I guess I'm in the minority but I actually get irked when customers attempt to bag their items for several reasons (unless it's a ridiculously huge order). All I ask is that the customer empties and returns their basket/cart and doesn't put their money/card on the counter. I'll take care of the rest.

Don't take any guff off of lazy cashiers. Bagging comes with the job.

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My Man! Pots N' Pans!

i help bag at tj's, but only because the transaction would take FOREVER if i did not. TJ's cashiers ring every item up first, then bag. why they don't have additional TJ employees standing at the end of each conveyor belt bagging, i don't know (they used to). on my most recent visit, i was busy bagging my own groceries while about four TJ employees were standing less than two feet away from me chit chatting and fooling around. it would have been nice for one of them to offer to help.

i have no problem bagging, but it's expected at TJ's -- that's what i don't like. i won't stop shopping there, though. i love the products and prices.

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SWCC/Graduate Hospital

"The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind. " - Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

I once tried bagging at TJ's and the cashier told me he would do it. Now, I don't try there and I have never gotten an attitude. In regular markets, it depends. I think Whole Foods and Rittenhouse's prices entitle me to have someone bag for me. What pisses me off are customers who leave the carts behind them so I can't empty my cart while they are paying.

I never expect anyone to bag for me nor do I want them to. It takes twice as long if the checkout clerk bags! I bag quicker, more efficiently and I get out of there faster rather than zoning out and watching them do it. Nothing bugs me more when I see the customer in front of me staring into space as the clerk has to bag up everything. I have a home in Europe and I've never been to a grocery store anywhere on the continent where the clerk bags your items - the customer is always expected to do it.

Don't even get me started on people who still write checks.....

Having worked as a cashier, I can assure you it actually takes less time for the cashier to bag as they ring up -- but most don't bother to.

As for TJ's -- I believe their policy is for the cashiers to bag.

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Reader Notification: Information contained in this post may be the result of prior searches in Google, Wikipedia or other online sites. The rest is stuff I made up.

Umm why do places have designated baggers then? It saves time. I can assure you

It does not save time when the check out clerk has to scan and then move the items down the belt only to get clogged up. Then they have to stop scanning and bag, scan, stop, bag. It only works when they have the bags right after the scanner all set up. (Not the case at Whole Foods or Super Fresh). Also - they talk to their coworkers. I always have everything bagged before they're printing the receipt and then I also don't get 900 extra bags because they put 1 item in a bag. However, I am a person that does things super quickly, therefore fast for someone else is still too slow for me, plus the clerks almost always thank me for bagging so you know it's appreciated.

I bag if it's really busy and there are no employees available to do so ... I do not bag if they cashiers and others are standing around socializing if the store isn't busy ...

This is what I was talking about -- and that's the set up at most of the stores I shop at (like TJ's). When it's not, I usually do help.

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Reader Notification: Information contained in this post may be the result of prior searches in Google, Wikipedia or other online sites. The rest is stuff I made up.

The bagger at TJ's totally shouldn't have given you attitude like that, especially if they have the setup.


Best setups EVER are wegmans. It goes right down the belt, right over the scanner and they have the bags right in front of them so they're forced to bag it. Sometimes they'll put the bags on the platform behind them but most will just drop it right in the cart if you have it next to them also. They've also taught those downingtown kids well on how to bag the breads, eggs and frozen meats in separate bags. It's awesome! Yeah, shameless plug, but customer service isn't what it used to be so when you get it, it's terrific.