When you're out shopping, do you ever come across other shoppers who seem really territorial about a certain section or aisle that you're both in?

I notice this most when I go to a magazine rack. There's usually some really noided out person who's spreading their body across the width of one of the racks, or they have their body contorted in some way so that you can't get past them or see any of the magazines in their area. It's like they've staked this realm of the Barnes & Noble as their fiefdom, and fie be upon anyone who tries to usurp their empire.

Empire Magazine, that is. Or FHM. Or Blender.

This happens at wrecka stows too, but I'm probably as guilty of this as anyone else. When I'm flipping through the used bins, I don't want any unappreciative hambones sullying my potential used music discoveries! That's my impulse anyway, even though I *have* tried to improve my behavior in recent years.

Do you notice people who try to "stake a claim" to a certain part of a store?

How do you deal with these people?

If you ARE one of these people, what parts of a store do you consider to be your "territory"? Do you mark these sections? Do you use scent glands or urine?

These are important questions, people. Be thoughtful. Be succinct.

Thank you, that is all.

oh, and this thread was somewhat inspired by funkpill's stickybun thread. i was inspired by his tale of retail unrest.

Guilty

wildgoldenhoney said:

what realm of the store do you lord over?

Anxiety said:

Same as you it seems...
especially at the second hand record stores
because you don't know what they have, it's not like
a regular store where they have all the new ones in stock,
but random used music.

It's my personality I guess
( cause I do it at work too,
if I'm trying to be industrious, and someone comes along to find
something to do and tries to do what I'm doing, I give them the
side-eyed dirty look that says "Uh, can't you see that I'm standing here")

when im thrifting or going to estate sales, yes i get real pissy and territorial.

i think its been an acquired behavior after dealing with a bunch of assholes at estate sales. there is a group of middle age to old ass fuckers who think they own the rights to be in first before anyone else, even if everyone came before them.
they make a giant pile of shit that they say they are going to buy, snatching shit infront of people who are about to pic an item up.
then they go through the pile of shit that they claimed and decide if they are going to buy it or not. and then put back what they decide they dont want.

one time there were hundreds of paintings, and this one particular asshole i hate was first in the door and started snatching every painting he could get his hands on.
well i started snatching the good shit and giving it to another guy just so the ass couldnt get it. (im not much interested in paintings)
then the ass left the room leaving an important one behind.
this other guy picks it up and takes it up to the cashier.
the ass sees the painting and snatches it from his hands and says that mine, it was in my pile.
then a huge argument ensues. and the ass runs out the door with the painting running probably a quarter mile to his van and locks the painting in his van so no body else can get it- all without even paying for it.

another time one of the regular guys cut to the first of the line and started running his mouth to the guy behind him reasoning why he was first. so the guy punches him dead in the face! that shit was damn funny

horatio said:

dang

Anxiety said:

yeah, they're serious about their junk. they dont even pic out the desirable things, its junk they slap in those wannabe 'antique' stores which basically is just a flea market/junk store IMO

horatio said:

wow. i love that. all of it.

So tonight I ran into two of my least favorite retailitorial types at Borders. And these particular two types are always in chain bookstores.

The first one is the guy at the magazine stands right in front of the "gay interest" section. It's obvious he's cruising. Which is fine. I'm not going to say that I haven't spent something like a total of 5 minutes out of my entire life working this particular pick-up spot. He can stand there, check me out, let me check him out, whatever, while he flips through the latest issue of DNA or whatever while his eyes are actually reading the name brand on my zipper. I really don't care. BUT. Get out of the fucking way if you're going to do this. Eyeball me all you want, but don't get in my way while I'm trying to find something. You're completely shooting yourself in the foot, so to speak, by doing this. You're not getting lucky if you're putting yourself between me and my impulsive consumerism. Okay?


The second type is the tween/teen goons in the graphic novel/manga section that are just basically lounging right there on the floor in front of the shelves or completely draping themselves over the merchandise. Okay, I'm inching toward you, GET UP. Okay, I'm stepping on the tips of your fingers. MOVE. Okay, I'm kneeing you in the forehead, it's time to get the fuck out of my way so I can look at this Absolute Watchmen hardcover for the 80th time before I decide not to buy it yet again. Damn punks. Maybe it's time for a new hobby.
[Edited 6/11/08 1:41am]

Xcalibre said:

OMG...I hate that. It never fails, they're usually right in front of something I want You try to be polite and say "excuse me" and while it usually works, you occasionally get one that does not quite understand the concept

people turn into animals in stores!!! what's wrong with them?

kimrachell said:

whenever people are lording over a section of products i want to look at, i always want to say something smart like, "is there a time i can drop in that would be better for you?"

I try to stick to the part of the store that no one is in. I get so annoyed when someone starts to come down my aisle. I always end up with someone who seems to be following me wherever I go and it's always some dumpy housewife with her five children. I even specifically go somewhere I don't need to just to get away from them but they end up in my aisle again. I wish people would realize that I own the store and it's all about me!

Anxiety said:

that's a good one! i think i'll use that next time!
[Edited 6/15/08 20:50pm]

JuliePurplehead said:

hahaha! i know, yesterday i was trying to look at father's day cards at a party store, and there was like 5 RUDE ladies that were all together ,walked right in front of me and shoved me out of the way while i was looking! i felt like giving them a knuckle sandwhich!

lol trolls were so awesome...do they even still make them?

kcwm said:

They have had a bit of a comeback... and there are quite a few to be found on eBay

Thats cool, you can never have enough trolls I remember I had a big one and when you squeezed its belly its eyes lit up! Man that thing ruled

kcwm said:

You ain't seen my flat

I haven't got one like that though