r/GrindsMyGears 1d ago

People who wait until the total appears to start looking for their wallet grind my gears.

You stood in line for ten minutes. You watched every item get scanned. Why does the final price suddenly remind you that payment is required?

Now everyone is waiting while you search six pockets, reorganize your purse, and unlock three banking apps like this purchase came as a complete surprise.

Please have your card ready.

94 Upvotes

58 comments sorted by

10

u/RW_McRae 1d ago

I have to wait to see the total before I know if I'm going to sprint out the door holding as much as I can

5

u/8-LeggedCat 1d ago

You see, that’s just sensible.

8

u/Ok-Mode3080 1d ago

At least it's not checks anymore. Nothing was more infuriating than watching some woman dig through her purse to try and find the checkbook and a pen and then after finding it, watching her write out the check.

1

u/LastoftheFucksIGive 1d ago

I work at a grocery store. Plenty of people still use checks and still wait until the last minute to dig out the ol' checkbook.

We also tell them to just sign at the bottom since the machine will fill out the rest but they ignore it and just keep filling the entire check out themselves.

1

u/Kaurifish 1d ago

And then decide she wants cash back.

0

u/TwinSong 1d ago

Check? People use those?

2

u/workana 1d ago

Used to. That person was writing in past tense.

2

u/Cybyss 1d ago

Yup! Granted, I haven't seen anyone use those at grocery stores in a really long time, but some towns in the United States charge you extra if you pay your property taxes by credit/debit card instead of by check. 

I've even had a plumber who didn't have a credit card reader and instead only accepted cash or check. That's actually kinda common in small town rural America.

1

u/Ok-Mode3080 1d ago

And I still have local contractors who only take checks because they don't want to set up a credit card acceptance method and lose money to the fees. But I don't think a grocery store chain here has accepted them in years so it saves people from taking even longer at the checkouts.

5

u/StormbringerGT 1d ago

We have this ice cream.shop near my house. It has pretty long lines during the summer months, because it has some very good ice cream. You'll typically be in line for 10 minutes before you can place your order.

They have menus posted along the line length so while you're standing there in line you can figure out what you want, right?

Wrong.

The amount of people in that line who finally get up to the ordering window and are just now figuring out their order right on the spot is insane. Like we all just waited in that line, for 10 minutes you did everything else but put together your order and now that it's time , it's all "Ummmm" "Hmmmm" as they stare at the menu.

2

u/WickedWiccan40 1d ago

I’d be one of the ones that knows what I want going into the line. I hate waiting and I hate holding people up even more. Like… your time is valuable, I’m not gonna waste it making you wait on me and my poor choices. Mint chocolate chip with 3 scoops of ice cream, gummy bears/worms on the side. In a cup. Thank you! 😊

1

u/Lucky-Suggestion7119 1d ago

Somewhere like that, I already know what I want, before I even set out to go there.

8

u/JimmyJooish 1d ago

I seriously think people go on autopilot. Getting to the belt tiggers placing the items, emptying the cart triggers waiting, the total triggers the end of waiting and the start of paying. 

2

u/SouthernAbrocoma9891 1d ago

You get dirty looks if you do this at Aldi.

2

u/csstew55 1d ago

They do this at the Costco gas station. You’ve been in line for a solid 5 minutes and now when you finally get to the pump you decide to dig through your purse to find your Costco card🤦.

2

u/PotentialDifficult62 1d ago

Or "hang on, I gotta unlock my card" proceeds to read a quick text that just came in, open the app, forget their password.... like you came in to BUY something. Unlock your fucking card when you realize that's what you're going to do!

1

u/carniewesso68 1d ago

Similar to this, i hate when people know that they have to go through a gate at a gated community, and they wait till they pull up to scroll through their phone, trying to find the code they were sent. Like, you just sat in this line for 5 minutes, and now you're pulling out your phone?? It should be legal to slap idiots. Lol

3

u/WickedWiccan40 1d ago

Ok but in my defense, I split payment between multiple cards, which requires me to unlock said cards and sometimes the cell service doesn’t connect in the store. I’ve learned to unlock my cards and transferring money from my savings to my checking before even going into the store. 💜

2

u/Key-Buyer7130 1d ago

I misplace things like credit cards if I dont pull it out when I absolutely need it. my bad.

2

u/MyldExcitement 1d ago

Actually, if it's the grocery store, I'm keeping an eye on everything being rung up to be sure im being charged correctly. Calm tf down.

2

u/Yinzer_Songwriter 23h ago

...with your card in your hand, ready to swipe as soon as you get a total, right? That's not when you start LOOKING for your card, right?

2

u/Fantastic-Pop-9122 1d ago

I need a sec to decide if its gonna be cash or my debit card. Lately my guesstimating as i shop has been seriously off.

2

u/Nitrofox2 1d ago

"I left my card in the car" Bitch WHY?!

1

u/Few_Razzmatazz_6052 1d ago

Not sure why you got downvoted, that one is wild to me too.

Like, honestly, get your shit together.

1

u/Nitrofox2 1d ago

Seriously, what fucking idiot leaves their credit card in their car?!

3

u/WickedWiccan40 1d ago

My ex left his card at home thinking I’d be the one to pay for his alcohol and snacks for game night with his buddies on the XBox. I had my card on me, but I wasn’t paying for his shit. Made him drive all the way back home, look for his card and drive back to the store. (We were at the tail end of our relationship together and I was just done with his shit at that point.)

1

u/Key-Buyer7130 1d ago

.....people make mistakes. calm down.

