Why Supermarket Shopping Drives Me Nuts!

I've just come back from a small shop at my local supermarket, and am having a cup of tea and a chunk of Christmas cake to calm me down. I've lost count of the number of ways supermarket shopping trips end up tempting me to tear my hair out!

I only wanted a few bits to supplement the weekly shop, so I quickly steered around the ditherers and dilly-dalliers and the chatterers and the trolley-wallies, and proceeded to the checkout.

The woman in front of me had just reached the cashier and before anything else happened she had a question. This is largely made up, but the question was along the lines of: "I was looking for some special mince pies, but I couldn't find them. Can you tell me if you have them?"

The cashier looked a bit vague and replied, "There's lots of different ones on the shelves. Did you look at them?"
"Yes, but the ones I want didn't seem to be there. Do you normally have them in stock?"
Cashier, "What are they called?"
Customer, "Mince Pies!?"
Cashier, "Yes, but what brand?"
Customer, "I can't remember. They were advertised on TV!"
Cashier, (flummoxed), "I'll call Jim the Manager."

By this time I am rolling my eyes, and straining to stop fidgeting or passing a remark to signify my growing impatience. After a few moments Jim arrives. He looks about 15 years old. The afore-going conversation is more or less repeated. Then Jim, looking puzzled asks, "What does the box look like?"

The customer, oblivious to the hold-up she is causing, replies, "Sort of reddish, or blueish, with a picture of a mince pie on the front ... or was it green? Anyway they look very nice. Do you have any?"
Jim and the cashier exchange glances, but instinctively avoid making eye contact with me. They produce a store catalogue and turning to the Christmas goodies pages show the customer.

"No. They're not there ... I don't think..." says the woman, "Perhaps I'm in the wrong shop!"

Then, without a word of thanks or apology for wasting everyone's time, she gathered up her few items, paid, and flounced off, leaving Jim and the cashier bewildered ... and ME fuming!

Now, while I've been venting my venom ... my tea's got cold!!