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Health & Fitness

The Top 10 Manners List for Grocery Shopping

Paying attention to the top 10 annoyances when shopping can keep the tomatoes from flying!

I was in the grocery store the other day when I did the unforgivable: I left my cart in the middle of an aisle to look for something I needed on the shelf. I really try to not do this because I know how frustrating it can be to maneuver around a cart. But, even so, I know there are times when I act as if I am alone in the universe. 

I was fortunate on this visit. There was no one else in the aisle and I avoided a well-deserved evil eye. After being grateful that I was spared my fellow shopper's wrath, my mind started wandering.

Wouldn’t it be so much easier if grocery carts had turn signals on them?   

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There would be no doubt which direction the cart was heading. How many people would be spared a “grocery cart bump” if there were turn signals on the carts?  Maybe there should also be stop signs and lane markings so that we know when to stop and which side of the aisle to be on. I hear you out there:  “Oh come on you’re really getting stupid now!” I agreed, so here was my sane thought. 

What else (seriously now) are shoppers (like me) doing to disturb the supermarket traffic flow?

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I’ve polled my peers in the grocery shopping world and compiled a list of the top 10 behaviors that would make shopping easier for us all.

Feel free to add your own suggestions.

Never leave your cart in the middle of an aisle. 

At the very least, if you tend to do this, pocket two of three of those handy wipes they have as you enter the store. Then wipe away the fingerprints you left on the cart before you walk away to grab that can of Spaghetti O’s. The next shopping cart casualty could be someone who knows how to dust for fingerprints and you don’t want them to trace it back to you.

Always look before you cross into the next aisle. 

There is something about a grocery store that causes people to go comatose. I don’t know if it’s the appeal of filling our cart with great food or if people are just trying to "get it done." At any rate, attention spans are not the greatest so always look before you cross.

Pay attention where you park:  your cart that is.  Survey the area where you are shopping and try to park your cart where someone else won’t have to move it. It’s inevitable at any given time that you will be in someone’s way, so don’t stress just assess. Otherwise, your cart may end up bumped three freezers down from where you parked it, which brings us to the next suggestion...

Pay attention to what cart you put your intended purchase in.  Seriously.  I humbly submit that I have, in one of my comatose states, placed my item into another cart, pushed it a few steps and then found myself wondering who put the pickled beets in my cart. The fun part afterwards is going back to find your cart. Luckily I managed to retrace my steps on this occasion and avoided someone running after me screaming that I have their cart. Thank goodness!  But this one could get to be real embarrassing if you can’t find your cart.

Take the extra step and put your cart in the cart corral.  I firmly believe that what goes around comes around and have witnessed that principle at work in the parking lots of grocery stores. That wayward cart will come around your way eventually. Save your car the future wind bump from the karma gods and park it after loading your groceries in your car.

Have your coupons ready before you get to the checkout window.  I generally do this, but on the times I haven’t, I end up finding coupons that I meant to use but forgot about. Do this one for yourself as well as for the Hurry-up Helen’s and Harry’s (impatience knows no gender). You’ll save yourself money and avoid a piercing glare from your fellow shoppers (keep in mind they may have tomatoes in their cart waiting to be launched in your direction).

Don’t take a number at the deli or meat counter and wander out of hearing distance.  There is a reason there is a number system in these areas and it is not so that you can come back and say “Oh, you’re on 22?  I am number 20.” Stick around a few minutes. It is not the time to go digging for that perfect head of cabbage you need to make your famous coleslaw. If it can’t wait, or you can’t wait, then come back another time. Nobody likes to be bumped because someone wasn’t paying attention.

Save the cell phone conversation for when the shopping is done. This is probably number one on every top ten list. Cell phones have taken over our society and we have forgotten our manners. Nobody wants to listen to your discussion while you are shopping. By the same token, I am sure that the person on the other end does not want to hear you order the Chinese Chicken salad or know how much your grocery bill has totaled. Save the call for later.

Pay attention Don’t play the invisible car while walking with your grocery cart in the parking lot.  Walking in a parking lot as if nothing can touch you without a cart is dangerous enough. Add a shopping cart and you have a real danger. In short, be sure the car sees you before you walk into the crossway.  Everyone will go home in one piece. Hospitals and lawyers have enough people who really need their help. comes in many forms.

 Keep those little ones in hand. This is a tough one, I know. I’m not so far removed from raising my kids that I don’t remember how they can dart, skip, run or jump at a moments notice. There’s a free sample in aisle 10?  “See ya, Mom!” as they run in front of Mrs. Senior Citizen. A box of candy on the shelf catches their eye. Forget it, they’re gone. Teach these future shoppers that they are sharing their space with the rest of the world and the rest will take care of itself.

These are just the observances that my immediate group of shoppers have shared with me. Because I am aware of my track record (see confessions above) I really try to be patient when I am a victim of one of these irritants. After all, I’ve been shown the same courtesy when I’ve made a bone-headed move. 

I still like the turn signal and stop sign idea, though. Maybe we can morph it into everyone picking a shopping cart color, as well.

Make mine lemon yellow. 

Maybe that would keep me from putting my purchases in the wrong cart.

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