Any culture shock?

Thinking back, I got extremely stressed out when shopping when I first moved here. I think for me, it was people getting up close, or just reaching over me to grab something off the shelf (without giving any warning beforehand - like an "excuse me" to make me aware of what they were going to do), or even jumping in front of me while I was standing there trying to get my things off the shelf, if you know what I mean.

This stressed me out, too.

But what  drove me to tears was packing my own groceries. - Now, I've packed my own groceries in the US, so I don't have a problem with that. In fact, I prefer to pack things myself because I'm picky about where the items go in the bag.

However, in the US, the cashier would watch me and lend a hand if they could. They treated me like I was "the customer" until I picked up my packed bags and walked away from the counter.

In the UK, it used to take me forever just to get the carrier bags open (the sides stick together), and while I was still doing that, the cashier would be ringing up the next person's items and throwing them on top of mine. Then, the next person would be packing their groceries while I was still packing my groceries, in the tiny little space at the end of the counter, so that I was shoved into a teeny corner.

I now know to bring  my own cloth bags so I don't have to deal wth opening the plastic carrier bags, and I don't take my wallet out of my handbag until I've packed everything just the way I like it. - The cashier and everyone behind me in the queue just have to wait.

But it was very upsetting, to the point where I just didn't want to go shopping.

But what  drove me to tears was packing my own groceries. - Now, I've packed my own groceries in the US, so I don't have a problem with that. In fact, I prefer to pack things myself because I'm picky about where the items go in the bag.

I feel you on this one! It didn't stress me out too terribly bad, but it definitely did take some getting used to, as they scan things so quickly and the items are piling up at the end, and DH is telling me to pack faster... argh!

Now we just laugh about it, like when we are at Aldi or Lidl (for some reason those two places check you out at warp speed) and the items are flying down the end, we just giggle the whole time because we are struggling to keep up. It becomes a game to see who can pack the most stuff in the quickest time! 

I'm not a big fan of packing my own groceries...I like to be able to put them in the bags the way I want to but apparently I do it way to slow...which is why I'm taking the advice of some women here and getting all groceries delivered to my house from now on!

I'm not a big fan of packing my own groceries...I like to be able to put them in the bags the way I want to but apparently I do it way to slow...which is why I'm taking the advice of some women here and getting all groceries delivered to my house from now on!

This was a shock to me too and it was very disconcerting at first. However, I learned to take my sweet time. Other people make me wait while they're bagging, people can wait for me to bag my stuff. I don't understand why the cashier just sits there and stares at you rather than helping to through a couple of things in a bag for you. One thing you can do is just throw everything into the cart as they're ringing you up, then move to the side to bag everything after you have paid.

Gah! I had one of my "going American on your as*" moments at Sainsbury's this summer! I was looking at the apples, picking out some decent ones when another lady came up with a cart. So I (politely, I thought!) moved over a bit to let her also get to the apples, but instead, she then blocks the entire section with her cart and got pissy at ME when I gently moved it slightly so I could get at the apples I was looking at first anyway!! I did maybe say an unkind name to her at that point (I know!! Bad me... first instinct! lol) but I should have just shoved my way back in like she did. Ooh. That incident still irritates me! (I know, let it go. ) I was kinda scared to go back to that Sainsbury's for fear of seeing her again!

And the bagging thing stresses me out too! I try to go fast and actually organize my stuff by bag (I use the bags to shop with) so it will come to me somewhat in order. Of course, here in the states, I usually still have to put my wallet away and grab my stuff when the cashier has already started with the next person and they are moving down to squeeze me out. I always take my time and put stuff away properly, though. They'll live.

 and I don't take my wallet out of my handbag until I've packed everything just the way I like it. - The cashier and everyone behind me in the queue just have to wait.
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Same here, except I don't take it out of a handbag. I paid good money for that bread and I'd like to eat it the way it was designed to be eaten.

I'll preface this with I'm 5'1", 110 pounds, don't wear any makeup and have the body structure of a small twelve year old. To say I look young is an understatement. In America I am used to showing ID for WD40 (which, in Illinois, you have to be 17 to buy). I have no problem showing my ID, as I know going in it's a 75/25 chance I'll have to.

