[Amy SF]

You've heard of Kitchen Nightmares, right? Well, I now present a new TV series: Grocery Bagging Nightmares.

I will describe for you the first episode.

I just came from some grocery shopping at Ralphs, where I witnessed quite possibly the worst grocery bagging I have ever seen in my life. I had to redo practically everything when I got out to my car.

I brought in my Whole Foods insulated Hot and Cold bag. I bought some cold and perishable items that I figure any sane person would know to put in the insulated bag, right?

The guy put most of the bottled water I bought into the bag first, and then jammed the bag of cherries in next.

Then he put all the other cold and perishable stuff in a regular cotton bag, with the two bags of salad mix on the bottom.

In a third bag, he put two boxes of crackers on the bottom, and then dumped a heavy box of canned cat food on top of the crackers.

In a fourth bag, he put the two rolls of paper towels all by themselves, and then dumped the two bags of dry cat food, unbagged, in the front of my cart, instead of placing them in the bag with the paper towels, where everything would have fit easily had he only tried a little.

I did see an employee in the parking lot collecting carts and told him. He said I should go back inside and complain. Unfortunately I didn't get the guy's name, although I remembered the cashier's name and said he was working the same aisle as Dylan. I don't know if he'll mention anything to the manager or not.

Now, I've never worked in a supermarket, but you don't really need special training to bag groceries, since the people using the self-checkout lanes manage to bag their groceries nicely all by themselves. All it takes is a little common sense. However, if they DID train the baggers at this store, apparently this guy failed the class. 25 demerits!

 

[fadeaway1289]

The worst is when baggers mix scented things like dryer sheets in with food items. I don't want my lettuce to smell like fabric softener sheets!

 

[Spang]

I'm quite possibly the best grocery bagger ever.

 

[Cyclone T]

This is why I always pack my own groceries.

 

[Freesia]

I experienced some of this yesterday.

Grocery bagger's thought processes: "Hmm, should I put the hard metal cans with the hard bottles, or the soft fruit? Better put them with the fruit, they might harm the bottles.."

I always have to whip in and change a few items around, luckily I dont buy big amounts.

I think perhaps they dont really like their job, so they just dont care.

I love self checkouts. They are awesome.

Checkout baggers are so terrible here that I have to go to a great deal of trouble to stop problems from occurring. When I was living out in the country, this one operator got really offended when I was watching her bag the items. She said "What do you think I am, some kind of moron? I know what items to put together."

I had to explain to her that I was from the city and I wasnt used to checkout operators taking care with the groceries.

 

[sequoia]

I think it's funny when they're baffled by my reusable shopping bags. Especially at the Vons near my house (aka San Diego ******* central)...they look at me like I'm pinko hippie scum.

 

[zirpkatze]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sequoia

I think it's funny when they're baffled by my reusable shopping bags. Especially at the Vons near my house (aka San Diego ******* central)...they look at me like I'm pinko hippie scum.

years ago, before reusable bags became common in the us, i had people bag my reusable bags.

 

[angie54321]

My husband is possibly one of the worst grocery baggers - when we go shopping together (not too often, fortunately) he thinks nothing of putting soft fruit in a bag, then piling cans of beans on top. He fills the bags so full that they start to break when you pick them up. And if i give him one of my large recycleable bags he fills it so full I struggle to pick it up with both hands (fruit on the bottom, cans on top OF COURSE!) He squashes loaves of bread together in the same bag (and then moans that his sandwiches are mis-shapen - hello?!). When we are standing waiting for the items to be processed, I say to him 'you take the heavy stuff, I'll have the soft stuff'. Heavy stuff apparently includes grapes, bananas, cherries, tomatoes and bread as well as cans and rice and jars. If you tell him the fruit will get bruised he takes more care putting the cans in on top - he stops throwing them in and places them in instead (and he can fit more cans in on top of the fruit that way, so it's all good!) He seems to see it as a competition - a 'how much can you stuff in one bag' sort of competition that he is determined to win.

All I can say is that it's a good job he doesn't work in grocery bagging!!

 

[Earthling]

Solution: Don't be lazy and pack your own bags

I start by putting the heavy items on the conveyor belt first. Then I have three bags for life. One is for stuff that goes in the freezer, one for fridge, and one for cupboards. It makes unpacking a whole lot easier when I get home.

 

[Freesia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthling

Solution: Don't be lazy and pack your own bags

It is impossible to do that at the place I go to, as the person who scans the items then puts them in bags. I would either have to snatch the items out of their hands, or be in the awkward situation of telling them I want to pack them myself, and they end up getting all ****ty at me.

