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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think the bag packers might be at the wrong end of the tills

108 replies

5Foot5 · 21/12/2013 22:46

Today I did the Big Christmas Food Shop and, after toiling my way around the supermarket, I was slightly dismayed on reaching the tills to see that the Scouts were doing a bag-pack. Now I don't want to be mean but I am really not keen to have some well-meaning but fumbling child pack my shopping at any time, when I am about to spend a small fortune on all my Christmas food then this is true in spades. I have nothing but admiration for the people who give up their own time to run organisations like this but I felt that only a man (and I know it doesn't have to be the case but today all the scout masters were men) would think this bag-pack was a good idea on the weekend before Christmas.

So, I know this doesn't have to be a problem as I can just politely say "No, thank you" and give them a donation anyway. However, as I was watching the lady in front of me put her shopping on the conveyor belt it suddenly occurred to me that there is a much more useful service that they could offer.

Have you ever been in that situation where you have bought loads and find that by the time your shopping is being scanned you are still at the end of the belt unloading your trolley? You can see all your shopping piling up at the other end and you can't get to bag it until you have finished getting it all out. That is where the bag-packers would come in handy. Not mangling your shopping by packing it in bags any old how but simply getting it out of the trolley for you so that you can go down to the other end and pack it yourself.

I ran this idea past the woman in front of me in the queue and she agreed with me.

So, to anyone out there who organises this sort of activity - just a thought for future events.....

OP posts:

MidniteScribbler · 21/12/2013 22:48

Why didn't you just say to the child that you'd like their help unloading while you packed? I'm sure they wouldn't mind.

Wandawingsthe2nd · 21/12/2013 22:48

Sounds like a plan. Although some people like to put on in a certain order so you can't please everyone.

SauvignonBlanche · 21/12/2013 22:50

I absolutely hate bag packers, I always smile sweetly and ask them to unpack the trolley instead.

HoHolepew · 21/12/2013 22:50

You're a genius

nitrox · 21/12/2013 22:51

I hate it too!

The last time they were there I was sooo embarrassed as I had condoms and KY Jelly in my trolley I said they could have a break and I paid them anyhow.. Lol.. The shame!

I use the self service long checkouts now in Asda, love them!

InTheRedCorner · 21/12/2013 22:52

I always ask if they would mind loading instead of packing. Haven't been turned down yet

TravellingToad · 21/12/2013 22:53

You're a genius! And that isn't sarcasm! I genuinely think that's the best idea I've heard in ages.

swampytiggaa · 21/12/2013 22:53

I will mention it to our scout leader (female) for next time we do it.

BTW the pre Christmas packing slots are highly prized as people are very generous. Ours did last Saturday in asda. Did 10-4. Raised almost £900 towards the jambouree fund.

HoHolepew · 21/12/2013 22:55

Ohhh I'm going to ask them to unload from now on.

Original poster

5Foot5 · 21/12/2013 22:55

MidniteScribbler I had DD with me so I didn't need any help as she is perfectly capable of unpacking. But it just occurred to me it would be a more useful service and I bet fewer people would be concerned about the stuff being unpacked by someone else than they are about it being bagged

OP posts:

TheCrackFox · 21/12/2013 22:55

That is an inspired idea and I'm not being sarcastic either.

Lucylouby · 21/12/2013 22:56

Our guides were doing bag packing at tesco today. Girlguiding is a female only group, so it wasn't a man who decided to raise funds this way. It is really lucrative. Last year we made just under £2000 in one day, this is over £1000 more than we made in September doing the same hours. I don't think there is any other fund raiser you can raise that much for one days work. Tbh I don't let them pack my shopping either. I do like your suggestion of conveyer belt loading though and will remember it next time I take the guides bag packing.

sugarplumfairy · 21/12/2013 23:03

I am bag packing tomorrow with my DD's lacrosse club. It is the highly prized slot of Sunday before Christmas. We usually make around £1500 in 6 hours which is amazing. The money helps to send coaches into school to teach the children how to play.

I quite enjoy it, most people are very generous and there is a really good atmosphere. My DD isn't so sure, she's worried someone might see her!

Original poster

5Foot5 · 21/12/2013 23:08

Gosh it does raise a lot of money! I would be curious though how much of that is donated without making use of the service. I slipped them 50p but there was no way the scouts were getting their mitts on my groceries!

OP posts:

RubyRR · 21/12/2013 23:18

I pay them not to pack too, very good idea, would stop that moment of dread when I see the 'helpers' I want to pack my own shopping in my own order based on where it goes when I get home

pixiegumboot · 21/12/2013 23:19

Or, supermarkets over here could do what they do in friendlier parts of the world, just pack the frigging groceries when you've scanned them, its not hard. Some people call it customer service. I just call it being kind.

DaveBussell · 21/12/2013 23:22

But don't you all have a system for loading? I couldn't possibly trust anyone to do it without reference to my system!

Anyway, I really hate being cornered at the till like that so I am usually quite firm in turning down the help and not contributing either. £1500 for lacrosse coaches!

Having said that I did give some sea-scouts a £1 the other day - I didn't want them to help with the packing so they started singing a christmas song while they were waiting around and I was so charmed I just had to donate.

thenightsky · 21/12/2013 23:27

Bag packing kids put my choc log under tins and jars this week

Huitre · 21/12/2013 23:29

supermarkets over here could do what they do in friendlier parts of the world, just pack the frigging groceries when you've scanned them, its not hard

Um, it is quite hard actually. I would loathe that. I have a system and nobody else does it properly.

OP, your idea is genius. I would far prefer to pay the annoying children to do something rather than to leave me alone.

SpikeyChristmasTree · 21/12/2013 23:32

I pay them more not to touch my shopping!

I have a system on the conveyor belt too, so that it is all sorted to go into the correct bag at the other end. I don't even let the checkout operator pack it. I always choose a till with a bit of a queue to enable me to ensure I'll have got it all on the belt before they start scanning. It drives the person with the big pointy sign in ASDA mad when I won't move to an empty till.

Nanny0gg · 21/12/2013 23:34

Were you at the same supermarket as me?

but I felt that only a man (and I know it doesn't have to be the case but today all the scout masters were men) would think this bag-pack was a good idea on the weekend before Christmas.

Absolutely! And some of them were so young, they really wouldn't have had a clue how to pack properly and would never have been able to lift the bags.

I know it's good that they want to raise money, but there must be something more suitable for them to do?

Huitre · 21/12/2013 23:38

I also have a system for the conveyor belt. However fuck ups at that end are more easily dealt with.

Really, I'd like to sponsor them to go off and run about in a park a long long way from me. Strangely enough, at the age of 45, I can pack my shopping myself with minimal fuss or difficulty.

Rosieliveson · 21/12/2013 23:40

Brilliant idea! I hate having bags packed but hate emptying the trolley even more. Would definitely part with some loose change to have my shopping loaded!

Huitre · 21/12/2013 23:40

If they want to do something to help me, I am prepared to pay a scout or two a tenner to sort out DD's art cupboard. Yes a whole cupboard of shite. Seriously, I would pay someone to deal with it so I don't have to. I can't close the door. It is full of rubbish.

ErrolTheDragon · 21/12/2013 23:53

I pay them more not to touch my shopping!

It's a protection racket, isn't it?

Can't the scout/guide leaders do a training session on bag-packing at least? Come to that, can't the supermarkets train their till staff... it's usually unwise to let a youngster pack - women usually do something sensible and if I've unpacked in the 'right' order its generally close enough.

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