Shopping Etiquette – are You an Aisle Blocker?

“Let’s just stop our shopping carts right here in the middle of the aisle and pretend that we own the place.”  I swear that these “aisle blockers” are thinking that.  Am I the only one that thinks this is rude?  My wife and I did some Christmas shopping today.  Everything went well.  I searched for smiling faces and cheerful employees at the mall and everywhere else we went.  I found quite a few.  It was nice.  The only thing that would have made our day better is if a few shoppers were more aware of other shoppers around them.

You know the ones.  The two women stopped in the middle of a major foot traffic aisle.  They’re chatting on like they’re the only ones in the world.  And the sad part is…they probably think that most of the time.  At first, I tend to be the one that just tries to maneuver around them.  But my wife is funnier than me.  We’ll go by and just stare into their faces until they notice.  Hilarious!

As the day goes on, I get braver.  We’re not just encountering chatters in the aisle…but “single” shoppers that just park their cart in the middle and are searching the shelves for the right product.  So, the next “aisle blocker” comes into sight.  I say, “I’ll handle this honey.”  I walk up to the oblivious shopper’s area.  I grab the cart and say loudly to my wife, “Why do the stockers at this store leave their carts in the way of their customers?”  I say this as I move the aisle blocker’s cart out of my way and act as if I don’t even see her.  By the time she figures out what’s going on…we’re already moving by and I’ve moved her cart about 8 feet away.  “That’s MY cart,” she huffs.  Then, my wife says, “He gets a little cranky when we’re Christmas shopping.”  And we ride off into the sunset.

There are actually two reasons I’m writing this.  First, to remind people to be more courteous and thoughtful of other shoppers around them.  And two, have some fun with these aisle blockers.  Don’t let them get away with it.  I know we can’t help it sometimes, but you know the ones I’m talking about.  Don’t be rude to them back…be calm…and consider it free entertainment.  I used to be Mr. Cranky when my wife drug me out the door to shop.  But now I consider it my duty to creatively educate the rude shoppers that we all get annoyed with. 

Merry Christmas!