Grocery store etiquette

[jennielynn1970]

My peeves:

The grocery bag thing too. I always put my items together how I'd like them bagged: dry with dry, wet with wet, warm with warm, cans with cans, produce with produce, forzen with frozen and light with light/breakables
Then, its takes 5 minutes for the bagger to get there and my system's all screwed up!!! I used to BE a bagger and that's how I bagged!! I mean, come on, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to bag groceries correctly!

And the asking if we need help to the car thing? Um, there are 2 of us and 1 bag....yea, sure, walk me out and hold my bag, and my purse for me too. In fact, want to come home and put this stuff away for me too??? When I was a bagger, we asked people if they needed help, IF THEY NEEDED HELP! Do their brains fall out when they enter work???

Carts part 2: how about when someone goes through the line with a cart and then once bagged, they grab the bags ONLY and leave the cart there. Hello??? Put that where you got it!!

While again, I was a high school girl bagger with some cute hottie boy checkers, I would at the very least, acknowledge my customers!!! Now, the bagger and the checkers ramble on and on and flirt and laugh and barely notice your existance. Ugh, rude!!

If I've ever asked someone if they needed help to their car with things, it's been someone who has a loaded cart, is elderly or maybe has a child and ton of bags in their cart. I ask who I think may need help. I don't ask everyone, and I don't always ask what management tells me to ask when it seems like a redundant question, or a moot point. I'm not a machine who is going to spew out stuff just because they say we should. If it seems applicable, I do. If it's not, I don't. So far there haven't been any issues with that.

We do have a few baggers who are special needs, and some of them do take time to do the bagging. There are a few baggers I work well with, and they are the ones who are not chatty with me while working. When they are chatty, I can't concentrate, and then I end up not paying attention to what I'm doing and make mistakes. I don't like making mistakes, so I'd rather have no bagger at all, or a bagger who doesn't just stand around and talk all the time.

I think bagging items is kind of a logical task. It's not like it's rocket science. Bag what goes together, together. Cold with cold, cans with cans, raw meat with raw meat, chemical with chemical. Don't overload the bag. I do get some people who tell me to either make it all fit in two bags (umm... yikes! when I see their order), or make it light (usually the elderly, and I have no problem with that at all), or you'll get the ones who want to bag all on their own and they bag anything with everything. Raw chicken with the fruits and veggies, the bananas with the canned stuff.

Many times I've offered to have a bagger get someone a new loaf of bread because it was mushed by the time it got to the check out line. I have a method to my madness when I shop, and I get my bread and eggs last, but that's just me.

Leaving the carts blocking my lane gets me annoyed. It hasn't happened much, but the last time it was one of those carts with the "car" at the front for the kids to sit in. There were two young women shopping with their kids, and they only got a couple things and they left both of them in my lane and were starting to leave so I did stop them and said "Oh, I think you forgot your carts, they're still in my lane." The one looked a bit embarrassed and mumbled that they just forgot about them, and the other girl just said they didn't want them and she walked out. Yeah... nice.

I had another girl give me attitude the other day because I wasn't clairvoyant and didn't see that she was paying with a foodstamps card. If I'm ringing your stuff up, and you're swiping a card and I can't see what card it is, how am I supposed to know?? Should I just judge by the way a person looks and think "oh, that's a foodstamps person/family"??? The computer gave some line about mismatch of payment, and so I asked if she used American Express, because we don't accept that. "No, it was foodstamps!" Very loud, very pissed off. Um... I didn't see that, and you don't have to yell it at me. I don't ever try to point out someone using foodstamps, or try to make them feel embarrassed, and as I said, I'm not clairvoyant and can't just see through the card reader to what you just used when I'm in the middle of ringing up items. Just flash me the card when I give you the total, and I know what you're using, and we're all cool, and we're done.


I did have another "test" last night from the one front end manager. We have to treat them like a customer, ask them if they brought their bonus card and any coupons. Would like to try my pick of the week (which I never ask, cause if you want to buy it, you'll pick it up). He sat on the handrail and put his feet up by my register. I asked him to get off because it was a hazard to his well being. He laughed at me, and I said, "What??? I'd say that to a customer." and he says, "Yeah, you would, knowing you." Sorry, but if a customer would do something that could potentially injure them, I'll ask them to not do it, or something like that. Kids climbing on the bagging shelf, banging on the registers that aren't being used.

Eh... I'm sure there will be more to come, lol. Glad I had off tonight, lol.

[jennielynn1970]

Oh, and I always ask each customer "Hello/Hi there! Do you have your bonus card and any coupons?" I greet everyone. I say hello. I ask them how they are doing. Some love to chit chat if it's not busy. Some will tell you what they are buying and scared to try to cook. MOST of the time, it's great. There is always someone in the day who refuses to answer any question, will not look at you or just ignores anything you say. I had one of them the other day. She was a young black woman with an older white guy (not that race has anything to do with it, just describing the customers). I asked them how they were, did they find what they were looking for. Nothing. Will that be debit or credit. Nothing. The bagger asked if plastic was ok. Nothing. The bagger looked at me, and I just shrugged. I told them to have a good night, and come back again soon. Nothing.

