Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To think woman at corner shop should offer to help pack my items?

69 replies

Tobythecat · 08/11/2017 11:58

I picked up a couple of items at my local corner shop, it was quiet in there and the woman behind the counter is very quick and seems to rush you. I asked for a bag, she put the bag on the counter and handed me my change. I put the change in my purse as quickly as I can (bare in mind somebody is behind me in the queue at this point) and she just stands there watching me instead of being helpful and putting my 4 items in the bag. Obviously she can't serve the next customer until i've put my stuff in the bag etc.

AIBU to think she should at least offer to help pack?

OP posts:

Jellybean85 · 08/11/2017 12:01

Four items? Sorry but YABU I can’t see that she would have thought you needed help with four items and the person behind
You can’t possibly have waited that long for you to pack them

Bella8 · 08/11/2017 12:01

Some people don't like shop assistants touching their food and prefer to pack their own bags. Maybe if you had a lot of items she would have asked if you needed help packing. With you only having 4 she prob just figured you'd be fine.

RedSkyAtNight · 08/11/2017 12:02

Not sure there's much time to be saved in 2 people putting 4 items in a bag tbh ...

Lots of people don't like help with packing (I'm one of them) as shop assistants never do it correctly (the way I like it). If the shop was quiet, there was no particular need to rush you.

(and it's "bear" not "bare" unless you were naked shopping)

Ellendegeneres · 08/11/2017 12:03

Mine does this. And they wonder why people don't use them much and go to Tesco express instead. If I'm paying nearly £2 for a 4pint bottle of milk and over the odds for treats for the kids and you can see I'm on crutches and struggling, watching me blankly isn't going to endear me to spend the little money I have being loyal to your business.

Justbookedasummmerholiday · 08/11/2017 12:03

As an incentive to use local shops I think packing would be an appropriate gesture.

Redglitter · 08/11/2017 12:07

My local shop automatically packs your shopping for you. It makes sense. They take it out the basket scan it then put it straight into the bag. It doesn't take any more time than it would to put it on the counter. Definitely seems more efficient.

Nikephorus · 08/11/2017 12:11

I'd rather pack myself - there seems to be a lack of common sense prevalent in people who pack for others (yes Ocado packers, I'm looking at you) and I'd rather employ a bit of intelligence so that I don't get something squashable underneath a bag of potatoes or a 4-pinter of milk. Fair enough if the customer is on crutches or has an escaping toddler or something, but otherwise...

WaywardOn3 · 08/11/2017 12:16

Did you ask for a bag at the start or end of the transaction?

If you ask at the start the cashier can scan and put items straight into the bag.

If at the end when everything has been scanned and you're handing over money then you're expecting the cashier to handle your goods twice and holding everything up.

EdmundCleverClogs · 08/11/2017 12:27

Depends really. When I used to work in a small shop, I definitely used to help with 'bulkier' items - making sure nothing squished the bread, eggs on top etc whilst they sorted their money. However if it was a case of a couple of things you can just shove in a bag quickly (sweets, drinks, cigarettes), then yabu, it's not a difficult or long job, and believe it or not the queue can stand to wait another 5 seconds.

Letting a customer buy a bottle of water, then watch her walk out without it, now that's a dick move. I have serious baby brain at the moment, could have used some kindness.

MaidenMotherCrone · 08/11/2017 12:32

Unless the 4 items you bought were angry cats or excited octopus I think you are being a bit unreasonable.

viques · 08/11/2017 12:46

Why are you still using plastic carriers? Take a cloth bag next time.

Willow2017 · 08/11/2017 12:47

I always find 2 people trying to put stuff in one bag is more awkward and time consuming than just doing it yourself.
I wouldn't expect someone pack for me if i only had 4 things!

Caulk · 08/11/2017 12:49

maiden I wish my local shop sold octopus.

Actually, I wish I had a local shop.

Zaphodsotherhead · 08/11/2017 12:56

If someone buys a bag I always pack unless asked not to.
If they bring a bag, I let them pack themselves.

The customers I HATE are the ones that either throw the bag at you and stand back to play on their phone while you struggle to pack (very small packing area, standing till) or the ones that snatch the bag out of my hands as I am packing and then start to repack it. If you don't want it packed for you, then just say at the start!

ShotsFired · 08/11/2017 12:56

@Bella8 Some people don't like shop assistants touching their food

How do these people think it got on the shelves?

Ragwort · 08/11/2017 12:57

YANBU.

I work in retail and am shocked at the rude way so many sales assistants treat customers - particularly in 'independent' shops. No wonder so many people use supermarkets or large retailers. I boycott any shop that gives me poor service (and in our small town there aren't many shops left I can go in ). It costs nothing to be nice to customers - I was serving someone yesterday who told me she had been treated so rudely in a local shop that she immediately asked for a refund on her purchase - over £100. She went on to spend money with me - sadly not £100!

No doubt people will come on here and say lots of customers are rude but I can honestly say that I rarely experience any rude customers.

user1495451339 · 08/11/2017 13:09

Just pack in your own time and don't let it bother you. She should have helped if she was in a hurry.

kali110 · 08/11/2017 13:18

4 items? She probably thought you'd be ok to pack those.

Mamabear4180 · 08/11/2017 13:23

I don't think yabu, she sounds unfriendly which is crap if you are supposed to be in customer service. Not a big deal though, take your time and don't feel rushed.

morningconstitutional2017 · 08/11/2017 13:25

Did she glare at you while you were packing even though you were going as fast as is humanly possible? If so then she was BU not to at least have offered to help.

It's a question of attitude, isn't it? Some assistants think that all they need to do is take the money - not even service with a smile. I speak as an ex shop assistant and may find myself doing this again in the future. It has to be said that some customers have no manners either.

steff13 · 08/11/2017 13:25

I think it's weird that she didn't, but it's the norm here for cashiers to bag your items. Aldi is the only place you're expected to bag your own. If it's not the norm there, I think it was fair enough that she didn't help. It was only 4 items.

BenLui · 08/11/2017 13:31

I find it very hard to dig up outrage over 4 items.

What did it take you to pack them? 60 seconds?

MiddlingMum · 08/11/2017 13:32

My only thought is that it's much better to take your own bag.

PanGalaticGargleBlaster · 08/11/2017 13:33

The measure of a civilisation hinges on these kind of issues.

Broken Britain

confusedofengland · 08/11/2017 13:34

I would be happy if the shop assistant was just not rude to me & my DC. At our little local Co-op, which I use because it's about 10 doors down from my house, there is one particular assistant who is incredibly rude if I go in there with DC (just about OK without) - she will sigh loudly, tut & scowl if I allow 3-year-old DC to put the items on the counter & often mutter things. One memorable time was a loud 'I have not got time for this' when DS dropped the coins he was giving her onto the counter by accident, there were 2 people behind us, one of which was an elderly person whom she not only packed the bag for but then helped him to his mobility scooter outside (which is great, but it seems to contradict the idea of not having time).

It has got to the stage where I won't go in the shop if she is serving, unless I have absolutely no choice. The other assistants are nice & friendly & will help pack if it's not busy.

Flip

1 2 3