checkout lane with caption "why do people take things out of the basket at checkout?"

A shopper went viral on TikTok after refusing to take their groceries out of a basket while at a grocery store checkout.

In a recent video, user @muslimfizz filmed themselves checking out at an unnamed grocery store. They kept their items in a handheld basket on the conveyor belt instead of placing individual items onto the belt. 

“Why do people take things out of the basket at checkout?” they asked via text overlay. “Isn’t it easier to leave it like this?”

@muslimfizz Genuinely don't understand why this isn't the norm? Why doesn't everyone do this? #supermarket #tesco #shopping #uk ♬ original sound – M u s l i m F i z z

The camera then panned to a view of another customer placing their items, individually, on the conveyor belt before zooming in on @muslimfizz’s own basket. The cashier removed the items one-by-one to scan. 

The Daily Dot has reached out to @muslimfizz via TikTok comment for further information. As of Monday afternoon, their video had over 1.1 million views, with users divided over whether keeping items inside the basket was appropriate. 

“You literally filmed the cashier struggling smh,” one viewer said.

“Because people have manners and it makes it easier for staff,” another echoed.

“it’s so much faster and easier if you take the things out the basket,” a third person added.

“Personally, I like to organize the way groceries are put on the belt to make it easier on the cashier to pack them,” a fourth viewer explained. 

Some cashiers, however, defended leaving groceries in the basket. 

“I guess its personal preference of the cashier bc i prefer things left in the basket,” one worker said. 

“I’m the only cashier that likes everything in the basket I guess lol,” another agreed.

Despite what many believe, though, there is proper grocery store etiquette. These are simple rules that can make shopping a more pleasant experience for both customers and workers. Some rules are common sense, such as staying on the appropriate side of the aisle and yielding to other shoppers. 

Another rule is standing to the side when placing items onto the conveyor belt. This rule also includes whether stores prefer customers take out their groceries during checkout. Some stores, like Trader Joe’s, have customers keep items inside of their baskets. But most have traditional conveyor belts where customers place the items individually onto the belt. 

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Source: https://www.dailydot.com/news/shopper-refuses-to-take-items-out-of-basket/