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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 1, 2024 18:39:22 GMT
Should I have waited? AITH (am I the *ss)
Normally, I like to go to Costco on a Wednesday in the early afternoon. The eager beavers are done shopping, the lunch rush is over, and kids aren’t out of school yet. But yesterday was nuts. I got there about 1pm and the parking lot was packed, there weren’t a lot of carts, and even the entrance area was crowded. But hey, I’m here, I’ve been running errands for an hour, and I’m already hot and sweaty. Let’s do this.
I’m on a mission to get in and get out. But there are dozens of senior citizens just standing in the walkways, milling about, and looking at stuff from the center of the aisle. They are standing in the doorway of the walk in produce fridge, going the wrong direction, and fussing because the blueberries aren’t “from America.” I pointed out that the label says they were picked in Delaware, but didn’t stay for a conversation.
I’m looking for my vegan cheese that they seem to move at least once a month and there’s a sample station. Surprisingly, there isn’t a crowd around it, but there is one woman (who is another sample employee from another station) standing next to it in the middle of the aisle. I can’t go left, right, or back because there are people with giant carts around me. I waited for her to pick up her snack, but she didn’t walk away. She just stood there looking at the food for probably 15-20 seconds. So I used my bright, chipper, killing-them-with-kindness voice and said “excuse me, can I pop through?” OMG. She came alive then and snapped, “I’m eating!” She did step back and I just went through and said “thank you.”
Should I have waited for her to finish eating? Is it reasonable to stand in the middle of traffic and eat your sample? In my mind, you take your sample, thank the person for feeding you, and get out of the way. So AITH?
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,843 
Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Aug 1, 2024 18:42:52 GMT
This is why DH does the grocery shopping - I can no longer handle the general public at the store!
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Post by kristi521 on Aug 1, 2024 18:43:18 GMT
I think some people are oblivious to this courtesy. I don't think most are out there being a roadblock on purpose, I just think they aren't thinking about anything other than what is going on right in front of them.
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Tearisci
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,248
Nov 6, 2018 16:34:30 GMT
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Post by Tearisci on Aug 1, 2024 18:44:14 GMT
NTAH.
People blocking aisles for whatever reason isn't acceptable.
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,507
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Aug 1, 2024 18:49:59 GMT
This reminds me of the Soup Nat-si (spelled wrong intentionally) Seinfeld episode. NEXT!
IMO, proper etiquette is grab a sample and step aside. I mean it's only one bite right?
NTAH.
And we were in Costco yesterday morning around 9:30. The place was packed and crazy. It was the opening day for the new sales. Maybe that's why???
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Post by katlady on Aug 1, 2024 18:50:37 GMT
NTA.
But I do agree that some times people just forget where they are. Her response was a little snarky. “Oh, sorry/excuse me” would have been my response, as I step aside.
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Post by laurasw on Aug 1, 2024 18:52:28 GMT
She definitely should have moved(and without the attitude)!
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Post by KikiPea on Aug 1, 2024 18:55:24 GMT
This is why DH does the grocery shopping - I can no longer handle the general public at the store! Yep. We order most of ours, and what we can’t order, usually DH picks up, unless I need something I don’t want to have to explain, or at a place he hates…like Walmart. |
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Post by Lexica on Aug 1, 2024 18:56:22 GMT
What, was she chewing with her feet and therefore unable to walk a few steps to the side until she finished eating? Any sample I have ever taken is one small enough to pop in your mouth and chew as you walked. I don’t see any reason to stay rooted to the center blocking traffic. Take the sample and keep moving, unless you had a question for the employee serving the samples. And even then, be aware of your surroundings and step to the side to ask your question.
Those are paid positions, right? So since she was an employee of sorts, I personally think that gave her an extra reason to be courteous to Costco shoppers.
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Post by Scrapper100 on Aug 1, 2024 18:58:58 GMT
I think Tuesdays are the days most seniors go shopping and yes it’s freaking annoying. I know technically I’m one depending on the ages you include but dang some are just clueless. Of course there are also the mothers with three plus kids that are wandering the isles getting in the way of everyone because you can’t get passed them. Stand by the cart snd with your mother please . I don’t think saying excuse me is wrong. I can’t believe she said I’m eating. That was obvious. If I get a sample I get it and move on unless I have a quick question about the item but I’m not blocking the whole isle. I hate shopping when it’s crowded. I miss when they opened early during Covid and not just for seniors as I was too young by their standards. The store was pretty empty then.
