To think it’s disgusting when checkout staff lick their fingers to open the bags???

[Chocowoka]

As above. I absolutely hate this when I go shopping. I rarely forget my bags, but on the occasion I do and I need to buy a bag, it drives me up the wall when the staff members licks their thumb, opens the bag and proceeds to handle my food.

I was in a bakers recently and bought a sausage roll and the guy serving licked his finger to open the paper bag. I was nearly sick and thought how disgusting is that. If you’ll do that blatantly in front of me, I dread to think how low your hygiene standards when there’s no one there.

Was talking to my friend about it the other and she said the same, she finds it disgusting too. She said “They may as well spit on you. You don’t want any if they’d saliva on your stuff” and I quite agree.

Surely we’re not the only ones to think that?

If I was the owner of a business I would discipline staff if they done that!

I find it disgusting too.

I also really hate when people lick their fingers to turn the page of a book or go through documents.

Blergh!

Open your own bag?

Yes I agree. I've always thought it's gross!

I was paying in M&S yesterday and the member of staff was struggling to open a flower bag for the customer in front of me. She had a pad to moisten her finger and said 'we're not allowed to lick our fingers.' To be honest, I'm not sure why anyone who is handling money, which is filthy, would want to lick their own fingers

YANBU!

However, I was in a major supermarket (beginning with a 'T' and ending with an 'O') recently and next in the queue to be served. After the cashier had sniffed back a huge load of snot then coughed repeatedly into her hands and then shifted sideways on her seat, lifted up one leg and scratched INTO her bottom, she was clearly disgusted with me when I picked up my shopping and changed to another till...

Yep just as disgusting as all the customers who lick thier fingers when dishing out notes then hand them over to you!😝
You try taking them surreptitiously from.the other end of the note while they are thrusting them at you wet side first. Gross, x100 times a day!

@Wallabyone

That’s good to know M&S have cottoned on to the idea it’s gross.

@NewUser5678

I would have done the same as you! It’s vile.

@Willow2017

I completely understand where you’re coming from too. I work in a bank and people lick their fingers to count cash or take they’d card out to get a better grip 🙄 I just hold the other end and as soon as they go I use the hand sanitizer! 😁 it’s horrible.

I also really hate when people lick their fingers to turn the page of a book or go through documents.

I do this. I have no other way of going through documents. The skin of my fingertips is very dry, so I can't turn over pages without licking my finger (unless I remember to carry those rubber thimble thingies everywhere).

Also just to add, it was a butchers I was in today! I mean who licks their fingers when potentially handling raw meat and money. Just spend an extra couple of seconds to get the bag open without licking yourself

@Mummyneedsacoffee

Totally agree heave

@PhilomenaChristmasPie

I absolutely would and have no desire for a ‘lick finger’ to do it for me, but when they’re behind the desk and before you can say ‘I’ll open it’ they’ve already had a lick

“Licky finger” I mean

Meh. Money has far more shit (metaphorically and specifically) on it than a tiny bit of saliva so I wouldn't care for me. I would cringe a bit internally at what they had probably just put in their mouths though.

Back in the day when I worked at a supermarket, we had one of those spongy things to moisten our fingers. It was black and filthy and I refused to use it - it was probably swimming with all kinds of bacteria. Much worse than what you'd find in one person's mouth, if everyone is using the same ones every day. (not envy) I'd touch my fingers to a wet wipe (the industrial ones used for cleaning the checkouts) if I needed moistening.

I’ve been in sandwich bars/delis etc and seen staff wearing plastic gloves to handle food then proceed to take money and the use the till while still wearing them, then go back to touching food. What’s the point of the gloves?!

yabvu for still using plastic bags.

Just curious but how do you expect them to open the bag? I assume they try to open it before licking their finger but if they can't then what? Most places just give you a bag without licking their finger anyway

Interesting thread. I’d be interested to know from a public health perspective if moving away from cash and supermarket carrier bags had reduced the transmission of some diseases.

But you’re not wrong OP. It’s a bit yuk.

@Rosebel

That’s not my problem as a customer how they open the bag though.

I think if they persevered a tad longer they wouldn’t need to be a ‘licky finger’. They could use a sponge pad but again as long as they were clean.

@Al1Langdownthecleghole

I would be interesting you’re right.

When you think of that flu virus that’s going about now, that started in China but has now spread. It’s no wonder of people can’t follow simple basic hygiene.

Just google staphylococcus aureus and then decide if you want someone else's on your bread/pasty/paper bag/whatever.

If people's hands were cleaner,the rate of infection in the population would go down. So licking them isn't helping, is it?

Don't lick your fingers; do wash your hands properly. Simple health advice frequently ignored

@campion

What you said x 10!!

How is somebody else's Staphylococcus aureus any different from mine? 30% of people have S aureus permanently colonizing their noses and 24% their mouths without its ever making them ill, and I've no reason to assume I'm not one of the 24-30%.

I have an immune system. That's why I consider it safe to breathe air and eat food.

Nearly as bad as parents who allow their children to sit or stand in the area meant for food in shopping trolleys. Mingers