They were not hearing impaired. I've gotten hearing impaired customers. Normally they let you know they can't hear.

[Emeraldgreen]

One other thing that drives me completely crazy is when people pick up a perishable product and then change their minds about it and then leave it in some other aisle to rot. The other day I found a roasting chicken, still hot, sitting on a shelf with the dried pasta. I took it back to the deli and gave it to one of the staff.
I've found frozen stuff in other aisles and my worry is that one day, I'm going to buy something that has been put back in it's rightful spot, but prior to that it has been dethawing for hours and was then refrozen!! Because of that, I always take the 4th or 5th product underneath the one on the top.
I don't know how people can be so wasteful, to just dump perishable food in some other aisle and not even think that someone might end up getting sick from it, or just letting perfectly good food go to waste.
p.s. the chicken I returned was still smokin' hot so I think it was still safe and that's why I returned it to the deli.

[Catlady711]

Carts part 2: how about when someone goes through the line with a cart and then once bagged, they grab the bags ONLY and leave the cart there. Hello??? Put that where you got it!!

There is one store near me that keeps a cart at the end by the bagger so he/she can start bagging your groceries in it before you've finished unloading your cart. Then when you're done you leave your empty cart there and take the loaded one.

I can see the logic to this, however...

At this particular store they have a teeny tiny area between the bagger and the front windows so it's ALWAYS very crowded with those extra carts there. And when I buy 20 some bottles of soda I normally only put one of each flavor on the belt and let them know how many of each. I have a pop bottle rack in my trunk to put them in so I don't need them bagged and it doesn't make sense to unload all those heavy bottles just to put them back loose in another cart when they're fine where they are.

And, if a kid ever runs into me with those heely shoes with wheels in them, I will not hesitate to be in their way or trip them.

I hate those things!!! I've been smashed into and rolled over by those things. I don't believe a grocery store (or ANY store really) is a proper place to be roller skating. When did adults grow so lax in teaching their kids when and where proper places to do things are?

Why would you wait half an hour to checkout when the regular ones are open?

Because I can bag it the way I want it!! lol

or you'll get the ones who want to bag all on their own and they bag anything with everything. Raw chicken with the fruits and veggies, the bananas with the canned stuff.
.

Maybe they like it bagged that way and that's why there's a grocery store genius somewhere who designed the self serve lanes?

[phesina]

I did have another "test" last night from the one front end manager.
...
He sat on the handrail and put his feet up by my register. I asked him to get off because it was a hazard to his well being. He laughed at me, and I said, "What??? I'd say that to a customer." and he says, "Yeah, you would, knowing you."

Jenn, I am utterly aghast.. Does this manager NOT expect a cashier to say something like that to a customer who sits on the handrail and puts his feet up by your register.. WHA... ?????

What does he think you SHOULD say to this customer? Or should you just act as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening and keep ringing up the items and then take the payment?

Maybe then you should push the customer OFF the handrail, to leave it free for the next customer.

[jennielynn1970]

Jenn, I am utterly aghast.. Does this manager NOT expect a cashier to say something like that to a customer who sits on the handrail and puts his feet up by your register.. WHA... ?????

What does he think you SHOULD say to this customer? Or should you just act as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening and keep ringing up the items and then take the payment?

Maybe then you should push the customer OFF the handrail, to leave it free for the next customer.

This front end manager just turned 19. Not that being young means that all young people would behave that way, but he does. He's pretty lax. Which is why many of the younger cashiers like working with him.

Many of our front end managers are in their late teens to early twenties. Right now our store is having an issue of not having enough front end managers. They have to take a test, do all this stuff and earn a pin, and then that earns them the right to wear the "red vest". OOOOH! So impressive, lol.

I'm not impressed with the younger front end managers who curse at eachother, or behave really unprofessionally. There is one who has the same name as me (although spelled differently, with a Y at the end), and she is just beyond inconsiderate and offensive. She'll start harassing a bagger, just teasing really, but she takes things way too far. Or she'll make a really inappropriate comment (the one guy who is a frozen food stocker backed into her by accident at the register, and she made a comment about how he liked it. I had just started there at that time, and I had no idea who the guy was at that point, but I about fell on the floor. Why would you say that when there are other people around, and there are multiple customers in line???).

She's been there for a long time, and she knows what she's doing, so she gets away with a lot. She doesn't give me the time of day really, usually says she forgets my name... um... it's the SAME as yours.