However in M&S a few weeks ago I was with my MIL and husband. We got to the checkout and we put our items down (some cups, towels and a few kitchen knives). She proceeded to stop, look at me, and go in a very rude tone to my MIL "How old is she?" Yes, you have to be 18 to buy knives in the UK. But, let's say I WAS her 12 year old daughter.. You can't deny someone knives because they have someone underage with you with them, can you?? What if I took my baby with me into the shop, could I not buy a flippin' kitchen knife? And you direct that to my MIL? Why not ask *me* how old I am?? When my MIL replied "Twenty-one and they *pointing to my husband and me* are married" she didn't even ask for ID! So why even ASK if you're not going to check my ID? geeze.

/rant

Wow that's just plan RUDE! 

I find it to be the opposite with me as far as being carded! In the US I would be ID'd (is that even a word?) for lotto tickets, smokes, alcohol, everything. Even at my local bar where I knew the owner Karaoke lady and some of the door men. Didn't matter the law was the law and they checked everyone. Now I've been in England for almost 6 months and have been carded only once. Very odd for me!

In the UK, it used to take me forever just to get the carrier bags open (the sides stick together), and while I was still doing that, the cashier would be ringing up the next person's items and throwing them on top of mine. Then, the next person would be packing their groceries while I was still packing my groceries, in the tiny little space at the end of the counter, so that I was shoved into a teeny corner.
shopping.

This would stress me out as well. I always felt like I was keeping the line up.

Now I just don't pay until I've finished with the packing. If they want me to hurry then they can lend a hand. If all they're going to do is watch, then I'm happy to take my time and give them a show.

But I agree with you on those damned plastic bags. I too take my own bags when possible. I even have a folded up one in my purse at all times.

It's easier when the bags are hanging up. Just wet the tip of your finger and quickly snap/drag it down the side of the bag. That opens it AND pulls it off the hanger at the same time

That method still works when they're lying down, but you can get a couple bags together.

If they're going to fast, tell them to slow down.

You can't deny someone knives because they have someone underage with you with them, can you??

Legally, the store can refuse to sell you any item for any reason it likes (except for the specific reasons now legislated against - race, religion, etc.).   Unfortunately, some stores have taken to adopting these ridiculous policies on knives, glue, alcohol, and similarly "contentious" items.   

It's easier when the bags are hanging up. Just wet the tip of your finger and quickly snap/drag it down the side of the bag. That opens it AND pulls it off the hanger at the same time

That's what I used to do. But our two supermarkets no long leave the bags hanging. The checkout person dishes out what they feel is appropriate. And if I need another, it seems I always have to ask.

What ever happened to the stack of boxes one could use? I preferred a box as that meant all the items stayed put and I don't discover, weeks later, that an apple or someting rolled out of the plastic bags when I was doing my Colin McCrae impersonation on the way home. And yes my boot is extremely cluttered, so it's quite reasonable something could get lost. Currently my boot has: a picnic blanket, window wash, headlamp bulbs, Paper towels, an atlas, dozen or so cassettes, writing pad, pens, pencils, crayons, a football, a frisbee, a hard hat, safety glasses, overalls, a bag of juice, crisps and snack bars and a spare tyre somewhere in there. Yea, it can wait till spring. There's an idea for two new threads - What's in your boot? and Wait until spring...

What's in your boot?

I put feet in my boots...oh wait...you meant...nevermind...

What ever happened to the stack of boxes one could use?

It seems rather bizarre that as there's been more and more pressure to recycle things and not waste resources this convenient use of the empty packing boxes has all but disappeared in the big supermarket chains.

One of the supermarkets in a town a few miles from me still has a railed off corner into which the boxes are dumped for customers to use, but then it's still a family owned supermarket and not one of the giant chains:

http://www.roys.co.uk/history.html

I put feet in my boots...oh wait...you meant...nevermind...

  And wait until you look under the bonnet. 

And then, that's not even to mention learning about "piss-taking". Where I come from, you're nice to everyone, whether you like them or not. Here, you're nice to people you don't know or don't like and "take the piss out of" people you DO like.

I couldn't figure out why people who'd been so nice started saying hurtful things. I was bullied terribly at school, and the one thing in the world I hate most to this day is being laughed at. Imagine when your friends start doing it. It took me a while to realize it's a sign of affection LOL It means they feel comfortable with you and are secure in your relationship.

The best explaination of piss taking i can recall reading.....lol