Express lane limits should be enforced

Don?t you just love the express lane? The logic behind them is that a person can get in and out faster if they are willing to limit their purchase to 20 items or less.

It?s not like me to criticize, as most of you know, but some are definitely taking advantage of the express lane and in so doing, slowing the process down for those who actually have 20 items or less and need to get out in a hurry.

Recently, while in the express lane I was behind a person who had a buggy full of groceries. While we were waiting in line, she made a dash over to wrestle a balloon out of a bunch attached to ribbons.

If anyone has ever tried to wrestle one balloon out of the many, most realize when those ribbons get intertwined it?s almost impossible to get them apart. While we waited there, the cashier finished with the lead person in line. As luck would have it, she finally managed to get the balloon she wanted and headed back to her buggy and began to place the first of her items on the counter.

As I stood there watching her walk back to the line, one of the balloons in the bunch she had struggled with had come loose from the others and began to float to the ceiling. Although this isn?t such a big deal and no one probably noticed it but me, the balloon thing just gave a prelude to what was coming.

While placing the numerous items on the counter, she began to talk about the different items and her plans for the items. Listening to this, while I stood there with my two items, was exasperating. Here I was with two items, in the middle of my lunch, standing in the longest express lane wait I?ve had to endure in a while.

Sometime toward the last of her items she stated the first of two phrases that just blew me away, ?These I?ll have to pay for separate.? I normally try and hide my irritation so I?m relatively good at it. I was aware, however, of something that sounded somewhat like pure exhaustion coming from my gut.

It was about that time that the cashier messed up and one or two of the items the customer wanted to pay for separately got rung up with the first set, and one of her stuffed animals got something on it?s fur.

In the midst of the cashier taking the items off the first order and asking someone to run back and exchange the stuffed animal for one that didn?t have anything on it, out comes phrase two. The woman stated, ?No, that?s all right. I?m in too much of a hurry for that. I guess I shouldn?t have come in here during my lunch hour.?

I could hear that noise again from my gut. Although, this time it was a bit louder and followed by a groan and me rolling my eyes. Normally I don?t act that way but this situation was getting the best of me.

When the end was in sight, so was the tape in the register. Just before the cashier finished and printed out the second receipt, the register ran out of tape and the cashier had to replace it. The person in front of me, obviously in a hurry now, left without her receipt because she did not want to wait.

Once the receipt was printed, the cashier took off after the customer to give her the receipt. When she got back to the register, she wanted to know how I was doing today! That was a question I dared not answer at that point.

Here?s my thought – I think the express lane item numbers should be strictly enforced. People with what appear to be too many items should be asked to move to a lane more appropriate for the number of items they want to purchase. Enforce express lane limits or do away with them! At least that way no one will have the fantasy of getting out quickly.

Lisa Hobbs is a reporter for the Standard. She can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].