I put the heavy items first and the fruit last, but they dont pack them in order, they will put the cans in two seperate bags instead of one and then they will put fruit in one of the bags. It doesnt matter what I do, they usually find some way to put things in that will damage the other items.

 

[Amy SF]

Quote:

Originally Posted by zirpkatze

years ago, before reusable bags became common in the us, i had people bag my reusable bags.

That happened to me, too. When I was still getting the hang of this reusable bag thing, I'd forget to bring them in and end up buying another one, which is why I have a ton of them now. The bagger would ask me if I wanted the new bag packed or used for groceries. Well, at least they asked first.

 

[Earthling]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freesia

It is impossible to do that at the place I go to, as the person who scans the items then puts them in bags. I would either have to snatch the items out of their hands, or be in the awkward situation of telling them I want to pack them myself, and they end up getting all ****ty at me.

I put the heavy items first and the fruit last, but they dont pack them in order, they will put the cans in two seperate bags instead of one and then they will put fruit in one of the bags. It doesnt matter what I do, they usually find some way to put things in that will damage the other items.

They're a checkout person at a shop who you will likely never see again, not a friend, so why does it matter if they get pissy towards you for a simple request?

Seems much easier to me than coming home with squashed fruit.

 

[yally]

Sounds crazy Amy. Why can't I get a job?

I just put heavy stuff on the conveyor first, but I'm not used to having people pack my bags for me. I hate it when the scouts or whoever show up at supermarkets to raise money. Then I have to PAY some kid to pack my stuff badly. No thanks.

I usually use the self checkout anyway.

 

[fadeaway1289]

Quote:

Originally Posted by angie54321

My husband is possibly one of the worst grocery baggers - when we go shopping together (not too often, fortunately) he thinks nothing of putting soft fruit in a bag, then piling cans of beans on top. He fills the bags so full that they start to break when you pick them up. And if i give him one of my large recycleable bags he fills it so full I struggle to pick it up with both hands (fruit on the bottom, cans on top OF COURSE!) He squashes loaves of bread together in the same bag (and then moans that his sandwiches are mis-shapen - hello?!). When we are standing waiting for the items to be processed, I say to him 'you take the heavy stuff, I'll have the soft stuff'. Heavy stuff apparently includes grapes, bananas, cherries, tomatoes and bread as well as cans and rice and jars. If you tell him the fruit will get bruised he takes more care putting the cans in on top - he stops throwing them in and places them in instead (and he can fit more cans in on top of the fruit that way, so it's all good!) He seems to see it as a competition - a 'how much can you stuff in one bag' sort of competition that he is determined to win.

All I can say is that it's a good job he doesn't work in grocery bagging!!

This is my mom!!! Drives me insane.

She's had to throw away food by the time she's gotten home because she's ruined it due to her lack of proper grocery bagging skills. My grandmother was the same way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthling

Solution: Don't be lazy and pack your own bags

.

Like Freesia said , it's sometimes impossible to do. Some lanes are set up where the bagging station is on the other side of the belt right next to the cashier so it's easier for him/her to bag. Others are set up where the bagging station is too far down the lane.

I always use self checkouts if the store has that option but not all stores have upgraded to self checkouts yet.

 

[smob]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclone T

This is why I always pack my own groceries.

I prefer to do this and if there's a bagger standing expectantly at the end of the register lane, I say "No thanks, I prefer to bag my own." Sometimes they leave. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes I have to say it again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zirpkatze

years ago, before reusable bags became common in the us, i had people bag my reusable bags.

At some stores they still try to scan mine, like I'm buying them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthling

Solution: Don't be lazy and pack your own bags

Not always possible here for reasons others have elaborated on. I prefer to bag my own and I liked that in the UK, I was able to do so. That's one of the (only) things I miss about living there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fadeaway1289

Like Freesia said , it's sometimes impossible to do. Some lanes are set up where the bagging station is on the other side of the belt right next to the cashier so it's easier for him/her to bag. Others are set up where the bagging station is too far down the lane.

I always use self checkouts if the store has that option but not all stores have upgraded to self checkouts yet.

They also want to get you out of there so fast that they'll act impatient and sigh and huff and puff if you bag your own groceries because you're SUPPOSED to be doing your card swipey thing while they throw your groceries around, crushing/bruising/destroying them while you pay for items that were perfectly good until the stupid cashier/bagger got their clumsy mitts on them. (The customers in line behind you will also do this from time to time.)

I've actually told cashiers before to take items off my bill because they damaged them by dropping them into a bag instead of gently placing them there. Usually this happens with apples, eggplants, etc. but any time I see them abusing my purchases now, I demand that they remove them from my bill and I leave them at the register. I'm sick and tired of paying for produce that was perfectly good when I put it on the conveyer belt but arrives home damaged because of the stupid uncaring cashier/bagger. It's BS and I refuse to do it anymore.

