I was thinking about the different run-ins I have had in the last 3-4 weeks alone and I think this is an accurate self-assessment.
Today I managed to get to the shops. I say managed because I have had a lousy stomach bug and was at the shop was to get some bare essentials.
At each large supermarket in Australia they have one or two 15 items or less (next to the self service), 2 aisles of self service and the rest of the aisles are for people who do not wish to self service but are for more than 15 items. Naturally the 15 items is the quickest aisle.
It is not a recent phenomena, it has been this way for at least 2-3 years (since they introduced the self service). Before then, the 15 items aisle was at the very end and occasionally there would be two at the very end.
It happens occasionally. Some dickhead will decide that rules do not apply to them and will use the 15 items or less queue and feign that they "did not know"/"did not see". It is bullshit and we all know it. The perpetrator will then be reproached ever so nicely by the person at the till, the people in line will kind of sigh and roll their eyes in disgust, as the person at the till will be railroaded into servicing this person, with far more items than they ought to have rather than risk the ire of a customer, hold up the customers behind the perpetrator or perhaps risk a complaint of rudeness made against them.
The perpetrator knows this and gets their way. It is unfair.
Not today.
Two yuppie ladies in front of me both with approx 40-50 items at a guess, in their trolley. One runs off whilst the other waits to get some top shelf blue cheese.
One reads a magazine while she waits (before putting it back) and the other plays with her phone. I stand behind unwell and fuming.
The blue cheese lady starts loading up items.
I start counting them quietly.
At item seven, the young Asian girl behind the tip ever so sweetly says "I am sorry this is for 15 items or less"
The woman instantly looks, at the 15 item or less sign, and does a fake surprise "Oh, Oh I did not see it. Well now that we are here...."
I laughed loud in derision "HAHA. WHAT? REALLY?"
She was completely caught off guard by this and said to both me and the Asian Girl.
"Well what am I supposed to do now?"
I covered that one for her "Probably turn around and park in another line?"
She was now a little more than embarrassed and not being saved by anyone started packing up whilst announcing to everyone within earshot "That is so rude!"
"No, that is fair" I commented.
The walk of shame had to come past me. I nodded at them and smiled. She said "Thank you..."
"No problem"
"....for being so rude"
"My pleasure"
