10 Things Considerate Shoppers Never Do at the Grocery Store

From pet peeves to definite no-nos, here are some "rules" of the aisles to keep in mind.

Whether you welcome your trips to the supermarket or regard grocery shopping as a necessary (evil) task, chances are that every visit means wheeling your cart around hordes of other customers—including those who don't give a fig about grocery store etiquette. While there's no rigid shopper's handbook outlining the right way to comb the shelves, common courtesy is a given. Or it should be. We asked our readers to share their pet peeves about supermarket shopping and got the lowdown on what irks shoppers the most.

Related: 6 Modern Etiquette Tips for Every Dining Situation, Including When to Split the Tab and Where to Put Your Phone

Traffic Jams

From misplaced carts to roaming kids, these scenarios clog the aisles and irk other shoppers.

Letting Your Kids Run Wild

Situation: For some families, grocery shopping as a unit is routine—and why not, since everyone gets to weigh in on decisions like brown-bag lunches and cheese choices? But bringing a passel of kids and letting them race through the store playing a game of tag can wreak havoc in the pasta aisle, deli department, and pretty much everywhere.

Solution Keep a tight rein on the little ones and be mindful of other customers who are also trying to get in and get out.

Blocking the Aisle With Your Cart

Situation: Parking your cart dead center in the aisle or alongside product and produce displays blocks the flow of customers and creates the supermarket version of snarled traffic. Even more frustrating? When you abandon that poorly placed cart, leaving other customers to wiggle around it.

Solution: Move the cart to the right or the left of the aisle, as if you were parking a car.

Parking Yourself Mid-Aisle

Situation: The companion piece to the situation above, don't make yourself a human statue, preventing other shoppers from wheeling their carts through the aisles

Solution: Again, treat the aisle like the road and scoot to one side or the other. And consider making a shopping list so you know what you need before you get to the store.

Health and Safety

There's general agreement about keeping grocery shopping clean and safe. These are the issues that make our readers cross.

Putting Your Dog in the Cart

Situation: Don't bring your pet into the store, period, unless it's a service animal. The grocery cart is meant for merchandise, not furry friends. What's more, doggie drool and waste are considered sanitary hazards that can contaminate the food for sale.

Solution: State and federal laws prohibit animals from entry, and many merchants place large signs in the window stating "No Dogs Allowed." Leave your pet at home with their favorite toy and don't put other customers at risk.

Sampling Produce

Situation: Treating the produce section like it's a free buffet, from plucking grapes to popping open containers of raspberries, should not be part of the selection process. (The same holds for that bag of chips or cookies.) It's rude, messy, and in some instances, unsanitary.

Solution: Resist the urge to nibble, unless the store is distributing free samples. Better yet, don't shop hungry—have a snack before you shop! Inspect the merchandise to ensure it's firm, or ripe, make your selection, and then move on.

Wearing Too Much Perfume

Situation: While a signature scent is a lovely mode of expression, dousing yourself with that favorite perfume can be offensive. Some shoppers may be allergic; others find it an assault on the senses.

Solution: A dab or two of scent goes a long way.

Not Putting Things Back Where They Belong

Situation: Sometimes, you realize midstream that you don't need to restock eggs and milk or that there's no time to roast a whole chicken. Instead of returning the item to its rightful place, you leave poultry and other perishables to linger among the paper goods—possibly creating a food safety issue if the item is returned to its place.

Solution: If putting items back means going against the tide of customers or you're short on time, tell the cashier at checkout time so staff can return items to the correct location.

Basic Manners

Be a responsible shopper and consider others when you're in the store.

Talking on Speakerphone

Situation: There's a time and place for cellphone chats—especially speakerphone conversations. No one else needs to hear you catch up with an old friend—least of all, a store full of strangers.

Solution: Instead of broadcasting your business to the world (and infringing on other people's peace of mind), carve out another time to make those calls.

Bringing Big Orders to the Express Lane

Situation: Unloading a full cart in the express lane is just plain inconsiderate, at least without the OK of a store manager.

Solution: If time is never on your side, consider shopping at an off-hour when it's less congested. And if your local store has a self-checkout, consider embracing this DIY method.

Skipping Common Courtesies

Situation: Sometimes, it's almost impossible to breeze down the cereal aisle or grab a bottle of olive oil without shoehorning another shopper. Whatever the circumstances, say "excuse me" and "thank you" as you pass by.

Solution: Practice makes perfect. Those few words go a long way in telegraphing common courtesy, and you may even be rewarded with a smile or friendly word.

Read the original article on Martha Stewart.