To expect my bag to be packed for me?

[Susanjeffery1984]

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.

Since the bag charges and people bringing their own I've noticed they don't do it for you anymore. Sometimes they will do it for me if I've got my 3 little ones with me as they're all young and can see I'm stressed haha. But no I don't expect it.

Graphista - I’m not talking about a big shop. Literally a baskets worth at an express till.
Of course, you can decline and tbh if someone asked me if I’d like them to pack I would decline but it used to be automatic. I have lived in numerous areas of the country and haven’t noticed any discrepancy in this sort of customer service.

I never expect my bag to be packed for me but if an assistant offers,I always accept gratefully as I am disabled and have problems doing things quickly using my hands due to problems with my wrists,fingers and shoulders. Regarding the comment from a PP that it was common place for bags to be packed for you before the plastic bag charge was introduced,I think it's actually the other way round. I've noticed a distinct increase in the number of offers to pack for me since we've had to pay for bags.

I wouldn't expect someone to pack for me, whether small or large shopping, although I nearly always get asked if I want help packing (must look old and frail!).

But you're not the only customer - other customers ARE doing big shops, plus even if all customers only buying a bagful they're already getting less profit per customer served so spending MORE time on each customer is even less profitable.

Do you think the CEO and shareholders would suck up the loss? No they'd put prices up.

I've also lived and worked all over the uk, rural, suburban and city. Numerous supermarkets inc several that are long since out of business.

YABVU. I would never expect anyone to pack a bag for me, whether a single bag in an express lane or a full shop. I’ve also never been asked if I would like it packed.

I think it’s rather entitled of you to expect it. Who do you think you are? You’re perfectly capable of packing your own bag.

The express till is already the most labour intensive and least profitable sales point, as it is the one used mostly by those not spending much, the elderly, disabled, less confident shoppers, children etc so tends to be (in well managed stores) staffed by the most experienced, calmly efficient staff.

Adding extra work to that till would probably render it loss making. Then they'd get rid of it altogether.

Sure, would you like it carrying to your car too? Yabu. I actually find it quite embarrassing when a shop assistant thinks they need to do it for me, sure if I was elderly it would be a lovely gesture but no more than a kind gesture.

I am but a wee whippersnapper and have never heard of such outrageous niceties - I thought excellent checkout service was scanning things through slower than Aldi do, avoiding eye contact, and not licking their finger before giving you a bag!

Never seen this in a supermarket in my whole 1/4 of a century in London, but my corner shop does because they are lovely and there is time to kill while the card machine spends 5 minutes processing

Waitrose will take your bags to the car if you ask.

I would, but I'm in the US and it's standard here. The cashier doesn't usually bag, though, a bagger does that. And will also take it to your car if you ask.

I bought a basketfull of items in Boots today and they packed them into the bag for me. Also at our Waitrose basket checkouts they pack the bags.

I always seem to get asked if I want bags, then do I want it/them packing. I have never said yes to either, hate when they try to do it even the ones that are doing it for a donation.

How is it extra work? Putting items in bag or on the side really makes very little difference in time or effort.... especially when we are talking about 10 items or less, which is the restriction at most express tills.
I think it’s a nice service to offer a customer.

When I went to the US years ago I automatically packed my own bag at the till at a supermarket and was looked at as if I had taken a shit on the floor. It was funny.

I don't want my bag packed for me and I don't want to wait for the check out operator to pack for the customers in front of me either.

When I worked in retail we always packed for them. However, I wouldn't be offended if I was just handed a carrier and was expected to pack myself. In fact, I prefer packing my own shopping because other people never do it right. I hate it when there are charity bag packers at the supermarket because I want to do it myself as they don't do it properly.

Because over the course of a day even 30 seconds extra per customer adds up. Even based on 200 customers per shift that's 100 minutes extra work, and fewer customers served as I said before.

Fewer customers served = less profit = price increase.

Have you never heard of ergonomics?

Supermarkets are an industry that does a LOT of research into what practices are most profitable.

From lighting, music, product choice and placement, which scents to use, to - training and use of staff.

These practices have been honed over decades and also take into account cultural expectations.

In the same vein, if it's so little time and effort why not do it yourself? I don't understand why you want or need your shopping put in a bag by a cashier. It's a shitty job for very little money. I don't blame them for not going the extra mile for every customer.

I expect it's connected to most shoppers now bringing their own bags. It just makes it simpler to assume a customer will place their items in a bag unless they request assistance.
This really is such a non problem!

It's what's called 'customer service'.

Brits are terrible at it. They think it's inherently beneath them.

I think you’re a CF, a C-entitled-F even. Pack your own bags.

I wouldn't expect my bag to be packed just because I'd spent 5p(?) buying one!

I do think that there are times when it would speed things up though if it was done.

Do any checkouts still have those dividers at the end so that if one custoer is still packing they can still serve the next?

YABU.

Diddl- I have noticed the difference since having to pay for a 5p bag. Prior to this, they were always packed.

To be honest, I really don’t care about having my bag packed or not. I was intrigued to see if anyone else had noticed this change. Some of the reactions on this post have been quite unnecessary but that’s MN for you.... And to those posters, maybe there is a reason no one has ever packed or offered to pack your bag for you.