Shopping rant

I actually left a shop not too long ago where I was next to pay. The person at the pay point started by returning something they'd bought online, then giving 3 email addresses before deciding on one for the receipt to go to. Then dug around in their purse to pay for something, then said that receipt needs to go to a different email. By this point I was already steaming.

Then they say to the cashier "actually, I tried on a pair of trousers and left it in the dressing room, but I want it now". And the cashier starts asking for a description to go get it for them.

That's when I threw down all the stuff in my hands and screamed "Jesus Christ!" and left.

Not my finest moment, but yeah, I get you.

I actually left a shop not too long ago where I was next to pay. The person at the pay point started by returning something they'd bought online, then giving 3 email addresses before deciding on one for the receipt to go to. Then dug around in their purse to pay for something, then said that receipt needs to go to a different email. By this point I was already steaming.

Then they say to the cashier "actually, I tried on a pair of trousers and left it in the dressing room, but I want it now". And the cashier starts asking for a description to go get it for them.

That's when I threw down all the stuff in my hands and screamed "Jesus Christ!" and left.

Not my finest moment, but yeah, I get you.

It is understandable that navigating crowded and disorganized spaces such as stores can make many people feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable, regardless of whether they have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, some people with ASD who have a preference for [removed by Mod] play may be particularly sensitive to sensory stimuli, have difficulty with social cues, or prefer routine and predictability, which may exacerbate the challenges in such situations.

They did when I went there pre pandemic. It appears they put extra racks so I was more likely to walk out soon after I walked in.

I totally disagree! It can take a minute to try and decide which if any of the vegetarian options are actually edible.

I don't find shopping that bad mostly. I go at a quiet time to a big place with lots of room to avoid people, and now you can scan everything on your phone so I don't need to interact at all.

Yep, totally with you.   And ugh, I am revulsed just thinking about how carefree people have becoming with their germs.   It just takes a little consideration people! 

Love this!  Totally agree on the sandwich thing!  There isn't that much to think about - lol. 

They do that at Christmas??? Is that why things feel so claustrophobic!  I always thought it was just so many people.   I'm totally with you on the online shopping. 

Yes. I go to shops if I have to to get what I need. Where possible I go to places with wide aisles and avoid self service as I always get embarrassed when I do it wrong. If I need to select something but need to go to a shop where possible I search and make the decision online before visiting the shop. 

Things that frustrate me are, before I did supermarket shopping online when they moved something to a different aisle and at Christmas when shops increase the aisles and make them narrow, hence why I now do Christmas online.

I shop on-line at a major supermarket and only occasionally go to the shop for an item or two.

That works fine for me.

Ben

I can absolutely identify with this.

I'm probably not the most efficient shopper as I go in with a list and have to get things to buy in the order I've written them down in. I even laugh at myself going back to some aisles three or four times. But it makes me happy. Over the years I've introduced a rule where if I directly pass something on the list, I'm allowed to pick it up en route to the next item.

My pet hates (as well as those you have mentioned) are:

a) people taking forever to choose a sandwich - I mean for goodness sake you must know what sandwich you want, don't leave me unable to reach my egg and cress sandwich for 5 minutes because you are stood there examining the chicken and mayo and BLT sandwiches. Just pick what you want and go.

b) self service tills. They should be great for autistic people like me, but the chances of getting through unscathed without having to call for help because 'unrecognised item in bagging area' or 'place your item in the bagging area' seem to be remote. And that ends up more stressful than passing items to a counter assistant all along.

I can absolutely identify with this.

I'm probably not the most efficient shopper as I go in with a list and have to get things to buy in the order I've written them down in. I even laugh at myself going back to some aisles three or four times. But it makes me happy. Over the years I've introduced a rule where if I directly pass something on the list, I'm allowed to pick it up en route to the next item.

My pet hates (as well as those you have mentioned) are:

a) people taking forever to choose a sandwich - I mean for goodness sake you must know what sandwich you want, don't leave me unable to reach my egg and cress sandwich for 5 minutes because you are stood there examining the chicken and mayo and BLT sandwiches. Just pick what you want and go.

b) self service tills. They should be great for autistic people like me, but the chances of getting through unscathed without having to call for help because 'unrecognised item in bagging area' or 'place your item in the bagging area' seem to be remote. And that ends up more stressful than passing items to a counter assistant all along.

I can absolutely identify with this.

I'm probably not the most efficient shopper as I go in with a list and have to get things to buy in the order I've written them down in. I even laugh at myself going back to some aisles three or four times. But it makes me happy. Over the years I've introduced a rule where if I directly pass something on the list, I'm allowed to pick it up en route to the next item.

My pet hates (as well as those you have mentioned) are:

a) people taking forever to choose a sandwich - I mean for goodness sake you must know what sandwich you want, don't leave me unable to reach my egg and cress sandwich for 5 minutes because you are stood there examining the chicken and mayo and BLT sandwiches. Just pick what you want and go.

b) self service tills. They should be great for autistic people like me, but the chances of getting through unscathed without having to call for help because 'unrecognised item in bagging area' or 'place your item in the bagging area' seem to be remote. And that ends up more stressful than passing items to a counter assistant all along.

I go to a shop which isn't so busy, and isn't a major brand of supermarkets.

My Gran always did my head in, while she shopped. And it was always on a Sunday; whenever I had online commitments. God rest her.

Yeah, it was practically Dawn of the Dead back then.

I had a girlfriend who used to love to go shopping so she could just zone out and look at all the pretty things - kind of a therapy for her in a similar way that stimming works for autistic people.

They feel relaxed and stimulated all at once - kind of a retail euphoria that had a painful effect on my wallet at the time, but she was worth it to me.

These days I understand more about the psychology of shops and the mentality of the sheep there so I kind of just accept it and focus on working around those fluffy little roadblocks on my way to buying whatever I can't get online.

yeah i hate it. went to tesco today and everyone was in the way, everyone had no spatial awareness and kept blocking paths, walking into me like npc robots, and i honestly always hated people getting close to me as i hate germs and germ spreaders and always have done and i was brought up to never be in the way of anyone and always got told of for being under foot so it annoys me when other people dont have any awareness of themselves being in the way and under foot all the time... plus they beeline to you and break my no go wide area zone where i kinda want them to keep away because i always suspect they will cough or sneeze on me as ignorant normies always do. 

you know during covid despite the distancing i was in tesco and some eegit carrying their baby was behind me pretty close and i didnt realise she was there close until her disgusting little snot rag child she was holding sneezed directly onto the back of my neck... i hate that ***... she soon ran off as i was pretty pissed at that

lol. 
I work in a shop. I witness this all the time, though not everyone acts the way you describe….

I shop online. I don’t want to spend anymore time in a store than I have to already!