Shopping carts can be cumbersome, making it feel like navigating through traffic to gather items in a single aisle. While it might seem more convenient to leave your cart to the side and quickly retrieve your items, it’s not the best approach. Doing so could potentially create a traffic jam, hindering others trying to navigate the aisle or causing inconvenience for store staff.

Sam Cooper, a former supermarket employee, notes, “Larger stores often designate specific places for employees to leave their carts while restocking shelves. Having your shopping cart in the way can slow down employees or impede other shoppers’ movement along the aisles.” This behavior qualifies as a seemingly polite habit that is generally disliked by most people.

Leaving your shopping cart in the middle of the parking lot is not only rude but also potentially dangerous for drivers. However, propping it up on the sidewalk or the parking spot’s curb may seem like a considerate alternative, but it comes with its own set of problems. This approach overlooks the safety of workers, as a driver pulling into a spot may not see the employee retrieving the cart at the front end.

Beyond safety concerns, collecting carts scattered throughout the parking lot is a hassle for employees. Additionally, Norah Clark, a part-time employee at Whole Foods, points out that rolling carts can cause damage to cars.

Opting to return a microwaveable burrito to the freezer may seem like a considerate move, but doing so before reaching the checkout can have unintended consequences. Sam Cooper explains, “Customers taking a frozen item out of the freezer, changing their mind, and then putting it back can cause more harm than good. Grocery stores adhere strictly to time limits for items being out of the freezer to prevent potentially harmful defrosting.”

Opting not to purchase store-made cookies due to the high markup and placing them on a nearby shelf instead of the conveyor belt may seem considerate toward the cashier, but it overlooks the impact on other workers. According to Shaw, “Not only does this make it hard for other customers to find what they’re looking for, but it also creates extra work for us when we have to re-shelve items.”

While you may believe that grabbing an item off a cart before an employee unloads it is a considerate act, it’s not the time-saver or kind gesture you might think. According to Clark, customers opening packages themselves can create a mess and disrupt the employee’s workflow. Additionally, invading their workspace can be irritating for the workers.

While exchanging pleasantries is expected, engaging in extended conversations with a cashier could impact their productivity. As Moran explains, “Cashiers are timed on how quickly we ring up items. We have a certain productivity rate we are required to meet, and that number starts from when the first item is scanned until the payment is processed.” Despite good intentions, excessive small talk might inadvertently affect the cashier’s performance in the eyes of their supervisor.

While it’s understandable that you want to say hi to the owner of your local store, Alexandra Marino, a former grocery store manager, points out, “What people don’t realize is that we hear that probably a half dozen times a day.” Indulging in lengthy conversations with every customer can hinder operational efficiency and compromise service quality.

That large, unwieldy item you wrestled out of your cart and placed in front of the cashier may not be the most convenient for them to scan. Despite your effort, the cashier still needs to locate the barcode, possibly requiring them to manipulate the item and then return it to your cart. As Moran explains, “If it is heavy for you, it is most likely heavy for us, and we can just scan it in your cart to save us both a strenuous lift.”

Marino emphasizes the impact of customer responses when a store doesn’t carry a particular item: “When we do not carry something, we offer to order it special for the customer. They might think they are helping us when they say, ‘No, that’s OK—I’ll get it from Amazon,’ but really they are just hurting our feelings.”

While declining a special order might seem like a polite gesture, it’s important to recognize that offering a special order is the store’s way of looking out for the customer. Refusing such an offer, even if done politely, can be perceived as dismissive, particularly in the context of shopping at a locally owned store.

Avoiding small talk is a good rule, and attempting a joke at the cashier’s expense may add an extra layer of potential awkwardness. According to Marino, making a quip, especially one that’s not particularly clever or potentially offensive, can be challenging. She mentions, “[Customers joke], ‘It must be free,’ when we ring an item and the price is not coming up in the system.” Unfortunately, this type of joke is so common that the cashier has likely heard it countless times, perhaps even on the same day, and is likely trying to hold back an eye roll.

While tipping is customary for restaurant staff and delivery personnel, it’s generally not encouraged at most grocery stores. Many grocery store workers are not permitted to accept gratuities. As Moran explains, “It’s always a nice gesture when [Costco] members offer to tip us, but we can’t accept those tips.” Unlike waitstaff, hairdressers, and Uber drivers, most grocery store workers receive an hourly rate and don’t rely on tips for income.

When customers disregard safety measures like social distancing, it not only creates a health risk but also puts extra pressure on staff to enforce these guidelines, disrupting their workflow.

This can slow down the checkout process, as distracted customers may take longer to pay and pack their items, leading to longer lines and frustration for both staff and other customers.

Unsupervised children can create safety hazards, damage merchandise, and distract employees from their tasks, making the shopping environment less pleasant for everyone.

This behavior can lead to misunderstandings about whether the items will be paid for, complicates inventory tracking, and can be seen as disrespectful to store policies.

This puts employees in an uncomfortable position as they cannot influence pricing decisions, leading to unnecessary stress and awkward interactions.

Abandoning perishable goods in the wrong place can lead to spoilage and waste, creating extra work for employees who have to restock or dispose of these items.

Frequent requests for price checks or unwarranted discounts can disrupt the checkout process and put undue pressure on employees.

Disrespectful behavior towards employees creates a negative working environment and can demoralize staff, impacting their ability to provide good service.

Leaving baskets scattered around the store can cause clutter and creates extra work for employees who have to collect and return them.

This can damage the produce, making it unsellable and leading to food waste, as well as concerns over hygiene.

This behavior is inconsiderate and unsanitary, forcing employees to clean up after customers, which is not part of their primary job responsibilities.

Interrupting employees when they are occupied with other duties can disrupt their efficiency and delay service for other customers.

Staying in the store past closing time can delay employees from completing their closing duties and getting home on time.

This can cause delays and frustration for other customers who are expecting a quick checkout experience.

Disputes over store policies create a confrontational environment and can be time-consuming and stressful for employees.

Excessive requests for cash back can deplete the register’s cash reserves and slow down the checkout process.

Trying to use expired coupons and arguing about it can hold up the line and put cashiers in an awkward position as they try to adhere to store policies.

Customers who are not ready to pay can significantly slow down the checkout process, leading to longer wait times for others.

This is outside the scope of a grocery worker’s responsibilities and can put them in a difficult position if something goes wrong.

Overindulging in free samples can deplete supplies meant for other customers and can be seen as greedy or inconsiderate.

Unreported spills can create safety hazards and additional cleanup work for employees.

Removing carts from the store property can lead to a shortage of carts for other customers and additional costs for the store.

Persistently requesting checks for items that are visibly out of stock can waste employees’ time and disrupt their workflow.

Using these carts without a genuine need can deprive those who really need them and can lead to damage or misuse of store property.