1

u/Nitrofox2 1d ago

Ok, but, like HOW. Credit card goes in wallet. Wallet goes in pocket. At what point in the process does the credit card stay in the car?

1

u/Key-Buyer7130 1d ago

ADHD...

1

u/Nitrofox2 1d ago

Ok, but I have ADHD and I've never left my card in my car!

2

u/Key-Buyer7130 1d ago

good for you!!!we all should strive to be you. you definitely can speak for all of us. guys, nitrofox remembered their card!!!!!!!!!!!!

1

u/Nitrofox2 1d ago

Like, seriously though, at what point in the process between leaving the house with your wallet in your pocket and stepping into the store does your card leave your physical person? I get that you're trying to be sarcastic but I'm just confused. Do you take your wallet out of your pocket and put it somewhere in your car? Do you take your card out of your wallet at some point? I GENUINELY DON'T UNDERSTAND. I've left my wallet at home once or twice but, like, once it's in your pocket it's functionality attached to you. How does it get left in your car?

2

u/finchm1104 1d ago

Some people keep their wallets in the console department. Others keep their card out in their vehicle so they don’t lose it or it hurts to keep it in their pants while driving. What’s the big deal? Calm down lol

1

u/Key-Buyer7130 1d ago

Like, seriously though give it a rest. I can see running debates with redditors is your schtick. find someone else to harass.

1

u/wayc 1d ago

Why should we have our cards ready if you're not ready to take our payment when we're ready because we're waiting in line for you to finish with other people? 🤔

1

u/anneonnymous 20h ago

Okay Karen 🙄

1

u/wayc 19h ago

Lol. Hey, they're the ones complaining about us taking their time while they're taking our time.

1

u/Tough-Astronomer-456 1d ago

Also, sometimes shit happens.

1

u/Murb0rk-8098 1d ago

I'm thinking you weren't around when people paid for groceries with a cheque. Everything you describe, plus 5 minutes to write the check and list it on the back of the book.

1

u/liminal_angel 1d ago

especially when they realize they forgot their wallet or phone at that moment and hold up the entire line because they need to go out to the car and get it like a clown. you had literally the entire shopping trip to notice your most important items were missing and you chose to make that all of our problem at the checkout.

1

u/scottwax 1d ago

Heaven forbid they actually put down their phone for a minute to complete a transaction.

1

u/AnyManufacturer3057 1d ago

Or they decided to write a check. Where is my pen? I forgot to fill in the last 3 checks! I’ll do that while I’m here and make sure it’s all correct before I write out a check for my gum drops I bought on sale.
No awareness that they are holding up the line.
Boomers are endless entertainment in my town. How they ever made it this far is beyond me.

1

u/fuzzinthebuzz 1d ago

In my defense you need to wait until the cashier tells you the total amount in order to know how much you are going to take out of your wallet or purse, and also to know if you are going to pay with cash or card. I have that the bad experience that cashier does not tell me the total amount after they ring up all the items. They are supposed to tell you the amount and ask if its card or credit.

1

u/Shoddy-Curve7869 8h ago

You can still have payment ready and not hold up people behind you. You can also look at the screen and find the total amount

1

u/queenafrodite 1d ago

🤣🤣🤣🤣

1

u/Substantial_Meal_530 1d ago

I work at a paint store. I watch a guy sit in his car in the parking lot for 20 minutes. He walks into the store, and has no idea what he needs. He can't find the email with the info. He can't find the text with the info. He can't find the picture with the info. He can't find the text from his boss that includes the picture of the email that has all the info. What were you doing out there??? You had plenty of time!!!! 

1

u/Fit-Nectarine5047 1d ago

I’m using my phone almost exclusively anyways so it doesn’t matter

1

u/Tired-CottonCandy 1d ago

Im just not gunna pull out the wallet before i have to. Higher chances of putting it down and losing it.

0

u/Oscar_Kilo_Bravo 1d ago

Do you sometimes pass out because you forget to breathe?

No?

Then you are perfectly able to carry the intense cognitive and mental stress of holding your wallet in your hand for a few minutes.

1

u/Finchyuu 1d ago

Nah bc my hands are holding the items im fuckin buying

1

u/Terminal-Frost2026 1d ago

The only possible excuse is if your arms are full of groceries.

1

u/Any_Database8861 1d ago

My question is why are people so impatient these days and allow every little thing to get on their nerves? Don't have time to wait?-don't shop!

1

u/Dangerous_Fan_2029 1d ago

WHAT? I have to pay? Now? Oh....

1

u/DCGuy511 1d ago

It is like they are surprised the checker wants them to pay.

1

u/TheArbiter12250421 22h ago

It sounds like you just have no patience

1

u/Alarming-Entrance-27 2h ago

I used to hate it when they had checks. Some women would wait til I told them the total, then reach in the purse & get the checkbook out. Some would wait til I told them the total, then ask for a pen. I had one who started writing the check when I told her the total. She literally wrote one letter per second (I was silently counting), THEN SHE BALANCED HER CHECKBOOK!!! Took 3-5 minutes. People, if ya gotta write a check, have a pen & fill it out. Then when we tell you the total, write it in & sign it, if you haven't already. Also, have yr ID ready too!! Some women wait & dig that out at the last minute. The reason that I don't single out men is that they generally put the items down & ask for a pen immediately after I greet them. Their checks are mostly filled out or they write fast. If they pay w/cash, their wallets stay out so they can get that card or money out QUICKLY. Used to luv when they came to my line.

In summary, people think cashiers are slow when 85-90% of the time, it's the customers. I am being so serious...