastard has left his garbage or a f***ing wet-looking tissue in there.
Posted February 22, 2016
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tinyE: Same reason they reach into a loaf of bread instead of grabbing the 1st piece, or grab the 2nd back of chips in the stack, or the 3rd t-shirt back on the rack, etc etc etc.
Front pack chips might have been handled and squashed by previous shoppers. Further tshirts are in the back less chance someone else has touched or worn them. I know.i do this. :D
Posted February 22, 2016
The reason the wipes are there is because, IIRC, carts are crazy unsanitary. Kids and babies being a big reason as to why. People sanitize over a lot less, so good luck getting over that one.

As far as the basket thing goes, I always visually inspect what I'm about to be using. Some are down right gross just to look at, so yeah, I'm not just going to grab the first basket and assume I can't do better. I may take the first, or the second, or the third. It just depends on what is the least scary to look at. I say this as a non-germaphobe.

I've been sick for like one day in my adult life. My immune system kicks ass and I just don't worry much about anything of that nature, but that doesn't mean I want to toss stuff in a basket with sticky gunk in it.
Posted February 22, 2016
I know I've done it with carts before, but always for a real reason:
1) Stuff left in it like ads.
2) Wheel not rolling correctly as I pull it out.
3) Stuff obviously spilled in it.

But certainly not most of the time.
Posted February 22, 2016
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tinyE: Same reason they reach into a loaf of bread instead of grabbing the 1st piece
Nobdy wants the end piece. It's the Millhouse of bread slices.
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gooberking: The reason the wipes are there is because, IIRC, carts are crazy unsanitary. Kids and babies being a big reason as to why.
Reason #151 as to why I hate children
Post edited February 22, 2016 by ScotchMonkey
Posted February 22, 2016
It is just people being paranoid.
Posted February 22, 2016
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CharlesGrey: OK, I'm not supposed to tell you this, but... This is all part of a grand conspiracy scheme, with one ultimate goal -- To annoy you.
Haha.

I do this too actually, don't know why, I agree with what you are saying even. One of those irrational tics people just have. A tips: learn to not be bothered by it because people won't stop unless, in case, your job suck maybe this behavior can keep your mind of it.
Posted February 22, 2016
It depends upon the state of the device: Is there detritus infesting it? Are the handles damaged or lack coverings? Any wheels locking up?

Also, on things like bread and other perishable items: I check the expiration date and pick the one that gives me the most time. If no date can be found on bread, I will squeeze it to see how stale it has become. I compare three or four loafs, and pick the one that seems least likely to offend.
Posted February 22, 2016
When I take a carton of milk or a bag of bread or whatever, I always dig deeper and take one from the back.

It has nothing to with other people's germs, just that I have worked in a grocery store for years myself (a long time ago) and I know that the oldest pieces are always put on the top or in the front. The fresher stuff is hidden at the back.

I let other people use the older stuff, I prefer fresher products thanks.

I've never seen that "don't take the topmost basket" though, that must be some American thing. Well, unless indeed there is some crap in the topmost basket, someone leaving something in it. I usually just throw that piece of crap to the next basket (or a trashbin if there is one next to me) and take the topmost anyway. I don't fear germs, germs fear me.


I recall once meeting a woman who was very afraid of germs, she was asking me if one can get e.g.AIDS from a door handle, as she felt the person who came to a restaurant before her seemed like the kind of person who might have HIV (how can you tell, I don't know, maybe it is a gift that only women have or something?).

I wonder how sex would have been with that woman? I bet a blowjob would have been out of question.
Post edited February 22, 2016 by timppu
Posted February 22, 2016
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darthspudius: It is just people being paranoid.
I believe that is finishing with ones woman?
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GothikOrk: I started working at a grocery store not too long ago, when I noticed a strange habit by some of the customers. They'll walk up to the hand baskets, and Instead of taking the topmost one, they pick it up, reach for the one below it, and put the topmost basket back. They'll do a similar thing with the grocery carts, removing the last cart in the row and taking the one behind it instead. This baffles and frustrates me, as I cannot understand the rationale for this.

My only guess is that the people who do this are neurotic germophobes. They must think the last cart or the topmost hand basket must be dirtier somehow than the next cart or next lowest basket. This makes no sense to me. The idea that baskets and carriages are hotbeds of germs and disease have been blown out of proportion by the media. Germs can't live or thrive on metal and plastic.

It also gets me a little miffed when I see people wiping down their carriages and baskets with moist wipes. Millions of years of natural selection and fine tuning our immune systems, and we're afraid of plastic and metal handles? This proliferation of needing to sanitize everything before we touch it, and irrational fear of germs needs to stop. As long as you wash your hands from time to time, keep them away from your eyes, nose and mouth, you'll probably be alright 99% of the time.
Yes, terribly paranoid, I mean historically we haven't had any major plagues or virus outbreaks. Simple maths really more people * more viruses. Only a matter of time.
Post edited February 22, 2016 by nightcraw1er.488
Posted February 22, 2016
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timppu: When I take a carton of milk or a bag of bread or whatever, I always dig deeper and take one from the back.

It has nothing to with other people's germs, just that I have worked in a grocery store for years myself (a long time ago) and I know that the oldest pieces are always put on the top or in the front. The fresher stuff is hidden at the back.
Yes that "should" be how stuff is put on shelves by staff. I worked in the grocery and dairy departments too once upon a time and it was dependent on how honest the individual filling the shelf was. The dairy department was the worst offender with how the freezers were filled, there were so many packets of something on certain shelves that taking everything out and chucking the new stuff in plus refilling the old stuff again was a nightmare for some ppl so they didn't do it unless there was a supervisor watching.

This was in Australia by the way.
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General discussionWhy Do People in Grocery Stores Do This?(53 posts)(53 posts)
(53 posts)