Its good to see customers bring their reusable bags when grocery shopping. Although they are a lot harder to bag, we shouldn’t mind because its good on the environment and they’re more sturdy, so we can avoid the overuse of bags. But the annoying thing is, if you bring your reusable bags, be sure to tell the checker that you have bags. Often, customers would hold their bags in their hand or leave them in the cart and then they tell the checker that they have bags, all while the groceries are already bagged. If you do not want a bag, tell the checker as well. Countless times, if I feel the customer needs a bag, I would bag it for them and then they don’t want their items bagged. They would pull the product from the bag and leave it at the end of the checkstand.
A European girl and a American guy comes in my checkstand …
They bought 2 boxes of Wheat Thins , a large can of Folgers coffee, 3-packs for M&M’s with peanuts and a 4-pack of triple A Duracell batteries.
I bagged the items in plastic…
European Girl: We don’t need bags.
She pulls the items from the bag and tosses the bag at the end of the checkstand.
Annoyed, I take bag and realized it now has a rip in it and stuffed it in my cubby of bags.
European Girl: [talking to her American guy] American’s don’t recycle?
Me: We do recycle.
European Girl: Then why did you throw the bag away?
Me: I didn’t throw it away, its in my cubby with the other bags people leave behind. My garbage can is in front of me.
European Girl: Why don’t you reuse it then?
Me: Plastic bags don’t really stay on the holder after using them, so I’ll use it later because its harder to bag and besides its ripped.
European Girl: You say you recycle but I’m sure you don’t.
Why is she grilling me?
Me: I wasn’t the one who ditched the bag.
American Guy: She left it so you can use it again.
What is this a tag team?
Me: Then hand the bag to me instead of just leaving where you please.
European Girl: [chimes in] So you can reuse it.
Me: With a rip in it? I’m not going to give the bag to someone else.
American Guy: You can reuse it.
Me …
So annoyed…
Do you use reusable bags?
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
You definitely encounter some of the grumpiest customers ever. I love going food shopping and am always in a good mood while I do it.
I’m totally a reusable bag user. But I usually hand it to the cashier before I start putting my items on the conveyor belt. It makes everyone’s lives easier.
Hey Eurpoean Girl shut it! don’t you question us about recycling… and if you really felt that strong about it take it and recycle it yourself… People sticking their nose in others business like that really annoys me.
I haven’t jumped on the reusable bags wagon yet. I do recycle at home where we have curbside pickup.
When I was at the Disney Store last weekend, they nearly forced me to buy a reusable bag and when I didn’t, they gave me a cheap, flimsy, clear plastic bag with my purchase. I was annoyed.
Is it more important to “Be green” than to provide good customer service nowadays?
At least you did not choke either of them!!!!!
Oh my goodness, that is soooo weird!! Yes, talk about the 3rd degree. I guess with you being in the business for so long, you’ve learned to handle the customers well!! LOL about the tag team!
LOL, I’m sure they talked about you after they left!
Hi Paul! Thanks for visiting Hambo Central. Britland is fairly strong on reuse shopping bags, may stores give extra saving points for so doing. But I always feel guilty when using an opponents emblazoned bag!
oh my goodness yes I love to get plastic grocery bags from the store b/c we use them all the time. Hello, we have 5 dogs. ‘Nuff said.
I had a customer come in and buy a latte from our coffee kiosk and wanted the 3 cent credit because she had a reusable bag in her hand. She didn’t buy anything else… just the drink!!
And yes, I gave her the credit.
I use cloth bags most of the time (which I hand to the bagger as soon as I walk up). But once in a while I get plastic bags because I use them as trash bags at home.
I read “The World Without Us” last year and I was compelled to use paper bags from then on. It lasted about a week.
Wow! European girl needs to be kicked in the teeth.
Yes, I reuse my plastic grogery bag when I clean the litter box.
How’s that for recycling?
One thing that this story reminded me of is when customers forget that they want paper bags instead of plastic. It’s kinda of annoying when your half way through an order and the customer is like “oh… i want paper.”
One time, i had a customer ask me to rebag his whole order and he just waited for me to finish while he just stood their having a conversation with the customer behind him…
I have to admit… it’s kind of frustrating overall.
P.S.
Happy belated congratulations on your 100th post
She should have taken the bag and reused it then…over her face.
In defense of the European girl (only the part where she didn’t give you the bags first), grocery stores there don’t have plastic bags (or baggers). Once your groceries go through, you’re expected to go down and bag them yourself, and if you need bags, you have to purchase them by putting them on the conveyor with your food items.
There’s no excuse for her harassing you, though.
I purposely put them in the trash when i know they are looking
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