Black Friday 2023: Etiquette expert reveals the worst shopping behaviors – and shares her top tips for making the experience more peaceful

Large crowds, crowded aisles, long lines and chaos trying to get the best deals can make holiday shopping an extremely stressful ordeal.

Luckily, Florida etiquette expert Jackie Vernon-Thompson has shared her top tips to make the experience smoother and more enjoyable, not just for you, but for everyone else around you.

Whether you’re going to the grocery store the day before a big dinner party or visiting the mall on Black Friday, Jackie, the founder of Inside Out School for Etiquettetalked about all the ways you can turn what some people describe as a nightmare into a peaceful and stress-free event in one recent blog post.

“Maintaining a sense of decorum is critical in the busy retail world, where the aisles are packed with exciting displays and shelves packed with possibilities,” she wrote.

‘Shopping manners are not only intended to prevent the occasional collision between shopping carts, they are also intended to create a mutually enjoyable environment for everyone involved.

“Store etiquette is the melody that creates a harmonious experience for everyone, in this dynamic retail dance.”

Jackie has created a set of ‘basic guidelines’ for every customer to follow – from what to do with your shopping cart if you need to park it, to how to make the checkout process much faster.

Here’s how to navigate the aisles with ease during the holidays, according to the etiquette expert.

Respect the personal space of other customers and pay attention to where you park your shopping cart

According to Jackie, it is essential to be ‘aware of your surroundings’ and respect the ‘personal space’ of other shoppers, no matter how busy.

‘Give them the breathing space they deserve. The reality of COVID has heightened our awareness of social distancing, which is still relevant today,” she said.

‘Be aware of your surroundings while browsing.

‘If you need to take a closer look at an object, step aside so other people can pass by or access an item in the immediate area.

“(If you’re) deep in conversation with a shopping companion, don’t block the entire aisle.”

She added that you should always be careful when navigating your shopping cart so you don’t accidentally bump into others.

“Keep your cart close to you and your elbows together,” she suggested.

‘Spatial awareness and consideration for other people is required to maneuver through busy corridors.’

She also emphasized the importance of “parking your shopping cart carefully” so that you don’t get in people’s way or create backups.

“Ensure traffic flow is not blocked and you can access your shelves,” she added.

Avoid phone conversations in a busy store and keep an eye on your children to make sure they don’t cause any ‘disturbances’

Jackie warned against loud or long phone conversations in a busy store because no one else wanted to hear your conversation while you were shopping.

“(Fight) the urge to make lengthy phone calls in publicly accessible spaces,” she said.

“If you need to answer the phone, you should step aside in a less busy environment.”

She also said that any music you listen to or videos you watch should be played through headphones, and not out loud.

“When listening to music or watching videos, use ear devices that avoid unnecessary disruption to other people around you,” she added.

Always keep an eye on things when your children come along, to make sure they don’t cause any ‘disturbances’.

Jackie advised, “If your little ones are prone to tantrums, consider taking a break outside the store to meet their needs without bothering others.”

Don’t leave anything you don’t want lying around and make sure you clean up after using a locker room

Jackie said that you should always return items you don’t want to the “appropriate racks or shelves” or hand them to an employee, rather than just leaving them lying around.

When it comes to trying on clothes, she advises against bringing anything that could cause a mess in the dressing room.

“A clean and comfortable dressing room makes in-store shopping easier for your next customer,” she wrote.

‘Do not take food or drinks with you and make sure you dispose of empty containers carefully.’

As for the free samples, she said it’s important to take them in moderation and keep in mind that other customers are “awaiting their taste.”

“You don’t want to exceed your fair share,” the expert said. “And to keep the sample area clean for everyone, please dispose of sample cups and napkins in the designated areas.”

Have your wallet ready before it’s your turn to pay so the process goes faster and you don’t get upset if the lines are long

Checkout time can be stressful and lines can be extremely long during the holidays. That’s why Jackie suggested having your wallet ready before it’s your turn so the process can go smoother and faster.

“To avoid long queues at the checkout, you should make payment methods available in advance,” she says.

‘Keep in mind that when using cash you should be considerate of those around you and aim for a quick transaction.’

But if you have to wait a long time, Jackie reminded her readers not to get angry.

She stressed the importance of ‘waiting your turn’, adding: ‘Patience is a virtue, whether you’re checking out or queuing for a fitting room.’