u/DudebroMcCool

So, I live near a vending machine. A few actually. Scalpers seemingly camp at the machines to ruin everyone’s day. I will go by once maybe every 2-3 days one time (two if I am doing a real shopping trip) and check at the restock time. Every time, without fail, the same dude has been camping at the machine.

I decided if I couldn’t avoid this guy being at the machine at the time of a restock (I figured it out when shopping one day), I would simply cut in and use the machine. I asked the staff at the place what’s an appropriate amount of time for someone to be in line and they said 15 mins. So that’s what I started doing, after 15 minutes I go over and check the machine, but nothing is there. The first few times, I didn't want an argument so I waited for the guy to get an item or pass and I went up. The last two times he’s done something super weird as I’m checking the machine:

- He said "hey there’s a social etiquette of lines" even though he's been loitering there for 15 minutes, so I just ignored him and carried on

- the next time, he started to continually tap on the screen as if he was using it, so I just went to press the “checkout” button because I thought they already had something in their cart and were trying to snipe more stuff. They said “you good?” as if they hadn't been loitering and pretending to use the machine.

I am obviously overthinking this. I honestly just want to get an ETB for not scalper prices, I know he's technically using the machine but I feel like if he's standing there for 15 minutes and not buying anything I should be able to cut in front, this guy is being a scumbag with what he’s done. I’m considering giving up and just buying market price to not deal with this anymore. Am I in the wrong? Any advice next time around?