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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think sales assistants should help pack your bag? Too difficult?

78 replies

Joannearobinson23 · 30/08/2017 12:58

I was in b&m today they only had baskets.
I ended use buying quite a bit (quilt cover,curtains,lamp shade etc etc.
Get to the checkout and 1 small basket till is on and huge quee of people waiting.
I get to the till and ask for some bags,she rolls her eyes and gives me 1 tiny bag,I ask for anything bigger? She says no and starts quickly scanning my things through.
She piles everything on top of the 1 carrier and as I'm trying to get it from underneath the items she tells me the price.
I pay using my card and then try and fit everything into my carrier bags.
She stands with her hands folded huffing and puffing and says to the line "sorry about the holdup"
Rather than actually helping me ..
Ended up forgetting my bank card.

OP posts:
Original poster
Joannearobinson23 · 30/08/2017 13:12

Next time il take a bin liner and shove the lot in there..normally I would get the trolley then pack outside shop but no trolleys today

OP posts:
The80sweregreat · 30/08/2017 13:14

I find that most stores seem to go through the check out at the speed of sound these days and even if i remember my own bags, its still hard to keep up. I love the scan and shop in the big tesco as i can pack it as i go round and dont then have to upload, then reload. its not perfect and you can get held up on the till paying sometimes, but its far better than me having a hernia trying to stop my bread getting squashed! ( i dont use it all the time however)
B and M, the pound type stores, Aldi and lidl are the worst culprits.

Underthemoonlight · 30/08/2017 13:17

TBh op sounds like she's stressed her till is the basket till and only one open then she's got customers behind you expected to be served quickly with no one else lessening her workload.

PeaFaceMcgee · 30/08/2017 13:18

I'd ask to speak to the manager and mention the unkind service you received, whilst you're there x

FartSmeller · 30/08/2017 13:18

B&m is the worst for this.
My grandma loves to go there but I find the paying bit so stressful with her. The checkout person shoves it all through and won't give a bag till halfway through, then stands annoyed and tutting when my grandma takes her time to bag it all up.

Justgivemesomepeace · 30/08/2017 13:19

I love b & m but if you want anything that resembles customer service you're in the wring place. Even basic manners is a struggle I find. Hey ho- enjoy the prices.

Karmapolicearrestthisman · 30/08/2017 13:21

I am a bit perplexed when you're buying, e.g. 1 item, and the shop assistant places it on top of the bag then stares at you doing nothing while you pack it away. When I worked on tills I would just pack for the customer.

Ttbb · 30/08/2017 13:21

Britain is the only country I have ever been to where you pack your own bags. The first time I went to a British supermarket I was a bit shocked. I thought that the cashier was just a bit lazy. I can understand why people pack their own bags here (it's more efficient) but if the cashier is finished scanning they should join in in the interest of efficiency. Otherwise they are literally sitting there doing nothing. If my employees did that I would be very annoyed.

propertingz · 30/08/2017 13:22

I agree with @PeaFacedMagee

Lovingmybear2 · 30/08/2017 13:23

Blimey our Aldi staff are lovely. You should have confronted her op and told her you wanted more bags and then packed in your own time.

I find M&S the worst. Huge queues and very slow staff. Our local anyway

The80sweregreat · 30/08/2017 13:23

They used to help with the packing a lot more a while back in most places, then it all seemed to just stop! not sure why, maybe people just didnt like it / want to do it themselves to stop things getting mixed up?

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 30/08/2017 13:24

B&M has Topsy and Tim's dad in their adverts so it can't be that bad. Grin

stonecircle · 30/08/2017 13:25

The woman behind was getting closer and closer to me then as I was packing last few bits,the checkout lady started scanning her things ...

At this point you fix the shop assistant with a steely glare and say, "sorry - could you wait until I've finished packing please?"

theymademejoin · 30/08/2017 13:28

I always hand a bag to the assistant and ask them to pack specific items (e.g. fridge stuff) or just to pack. I've only once had a refusal where she said there was no need as I was nearly finished so I told her it would be quicker if she helped. She did.

LeakyLittleBoat · 30/08/2017 13:32

I live in the USA and the law (it may not be the actual law) is that the cashier bags your stuff if it's only a few items and, if it's a trolley load, they have actual baggers who appear as if by magic if you try and start bagging your own stuff. I learned this after a few times of getting very disapproving looks from cashiers and other customers alike on my first few outings to supermarkets here. It's lovely but obviously no help to those of you stuck in the UK where you are expected to put up with arsey unhelpful sales assistants and seethe silently with suppressed rage in the British way when they make you feel like shit for expecting any actual service.

DramaQueenofHighCs · 30/08/2017 13:36

I would get VERY annoyed if a sales assistant suddenly started packing my bag for me. I have a system to bag packing that makes it easier to unpack. You could have asked for help.

DramaQueenofHighCs · 30/08/2017 13:37

LeakyLittleBoat Remind me never to visit the USA! I'd get annoyed and my (autistic) husband would have a meltdown if he couldn't pack the bags himself!

Original poster
Joannearobinson23 · 30/08/2017 13:38

Tbh even if I had asked for help I doubt she would have.

OP posts:
Jux · 30/08/2017 13:44

I would pay after I'd packed.

Deathraystare · 30/08/2017 13:45

She stands with her hands folded huffing and puffing and says to the line "sorry about the holdup"

That was your cue to slow right down and say to the queue " Yes, it is not as if she can assist me by helping me put stuff in bags. Apparently she hasn't been trained yet"

cherryontopp · 30/08/2017 13:49

I would have definitely have had a retort for "sorry about the wait" comment, something along the lines of "yes sorry I could have got through much quicker if she'd actually would have helped!"

Posters are comparing this with Aldi, but there you swoop everything into yoir basket/trolley and pack on the bench provided. BM don't and she should have helped.

EyesUnderARock · 30/08/2017 13:52

Our Sainsbury's always asks if you need help packing with a big shop, and if you want help and ask, they always find someone.

temporarilyjerry · 30/08/2017 13:52

I'd ask to speak to the manager and mention the unkind service you received, whilst you're there.

This^

BeyondThePage · 30/08/2017 13:53

I take my time. I tell them not to go so fast - I KNOW they are supposed to be fast unless you ask them not to be and I just make sure I have everything in order before I leave.

So I am probably a typical ditherer who is complained about on here so often. But I don't give a flying fig. They can only serve one person at a time and if it is my turn, then it is MY turn.

TheKidsAreTakingMySanity · 30/08/2017 14:24

We have one like that in our local coop store. She will reach around your open bag rather than place any the items in. It was a pack of butter and some potatoes once and the woman leaned right over, arm outstretched to avoid the opened up bag I placed on the counter waiting for the two measly items which she placed precariously on the edge of the counter. The only spot my bag didn't take up. It's become a bit of a giggle now as my DH, MIL and I dare each other one day move the bag under her hand so she has no option but to put items inside!

In your case OP I would have made some snippy, loud remark when she apologised for the hold up! Cheeky, lazy mare. Perhaps an email/tweet/FB review fired off to the bosses might prove useful. Do B&M have the server's names still on the receipts? Sounds like someone needs some customer service retraining. Huffing and puffing at customers is certainly not needed.