Having recently moved back to Zurich, I quickly remembered one of the most annoying, but funny, habits of the Swiss...walking right in front of your cart/trolly in the grocery store as you are walking through the aisles. Long ago, I stopped 'stopping' for these people and now hit them with regularity. I figure if they have a problem getting hit with the cart, they would stop walking in front of others. It's quite fun to watch the shocked stares of my victims...am I evil?

My favorite is when they leave the cart in the middle of the aisle and go walking away...and then get offended when you move it so you can pass or get something.

Carts at the Migros Glattzentrum. Blocking those long slow escalators

Why is that particular Migros the only supermarket in Switzerland (or western world) that doesn't have hand baskets? You see so many people wandering around cradling items in their arms, rather than have to push a very empty cart around (I really should call it a trolley).

Yes. We'll be sending you your membership card shortly.

Heh. Reminds me of another similar discussion elsewhere. Someone suggested pushing their trolley into yours so that they lock together. With all of their shopping inside.

Umm. Maybe chiguy isn't evil enough to join the club after all.

even better: the next customer bars at the checkout. Lay them down wrongly and see how many people actually will stand them up. Works I'd say 60% of the time

You mean punch them ?

dave

'kin' 'ell Dave, the week's taken its toll on you.

I did think "laying them down" was a tad of an overreaction for them blocking your way with a shopping cart .

dave

Last time I went to my local Migros during a visit in the old country, there was an abundance of hand baskets available

Thanks, man. I nearly wet myself.

Isn't it in Tesco where they have writing on them? On one side "Mine" and the opposite, "Yours", or something similar. Oh, the games one could play.

You think they are bad over here. I regularly shop at Carreforte in France. Crumpets, Cadburys, Kellogs ect ....The Swiss are angelic compared to the Froggies!!

No, the lack of handbaskets is only at Migros Glattzentrum, Zurich.

It because they have all gone to hell in them.

dave

I have to respond and laugh to this post, because when you relate so much to something it just 'hits' you funny. I have never had the guts to just ram into someone, but I always find it hilarious when someone does what my mind is always telling me to do. But wouldn't I like border line nuts in the shopping store, a mommy with two small kids ramming into some Grandpa?? Maybe I won't do it, but I am often tempted. Confessions from a diplomatic and supposedly polite Canadian.

I meant to write 'look like', entschuldigung

That was my joke

And I hate having to and search for the things... (yes, trying to keep it on topic...)

Get sneaky and put some random items into their trolley. Follow them to the check-out and watch their face. Or connect your trolley to theirs and take their CHF2 coin out when they're not looking. Then shout asking what the hell they're doing. Ahh, juvenile fun!

hahahahhahahha, excellent ideas. I'm tempted to give them a try

Wear some dark glasses, get a white stick and 'Tap,tap,tap..' your way round the supermarket with your trolley and watch the space clear arround you...