To think sales staff should help you pack your bags?

[terreyyy]

I normally pack my bags without asking for help.
Today I went into the pound shop.
I had my two kids (one is 3 and other is 5) I had 2 heavy bags in one hand and it was raining so had my brolly.
Bought 5 glass pumpkins and got to checkout.
She told me they had nothing to wrap them in so I said no worries can I have some bags and I would put each in separate bag.
She put the bags down (unopened ) then scanned them really fast.
I had 1 daughter screaming,then I dropped my bank card.
So I'm trying to wrap each pumpkin up then put them in my carrier bag.
She is just stood behind the counter arms folded waiting for me.
She then says to the long queue (sorry about this everyone) whilst shaking her head looking at me.
Would it have actually killed her to just help me?
The guy serving on the next till was packing the bag for someone.
Aibu to think she could have helped ?
Rather than stand there and make me feel like an idiot

Should we need to ask someone to be courteous and do what is usually within the remit of their job anyway (and clearly not banned in that particularly store as OP said another cashier was happily packing bags for his customers) when it is clear as day that the assistance is required?

So we need to ask people to hold doors open for us as we're approaching now? Do we need to be vocal to get someone to move aside for a wheelchair or pram they can see coming towards them? You know, the obvious basics of society?

I would normally use examples of budging up on a bus seat, moving a bag to allow someone to take a seat or picking something up or tapping someone on the shoulder to alert them that they have dropped something but these are Covid affected but the sentiment is the same.

The cashier could see assistance was required and she shouldn't have needed to be asked. And if she wasn't allowed, then common curtesy should have had her apologising to her customer that she couldn't assist before apologising to the queue for the wait. She was rude. End of.

At the moment staff are told not to help pack as people don’t want them too, you could have asked if she could put them in the bags.

I don’t understand this as presumably the shop assistant has to touch the items to scan the bloody things. And rather than just standing there rolling her eyes the polite and sensible thing thing to do would be to offer to help without needing to be asked.

The cashier could see assistance was required and she shouldn't have needed to be asked.

Even if OP already said no worries can I have some bags and I would put each in separate bag. i.e. I don't need/want help?

@funnylittlefloozie I work in retail because it's flexible around my life. I can do overtime if I want more money and I like working with people. I also have 4 A's at a level in the three sciences and maths and I have a degree. Many of my colleagues also have degrees and work retail because it suits them! Just because someone serves you at a toll doesn't mean they are stupid or it's all they can manage ffs.

I worked for poundworld. We didn't always have time to help everyone pack as it got so busy and usually short staffed. We were told to get customers through the tills ASAP but to help those that couldn't manage and we always did our best to assist those that needed it. Our customer service was excellent and I was proud to work for them. I still miss it terribly.Although of course I suppose the level of service will vary from shop depending on the staff who work there. My colleagues were brilliant as was our management.

Apparently nothing is more important than customer service. Not even a global pandemic, nor anything.
It's perfectly acceptable to put any one at risk you please if it means you get the customer service you absolutely deserve without any restrictions whatsoever, regardless of anything at all.
As well as mind reading, putting up with abuse and being called worse than shit, all those service workers don't forget to give out that little piece of your soul with every transaction! After all the customer is akin to God and you are barely worth looking at, never mind treating like a fellow human being.
Customer service is touted as rubbish in the UK, mainly because we treat anyone in a service job like some sort of serf and expect airs and graces and forelock tugging. I'd suggest if you repeatedly receive crap customer service look at your own behaviour towards those serving you. They're paid to facilitate a transaction, not lick people's boots, and that's the expectations.
I've worked with all sorts of nationalities and British are so damned rude and expectant compared to other nationalities.
Common sense apparently overules policies and laws (unless the customer disagrees and the lucky worker gets to guess!) ( I wonder if it's an acceptable defence for breaking a law? - side thought not necessarily directly related to this total non event)
In these times where everything is different (whether you agree or not with the changes is irrelevant) and the concequences to some really are life changing and damaging experiences, the reactions to perceived poor service are fucking pathetic.

Sorry but WTF? ^^

I was in a Poundland today, they have an announcement stating please pack your own bags unless you ask the staff to help.

Isn't this part of the job? I totally would have asked her to help

@lakesidewinter

In the USA shop assistants pack everything for you, including all your supermarket shopping. I was very taken aback when I first realized this.

But you are also also expected to tip them. I am quite sure the OP had no intention of tipping.

I didn’t tip anyone in the US and l lived there for 8 years?!
They just do it.

@withlotsoflove

I didn’t tip anyone in the US and l lived there for 8 years?! They just do it.

Bet they loved you!

I don’t know what you’re on about.
They didn’t expect it / and my American relatives don’t either.
You go to the supermarket, they pack - that’s it!
In fact , l am sure it wasn’t even allowed?
Anyway - America is massive - must have missed the state that requires it!

You aren't meant to tip in my area.
I double checked this with US friends when I first arrived.
I can confirm after a few years that no one ever tips it is just part of their job to pack the bags.

It used to be part of the job for shop assistants here. It certainly was when I worked in shops in the 90s and early 2000s. Not sure when it changed. Lol at the idea of tipping checkout staff. Do you also tip the person who puts things on shelves???

@MorganKitten

I was in a Poundland today, they have an announcement stating please pack your own bags unless you ask the staff to help.

Did nobody see this?

I think your 5 year should be capable of helping too

Wow the attitude of people on here! Usually I find the assistant offers to help. In your case I would have asked for help - one thing I have learned is to speak up!
Covid is no excuse for not helping your fellow human being - as you say, she has already touched everything! In fact when she made her 'I'm sorry about this' comment to the others in the queui I would have looked her straight in the eye and said: 'there's nothing stopping you from helping and then it would ge quicker'.
I have worked in retail and always help when i can - it is shameful some of the responses on here.

And no you do NOT tip the packer in a store in America.