Do you tip baggers? Follow

Us Chicago folk are a stoic lot and able to sherpa our own carton of eggs to the car so there's no need to ask us if we need assistance


I totally just verbified "Sherpa".

Back when we went shopping at the Ft Gordon commissary when I was growing up, we did. But that was the only store.

Our local Kroger here is union organized, so I don't think it's necessary and I've never seen anyone else do it either.

I've never seen the offer for a bagger to take your cart to your car until I moved down here. It's so weird, and I don't get the people who actually take them up on the offer unless they have a bunch of kids. Even with a 2 and 6 yr old I refuse their offer. I can do it, there's nothing wrong with my legs. But what the hell is up with some of these people who are in fine health and on their own, not dealing with kids actually accepting the bagger to walk their cart 50 feet to their car?

But no, the baggers here don't take tips.

I still don't tip.

OMG And they're talking back! lolcomics!!!!

I don't tip them but I make sure to say thanks when they're done bagging my groceries. Too many people just walk all over them.

I had that job when I was in college, and damn did it suck. I imagine it's something like being a waiter, but all your customers are cheap bastards. Technically, we were supposed to refuse tips, but nobody ever actually did it. Oh sure, there is an hourly wage, but you start out at minimum and it doesn't go up much from there. I'd usually get about ten dollars a day or so in tips, except around Christmas, when people start to feel a little more generous. There was this one lady though, that would always tip twenty dollars. Those of us that knew who she was would always fight over her, and made sure she got excellent service.

Most people though would just treat you like you barely existed. The ones I really hated were the ones that would lead you their car, have you put the groceries in the trunk while they got in and started the car. Nothing like breathing exhaust fumes while working to make your day ever so much more pleasant. I have to say, that that is probably the job I enjoyed quitting the most.

Edited, Feb 24th 2009 12:33am by TurinAlexander

No one's ever offered to take my bags to my car. What kind of weird grocers do you drive to, anyway? If it's a seperate shop, not part of a supermarket, then it's just on the highstreet as a stall or shop, innit? I guess it's an American thing or something. Anyway, I'd feel weird having some kid carry my bags for me.

Edited, Feb 24th 2009 12:36am by Kavekk

It depends. I worked in Maine and it was much more normal to really talk, smile and generally be helpful, like offering to take out people's groceries. It was funny b/c people from out of state were really sometimes weirded out. I learned why when I moved to Massachusetts where they not only never offer help, they don't smile, interact, thank you or indicate at all that they are conscious. I was a really nice cashier but I'd drink a bunch of coffee, sometimes and get really revved up when it was really busy and be overly bubbly, saying "HI!" loudly and chatting with a bunch of slightly frightened foreigners or out of staters (same diff). Yes, I was that chirpy American.

Edited, Feb 24th 2009 12:46am by Annabella

I rarely go to the commissary and if I do I use the self check out because I know I don't have cash to tip with.

I don't let other folk bag my groceries. I do it myself as I like the bags packed a bit full. Elne Clare will complain they are too heavy for her.
I learned to bag as a kid, with 9 of us in the family (7 children and my parents) we started bagging as the groceries were being rung up. It was a 20 to 30 bag biweekly trip. More often to the store for milk and bread.

As far as tips, in Baltimore very few places have baggers on a regular basis, just as the lines get long. Most of the stores do offer loading help and they are employees who are supposed to refuse tips.
I would ask if they do accept tips and depending on the help needed tip if they do accept them. But then I work for tips myself so I know what it's like.