Waiting in line - when others don't!

Hello ,

The other day, I was stuck in a queue (1).

I made a big mistake. My rule is, don't go shopping in Frankfurt on a Saturday, because the shops are crowded. 

Thankfully, I've usually done my shopping on other days and taken great joy in telling people how calm the city is during the working week.

It was Saturday and I was in my favourite outdoor store to buy some new shoes. I looked around a bit as I climbed the stairs to the footwear area.  

There were quite a few people in the shoe department. It took me a moment to realise that they were waiting to be served. I took a look at the shoes I was interested in and then went to the back of the queue.

We waited, but nothing seemed to be happening. The assistants all had customers, and helping each one was taking ages!

One man from the line went to the shoes and started looking. Then he interrupted (2) an assistant with a question. The assistant answered him. The man called his wife from the queue, and they were helped before the person who was at the front of the queue.  

Another person didn't even stand in line. They simply asked a question and became the next customer.

The lady in front of me saw these things happen, and she complained to me. I totally agreed - seeing people be served when others were waiting felt very unfair!

Then the assistants started disappearing because it was lunchtime. I know the workers needed a break, but maybe they should have waited until the number of people waiting for help had decreased. 

Finally, the lady in front of me was served, and then it was my turn. After trying a couple of pairs of shoes on and making my decision, I went downstairs to pay. The queue at the checkout was heaps shorter than the one in the footwear department!

The lesson I need to remember: don't go shopping on a Saturday.  

How do you find shopping on a Saturday in a city? Great or totally chaotic? And do you think it's unfair when other people get served without standing in line?

Have a calm week, with no long queues!

Andrea

(1) queue - a line (you say it the same as the letter 'Q')

(2) interrupted - stopped the assistant from helping the person they were with