This situation recently happened to me. It occurred because the store in question has an automatic barrier across the entrance. You can only get in that way, not out.
The store has multiple checkout lanes but they're so narrow all it takes is one small woman with a hand bag to block them. Thus, during busy times, like Christmas, all the checkouts backup with queues of people carrying whatever it is they want to buy.
I just want to get out of the store but I can't. I'm a retail hostage, forced to queue because the store is too cheap to hire a door attendant to monitor customers, not making a purchase, as they leave.
I tend to avoid stores like this but sometimes their discounts are just too enticing. Before I know it I'm in the store again, they've sold out of what I came to buy and all the checkouts are clogged with people - half of them just trying to get out.
*sigh*
This happens to me if I go into such as Coles in Gosnells just to check out a Special, then find it's not what I want. They do have wide check outs, but I always say that I didn't buy anything as I pass the other people in the queue, or I feel like I'm trying to slip out without paying for something.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a bit more difficult if you have to push past people, as they turn and look at you as if you're going without paying!
If I have managed to slip past without saying anything, because they are busy, I always dally a bit on the other side, slowly sauntering off, so that it doesn't look like I'm trying to make a quick get-away whilst trying to pinch something, so they'll probably know that I just didn't buy anything!
On the other side of the coin there are the big stores that won't let you out unless you've opened your bag/hold-all in male cases, before you leave! Don't know what happens if males haven't got a bag etc!