The Most Hated People You Encounter Every Time You Go to the Grocery Store

As if going to the grocery store weren’t bad enough — add your fellow shoppers to the mix, and you’re looking at the worst day of your week. OK, maybe it’s not that bad, but still. There are plenty of aggravating people at the grocery store, ready and waiting to make your trip as miserable as possible.

So, tell us, how many of these shoppers have you encountered in your day? Or better yet, are you one of them? Read on to find out.

1. The parent who lets their kids destroy displays

A boy holds pencils at a supermarket of Strasbourg
Don’t let your kids run wild through the store. | Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images

We understand the need to do grocery shopping with kids in tow. But sometimes, it can be a little much. Is there really no stopping your toddler from grabbing every soup can he sees? Or what about the kids who run wild and destroy every end-of-aisle display?

It all needs to stop. Seriously.

Next: Keep it moving, people. 

2. The person who reads every label and blocks the entire section

customer chooses the cheese in the store
Be mindful of others. | iStock.com/sergeyryzhov

This kind of shopper isn’t necessarily a health enthusiast. But you get the idea. These people take far too long to decide which product they want, and therefore block the entire section.

In this situation, all you want to do is choose for them, and throw it in their cart.

Next: Do you really think this will work?

3. The person who tries to pick someone up in the produce aisle

Couple shopping together in grocery store
They’re shopping for food, not people. | iStock.com/gpointstudio

Some people see the grocery store as a meat market. They’re probably the same folks who continually try to pick people up at the gym, too. And we can’t stand it.

If a casual encounter happens naturally, and two shoppers do end up hitting it off, then great. But when an individual is clearly trying too hard, it’s just irritating.

Next: Planning in advance is key.

4. The person who waits until they’re at the checkout to look through their coupon book

Woman In Grocery Aisle
Don’t hold up the line. | iStock.com/bowdenimages

We have nothing against coupon clippers. In fact, we salute them for their thrifty ways. But here’s where we tend to lose our minds with them.

We just want to say, “Have you no common courtesy? Couldn’t you have sorted through that mess of coupons before you actually got in line?” But no, no they couldn’t have.

Next: This is a real crime.

5. The person who abandons their shopping cart

shopping cart in a grocery store aisle
Why would you do this? | shironosov/iStock/Getty Images

Abandon your chock-full cart right in the middle of the store? No way!

We don’t understand the line of thinking on this one. When you stumble upon a full cart with no owner, you’re just wondering where in the world they could be. Unless parked right outside the restroom, there’s never any reason to leave your cart unattended. After all, so much work went into that curated cart.

Clearly, there must have been an emergency, and now we’re worried. Not to mention, the cart is now in our way. So, thanks for that.

Next: Are you really in that big of a rush?

6. The person who doesn’t return his shopping cart and leaves it rolling around in the parking lot

Walmart shopping cart
Walk a few extra steps to put away the cart. | snyferok/iStock/Getty Images

There are too many people in this world who can’t be bothered to return shopping carts to their home. Apparently, they’re just so busy, they don’t have 15 seconds to spare. The problem, of course, arises when those abandoned carts start drifting around the parking lot. And no one wants to return to their car — especially after having dealt with the brood of unbearable fellow shoppers — with a dent in it.

Next: Yet again, there’s just not enough time to be a decent human being.

7. The person who sticks items they no longer want where they don’t belong

woman shops for cleaning supplies
Clean up after yourself. | Jean-Francois Monier/AFP/Getty Images

We get it, everyone changes their mind. But similar to the inability to return a cart back to its rightful home, there are some folks who can’t be bothered to return a product back to where it belongs.

Are there some exceptions here? Sure. Maybe you don’t remember where it was, or you stick it alongside similar products. OK, fine. But shoving a package of raw meat in with the toilet paper? Unacceptable.

Next: There’s no excuse for this one. 

8. The person who forgot something at the check-out and runs back to get it

Walmart checkout line in Chicago
Everyone else shouldn’t suffer because you forgot something. | Tim Boyle/Getty Images

“Ah, the toothpaste!” proclaims the man in front of you, mid-transaction. He’s gone before you know it, running back to collect his forgotten goods. Never once, however, did he ask you, the cashier, or anyone else in line if they minded.

So, the entire line is left waiting on him. Rude, just plain rude.

Next: Smart, but sometimes a little too obvious

9. The person who only goes for the samples

We’re actually kind of jealous of these people. | Noel Hendrickson/Photodisc/Getty Images

We love a good sampling when it’s available, too. But some folks really take advantage of the system. Is it cost-saving and efficient? Yes, and we’re down with that. Let’s be honest, though, there are people who never even grab a cart and just wander around the store aimlessly eating up all the samples.

We’re not sure if we should be scolding them or patting them on the back, actually.

Next: When will people learn?

10. The person who won’t get off the phone

woman using cell phone in super market
Don’t be rude with your phone. | Park Ji-Hwan/AFP/Getty Images

Everyone has a cellphone, and everyone is always busy. Quite frankly, we’re tired of hearing this.

Rather than telling someone they’ll call back, some shoppers feel it necessary to gab away at the grocery store. They don’t even think about pausing when they’re ordering at the meat counter or checking out. And it’s highly irritating.

Next: Don’t be so blatant about it. 

11. The person who eats everything along the way (and doesn’t pay for it)

People shop at a Manhattan grocery store
The grocery store isn’t your personal pantry. | Spencer Platt/Getty Images

You know these people — they’re the ones who grab a freshly-baked doughnut from the bakery, and chow down. That’s fine, of course, so long as they pay for it before leaving. Unfortunately, not everyone shares this same mentality.

Dishonesty at its finest.

Next: Common courtesy, people

12. The person who cuts in front of you when a new lane opens

Know your line etiquette. | Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

The newly stationed cashier yells, “Next!” You get excited, yet, you don’t even have a chance to run over there. You’ve been patiently waiting in line for what feels like an eternity, but that doesn’t matter. The person two people back sprints over there like they’re an Olympic athlete. Meanwhile, you’re left scratching your head, wondering whether there’s any justice left in the world.

Next: This one is very controversial. 

13. People who don’t bring their own bags

Customers of Ralphs supermarket use plastic bags
As more stores charge for bags, this might be a good practice to adopt. | Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

We’re fully prepared to receive a little backlash on this one. After all, not everyone falls in the category of global-warming believer. But it’s time to start believing.

Reducing, reusing, and recycling is now more important than ever. So go ahead and join the BYOB movement. You won’t be sorry.

Next: We’re not totally sure why this one irritates us so much.

14. The person who is clearly shopping for someone else

A woman holds her shopping list with her teeth
We just wish we could have personal shoppers. | Jean-Francois Monier/AFP/Getty Images

Are we a little envious of this scenario? Perhaps, but that doesn’t change things. We don’t like these people because clearly, they’re shopping on someone else’s dime. Maybe she’s the nanny or the personal assistant. Who cares? Whatever the case, she’s in it to win it. And she’s doing just that.

Next: We’re just jealous.

15. The person who makes it out in under 10 minutes

Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales (R) leaves the check-out with the bag of produce
They must be VIPs. | Arthur Edwards-WPA Pool/Getty Images

For most, making it out of the grocery store in under 10 minutes is impossible. But there are some folks who seem to accomplish just that. They’re in and out with everything they need, and are completely unscathed, at that.

If this is you, we applaud you. And please, tell us your secrets.

Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook!