Types of Shoppers

Type of Shoppers

I like to think of the shoppers as rats in a lab experiment, and the aisles are like a maze designed by psychologists. Most of the customers follow a dependable route, walking up and down the aisles, checking through my counter, and then escaping through the exit door. But not everybody is so dependable. Working at Hannaford Supermarket has given me a chance to observed three types of shoppers. The first type of unusual shopper is one I called the amnesiac. He always seems to be going down the aisles against the normal flow of traffic. He muttered things to himself because he left his shopping list at home. When he finally makes it to my register and starts unloading the cart, he suddenly remembered one item of food that brought him here in the first place. He then resumed his trip around the store while the customers waiting in line started to grumble impatiently. Inevitably, when it comes time to pay for the goods, the amnesiac discovers that he has left his wallet at home. I don't say a word. I just voided his receipt and tell him “Have a nice day”. Senior citizen is the second type of shopper that mean well, but they can try my patience. An elderly man stops by several times a week, more to pay a visit than to shop. Slowly, he wandered around the aisles: pausing to read a box of cereal, or squeeze a roll, sniff one of those lemon-scented blobs for room freshener, or choosing best adult wipes, but he never buys very much. When he finally comes up to the checkout, this type likes to chat with me about my hair, his bunions, or that pretty tune tinkling out of the ceiling speakers. Although the people waiting behind him in line are usually fumed, I tried to be friendly. I really don't think this man has anywhere else to go. Even more annoying is someone I called the hot shopper. She plans her shopping trip days in advance. She enters the store with a pocketbook on her arm, and a calculator in her hip pocket. She struts from