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Original poster

To want checkout 'assistants' in supermarkets to bag shopping.

56 replies

ButtoNosedSausage · 31/03/2010 11:56

Since the bring or buy a bag policy, I've noticed that in my local supermarket, checkout assistants don't bag shopping.

This annoys me as I usually have a young child strapped to my chest and besides having to fiddle around with my handbag for a purse and shopping bag, I have to bag my own shopping on top.

Though I understand that it is important for people to have jobs (be it scanning shopping) Should I write to them to complain and suggest they get in the self service checkouts. Whatever has happened to customer service?

OP posts:
Lulumaam · 31/03/2010 11:58

I am not sure where you shop, but I am always asked if i want help with my packing, even if i have 3 items!

why not ask for the help? if it annoys you, ask the checkout assistant!

the only supermarkets that don't offer or pack are Lildl & Aldi AFAIK

emmymama · 31/03/2010 11:59

i have a 12month old and bump and always get asked if i want help packing (this is asda) or they do it for me if i am still loadiing the comveyer thingy...

where do you shop? ive found lidl and netto (not that i'm saying you shop there) dont give a monkeys and will sit and watch you struggle..

Jaquelinehyde · 31/03/2010 12:00

Just ask and they will. End of problem surely?

Plumm · 31/03/2010 12:00

But they'll pack it all wrongly and that's really annoying...

lal123 · 31/03/2010 12:00

I'm always offered help with my shopping if I've got the kids with me - if I'm not offered help and I want it then I ask.

islandofsodor · 31/03/2010 12:00

I am always asked if I want help as well. I always decline even when ethere are charity bag packers in as I have a "system" which is related to how things are put away when I get home.

BunnyLebowski · 31/03/2010 12:01

I see your point re: having the baby in a sling....but

I cannot let the checkout peeps bag my shopping because they do it all WRONG!

Laundry detergent in with the bananas. 2 big 8-pinters of milk in one bag rather than putting them in separate bags and evening out the weight. Eggs in the bottom with tins on top.

Grr!!

BunnyLebowski · 31/03/2010 12:01

Great minds Plumm

JaneS · 31/03/2010 12:02

Lidl and Aldi near me have signs telling you they are not going to help you pack. It is one of the ways they cut costs (they also chuck items through the till at a rate of knots!). I think that's fair enough as it's part of their shop policy. Anywhere else, I would just say, 'could you pack for me please'. Actually, I hate it when they pack for you without you asking and you turn around from the trolley to find a raw chicken plonked down on top of strawberries, or something like that. Yuk. So maybe they are just waiting to be asked because they're used to grumpy sods like me?

islandofsodor · 31/03/2010 12:02

So annoying isn't it. And you feel so stingy when refusing to let the local scouts, army cadets or whoever help but they DO IT WRONG!!

AMumInScotland · 31/03/2010 12:03

All the ones I go to (Tesco and Sainsbury's in a couple of different towns) ask if I want them to help with the packing, even when I've brought my own bags.

I'm not sure why you think asking them to put in self-service tills would help - surely that would be even worse as you have to scan each thing yourself, then get the assistant to come and sort things, and deal with all the messages about "unexpected itm in bagging area" - yes that would be my handbag which I had to put down to get the purse out

PatsyStone · 31/03/2010 12:04

What's wrong with having a job scanning shopping? For that yabu...

I hate having my shopping bagged they always squash the bread and since they obviously don't the schematics to my kitchen cupboards, don't put things in the right bags for easy putting away later. It's not that hard to bag your shopping with kids in tow, and it slows everyone else down if they have pack and scan.

If it bothers you that much though can't you just ask them to help?

bobblehat · 31/03/2010 12:04

I've always been asked if I wanted help packing. In fact when both dc's were tiny my local supermarket used to ask if I wanted someone to come around with me to help me do my shopping. I always declined but appreciated the offer.

LauraIngallsWilder · 31/03/2010 12:04

I usually politely as possible demand to pack my own shopping

A certain assistant in tescos now gives me filthy looks because I once got cross when she ocntinued ot pack my shopping although I had asked her to stop - I ignore her!

Shop assistants chuck stuff in bags

They dont follow my system

MiladyDeWinter · 31/03/2010 12:04

They will certainly pack it all wrongly. Man in the shop the other day put all my tins in one thin carrier and two bottles of wine together. I had loads of soft stuff that would have balanced the bags a bit but no, one ridiculously heavy one, one stupidly light and one clanking

GetOrfMoiLand · 31/03/2010 12:04

I always use the Boys Brigade kids when they do charity bag packing but it is as much I can do to keep my lips sealed and not yell at them 'you're doing it WRONG gimme it'.

I just stand there pursed mouthed and chunter to myself all the way home.

I would much rather pack my own bags and stick to The System.

OP - just ask for help, they would be more thanh happy I expect.

Original poster
ButtoNosedSausage · 31/03/2010 12:07

Budgens. Where I live it is the only place that stocks certain things.

OP posts:
emmymama · 31/03/2010 12:07

usually i'd like to have them packed a certain way, but i'm too tired to care anymore and i have to try and stop dd from stealing creme eggs while i'm trying to sort it all out..

GeekOfTheWeek · 31/03/2010 12:07

Lol @ all the packing rituals.

Op, just ask them if you need the help.

I often take my 4 month old grocery shopping and just pay when I have finished loading the shopping. One pair of hands and all that.

ronshar · 31/03/2010 12:08

Blimey I have three children with me shopping and I still manage to pack it myself! And push the heavy trolley to my car and then put it all in the boot. I also have to get it out again when I get home and put it in the cupboards.

I need staff!!!!!

AMumInScotland · 31/03/2010 12:08

I had an incredibly thorough elderly lady working on the till last time I shopped - even though I had put the stuff on the conveyor belt in the order I thought best, and would have put stuff into each of the three bags in the trolley as required, she rummaged through everything to get all the cold stuff first, then all the heavy stuff, then the light.... It was very nice of her, but also incredibly frustrating as I really didn't need her to... but I felt uncomfortable saying so, as she was clearly doing her best to be nice!

ChickensHaveSinisterMotives · 31/03/2010 12:08

Nothing wrong with working at a checkout. If they don't offer, ask. My local Sainsbo's always ask, but generally I manage on my own. If they pack as well, it just slows down the whole process.

mumblechum · 31/03/2010 12:08

My priority is always speed and I hate it when someone wants their shopping packed as it slows the line down so much.

But if you genuinely can't put the shopping in the bags as it comes whizzing through the checkout then you can just ask.

My main gripe is when someone hasn't even got their card ready, and spends aaaages getting their purse out then finding their card while everyone hangs around. I always put my card in the reader as soon as the girl starts scanning the stuff so there's no pissing around.

GetOrfMoiLand · 31/03/2010 12:09

My local Tesco Express insists on their checkout assistants packing the bags.

I tried to do my own once but the girl looked traumatised and said 'no, we have to pack the bags'

They put eggs in with bottles of flash and it nearly makes me cry.

LauraIngallsWilder · 31/03/2010 12:09

Op - I agree, just ask if you do need help

I think next time I am accosted by scouts trying to pack mine, I will put ££ in the tin and pack my own anyway