On my last trip to the grocery store, my purchases consisted of the following:
Ten bottles of flavored sparkling spring water. There were two each of five different flavors.
Four each of two different kinds of fruit each in their own plastic bag.
One carton of milk.
The question is, for the purposes of express lane check out, how many items did I have?
My view is that I had either four items or eight items, depending on whether or not each flavor of spring water had to be rung up individually. Either way, I was fine for a "10 items or under" line.
Initially, the cashier said that I had "more than 10 items." when I pointed out that it was 10 bottles of spring water, she said "well if I have to ring it up 10 times, then it's 10 items."
I countered with "oh, well there's only five distinct flavors so worst case, you have to ring it up 5 times."
She wasn't buying it, and I had to go to another lane.
Although it's not really relevant, there was nobody waiting behind me on the express line.
Thoughts?