If a customer or their child is doing something that I think will harm them, or is a safety violation/risk, I say something. I know we're not supposed to do anything to tick off the customer, heaven forbid, but I'm not going to have some kid fall off a railing and crack their heads open either.

[kitten645]

"I still think it's bad manners to be eating before you pay. Like I said, it's not a restaurant. There are dining areas in some stores, and they are meant for purchasing food and eating there."

I'm afraid I have to agree here. I spend my days sweeping up crushed goldfish and cheerios all over the store. I was taught there was a time and place for everything. I understand the irritable child thing but still...


"One other thing that drives me completely crazy is when people pick up a perishable product and then change their minds about it and then leave it in some other aisle to rot. The other day I found a roasting chicken, still hot, sitting on a shelf with the dried pasta. I took it back to the deli and gave it to one of the staff. "

I was told by health code law, food that who's whereabouts could not be accounted for and therefore temperture controlled must be disposed of. THAT makes me sick. What a waste! I've tried getting the deli to give me stuff they are disposing of for the ferels but I was told they could get into alot of trouble for doing so. Don't know if it's truly a law but at least that's the practice at my store. It's a toss-up..do I really want to be purchasing food that has been contaminated without my knowing or do I put up with the shameful waste?

I won't start on the people that show up in pajamas And I'm talking about NOON! I had the coutesy to get dressed. You couldn't manage THAT?

Claudia

[jennielynn1970]

"One other thing that drives me completely crazy is when people pick up a perishable product and then change their minds about it and then leave it in some other aisle to rot. The other day I found a roasting chicken, still hot, sitting on a shelf with the dried pasta. I took it back to the deli and gave it to one of the staff. "

I was told by health code law, food that who's whereabouts could not be accounted for and therefore temperture controlled must be disposed of. THAT makes me sick. What a waste! I've tried getting the deli to give me stuff they are disposing of for the ferels but I was told they could get into alot of trouble for doing so. Don't know if it's truly a law but at least that's the practice at my store. It's a toss-up..do I really want to be purchasing food that has been contaminated without my knowing or do I put up with the shameful waste?

At Giant stores, it's called SHRINK. Anything that causes a loss of product or revenue. If something is rung up in the wrong department, if it's keyed in by hand, if something cold is left out and it's now room temp. All that kind of thing.

I hate the word SHRINK, and one of the front end managers I've worked with freaked me out about it really. I was ringing up a customer, and she must have been shopping for hours, seriously, because so much of her stuff was defrosted and the paper packaging was falling apart on the frozen items because they were soggy. It was a mess. Well, she decided she didn't want this block of cheese she had picked up. So, I push the button to get a check out coach, because at this point, the cheese is warm. So, the check out coach on that day comes over, and I'm handing her the block of cheese and saying that the woman didn't want it, and she literally starts shrieking at me! "This is warm! How long has this been on your register? This can't go back on the shelf! THIS IS SHRINK! You know the store loses money on this!!" OMG. I'm standing there, absolutely speechless, because I don't know what to say. I didn't leave it out. I didn't put it in a cart and walk around for 2hrs and let it get warm. I'm trying to tell her that the customer didn't want it any longer, and all she's doing is screaming about SHRINK and marking the package of cheese with a big X.

We do get a lot of damages, we get a lot of packages where they shouldn't be. If anything is perishable, and it's left on our registers after the customer leaves and forgets it, normally it's taken right back to the refrigerated section and if/when the person comes back in, they are told to go and pick out their selections again. Anything that is still frozen is put back. Anything that is the slightest bit warm is marked with an X and is put in damages and is not restocked. At least this is how it is at our store.

SHRINK. The word makes me shiver, and here I always thought it referred to something else, lol.

[RICHARD]

If a customer or their child is doing something that I think will harm them, or is a safety violation/risk, I say something. I know we're not supposed to do anything to tick off the customer, heaven forbid, but I'm not going to have some kid fall off a railing and crack their heads open either.

Oh if they do fall down and get hurt you will get reprimanded for not saying anything to have prevented the whole mess.

About young people having 'positions of power'.

Look at these little Hitlers and think about how long they well last at that job?

Not very. Young people these days -NOT ALL OF THEM SO don't get all BOS, if the undies don't fit don't wear them, you'll save yourself the agony of a wedgie- are way too dumb to end up in POPs.

They intimidate the older, more experienced workers by being incompetent and unable to make decisions that are correct or beneficial to all parties involved.

This goes back to the little AHs who get a degree in Marketing then really go work in a supermarket. They are 12 hours away from learning how to clean their rears and now are able to run a store?

Not quite. I don't mind the money they earn and the perks they have-only if they are level headed, smart, consistent and have the ability and judgement to perform to the level of their titles..

If you want to manage and be a leader, act like one. Don't be the manager/boss that everyone hates, doesn't respect and makes people feel like crap.


