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

[5Foot5]

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.....

DD was offering information about her scout group's project today and got yelled at by a very unpleasant woman who told her what she was doing was illegal. Then proceeded to hurl abuse at the scout leader when he explained that offering information was not the same as asking for money, and therefore not illegal.

Wow...that was unnecessary!! Hope your DD was ok. See, I'd be rather happy if the air cadets "improved my experience" (yeah yeah I know how that sounds, but you know what I mean ) by doing something like your DD did, talking to my DS about the cadets, and keeping him occupied whilst I'm attempting to get through the checkouts as quickly and calmly as possible, for my own sanity and that of the enormous queue behind me.

I do think though, despite best intentions, they do just make the process longer and whilst they are very lovely children, and I applaud their efforts, it is clear that over 50% of the thread feel they aren't helpful in that role, not on THE big Christmas shop anyway. I'd be much more likely to donate to them carol singing, or pushing trolleys to cars.

Must tell you all -
I asked dd today if anyone had been rude or frustrated they were getting in the way, and she said she only had 1 person, and he told her off for not going quickly enough, and he (ie, the shopper) just started throwing all his shopping into the bag, mixing everything up, squashing the bread, etc., and it was my dd who couldn't get her head around why anyone would put stuff on top of their bread, or bottles of cleaning stuff in with vegetables, etc.

Made me and made me think of this thread instantly

Today I gave a donation but said I preferred to do my own packing as I goods for two other people which I wanted to pack in separate carrier bags.
Also, I have my own system for packing.
Bag packing is presumptuous in my opinion as a fund raising method.
If children want to learn lacrosse their parents should pay for lessons as I paid for my children's music lessons.
If children want to go on school trips their parents should prioritize savings for this.
etc etc etc
Where does this entitlement mentality come from?

Bag packing is presumptuous in my opinion as a fund raising method.

Macskater, only if you are not asked first whether you would like to use this service. You can always say "no thank you" and pack yourself. What's the problem here?

No cos when I'm still unloading my trolley and the cashier starts scanning my food she always asks if I'd like a hand with my packing therefore she packs as she scans! Don't all supermarkets ask this?

Is this a MN thing having an "order" at the checkout. I have never heard of this before. Mine just gets bunged on the conveyor belt.

macskater ours were collecting for the local children's hospice. Reeeeally entitled.

In fairness I bet they raised more than the average rugby club etc.