If It Doesn't Scan...

12 items or less means 12 items or less. You may be able to get away with more, although the exasperated groans will be there. For the love of God, do not be that asshole checking out through the 12 items or less side with 70+ items on a busy Sunday morning or afternoon. 

If the machine is telling you that there is an unexpected item in the bagging area, use your brain and think about the last thing you did. Do not automatically hit the “I am using my own bag” button, because 9 times out of 10, it is going to call an attendant over (who is usually busy to begin with) and you are going to have to wait longer. Did you set your hand on the scale? Is your kid leaning on it? Is your item dangling off the side? 

No, you can’t cut everyone else who has been patiently waiting in line just because you have Coinstar or bottle slips you want to redeem. You have to wait in line like everyone else. The attendant does not possess some magical ability to check you out before everyone else, because in doing so, they would have to take away from someone who actually waited their turn... and no. We won’t do that.

If you no longer want an item, let the attendant know. No one appreciates temperature sensitive foods going to waste just because you thought it would be a good idea to stash them somewhere they don’t belong.

Stop leaving your shopping carts or baskets behind. The attendant does not want to clean up after you, nor do they have the time when they are responsible for 4-10 people at once. You’re waltzing right past the area where you picked up the cart/basket when you leave the store. Fucking take it with you.

If you’re worried about scanning an item twice, you’re doing something wrong to begin with. The checkouts prevent this from happening by forcing you to bag your item and “locking” the scanner. It also prevents you from scanning the same barcode within a specific amount of time. Honestly, WTF are you doing when you “accidentally” scan something twice? Pay attention.