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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect my bag to be packed for me?

267 replies

Susanjeffery1984 · 10/04/2018 16:15

Not after a big shop but if you go to a stand up till with a few items and ask for a bag, would you expect your bag to be packed for you or at least asked if you would like to have it packed?
Before paying for bags came in I’m sure my bag was always packed for me.
A few times I’ve asked for a bag and one is been added to the pile of shopping without me even noticing, which leads to me shoving the items in so as not to hold up the queue.
Having worked in supermarkets, I would never have dreamed of just adding the bag to the shopping without packing the items. It’s not as though it adds anymore to the task.
Maybe etiquette has changed though.

OP posts:
Original poster
Susanjeffery1984 · 10/04/2018 16:47

Thank you BringMeCoffeePlease! I was beginning to think I had ‘Princess’ tattooed on my forehead.
I’m only talking about if you buy a bag. If you bring your own and passed it to them, that would be odd and rude.

OP posts:
PattiStanger · 10/04/2018 16:48

Bringmecoffee - I don't know where you shop but in my decades of doing food shopping I have never had my bags automatically packed (I wouldn't want it either). The 5p charge has made no difference at all to the behaviour of the till staff. I'm a none loyal food shopper and go to all the major supermarkets, it's definitely not a thing were I've ever lived.

I'm genuinely surprised that it happens.

yumyumpoppycat · 10/04/2018 16:49

I think know what you mean - the mini Tesco near us used to pack the bags as there was very limited space around the tills so items would be put straight in a bag by the cashier and the bag taken by the customer when full and a new bag started. I used to get miffed on the rare occasions I would go to the 5 items or less type tills at waitrose and they didn't do the same. For a few items it is just quicker for the cashier to bag directly.

Cupoteap · 10/04/2018 16:49

Op I completely agree!!!

womaninatightspot · 10/04/2018 16:49

In our little coop they always pack for you if you buy a bag. In the big one they just stick the bag in with the shopping.

SomeKnobend · 10/04/2018 16:50

Yabu. They don't do that here generally (I'm in UK too).

happymummy12345 · 10/04/2018 16:50

No never. They're not your personal assistant you know

CookPassBabtridge · 10/04/2018 16:50

The only time that gets done for me is in small shops, they do it automatically... never had it in a supermarket.

Lweji · 10/04/2018 16:52

I don't like it when cashiers pack bags for me. They pack it badly and randomly and don't care if heavy items go on top of more fragile items.

In your position, no, I wouldn't expect it either. I thought you had a disability, from your title.

AgathaF · 10/04/2018 16:53

I prefer to pack my own shopping so always decline their packing when asked. I can't imagine why you'd want them to pack for you if you are physically able to do it for yourself.

bryheresse · 10/04/2018 16:54

YABU.

I can't ever remember having a bag packed for me.

SweetieBaby · 10/04/2018 16:54

Tesco always offer to pack.

I think part of the problem is that customers are demanding lower prices above anything else. The big supermarkets are having to compete with Lidl and Aldi on price and the only way is to offer the same level of service as Lidl or Aldi ie pack your own bags.

I doubt you can have Lidl prices with Waitrose service.

Olddear · 10/04/2018 16:54

Tesco ask if you want a hand packing. I always do it myself but I'm not that particular tbh. As long as the bread and eggs are at the top I just throw it all in.

himalayansalt · 10/04/2018 16:54

Yanbu op. I do expect it and the two local shops I go to most often (a Co Op and a Sainsburys Local) always pack for the customers.

Troels · 10/04/2018 16:55

Asda and Morrisons always ask if I want help packing.
I do miss the bagging people they had in the US, they'd bag in a very particular way, cold things together, meat seperate and cans dry goods together, they then wheeled my cart out to the car and loaded my boot, great when wrangling a toddler or baby.

Graphista · 10/04/2018 16:55

"I don’t think it makes their job any slower or harder" then you clearly have never done the job under current conditions.

Every second counts especially at busy times and these days with the targets imposed on checkout staff by their bosses.

It takes approx 3-4 mins to process a large shop. It can easily take 1 minute to pack a bag. Multiply that by I think it's around 150-200 customers per shift? So that's MINIMUM extra 200 mins per shift (if every customer only has a bag full) that's the equivalent of serving 60+ fewer customers - PER CASHIER supermarkets aren't gonna be happy with that. Means either serving a lot less customers per day or hiring and training more staff. MAJOR dent in profits.

4merlyknownasSHD · 10/04/2018 16:57

The check-out staff often ask if I am alright with packing and I tell them that, despite only being a mere man I CAN cope, they even ask if I only have three or four items. I am almost offended; do they think people are so useless? I agree with several posters here, if you want a job done properly, do it yourself. It is also far quicker if you pack it yourself as it does not distract the checkout person from their roll of scanning things.

Idontdowindows · 10/04/2018 16:57

Nope, wouldn't expect it, wouldn't want it and it's not the norm here.

pigmcpigface · 10/04/2018 16:57

I go to Aldi. I literally have to throw things in the trolley to keep up then pack afterwards! But I swear to God, it's still faster than going through the Sainos checkouts.

WilyMinx · 10/04/2018 16:57

I remember when last visiting the UK before the plastic bag levy kicked in, the bags in supermarkets were at the end of the conveyor belt and out of the cashier's reach so it was obvious we were meant to pack our own shopping. The nice thing about UK supermarkets is that very rarely does anyone rush you at the till so I didn't mind doing it.

Lweji · 10/04/2018 16:59

I literally have to throw things in the trolley to keep up then pack afterwards!

I don't do that. They can wait for me to pay while I pack if necessary.

I suspect the cashier is thankful for that little bit of rest, though. :)

BarbaraofSevillle · 10/04/2018 17:00

Yes, but in the Co-op they seem oblivious to the fact that if you stand a big bottle of milk next to a loaf of bread in a carrier bag, the milk will have fallen over and squashed the bread before the customer has got out of the shop.

AugustRose · 10/04/2018 17:00

My local Morrisons staff always ask if I would like help packing my bags but I do it myself. I think YABU a bit for one basket of shopping.

bimbobaggins · 10/04/2018 17:01

I usually get asked but decline as I’m capable myself.
On holiday in oz recently our bags were automatically packed and they had an ingenious 4 sided bag device that they turned round after each bag was packed. When I say ingenious I’m easily pleased. It was done so quick and efficiently

bimbobaggins · 10/04/2018 17:02

When I say automatically I mean by the sales assistant not aforementioned ingenious device