Every now and then I venture into the shop known as Fruit and Veg. There is something about seeing piles and piles of vegetables and fruit just begging to be taken home and consumed that, on a primal level, makes me feel healthy and alive but, not this time (or the last couple of times for that matter!).
I thought that 3:30 pm on a Friday afternoon would be a safe and relatively quiet time to pop in and pick up a few vegetables for a nice warming stew planned as a surprise for ‘Famiglia Stratoroni’ – boy was I wrong.
Now I was brought up to be polite when out in public and endeavour at all times to follow a few simple rules:
- Open the car door for your passengers
- Let women and old people through the doorway first
- Keep to the left – in the car and when navigating a shopping trolley
- Don’t block the road or aisles
- Be courteous and smile
- Don’t shove or push your body, car or trolley up against someone else
- Say; “Excuse me, please” often and in a proper manner
- Know your place and put the customer first
- Help old people across the road and to push their trolleys
- Allow policemen, traffic officers, ambulance and emergency personnel to jump the queue
- The list goes on.
You would think that the people who shop at Fruit and Veg City would have manners – after all they are supposed to be getting items at a decent price. But, NO, the customers are rude, block the aisles, push in front of you, reach over your person and trolley whilst you are choosing items and generally raise one’s blood pressure more than a notch. The same too for the staff – I saw staff blocking aisles, walking aimlessly around chatting loudly, pointedly ignoring customers and generally placing their fat useless bodies in the way of everyone.
The worst is when you politely ask if you may squeeze past and you get this acid look of disgust as if you were the spinach leaf that someone slipped on or the cockroach that should be stepped on. Sometimes the look is the one that I imagine old Juliarse gets whenever he thinks of FW De Klerk.
In fact – I bought far LESS than I intended and, to top it all the following happened as I attempted to leave the store – The exit is up a ramp and it is common courtesy to wait for people who have embarked DOWN the ramp to finish their maneuver, especially when a FAT ARSED SULLEN GIT is blocking the left hand lane of the ramp. So, I waited for an older gentleman who attempted to squeeze through the now single lane. But, some other FAT ARSED LAZY GIT shoved himself past me and the gentleman I was waiting for. Behind him was a woman and I waited for her to descend before proceeding. If only I was allowed to carry a gun!
I can only say to the management at Fruit and Veg City; “Guys, you are doing yourselves a great disservice here – work on the customer service please, educate your half wit customers in proper etiquette and make the aisles BIGGER. Until then I shall return to shopping at my local friendly supermarket where there is a smile on every employee’s face!”
