Checkout Lines

I just returned from one of the most cliché-awful Walmart checkout line experiences one could have.

I don't mind Walmart too much, really, but probably the worst part of any shopping trip is the checkout line. Tonight, I spent over 20 minutes waiting to be checked out; that is way too long of a wait in my book.

It was prime shopping time, when everyone is getting off work, and they only had three lines open that could handle more than 20 items. I was surprised honestly, because usually this is something Target pulls, when 80% of the time there is one, count them one!, checkout line open. I guess they had someone call in or not show. Needless to say, the lines in these three available registers were quite long. After I was already trapped within the 'aisle of impulse' another line opened up, but even four lines was not enough.

On top of the cashier shortage, all of the customers in front of me paid by check. Oh goodie... Which meant they had to write it out, scan it through the printer thing, ask for their phone number, ask for their driver's license so they can write it on there (I've never understood why that's necessary, in no way would I want all that info just floating out there.) Then the lady's machine wouldn't beep anymore when she scanned an item. She got 1/4 of the way through the stuff of the people in front of me before she realized she rang up some of their items twice. So she had to cancel that, redo it, and then proceed. She also had to count out cash back to them, which took longer than it should have. I happened to meet eyes with the older man and he smiled, which made me smile, and then he emulated a sigh, and we shared a 'Jeez this is taking forever but we're trying to stay happy' kind of expression. It made me chuckle inside, and for a moment took me out of my disdain for the whole process.

Then it was finally my turn, and all in all I spent 24 minutes total between the time I hopped in line to the time I walked out of it. The only good thing going for this entire trip was the lady was good at bagging groceries and I didn't come home with a surplus of bags; for some reason, I am not capable of remembering my collection of reusable bags I stash in my car.

I guess I should just be thankful I didn't get stuck behind someone with a bunch of circulars ready to argue and price match everything in the cart.

As Charlie Brown says, "Good grief."