Courtesy (rant)

The clerk should have made him join the line imo and you never should have HAD to say anything. However, I probably would have called him out on it too when the clerk didn't do their job. :P

Having worked in retail, it's very difficult to be the person to say "You need to move to the back of the line". People can get very angry and in your face about things....it's really not my job to babysit and make sure people follow the "rules". Is it fair to the people who did and waited in line? Of course not, but what was the clerk supposed to do? Refuse to serve him until he got in line? That would have held everybody up even more.

I've worked in retail too. Often on register. It is the clerk's job to manage the line. I'd rather piss off one jerk who is NOT being courteous, than my entire line of customers who were there first and are being polite and following the rules.

It really is a clerk's job, as an employee of the store, to enforce store policy and provide good customer service. When I worked retail it WAS my job to assure people followed the "rules." Managing my line, coupon policy, making people pay for things and not steal, etc. However, that is just me. If you don't feel the need to step in, that is your choice. ::shrug::

You can never know the kind of day another person is having. If you feel that you did the right thing, then good. But never assume that a person does something simply to be rude.

so true, he might have been just having a bad day and been totally oblivious, and than to embarrassed to say anything, but make a hasty retreat. I do think, although we will sometimes be wrong, it is healthy to sometimes assume the best in people no matter how improbable in a situation like this that nobody really was hurt, or in danger, just shortly inconvenienced. It was brought to my attention in a recent sermon that I am often guilty of judging others by their actions, while judging myself by my intentions and not my actions.

Well, if he was having a bad day and was oblivious, then the OP speaking to him might have made an impression. However, I don't buy that at all. Most people who do something like that are inconsiderate and feel more self important than anyone else, which is why they feel justified in cutting in line. Sorry, but we already live in a horribly self centered, self absorbed world, I am not going to encourage the behavior by ignoring poor manners.

You can never know the kind of day another person is having. If you feel that you did the right thing, then good. But never assume that a person does something simply to be rude.

so true, he might have been just having a bad day and been totally oblivious, and than to embarrassed to say anything, but make a hasty retreat. I do think, although we will sometimes be wrong, it is healthy to sometimes assume the best in people no matter how improbable in a situation like this that nobody really was hurt, or in danger, just shortly inconvenienced. It was brought to my attention in a recent sermon that I am often guilty of judging others by their actions, while judging myself by my intentions and not my actions.

Well, if he was having a bad day and was oblivious, then the OP speaking to him might have made an impression. However, I don't buy that at all. Most people who do something like that are inconsiderate and feel more self important than anyone else, which is why they feel justified in cutting in line. Sorry, but we already live in a horribly self centered, self absorbed world, I am not going to encourage the behavior by ignoring poor manners.

I would have probably reacted similar, but since this was a discussion, just was trying to look at both sides, and realizing, I'm not perfect, sometimes give the benefit of the doubt, because I don't know what was going through the guys head. Since you however are never rude and can accurately judge everybody's intentions, I guess it would be right for you to say something every time. If not, he may miss his chance to meet a flawless person.

Ha! That's the kind of thing I do all the time - well, when I'm feeling particularly stabby, at least. Good for you. Meh, so what if you held up the line for 15 seconds? I'm sure the rest of them were silently cheering you on.

The clerk should have made him join the line imo and you never should have HAD to say anything. However, I probably would have called him out on it too when the clerk didn't do their job. :P

Having worked in retail, it's very difficult to be the person to say "You need to move to the back of the line". People can get very angry and in your face about things....it's really not my job to babysit and make sure people follow the "rules". Is it fair to the people who did and waited in line? Of course not, but what was the clerk supposed to do? Refuse to serve him until he got in line? That would have held everybody up even more.

I've worked in retail too. Often on register. It is the clerk's job to manage the line. I'd rather piss off one jerk who is NOT being courteous, than my entire line of customers who were there first and are being polite and following the rules.

It really is a clerk's job, as an employee of the store, to enforce store policy and provide good customer service. When I worked retail it WAS my job to assure people followed the "rules." Managing my line, coupon policy, making people pay for things and not steal, etc. However, that is just me. If you don't feel the need to step in, that is your choice. ::shrug::

Making sure people pay for things is different than "Line forms to the left" :laugh: Honestly, I think the clerk was stuck in a no-win situation and I can understand not feeling "brave" enough to tell the guy to step off. If you're extremely non-confrontational (which I am) those situations are your own personal hell. Could he have handled it differently? Sure, but I'm not going to condemn him as not doing his job, either.

So, if we say that you were wrong to do it, are you going to travel back in time and take it back?

That was kind of rude.