12 items or less?

Question

Many people abuse the 12 items or less line at the supermarket. Why can't the store program the computer to shut off after 12 items?

Answer 1

Sometimes people can not wait in the long lines so they opt for the 12 or less.  People think if they buy more than one of an item, they consider it one.  Don't sweat the small stuff.

Answer 2

Great question, problem is the number of items piling up by the checkout would reach the ceiling or the shopper would just pay after each set of 12, which would take more time in just letting a few extra items be scanned.

Answer 3

Did you know that the '12 items' doesn't mean twelve individual cans or packages of things, but is actually 12 'types' of things with the same price on each type ... so I could by 12 INDIVIDUAL bottles of soda, 12 different types of crackers if they all were priced the same, 12 loaves of bread, etc.  And most stores that do have those 'fewer items' aisles either don't open them unless the store is 'extra busy' or open ONLY those aisles when the store isn't very busy, so sometimes people HAVE to use those aisles even when they have an 'overflowing cart.'  And NO STORE would have a computer 'shut tdown after 12 items' because stores are 'for profit' enterprises, and the MORE they sell, the HIGHER the profit.  In other word, those 'signs' are just to 'fool you' into thinking the 'store' cares ... and it must 'work' since you want to blame the other shoppers, and not the STORE that set up those 12 item lines!

Answer 4

becasue it would cause too much problems??

Answer 5

I done it, bad me

Answer 6

Bothers me too, rules are rules.  I count my items if it looks like it's 10 or less (the express line for us is 10 or less).  I get pissed when I have like 3 in the 10 items or less aisle and i have to wait for someone to unload their 14 items.

Answer 7

why cant people just have manners and if they have more then 12 items go to a dif line..?

Answer 8

i am not sanguine

Answer 9

Oh big deal?  who are you the grocery police. Give us a break if the cashier does not know how to conduct her line that is the problem of the store not her problem or his.  You see they are taught to be polite and helpful and they may not say oh gee you have 15 items instead of 12..  Yes it would be nice if the machines shut off. Then what you wait in line for the void..... chill out

Answer 10

it wont matter. people would just make 3 12 item orders anyways. btw customers are always right... thats including those annoying ones that aboue those short lines.

Answer 11

Why would you?  It's the cashier's responsibility to enforce the 12 items or less rule, and if it's slow or if the other lanes are backed up the cashier could let people shop in the express lane.  If the register shut off then it would cause all sorts of problems and anger a lot of customers.

Answer 12

I Just Got Lost...?

Answer 13

because what if theres nobody in line and the cashiers just standing there twidling her thumbs, then can someone with more than 12 items checkout there?  I hope your not upset b/c someone had 13 items or something.. but Ive seen cashiers turn people away from the speedy checkout b/c they have too many items

Answer 14

it would take more time for people trying to cheat it and then getting pissed off then to just scan it and go on.

Answer 15

who really cares if its 12 or 15 ????

Answer 16

Can't agree with you more!!!  Check outs Should SHUT DOWN after 12 items and make those people get in a regular line.

Answer 17

Is there a record in Guiness Book of World records for the most items put through, that would be fun :o)

Answer 18

i think u only have a problem with this... sorry..

Answer 19

because many times that is the only counter open on a slow day in a small town so if people have more than 12 items they must use that line no matter wat if they want to buy something. also no clerk or store manager cares if a person goes there with 15 items...as long as its not a large amount over the 12 items....like 17 would be a good cut off for 12 items

Answer 20

I know just what you mean its so annoying,like I always seem to pick the queue which looks quick and then some old biddy with a full trolley nips in front of you.   ARgh!!! Do they count packs of lager as one item, cos I have seen this so many times.  Your idea is great but it wouldn't work as there are too many stupid people who don't get it.  My breaking point was waiting behind this wally who was in between the two quick checkouts, so I went mad and said which blooody queue are you in pick the one you want cos I want out of here before you make up your mind you a*****e.  And he did, but why do people do that like stand between two checkouts.  Cheeky bugggger.

Answer 21

That is so irritating! I give people the evil eye but they don't usually pick up on it. I've come very close to saying something but I'm a chicken, you never know how a person will respond

Answer 22

I am sure they could do that, but alot of times all the regular lanes will have carts full of items, and if you have 13 items, they figure you shouldn't have to wait in those lines.

Answer 23

That would be funny!  The person would be inconvenienced so much that it would hopefully never happen again, especially if the 13th item is something you really need!

Answer 24

Wow...control issues or is the season's spirit adjusting itself