 

[Freesia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fadeaway1289

Like Freesia said , it's sometimes impossible to do. Some lanes are set up where the bagging station is on the other side of the belt right next to the cashier so it's easier for him/her to bag. Others are set up where the bagging station is too far down the lane.

I always use self checkouts if the store has that option but not all stores have upgraded to self checkouts yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by smob

They also want to get you out of there so fast that they'll act impatient and sigh and huff and puff if you bag your own groceries because you're SUPPOSED to be doing your card swipey thing while they throw your groceries around, crushing/bruising/destroying them while you pay for items that were perfectly good until the stupid cashier/bagger got their clumsy mitts on them. (The customers in line behind you will also do this from time to time.)

I've actually told cashiers before to take items off my bill because they damaged them by dropping them into a bag instead of gently placing them there. Usually this happens with apples, eggplants, etc. but any time I see them abusing my purchases now, I demand that they remove them from my bill and I leave them at the register. I'm sick and tired of paying for produce that was perfectly good when I put it on the conveyer belt but arrives home damaged because of the stupid uncaring cashier/bagger. It's BS and I refuse to do it anymore.

Thank you. This is the situation I face. The checkout people bag the items in all the supermarkets I go to here. They scan and put them straight into bags, which are right next to them. That is how it is here. I would love to live in a country where this isnt the case, but I dont.

Also I have to see the same person again a million times every time I visit the place.

Self checkouts are a new thing here, and there arent any in my local place. Also, you can only use them if you have less than 12 items.

It is full on psychological warfare dealing with the checkout operators I encounter, I dont really know how to deal with people like that, and it just makes me feel tired.

I long for the day where they do away with human operators altogether. Someone said to me once "But the machines will replace people's jobs" and I said "Nobody wants to be a checkout operator anyway, you are stopping someone from having a miserable job. What is bad about that?"

 

[IamJen]

Quote:

I long for the day where they do away with human operators altogether. Someone said to me once "But the machines will replace people's jobs" and I said "Nobody wants to be a checkout operator anyway, you are stopping someone from having a miserable job. What is bad about that?"

See, to me, this will be a sad day...just one more area of life lacking human interaction. Now, I used the self-service till plenty of times, but I don't think it's the same as when you talk to a real person. Also, I was a cashier for a long time, and while it wasn't my lifelong dream, I definitely wasn't miserable. I made a fair wage and generally had an alright time.

Bagging your own groceries = the way to go, for me too.

 

[Identity_thief]

Unless there's a kid collecting for charity we don't have a choice but to pack our own, which is fine by me. Me and my boyfriend go together and once a casheir commented on our brilliant bagging skills! haha.

Once a kid was bagging for charity and his mum was instructing him, I grabbed the tampons quickly though cause I thought they might embarrase him. I bagged half of it anyway because it just feels odd to stand there and let someone else do your bagging for you!

Anyway to the OP that guy sounds like an idiot. The basic principle of "heavy at the bottom, light on top, cold or frozen stuff together, don't put bleach in with the grapes" isn't exactly rocket science.

 

[Freesia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamJen

See, to me, this will be a sad day...just one more area of life lacking human interaction. Now, I used the self-service till plenty of times, but I don't think it's the same as when you talk to a real person. Also, I was a cashier for a long time, and while it wasn't my lifelong dream, I definitely wasn't miserable. I made a fair wage and generally had an alright time.

It probably is an ok job if the cashier is allowed to do their job, but I suspect they have supervisors who pressure them to hurry customers through as quickly as possible in order to meet "targets". Human interaction is all very well, but visiting a cashier who is a blur and has nothing to say anyway because they are so rushed and pressured and they then squash your groceries, is pointless. Also, self checkouts have a person who will help if there are problems, so generally there is some interaction there anyway.

 

[fadeaway1289]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freesia

It probably is an ok job if the cashier is allowed to do their job, but I suspect they have supervisors who pressure them to hurry customers through as quickly as possible in order to meet "targets". Human interaction is all very well, but visiting a cashier who is a blur and has nothing to say anyway because they are so rushed and pressured and they then squash your groceries, is pointless. Also, self checkouts have a person who will help if there are problems, so generally there is some interaction there anyway.

Yep, yep. When I was a cashier it was encouraged to scan all items as quickly as possible, not only to get the line moving as fast and swiftly but the faster you scanned the more "points" you got. Whoever was the fastest was considered one of the best cashiers and were favored by management.