Tracym

Well I love the little plastic bags, because I reuse them for my small garbage cans, rather than buying some.

I'll bag stuff, if there's no bagger. But the cashier always finishes ringing up stuff before I get it all bagged, and then I have to dash back to do the payment. But that's fine.

tamms_1965

Same thoughts in Ohio

Dan725

Haha, I can see that

Its funny, Publix Goon generally just says "Plastic OK?" I've always wondered what they would do if I said "No, it's not!" - There often doesn't seem to see any of the brown paper bags kicking around.

another bloody yank

I was a bagger when the plastic bags first came out. We were instructed to ask the customer if they prefered paper or plastic bags. If they had no preference we were to use plastic as they are much cheaper. After that went on a while the policy changed and were told to ask "Is plastic OK?" Subtle difference.

People had no qualms about telling me exactly how they wanted it done, a paper bag inside of a plastic one, make 'em light, make 'em heavy, double bag this, leave that out... After you bag groceries for a while, as odd as it sounds you learn what items "fit" together in a bag and as you spot those things coming down the belt I would set something aside until I got something else that would fit with it. Of course, frozen stuff went together, meat went together, dairy stuff went together, bread seperate from everything, no glass jars next to each other... Big smile and chat nice with the MILFs... I actually had a woman customer fix me up with her daughter! She was named Colleen... It didn't work out. I was young and inexperienced at the time, I should have realized that any girl who's Mom is giving her number out to baggers at the grocery store must have issues. Her's was that she was no fun, boring as hell. Besides, She was of Irish descent and lived in the Irish neighborhood (Dogtown), and I lived in the Italian section (The Hill). Two different worlds....

Tracym

You sound like you were my dream bagger.

What makes me crazy - I often separate the refrigerated and frozen stuff on the belt, so hopefully it'll get bagged together. And then some goofy kid mixes it all up for me.

Dan725

Hail, O Bagging Master!

I do find the quality of the bagging varies - some work as above, others not so.....I never give anyone a hard time or tell them how to do though.

One question for you on bagging "Etiquete" ABY - I often jump in if I see they are a bit slow and struggling; but sometimes I wonder if this isn't really welcome - does it make them look bad to management if the customer is seen to be helping out? I wouldn't want anyone to lose a job over it.

tamms_1965

Me too!

another bloody yank

Our checkers were closely watched and timed, they had to be fast (Items scanned per minute) or they were gone. They couldn't take the time to seperate stuff, it came down the belt as it came out of the cart. The better ones practically threw things down the belt at me.
It was to keep wait times down for the customers in line, is what the managers told us. Out of the goodness of their hearts, I'm sure...

I hated bagging babyfood jars. People always bought a million of those things at a time. If they wanted plastic bags with those I had to tie the handles of the bag together or the jars would just roll all over the place.

I came to loathe that job...

another bloody yank

Are you kidding? Customers "helping out" screwed up my whole system! Damn amateurs...

The manager might take note if it seems to be happening often to same guy, but I doubt anyone would lose a job over it unless it was really bad, lines backing up into the store constantly kind of thing.

Customers helping out screwed up my whole system!

Dan725

hehe, yes I can see that - I'd never jump in on one the "Pros", thats a fact! Its usually some of the old'uns who are sadly being forced to work in retirement who I like to help out - but they are the last people I'd like to see get fired.

E17Avenue

I avoid the paper or plastic question by shopping at Aldi, and buying the rest via the self-checkout aisles at Meijer or D&W. No more will someone fold a French stick in half by putting it in the same flimsy plastic bag as a can of beans.

another bloody yank

I have heard that French sticks are not very rigid.

keira-2007

At my local Dominicks I also get funny looks if I attempt to bag my own shopping... in fact, one time, when I went to help bag, the bagger just about elbowed me right out of the way! So I dutily went to stand at the check out to pay, but I just felt like such a waste of space, standing there waiting for someone else to do it for me. It didn't feel right.

In the UK they really only offer to help you if you're elderly or have an unruly kid to attend to, otherwise you are left to do it yourself. And to be honest, I prefer packing my own stuff too. I like to keep frozen stuff together, and raw meats in separate bags... last week when I unpacked I found mortadella from the meat counter packed next to raw chicken...

ugacrew

Just remember everyone. You are PAYING for this service in the markup on your grocery. Get your money's worth when going. If you think of it this way then there's no shame in letting someone who is paid to do that for you. Let him earn his keep and help keep them employed. After all he needs that money to take out his girlfriend with on a date or to go to school. Just a thought.

E17Avenue

True, but if they're gonna ruin my soft or fragile shopping by packing it poorly, it's not even worth the markup!