A simple and perfect solution to the “10 items or less” offenders

I picked out a container of pink sprinkles for my daughter’s birthday cupcakes in the confectionary aisle of the supermarket.

I took my place in the “10 items or less” line. Standing in front of me was a couple – husband and wife perhaps – with at least 25 items.

Not 11. Not 12. More than twice the posted limit. 

I couldn’t believe it. 

Adding to this unfathomable item count was the inefficiency of these two people. The man was bagging the groceries while the woman – who was supposed to be scanning the items – was badgering him about which items should be bagged together.

They bickered throughout the entire process. 

Meanwhile, I stood there with my $2 container of sprinkles, waiting for these two morons who couldn’t count to ten to finish and move on.

I almost said something. I wanted to. I needed to.

I refrained. Rare for me, but it happens. I think it was the bickering. For whatever reason, their discord prevented my own wrath from entering the fray. 

But I had a thought. A solution to this problem. A universal fix to this age-old dilemma. 

A new rule:

If a person violates the “10 items or less” sign, he or she (or they) are required to purchase the items for the person in line directly behind them, provided that he or she has the appropriate number of items.

Brilliant. Right?

Not only does this solution offer restitution to victims like me, but it also encourages offenders to move quickly lest someone get in line behind them and earn themselves some free groceries.

In this case, I would hand the nagging woman my pink sprinkles, point to the “10 items or less” sign, and say, “Here you go, lady. Two dozen ain’t even close to ten. Tell your man to bag this one separately.”  

A solution, both perfect in its vindication as well as its punishment. 

 Can I get an amen?

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  1. Denise Landis

    AMEN!!!! I love your solution. I wish I could buy a supermarket right this minute so I could put it into effect.

  2. Denise Landis

    Except technically it should say "10 Items or Fewer."

  3. Jeff Vibes

    The same thing happened to me yesterday. 25 (at least) items in the 15 item line. This was also a couple. No bickering but equally oblivious. After everything was at last rung up, Mrs. Oblivious ran back into the store to get yet another item while the rest of us waited. And waited. Sigh…

  4. Karoline Barrett

    I was more bothered by the word "less." As Denise said, it should be "fewer." Yes, it is annoying, but honestly, life is too short to get upset about small stuff. Increasingly on Facebook I’ve noticed a lot of posts about stupid people, and it bothers me. None of us are perfect, and maybe that "stupid" person just lost a parent, or was having a bad day. Whatever. Just because someone disagrees with you (not you personally, you in general), messes up, makes the wrong decision, doesn’t make them stupid. I think I got off track …

    1. Matthew Dicks

      Yes, the word "less" bothered me, too. But it’s what was written on the sign, and while incorrect, it did not otherwise interfere with my life that day.

      I understand your sentiment well. In truth, I am often the person counseling a measured response. I am the person who people at work become annoyed with because I allow things to pass by without a flicker of irritation. I get it.

      But this is not an occasional, minor annoyance. This is a pattern of behavior that I witness all too often, and you are correct. Life is too short. I cannot abide by having minutes stolen from me, day after day, by purposeful violators of rules who I must now stand and wait behind because the non-express lines were long.

      This was not an isolated incident. It is an all-too-frequent occurrence.

      I’ll also point out that my proposed system actually allows this pernicious behavior to persist, with a cost. I see it as akin to keeping a library book a few extra days with the understanding that you will be paying a fine. The fine is a rental on the book past its due date, and these fines keep the libraries running.

      So pay for my pink sprinkles and you can abuse the 10 items of less (or fewer) as often as you’d like.

      but I hear you. And I really do support your position in many, many instances.

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