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Post by lucyg on Aug 1, 2024 19:14:57 GMT
You are not the asshole! People should apologize for blocking the aisle, not snap at you. Especially employees.  It was crowded yesterday because it was the first day of the new sale. Never go to Costco on the first or last sale days. Ask me how I know. |
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Post by Zee on Aug 1, 2024 19:26:11 GMT
I think I would have told her to go sit her ass down then and get out of the aisle.
But her response would have honestly shocked me... What an asshole.
If I had been the one kind of in lalaland blocking the aisle I would have apologetically said "oh, I'm sorry!" And moved out of the way.
There are so many jerks nowadays.
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,270
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Post by pantsonfire on Aug 1, 2024 19:33:15 GMT
Uh no. You aren't. She was certainly in a mood.
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 1, 2024 19:33:42 GMT
What, was she chewing with her feet and therefore unable to walk a few steps to the side until she finished eating? Any sample I have ever taken is one small enough to pop in your mouth and chew as you walked. I don’t see any reason to stay rooted to the center blocking traffic. Take the sample and keep moving, unless you had a question for the employee serving the samples. And even then, be aware of your surroundings and step to the side to ask your question. Those are paid positions, right? So since she was an employee of sorts, I personally think that gave her an extra reason to be courteous to Costco shoppers. Exactly! And shouldn't she, more than others, be aware of the traffic jam a sample cart causes?! |
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 1, 2024 19:35:24 GMT
You are not the asshole! People should apologize for blocking the aisle, not snap at you. Especially employees.  It was crowded yesterday because it was the first day of the new sale. Never go to Costco on the first or last sale days. Ask me how I know. This is what the cashier told me when I checked out. I didn't buy anything from the sale flyer, so forgot the dates (normally I put the start and end dates on my list.) Lesson learned! I refuse to shop there on a weekend and this is why. |
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 1, 2024 19:37:23 GMT
I think I would have told her to go sit her ass down then and get out of the aisle. But her response would have honestly shocked me... What an asshole. If I had been the one kind of in lalaland blocking the aisle I would have apologetically said "oh, I'm sorry!" And moved out of the way. There are so many jerks nowadays. Yes. I'm certainly guilty of it myself at times. I apologize and MOVE out of the way! |
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Post by melanell on Aug 1, 2024 22:22:52 GMT
This is the universal unspoken sample rule as far as I'm concerned. So I don't think you were in any way an a$$.
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Post by epeanymous on Aug 1, 2024 22:26:48 GMT
It may have samples, but it's still a grocery store, which means that aisle etiquette means you don't block the aisle. If you need to stop and do something (eat, check your phone, whatever), you get to the side, and you keep an eye out for whether you are in the way of someone trying to get to something on the shelf in back of you or whatever.
When I go to Costco, I follow a very specific plan to get in and out of there in less than 45 minutes with my $500 worth of groceries. I usually go before the samples come out because of exactly this kind of behavior!
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,447
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Post by amom23 on Aug 1, 2024 22:52:07 GMT
Costco can get so jam packed and it's frustrating. I know sometimes I am blocking the aisle even when I don't mean to be THAT person. It just takes a little grace from everyone.
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Post by craftedbys on Aug 1, 2024 22:57:44 GMT
NTA. So many people are going through life in their own bubble , acting like everyone else is an NPC in their life. Pisses me off to no end.
Blocking aisles, driving a buggy on the wrong side (usually gets a "are we shopping in London" under my breath) and blasting out of the end of the aisle without checking to see if there is any cross traffic are some of my biggest pet peeves when shopping.
I do give grace to mothers who are in the very center of the aisle to keep little hands from grabbing stuff into the buggy. I did that for many years, and I understand how stressful it is shopping with little ones.
Like you, I would have used the super sweet voice and maybe added a bit of extra magnolia in it. DH wouldn't have been nearly as nice, he would have given a sharp "EXCUSE ME" and maybe a snarky follow up.
