AITA for purposely taking my time at a self service checkout?
In the orderly world of British supermarkets, where queuing is practically an art form, one shopper’s trip turned into a masterclass in petty revenge. After a night out, they hit the local store to grab items for a friend, only to face a pushy woman who barged in, piling her groceries atop theirs at the self-service checkout. Her huffs and mumbles lit a spark, and the shopper, feeling the pressure, decided to take their sweet time.
What followed was a deliciously slow scan-and-pay routine, each beep of the scanner a small jab at the impatient intruder. The woman, fed up, stormed off to another checkout, leaving the shopper with a smug grin. This tale of supermarket standoffs and British queuing pride is a spicy mix of etiquette, irritation, and just a dash of vengeance.
‘AITA for purposely taking my time at a self service checkout?’
Self-checkout lines can be a pressure cooker for social etiquette, and this shopper’s deliberate dawdling was a cheeky response to a breach of Britain’s sacred queuing code. The woman’s rush to claim space and her impatient huffs violated unspoken rules, pushing the shopper to retaliate with a slow-motion checkout. It’s a classic case of petty revenge born from frustration.
Social psychologist Dr. Susan Whitbourne explains, “Small acts of defiance, like slowing down in response to rudeness, often stem from a need to reclaim control in social interactions” . The shopper’s actions, while satisfying, escalated a minor slight into a public standoff, reflecting a broader tension in crowded, fast-paced settings.
A 2022 study from the University of Oxford found that 65% of UK shoppers value queuing etiquette as a cornerstone of social order . The woman’s disregard for this norm likely fueled the shopper’s defiance, though their prolonged scanning risked further conflict. Both parties could have de-escalated—her by choosing another checkout, them by calmly asserting their space.
To avoid such clashes, clear communication works wonders. The shopper could have politely asked the woman to wait, while she could have respected the queue’s flow. This story highlights how quickly minor slights can spiral and reminds us that a little patience goes a long way in keeping the peace.
These are the responses from Reddit users:
Reddit cheered the shopper’s petty revenge, with most labeling them a hero for standing up to queue-jumping rudeness. Commenters celebrated the slow-scan tactic as a quintessentially British way to teach a lesson, with some sharing their own tales of checkout vengeance.
A few called it a step too far, urging kindness over retaliation, but the majority saw the shopper’s actions as justified. The consensus leans toward defending queue etiquette, though real-world interactions might demand less smugness and more tact.
![[Reddit User] − ESH - yeah it feels good, and your actions were justified to a *point*. But just because she was an a**hole doesn't automatically give you license to be one back. There is a reason we have a saying, 'kill them with kindness'. Also, if words can suffice to tell her to look for another station, then there is no requirement for the petty action detailed here.](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/300893c-08.png)
This supermarket saga captures the quirky charm of British queuing culture and the thrill of petty revenge. The shopper’s slow-motion checkout was a bold stand against rudeness, but it stirred a debate about escalation versus etiquette. Have you ever been pushed to the edge by a queue-jumper or pulled a sneaky comeback of your own? Share your stories below and weigh in on this checkout showdown.
