Supermarket woes…

 See this?

It’s a typical supermarket checkout counter.  You load your groceries onto the conveyor belt (front of the photo). The cashier scans your items, then moves them to the bagging area at the other end,  you can see the payment terminal/card reader in the middle, where the customer swipes a credit or debit card in order to pay for the groceries.  Usually stores have multiple checkout counters arranged in rows, with narrow aisles between the stands.

I went grocery shopping Saturday morning.  The store was fairly crowded, as expected.  I finished my shopping and pushed my very full cart to the checkout counter.  I waited my turn, then unloaded my groceries onto the conveyor belt  When the cashier began to scan my items, I moved my cart into the bagging area at the foot of the checkout stand and began bagging my groceries (here in New York we are encouraged to bring our own reusable bags; the cashier will help bag the groceries if you hand them your bags.  Or you can purchase bags from the cashier, they’re no longer given away for free.)

As expected, the customer behind me began unloading his cart onto the conveyor belt while the cashier was still scanning my order.  No problem, there’s a belt divider.

But when he stood by the credit card reader and put his hands on my groceries … I think his intent was to push my groceries further into the bagging area, I think he meant to help.  But I said, “Please don’t touch my food.”  He ignored me the first time I said it.  I had to repeat myself, a bit louder and firmer, before he stopped.

But I still felt like he was crowding me.  And I still had to pay for my groceries but I didn’t want him looking over my shoulder when I used my debit card.

So I told him to back up, away from the card reader.  Had to repeat myself four times.  Finally I said “Unless you’re going to pay for my order, move away from the card reader.”

That’s when he finally backed up.

Apparently “personal space” isn’t in his vocabulary.