Because you pay by card ,allowing shops to have less staff, doesn’t mean that everyone else has to.
Why ‘less staff’ ?
A checkout is a checkout.
Discount stores will employ the least possible people whether you pay by card, chèque or cash.
Our Lidl said as I took my chequebook out they don’t accept cheques any more. Luckily I did have the cash on me. Crédit Agricole has messed up a card replacement.
I wasn’t too happy with Lidl about that as it’s outside the centre of town with no cash nachine nearby. And if you get your act together and have the cheque ready it only takes a few seconds longer than a card.
I always use the self checkout. One Leclerc does not specify number of items, I don’t think. The other Leclerc allows trollies through, but only fifteen items, handy for heavier items.
I have seen elderly/disabled people remind able bodied people they are at the wrong till 
When we first came to France, people at the disabled till would always give way to someone infirm, don’t see it so much these days 
Seems that Lidl are no longer prepared to accept the losses which occur through unpaid/bounced cheques… it’s been on the cards for several years, with more and more stores coming into line.
Hi Stella,
I recall when I lived in the Charente in the 80s and 90 s many local firms refused to accept chèques due to the increase in bounced chèques. Sad to say the principal offenders were Brits.
They/we gave us all a bad name at the time not to mention ruining it for the rest of the population. Cards were a lot less popular at the time and chèques were still very much in fashion.
Bounced chèques is a far more serious misdemeanor in France though at the time it seemed almost normal for many Brits buying in that area.
Not how it works in our local town where there is a large specialist unit for people with head injuries - we see them round town in their special electric wheel chairs.
The approach in our local Leclerc is very sensible. The till is used as a “normal” till 90% of the time. As @Stella has described: when someone with special needs arrives everyone gets out the way and they take priority. Works really well and no need to remind anyone of anything.
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On a slightly different tack… when queueing in our local shops … if I see someone with a couple of items hovering… I will quite often let them go before me and my lorryload… gets me a smile and a “feel good” glow. (OH glowers but doesn’t hold a grudge.)
However, if I’m pressed for time I can be really cruel and stare at my feet and ignore 'em… but I will race through… and pay swiftly…
On the other hand… if there is someone in uniform (pompiers/samu etc) we ALL let them go first, as their time is precious.
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You can spot British shoppers in a Supermarkets as they weave their way to the checkouts. They are frantically calculating and re-calculating which checkout will get them through quickest – whether to risk the 10 maximum or having to allow someone pass them in the disabled checkout.
The French on the other hand use a similar technique but with different criteria. They are looking for the chattiest cashier. They know every check-out person personally, their family history and their current plans. The French shopper has a load of personal data to download since their last shop the previous day.
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Not in B1 in Cluny. So we left everything and they had to put it back on the shelves.
I have to say the people down here aren’t naturally ‘friendly’ ,but they are pretty good in queues in shops etc. Most will let customers with only one or two items pass.
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Please explain why you think I am self righteous?
Notice, there is an e in the middle of the word.
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It is extremely rude to make customers wait for a long time.
It is saying that we don’t think your time is important.
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and “their” not there 
Did you ever try tutting under your breath at fellow customers who either weren’t wearing a mask or wearing a mask but not covering their nose at the height of Covid??
I’m sure Jane will answer for herself but…
Often, in our experience, that wasn’t necessary as, at the height of Covid, Supermarkets and other magasins followed the rules strictly and shoppers were strongly reminded that wearing of masks was required.
ISTR @an_droo (who is a shop owner) was also very vociferous towards customers entering his shop who were not wearing a mask and would have been prepared to exclude them if they didn’t comply.
Tutting under your breath wouldn’t have been very effective - it needed positive action which many were prepared to take for their safety and their staff.
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I tut very quietly and it is hardly audible, so with my FPP2 mask on it would be totally silent. But I can do a good glower as well when required.
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Its because you think that your time is more important then everybody elses
No, I told them to cover their noses, end of!
Why are you being so obnoxious?
I don’t think that, I think that everyone’s time should be valued.
If shops don’t have customers then the assistants don’t have jobs, they should be polite.
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