No, I am not cutting!

[NOVA Lady]

Me and So were at Big Box retailer today and managed to pick up an item with no UPC barcode/price tag. Since we were only purchasing 3 items, including that one we let the clerk know we would just wait to the side while someone ran and did a price check (it was a large item and none of the items had the price tag are on them, we weren't just to lazy to go ourselfs!  ).

Well a few minutes later the price check came back, we waited for the check out clerk to finish the current transaction she was working on, and then she turned back to us and rang in our 3 items and were paying when the customer that was next started voicing her disapprovement.

She whined to the gentleman she was with how some people are so entitled they don't think lines are for them. Then she told him that the store needs to train clerks to deal with pushy people like us that thinks the world revolves around them.

Now, this women was in line during the time that our price check was needed. So she should have been us wait in line, take our turn, and decide not hold up the line while someone checked the price.

So, my question: Is it a "no-no" to get back in line after stepping to the side to wait for a price check, a replacement, or whatever else after already waiting you turn?

[Sophia]

She might not have noticed you get the price check. 

I probably would have said something to her along the line of, "Would you rather I held up the line while I had a price check?"  or maybe, "I was three ahead of you in line" 

[ShadesOfGrey]

this is not for you to respond to - it is for the clerk to deal with (though the manager may simply tell the employees to ignore such cranky customers or placate them somehow).  Usually, a price check holds up the line (ick! but I know it must be done sometimes) so your situation should not occur.  (Otherwise, one should ask an associate for the price of the item before getting into line).  If you did step aside while waiting for a price check, then it is up to the clerk to either tell you to go to the end of the line or that she or he can take you when they get the price (sounds like she clearly chose the latter).  Generally, someone in your situation is standing in a very obvious place so that it is clear to the others in line that you will be waited on once your item is returned. 

[gjcva1]

Marina, i would have appreciated you stepping aside to let a few customers check out while you were waiting for your price check.

and nasty woman that i am, i might have turned to the complaining person and said something like "thanks for your input.  next time i need a price check, i'll just hold up the ENTIRE line, and you can just stand and wait for me to check out".  can you tell that i've had a couple of close encounters of the rude kind this weekend? 

[MineralDiva]

Wow!  I would think that the same courtesy would have been extended to the complaining people, had they been in your situation.  It was rude to complain.

[ZipTheWonder]

In general, I think people who are acting out should be ignored to any extent it's possible.

However, I make a big exception for passive-aggression.    Under-their-breath-stuff-they-want-you-to-hear-but-don't-want-the-consequences-for.....that I think should be responded to as though they were directly addressing you directly and in normal conversation. 

Dripping with sweetness:  "Oh, goodness, no, it's not a clerk training issue or any sense of entitlement on my part!  I'm sure you just didn't realize that I was at the head of the line a moment ago when the cashier had to do a price-check on an item that wasn't marked.  So, I allowed the two people behind me and in front of you to go ahead of me.  Gosh, I see you're buying Caddyshack.  You'll love it.  It's outrageously funny!"

People who use passive aggression rely on their comments going unchecked.  It's your duty not to let that happen.    Bonus: It's sort of fun to see how flummoxed they become when you respond to it.

[blue_bunny_paz]

From what you've said you behaved correctly. After all, you were held up by the price check and didn't feel the need to complain. I can't really believe that waiting for three items would particularly inconvenience this woman.

[Bijou]

So, my question: Is it a "no-no" to get back in line after stepping to the side to wait for a price check, a replacement, or whatever else after already waiting you turn?

I think it was up to the clerk to deal with it.  She should have explained to the next customer that you had just stepped aside to allow her to wait on other customers go through while they did a price check.  The woman, not knowing what had happened, had a right to question what was going on, but  should have been direct about it saying, for example, "Excuse me, but I believe we are next in line."