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Post by AussieMeg on Aug 1, 2024 23:00:44 GMT
Ugh, Costco is a fecking shitshow. You’re definitely NTA, but she sure is.
I’d like to think that I would have been super polite like you were. But nothing fires me up more than someone giving me attitude when they’re in the wrong. My polite demeanour would have disappeared quite quickly, and the next words out of my mouth would be something along the lines of what @z*g wrote.
Sorry Zee, I’m on my phone and I tried to tag you from memory, but I don’t think it worked!!
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,122
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Aug 1, 2024 23:07:29 GMT
People get caught up in their own little world and are oblivious and/or don't care that they are being rude. She should have grabbed her snack and moved out of the way. You saying excuse me can I get through was totally acceptable. She was out of line and rude in her response!
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Post by Merge on Aug 1, 2024 23:53:03 GMT
We haven't had a Costco membership in years. There is nothing in there worth dealing with the crowds and the way people act in that store.
I say you are NTA. Awareness of the space and people around us seems to be a lost art for many people. So does taking responsibility and apologizing if you goof.
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Post by cakediva on Aug 2, 2024 0:01:27 GMT
And this is why I go to Costco right at opening on a Sunday (9am) to get my work stash for the week.
You said excuse me and used manners - after her snark I may not have been so polite in return lol.
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Post by smasonnc on Aug 2, 2024 1:29:20 GMT
You're technically NTA, but when you go to Costo, you play by their rules. The fact that you're on a mission to get in and out has no bearing on anyone but you. People in Costco are in la-la land, a fact of which you have prior knowledge when you enter. The woman should have moved aside and been polite, but in the Costco universe, that isn't how it works. Go into Costco expecting people to be rude and oblivious and you will never be disappointed. Blocking aisles, driving a buggy on the wrong side (usually gets a "are we shopping in London" under my breath) and blasting out of the end of the aisle without checking to see if there is any cross traffic are some of my biggest pet peeves when shopping. The grocery stores in Florida are like the night of the living dead. Nobody has a clue about personal space or how to look for stuff without blocking the aisle. I could waste stomach acid being angry about it, but I don't feel like being p*$$ed off every time I need groceries. People get caught up in their own little world and are oblivious and/or don't care that they are being rude. She should have grabbed her snack and moved out of the way. ...and not been snotty when someone asked her to move. This happens in a perfect world. The people who get caught up in their own little world are the first to lose their minds when someone steals their wallet out of the purse they left in their shopping cart. |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,878
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Aug 2, 2024 2:24:19 GMT
NTA
Get your free snack, say thank you, and move the hell out of the way!
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 2, 2024 2:24:22 GMT
The grocery stores in Florida is like the night of the living dead. Nobody has a clue about personal space or how to look for stuff without blocking the aisle. I could waste stomach acid being angry about it, but I don't feel like being p*$$ed off every time I need groceries. Oh, I could start another rant about this! The number of times I’m looking for something, but step back when another person comes along. I think they need to pass, but actually they just stop right in front of me so that I can’t see the shelves at all. Sure, why would I think that you may want to stand next to me, rather than in front of me so that only they can see the shelves! I find it astonishing. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 2, 2024 2:43:41 GMT
Nope, NTA. I pretty much go to Costco every week. I normally go on the same day as you, around that same time of day and for the same reasons. The sales always start and end on weird days so it would never even register with me that that’s why it would be extra busy on those days. The last time it was like that was the day I wanted to order new glasses. Yeah, no. 🤪 I ended up going back a different day.
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Post by Basket1lady on Aug 2, 2024 3:13:14 GMT
Nope, NTA. I pretty much go to Costco every week. I normally go on the same day as you, around that same time of day and for the same reasons. The sales always start and end on weird days so it would never even register with me that that’s why it would be extra busy on those days. The last time it was like that was the day I wanted to order new glasses. Yeah, no. 🤪 I ended up going back a different day. I’m equidistant from the Maple Grove, St Lois Park, and Eden Prairie Costcos, but almost always go to the Maple Grove one. It’s busy, but easier than getting into the St Louis Park store and the stock at the Eden Prairie store is different. |
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Post by brynn on Aug 2, 2024 3:38:43 GMT
NTA. She was wrong by blocking the way and then being rude.
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