Another Awkward Supermarket Moment – So What Would You Have Done?

Most trips to the supermarket come and go without any controversy, and that's exactly how it should be. But every once in a while one of those pesky etiquette issues comes up and you just don't know what to do. I want to know what you would have done if you found yourself in the situation I found myself in this weekend at the Stop & Shop in Point Pleasant.

Here's what happened. I grabbed a cart, filled it about two-thirds of the way with some stuff we needed, and then I made my way to the register. I waited in line behind a family with a full cart. Once their items started clearing up on the belt, I started to put mine up there.

I got all my stuff on the belt and saw the woman on line behind me holding one item. I'm not even sure what the item was, but I instantly felt bad and asked her to jump ahead of me on line.

At first, she said no, but I convinced her to go, so she did. She got up the cashier, and whatever the item was, it wouldn't ring up. It needed a price check or something, so I fully expected to have my favor returned. I thought she would tell me to go ahead while her issue was worked out.

But she didn't. I waited there until it was all sorted out and then it was my turn. Now, a couple of things. I offered to let her go. Also, it wasn't her fault the item wouldn't ring up. And finally, I really wasn't in a hurry, so it was all good.

But the more I thought about it, the more I thought she should have at least offered, right? And like I said, I was perfectly fine waiting, but what if I was in a bit of a hurry and thought I could absorb somebody buying one item without a price check.

What would you have done? I'm just curious because I think I would have offered.   Sometimes in an attempt to do or accept a nice gesture, it gets a little awkward. I think that's what I did here. So if there's any fault it's on me. But I'd still love to know what you think.