What is with grocery baggers?

[mrscopterdoc]

I just got back from the grocery store and there was *one* item in each bag. And I'm not talking about heavy items like kitty litter or milk....one box of kleenex, one magazine, one loaf of bread each in their own bag!

Does anyone else think this is a waste???

[JennifersLost]

once upon a time as a teenager I worked in a grocery store and believe me, no matter how you pack the bags people will not be happy with you!

If you pack the bags full, people say the bags are too heavy.

If you pack them light, people say you're wasting bags, LOL.

Whoever packed for you today probably got yelled at by someone else earlier.

[mrscopterdoc]

You are so right Jennifer. And I'm sorry for ranting. I just thought maybe 3 light things could go in one bag and help save the environment or something. Although these were plastic....so who am I kidding.:o

[~Tara~]

Hehe
that's when you come in with your reusable bags...less than an abundance of course...and say you want as much as possible in THOSE bags, please. :)

That is pretty ridiculous though..the separately bagged items you mentioned. Wow.

But, yeah, they can't win (and therefore, neither can we).

[Daisy]

You have grocery baggers?? LOL, I think only one grocery store chain in town has baggers and they are the expensive store. We do it ourselves around here.

[Cadam]

I have taken to saying "please put as much as possible into each bag" I have the same issue.

[PariSarah]

I do it with a smile on my face, so that they don't take it personal. "Oh, I'm fine here! And see, I brought a helper with me! [gesture to 10yo son] Looks like they need you on aisle 7, though!"

But I got so very sick of getting home and finding raw chicken packed in with my apples. And lysol with my lettuce. I just don't let baggers anywhere near my stuff anymore.

[Susan in IL]

I was a bagger at major chain. No such thing as plastic, only paper. We were instructed in how to bag groceries. One layer of cans, then boxes/lighter stuff. All frozen things go in the same bag. All cold things went in the same bag. Meat was separate. Cleaning products were never put in with food. Weight was important. The manager often was bagging right along side of us. We were not allowed to let things back up on the belt that would slow down the checker. We were told to look at the contents of the cart and then begin to mentally start bagging. Had to make sure it stood up all on it's own and wouldn't fall over too. If he thought you put too much in a bag, then we had to rebag it.

I rarely get plastic bags for the reason you mention and my past experience. I even put things on the belt in order. Cold/frozen first, then cans and boxes, bread and chips (smashable stuff) goes at the end. My take is most have never been instructed on how to bag.

To the other extreme, I have had bags with over 25 lbs. in them because it was stuff that all fit.

I just grin and bear it. Sometimes, I'll repack my bags when I get to the car.

[mcconnellboys]

Yeah, it's one of the reasons I'm moving toward taking in my own bags.....

Regena

[SheilaZ]

[QUOTE=~Tara~;83069]Hehe
that's when you come in with your reusable bags...less than an abundance of course...and say you want as much as possible in THOSE bags, please. :)

QUOTE]
Yep, I love my reusable bags. The commissary baggers love them because they can be packed really heavy and are easy to pack.

I love them because I don't waste plastic not do I have the dreaded one item per bag.

[Excelsior! Academy]

More "free" trash bags!! Seriously, I use our plastic grocery bags under the sink in a small trash can that we empty a couple of times a day. Now the issue with raw meat and dry goods.....ARG! That is soooo annoying! I usually use the self checkout because of that very thing. What is worse is when I get home from the SELF checkout and get irritated with the bagger :rolleyes::o:rolleyes: for packing it wrong. LOL!!!

[Perry]

I'm a little bit psycho about it- I find a lane that has someone in front of me with lots of stuff, so by the time they are done I've got all my groceries up there. I put the cans and boxes on first and the produce last. That way, if one of the baggers insists on helping, they can load the cans in the heavy canvas bags, and I can jump in and grab the produce and stuff it in my stretchy woven knit bags. They are always amazed at how much I can fit in those, and as long as you do it right it doesn't damage anything (carrots and celery and pineapples on the bottom, etc.). By now, most of them know me so when they see me coming they run for the hills anyway.

[cin]

I just heard a conversation between 2 bagboys on Friday...'Did you get the BAG talk today?' No, what did she say? 'We're using to many bags'. I was happy to hear that since every penny they save goes towatreds DH's bonus :D

[Debbi in Texas]

I work in a grocery store that has baggers, but do a lot of bagging as well as checking out the groceries.

Usually the only thing I put in with bread is eggs. I am very careful with bread, eggs, tomatoes, and avacodos.

If you had come through my checkstand you would have left with the magazine on the bottom of bread sack and the kleenex in another bag, maybe a paper one. We have paper and plastic and some things just fit better in paper.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

[QUOTE=PariSarah;83126]I do it with a smile on my face, so that they don't take it personal. "Oh, I'm fine here! And see, I brought a helper with me! [gesture to 10yo son] Looks like they need you on aisle 7, though!"
QUOTE]

Baggers were so abnormal in Germany that when one store remodeled and then added baggers, I thought they were panhandlers who wanted tips for bagging my stuff. I probably wasn't the only person who thought this because they quickly got hats and uniform shirts with the store logo.

What was standard there was for customers to bag some while the clerk scanned and then to put all the rest into the cart again. There were counters along the wall for people to use to bag the rest after paying. Or you would take everything to the car and sort it into boxes and baskets in the trunk. I liked this because there's lots of stuff that just doesn't need to have a bag at all.

[Karen sn]

Daisy - are you in Alaska by chance?
Mrscopterdoc - I know what you mean. What's the point of putting a gallon of milk in a bag when it already has a handle?

Ladies - the easiest thing is to bag your own. I double bag brown paper and if you load the bag with your cans and heavy items - then layer somewhat more delicate items - and then save the tops for all the really delicate stuff - you will be amazed at how easy it is to carry your groceries. I usually have 2 bags along with whatever does not get bagged: toilet paper, case of beer, gallon of water. You have to carry them fully supported from the bottom, but I think it's actually easier and better for the back this way. Leaning over to carry all those bags (and the tight handles creasing in to one's hands) can not be good for the spine.

The baggers at my regular grocer know not to bag for me.
The only time I ever let anyone bag for me is when the old men are there. They are used to brown bags and filling them. And they tell a good story on the walk out to the car.

Some young baggers don't know that you are supposed to open one brown bag and then put the second brown bag in it before you open it up. It has to be opened inside the bag or you have a hard time getting it in there.
Wish more old men would teach these boys when they get hired. I try when I can.

And we use the brown bags at home.

[Maria from IN]

I use those grocery bags as trash bags myself, so I don't much mind--especially now that my boyfriend and I do our shopping together and he carries my things in for me!

I have, however, always marveled at how they can put 12 items into 14 bags...:D

[Melissa in NC]

Mrscopterdoc - I know what you mean. What's the point of putting a gallon of milk in a bag when it already has a handle?

I bag the milk because most times some milk gets spilled on the outside of the container and dries. Then the humidity condenses on the milk on the ride home and milk gets on the carpet in my van. Nothing stinks worst than milk on carpet.