Do you like your groceries packed by like items or by weight?
By TheLadyW
@TheLadyW (61)
United States
January 6, 2008 10:16am CST
I am always amazed at how many 2 liter bottles of soda or cans of vegetables or soup, etc. that a clerk think they can pack into a bag. I have so wanted to say after they put it in the cart, "Now would you like to try carrying that from the car to my house?" I purposely send down boxes with bottles so they might think to put some light things with heavy. No, I get one bag with cereal, kleenex, etc. and another with all the heavy stuff. Are baggers trained? The only consistancy I have found was that they always pack the eggs separately and tell me where they are. I hate to hold everyone up, but I'd rather pack my own groceries. Perhaps they are told to pack like items together to make it easier on the consumer to sort when they get home.
Any insights on this? I hate to sound like a terrible complainer, but I can't carry 4 two liters in one bag. Does anyone agree with me? Any suggestions?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@Seraphine (385)
• Finland
7 Jan 08
There usually aren't anyone at the stores here that pack the bags for you unless it's a special occasion like Christmas, so I get to pack it the way I want it, which is by like items. Cold items in one bag, vegetables, bread and cereals in one and so on. I do split up the heavy items into several bags though as I don't like to carry anything too heavy either.
@Seraphine (385)
• Finland
8 Jan 08
Not everyone lives in big cities where I imagine that is more common. I live in a really small place that most of you would laugh at if you knew how many people live here. It's a 35 kilometre one-way trip to get to a decent sized store where I grocery shop and most stores here tend to cut back on a lot of things to maximize their profits, even the bigger stores. It suits me fine really, I like it much better when I can pack the way I want and no one else gets to see every little thing I buy.
@TheLadyW (61)
• United States
8 Jan 08
Sounds like you like them just like i do. I can't believe that your stores don't have baggers. This is one of the first jobs for high schoolers here, a few senior citizens here and there and one store always hires the special kids. I don't mind except one once said, "You're buying all that!" It made me feel self-conscious.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
6 Jan 08
My grandson is a bagger fo a local grocery store here. He had to take some training before going to work. He just told me that they are to consider the weight of each bag. They don't put things together as groupings. They are to put things like cleaning supplies seperate from food items and cold things together. I would complain to the bagger or the manager. Sometime you need to complain when things are done wrong. After all you are paying that baggers wages.
@TheLadyW (61)
• United States
6 Jan 08
Well, it's sounds like they are told the way I would want it. But I also consider, they don't make much money and you can tell most of them don't want to be there. I do feel like a lot of people treat them like scum and don't thank them. I always try to do that.
I guess I'll try to keep an eye on what they are doing and try to be clear how I want it.
1 person likes this
@annettenasser (2992)
• Kuwait
7 Jan 08
Well if are going to the groceries we always bring our car so don't strugle in carrying the groceries at home and we dont bother how many or how heavy it is. if we need it. then its good to be pack big or larger to save the budget.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
7 Jan 08
i totally agree with you... i can't carry 4 two liters in one bag as well... that will be too heavy for me and the bag might break anyway... i don't know what the baggers are thinking when they do that... that's why my hubby prefers to bring our own green bag and packed our own groceries everytime we go shopping...
@TheLadyW (61)
• United States
8 Jan 08
That last time we went shopping my husband basically dismissed the bagger and told her he wanted to do it himself. She actually looked hurt. I usually only pack my own if they are not around. I have not had the guts to tell them I did not want them to bag.
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
6 Jan 08
I would tell them that you want the bottles sacked seperately. Those bottles weigh to much to put all of them in one bag the bag will end up breaking and you will have a mess.
I can't beleive the way the sackers bag groceries sometimes I have had to yell at them for putting cleaning supplies in with food that is a number 1 no no!
Just tell them how you would like your groceries sacked and they should comply.
@kimberlylynn (978)
• United States
7 Jan 08
It seems if you go to WM or a place that the cashiers have to pack their own, that they just can't do it all and do a poor job at packing. Not to mention, I end up carrying in 30 plastic bags when it could fit better into less paper ones. Yeah I know - I'm killing trees, but I recycle the bags over and over using them for my other recyclables until they can't be used but plastic bags seem to end up in the trash more often than not. I still like going to a place that has baggers and they put frozen foods together, and personal items separate, it makes me go back to that place. Also we go to one where they take the groceries to your car so they are looking for tips and do a good job. If not, I would rather pack my own groceries!
