Supermarket Sleuths: Eight things supermarket staff wish you'd stop doing at the checkout

Supermarket checkout rules exist for a reason, and I for one pride myself on being the best shopper possible.

I like to think of myself as compliant and adaptable, and often imagine staffers thinking of me fondly as I walk away after a polite, efficient, seamless checkout experience.

I credit my exceptional supermarket checkout behaviour to the fact I used to work at one, and the fact I was an early adopter of Aldi and its quirky, unique checkout rules.

The transition to self-checkout has been easy for me, having been a checkout staffer for so many years.

What I have noticed is many shoppers seem oblivious, not only to the many unspoken checkout rules, but also to appropriate etiquette for both staffed and self-checkout spaces.

Many of my thoughts have been echoed in this Aldi Reddit's thread, where a robust discussion has taken place about supermarket checkout rules, from the perspectives of staffers and customers.

Are you guilty of any of these?

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1. Heavier items first

This one seems to be common sense and is often enforced at Coles and Woolworths, with reports staff are directed to remind shoppers to scan or enter heavy items first, without having to lift them out of trolleys in order to do so.

This also makes sense at Aldi's staff checkouts in particular, as it means that when shoppers pack their grocery items into their trolleys after scanning, their other "items don't get smashed".

Although, there was some dispute with this. Some prefer to put all the chilled and frozen items on the conveyor belt first and to keep them together.

"Cold first so it gets back to the insulated bag faster (we see more triple digits in summer, than singles in winter) but we buy fancy Greek yogurt ice cream bars for protein and they melt in five seconds under a hot stare," one commenter wrote.

2. Don't try to bag items while they are scanning at Aldi staffed checkouts

This has been a long-established Aldi rule, but one I have observed many shoppers breaking.

At Aldi, you are meant to place your grocery items back into your trolley and then pack them into bags at the packing bench located opposite the checkout.

It's only at self-checkout that you can bag them.

At Coles and Woolies staffed checkouts, make sure to hand over any bags you have brought with you before scanning begins. You are also free to pack grocery items straight back into your trolley and then pack them into bags at your car if that is more convenient, and if you prefer to pack them yourself.

3. Stay off your phone, unless you are using it to pay

"Please don't be on your phone oblivious to what is going on," an Aldi staffer said on Reddit. This is a common gripe from supermarket staffers – as well as shoppers patiently waiting in line behind you.

For the process to move as quickly and efficiently as possible, you need to be paying attention.

You can do whatever you need to do on your phone after you've made the payment – and use it for payment only, not to quickly read a text that has popped up as well

"I have a question about the phone tap pay thing. I've seen people get told the amount by the cashier, then futz with their phone for a minute or two looking like they're texting, and then tap the PIN machine to complete payment," one Redditor observed.

"What are they doing in that minute or two? I know a tap to pay card just works instantly without having to do anything but tap the card."

Another staffer added: "If you can't be attentive or courteous for 60 seconds for service workers, then I'm afraid I have bad news for you."

4. Have your payment method ready

"Nothing worse than someone waiting until every thing is rung up and then they start digging for their card or cash," the Aldi staffer said.

"The number of people I've seen who stand there watching their items being rung up and then express surprise when they have to get a debit card out is just ridiculous," one commenter added.

"I always want to ask if this is their first experience buying something in a store."

A further step that has been suggested is to make sure funds are available on the card you are using, and to have the PIN ready if needed for purchases of over $100.

"I hate when people have to unlock their cards or transfer money to another account or continually swipe the same card even though you told them it came up insufficient or declined," one staffer said.

5. Using the divider

"Once you are done loading the conveyor belt, please place a divider down," one supermarket staffer explained.

"That's the indication to the person behind you that you're done, so they're not looming over you. This obviously also helps the cashiers know when one transaction ends. It's a pain for them to void something."

Further to this, one supermarket shopper said: "How about also waiting until the person in front of you is actually done unloading their cart onto the belt.

"I can't stand when I'm unloading and the cashier starts ringing and then the person behind me starts putting their stuff on the belt as it's moving forward when I still have items in my cart. Just wait!"

6. Unwanted items

"Don't throw your unwanted items just anywhere, especially cold items," one staffer said.

"This can lead to loss. Being courteous is easy good human behavior."

The best way to deal with an item you no longer want to purchase at checkout is to hand it to staff, as they usually have a pile of items to return to shelves. Leaving it at the checkout can lead to confusion, and a delay in the next customer being able to use it.

"If you change your mind about an item, hand it to the cashier, don't hide it in a random spot," another staffer confirmed.

"So much stuff gets wasted and time gets wasted. We don't have time to go on an Easter egg hunt finding hidden items in the wrong spot throughout the store."

7. Item placement

If purchasing bottles, one supermarket staffer said the best way to place them is to "lie [them] down with top pointing toward register".

This prevents falling bottles and stops bottles rolling like they do when they have been placed sideways.

Also roup together all items that need to be weighed.

"I always made sure to put all my produce that has to be weighed together so they can get in a little weighing 'groove'," one shopper explained.

"But I always put my produce first on the belt thinking the cashier could get this out of the way but I didn't consider how it was put in cart first as well.

"So I will now still put all my produce together but last on the belt and heaviest things first."

8. Unpack your shopping baskets

Supermarket staffers would prefer customers unpack their baskets to help them scan items faster.

"Please make sure to actually unload your bag/box onto the conveyor belt don't put them on there full of product," they said.

Another added: "Also, unpack your bag or box. It is not easier for the cashiers to scan in that way.

"It slows them down significantly."

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