I worked with a stupid effing nurse that I was talking to when the overhead paging system called for a CODE BLUE- a heart attack victim. I stopped to listen and then she asked me where the call came from. I told her that it was across the street in another building. All people who are detailed for that day are supposed to show up.

She shrugged and said, "I am not going" or some nonsense like that.

I just smiled and thought, "what an effing slob-she wants to be a boss but she can't get off her arse to go help?"

Why should I respect some slob that doesn't want to do her job or at least show some interest

If you have team meetings, bring that up. Don't mention any names just bring up the subject.
Just explain that you have been given feedback about how unprofessional people who should be in charge at the front of the store are behaving/acting.

Then toss in the I have pride in my work and how the store is run and appears to our customers.

If you can't or feel like you will get dumped on over it, don't bother.


Otherwise, the little shiat should be able to take the critique in stride.

He earns the bucks, let him have to correct his behavior.

moron.

[jennielynn1970]

If you want to manage and be a leader, act like one. Don't be the manager/boss that everyone hates, doesn't respect and makes people feel like crap.

If you have team meetings, bring that up. Don't mention any names just bring up the subject.


He earns the bucks, let him have to correct his behavior.

moron.

Well, to be honest, I'd rather have a manager who knows how to manage and be a leader than have one who wants to be everyone's friend. I have enough peer co-workers, be a boss. I may not like you, but I don't have to. If you are going to act like a putz, and want to be everyone's friend, and have no authority, then you're in the wrong position. Not everyone was meant to be a boss.


Team meetings. I have no idea if they have them at the store. I never heard of them being mentioned.

The only thing I ever had a "meeting" for was for the one higher up manager to corner me and have me do a payroll deduction for United Way. I work here part time. For extra cash. To help pay the bills. My full time job already deals with the United Way and they do a huge campaign for it as well. The only thing that differs is that the paperwork goes in our mailboxes at the full time job and we fill them out and send them in during enrollment time and we are NOT pressured into donating. With this place, it was me and the one big manager, in a room, alone, me in front of the computer and her basically saying "give a dollar a pay". Nice. I love to be pressured to donate.


Oh, and the front end managers.... I doubt they make THAT much extra money an hour for their position.

[Sevaede]

I try to be as polite as possible. Since I live across the street from a grocery store, even though the main one I shop at is a couple of miles from my house, I walk there from time to time for an occasional snack and such. It is also the same strip mall set up in which there is a blockbuster, a used book store, and a few other places. Needless to say, I walk around there from time to time!

ANYWAYS. All of our local stores in this chain are under construction so walking on the sidewalk is not an option right now. I always make it a point to walk on the sidewalks or as close to the edges as possible so I am not blocking the way for vehicles or anything of that nature. I like to bring Spanky with me and she enjoys the walkies. When walking in these areas I keep her as close to me as possible without having the leash so short her front legs are off the ground. HOWEVER, there are STILL people who, even though they have a huge berth to drive through, like to get as close as possible to my tiny little dog and almost run us both over. What is wrong with you?! You have a huge area and it seems like you WANT to piss me off and hurt my dog and me. It has gotten to the point that I just don't bring her as much any more which is a shame. She really loves to go!

One thing that I have noticed, that doesn't really bug me, is a LOT of people have been bringing puppies and kittens into the store with them while they shop. o_O I didn't think that was okay with the store but who knows!

[Medusa]

This didn't take place in a grocery store but it still falls under the category of etiquette, manners or propriety.

I was shopping in a dept. store for a pair of boots. I heard "click click click" of heels on the floor and turned to see a little girl, I'd say probably 3 years old, wearing ladies heels and going up and down the aisles. Now, what little girl doesn't like to play dress-up in her mommy's clothes and shoes? I sure did at that age. However, these weren't mommy's shoes; they belonged to the store. The little girl had her dirty feet (and I'm not being mean here; her feet were dirty) in a fairly expensive pair of shoes and was parading up and down the aisles in them. She tried on several pairs, Mom oblivious the entire time. Apparently, though, wearing them wasn't enough. She would take the shoes off and beat one repeatedly on the counter, Mom still oblivious. I waited a while to see if Mom would do anything and when I realized that she wasn't going to, I left the shoe dept. I know better than to say anything to someone about their parenting skills or lack of them. It would only have caused a scene and I would've looked like the mean lady who doesn't want the little girl to play dress-up.

I found a pair of boots though, bought them and as I was checking out, the woman ahead of me asked "Are shoes returnable?" and the clerk said "As long as they haven't been worn. If they show signs of wear, we can't accept them and they have to be returned w/in 30 days". I thought to myself that maybe someone isn't going to pay attention to the bottom of the shoes, she'll get them home and realize that she doesn't want them but someone had been traipsing around the store w/them on earlier and that may prevent her from getting a refund. I'm appalled at what passes for parenting nowadays.