"Next in line, please".....? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

swedeace · 12-30-2005, 02:19 PM

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?"

vienna waits · 12-30-2005, 02:25 PM

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

Chocoholic · 12-30-2005, 02:27 PM

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.

Chocoholic · 12-30-2005, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swedeace

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

Ireneparalegal · 12-30-2005, 02:41 PM

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.

AllIWantIsYourClutch · 12-30-2005, 02:48 PM

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.

Kay Scarpetta · 12-30-2005, 03:10 PM

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!

Number 9 Dream · 12-30-2005, 03:14 PM

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.

Uncle Martin · 12-30-2005, 03:27 PM

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!

Dutabi84 · 12-30-2005, 03:39 PM

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.

dawsongirl · 12-30-2005, 05:23 PM

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.

dawsongirl · 12-30-2005, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutabi84

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

A box of frozen peas hurts worse.

dawsongirl · 12-30-2005, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Martin

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

Dutabi84 · 12-30-2005, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawsongirl

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!

swedeace · 12-30-2005, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutabi84

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*

Quote:

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

Or ice.....

12-30-2005, 02:19 PM	#1
swedeace Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 22, 2003 Posts: 9,009	"Next in line, please".....? 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?"

12-30-2005, 02:41 PM	#5
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	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.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

12-30-2005, 03:10 PM	#7
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	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!
	__________________ The people who think they know everything about Broadway make me laugh. They've never seen a Broadway play in their life. "oh mi godddd RENT's a mooovie! lyke 525600 minuuuuuuutes!" No. To be a Broadway Freak, you must live, eat, sleep, study, devout, think, obsess, dream, believe Broadway. You must know original & revival casts, soundtracks, performance runs, dates, theatres, numbers, how many Tony Awards A Chorus Line won. You must be Broadway. That's right bitches. I AM Broadway.

12-30-2005, 03:14 PM	#8
Number 9 Dream That '70s Girl Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 5,875	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.
	__________________ Live a little be a gypsy get around http://www.librarything.com/profile/skelterhelter http://retrogirl82.dvdaf.com/owned formerly Retrogirl82

12-30-2005, 02:25 PM	#2
vienna waits avatars are stupid. Forum Superstar Join Date: May 18, 2001 Location: Ravenclaw Common Room Posts: 29,859	the person who has been waiting the longest should get to go over to the new line.

12-30-2005, 02:27 PM	#3
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	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.

12-30-2005, 02:48 PM	#6
AllIWantIsYourClutch peaceout. Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 02, 2001 Location: Illinois. Posts: 53,424	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.

12-30-2005, 03:27 PM	#9
Uncle Martin Nanu-nanu Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 30, 2005 Location: Hanover Park, IL. Posts: 19	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!

12-30-2005, 03:39 PM	#10
Dutabi84 kittens must die Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 22, 2003 Location: MN/TX Posts: 11,026	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.

12-30-2005, 05:23 PM	#11
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	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.