Okay, I am curious as to what this phrase implies? I mean, it should be obvious, right? If a new cashier opens up, and he/she says, "I can help whoever is next in line," who would have the rights to go next? The person who is next to be attended at a current cashier or whoever else makes a mad dash to that new cashier?

A couple of days ago, I was shopping at a Big Lots!, and there was a lonnnnng line at the only cashier available. A new cashier opened up, and she said, "Next in line, please." I started moving over, and some woman about three or four attendants in back of me beat me to it. I still walked over and was behind her at the "new line," and she took FOREVER to pay. She pulled out a $100 bill, but the cashier didn't have change for such a large bill. Therefore, she pulls out smaller bills and takes a while.

Not only am I annoyed she moved over when she was NOT the next person in the previous line but didn't have the patience waiting for her. I had to bite my lip, but I was not happy.

So, anyway, WHAT is the courteous approach to "next in line?"

the person who has been waiting the longest should get to go over to the new line.

The person who is behind the person who is currently being helped at the register should be taken next. Unfortunately, due to the lack of common courtesy in some people, it seems that whoever is fastest is next in line.

Another thing about line courtesy is that if you get to the line with a bunch of items at the same time as someone who only has a couple of things, then you should let the other person go ahead of you. At least that's what I was always taught. I admit I don't always do this though, like if I've already been waiting a few minutes.

She pulled out a $100 bill, but the cashier didn't have change for such a large bill. Therefore, she pulls out smaller bills and takes a while.


You just described one of my biggest pet peeves from working at the grocery store. WHY do people have to pay for small purchases with huge bills? They always seem to get the cashier who either just opened up or just had a huge drop in cash too. These were also usually the people who got cranky when they had to wait a few minutes for change or had to take smaller bills instead of that $20 bill they wanted. Note to people who do this kind of stuff: The store is NOT a bank!!! They don't have magical drawers that can make any kind of money appear. If they did, I'd be a millionaire ;)

Another thing about line courtesy: the express line is ONLY for people who have fewer than a certain amount of tiems., usually 8 or 12 depending on the store. Do NOT go through this line if you have more than that number of items!!! Your 20 cans of cat food are not one item.

Also, don't whine and complain because you have to actually wait in line for a few minutes. I hate to be the one to have to tell you, but you are no more special or important than the 6 billion other people in this world.

Sorry for this long, double-posted rant. I've been out of the retail business for a year now and I still need to blow off steam about it every so often :)

As a former cashier, I would WALK OVER TO THE NEXT PERSON IN LINE and quietly tell them I would check them out on my register. With that, the remaining people would follow. So simple, but some cashiers ARE TOO LAZY to do that.

Well where I work, we have one line and 9 cash registers. So all we do is yell "I CAN HELP WHO'S NEXT!" and someone will walk over. Sometimes, no matter how loud you scream it, they don't hear you, so the person behind them will come. But yeah I think it's a nice system. Because even if the line is wrapped around the store, it moves fast.

I like to watch the customers fight over the spots, it amuses me. I really don't care who gets which spot in line and who gets what cashier and all that, as long as I get my check each week!

Personally, I believe it's common courtesy to let the person closest to the register be helped first on the other line. It's not fair that people that just hopped aboard get to be helped right away, while that person has been waiting to be rung up.

Ok. It is a concensus that the next person in line should be the one waiting the longest which is the one next to be rang up. "Now for something completely different" ok maybe not so completely different... Not necessarily in a grocery store, more in fast food service... Why is it that people waiting in line, specially long lines, wait untill they get up to the cashier to look at the menu and take forever to order their food!

I think there should be a 3-5 second grace period, where if the person who is next in line doesn't go up to the cashiere when instructed to, that the spot now becomes up for grabs. Violators would promptly be beaten with a King size Snickers bar.

See, it's those rude people that stand in the back and when someone says next in line, they assume it's them, and they shove their way over there. Customers suck. I'm glad I'm not one. :p

Violators would promptly be beaten with a King size Snickers bar.

A box of frozen peas hurts worse.

more in fast food service... Why is it that people waiting in line, specially long lines, wait untill they get up to the cashier to look at the menu and take forever to order their food!

:lol: I hate those people. You just want to ask them what the hell they were doing while they were standing there waiting.

A box of frozen peas hurts worse.

But what if you don't have a box of frozen peas?? Good thing the candy bars are usually right there at the checkout! :D

I think there should be a 3-5 second grace period, where if the person who is next in line doesn't go up to the cashiere when instructed to, that the spot now becomes up for grabs.
I agree with this. If....if the next person actually in line didn't hear or didn't move, then anyone else can go forth. I was just annoyed this woman just decided to go. And she was in a hurry, too. Boy she must've been in such a hurry to have taken her sweet time paying... *sarcasm* :rolleyes:

Violators would promptly be beaten with a King size Snickers bar.
:lol: Or ice.....

:lol: I hate those people. You just want to ask them what the hell they were doing while they were standing there waiting.
scratching their ass!!!!!

Youre supposed to grab the next person waiting in line being the person behind the customer currently being serviced. Where I work I hate it when someone just turns out their light and yells 'I can help whos next!' Most of them do it. I was taught at my old store to go to person and escort them to my line, which is the best way to do it. People will see me get ready to open, but I wont make eye contact with them lol and I grab the customer 2 people in front of them. Its especially annoying with express. Ive had people yell at eachother for cutting. Customers really appreciate it when you escort them.

Youre supposed to grab the next person waiting in line being the person behind the customer currently being serviced. Where I work I hate it when someone just turns out their light and yells 'I can help whos next!' Most of them do it. I was taught at my old store to go to person and escort them to my line, which is the best way to do it. People will see me get ready to open, but I wont make eye contact with them lol and I grab the customer 2 people in front of them. Its especially annoying with express. Ive had people yell at eachother for cutting. Customers really appreciate it when you escort them.
Read my previous post on here. You and I have the same technique. Back in the dayz when I was a cashier I did just that.

As a former cashier, I would WALK OVER TO THE NEXT PERSON IN LINE and quietly tell them I would check them out on my register. With that, the remaining people would follow. So simple, but some cashiers ARE TOO LAZY to do that.
I like this technique! Come to think of it, I have had a couple of cashiers (though, not very often) come up to me personally if they see me approaching a cashier. True, if those cashiers yell outloud, then anyone can go up, regardless of being courteous or not.

I wonder, then, why cashiers say, "Next in line?" It just seems too vague, I guess. They ought to say/do something else if they don't plan on approaching a person individually. :confused:

Read my previous post on here. You and I have the same technique. Back in the dayz when I was a cashier I did just that.
Just read it. I agree 100%. I have had customers tell me in the past how much they appreciate me grabbing them instead of just yelling like most cashiers. Plus when I go to grab someone, I try and get someone who looks like they have a lot of things and would really appreciate it. I usually dont get the really cranky people because I dont want to listen to them bitch :lol:.

But what if you don't have a box of frozen peas?? Good thing the candy bars are usually right there at the checkout! :D
:p I always have frozen peas.