johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Apr 25, 2018 20:35:41 GMT
It's sad when Walmart is truly your best option for groceries (unless you want to drive close to an hour). I posted a picture on Meijers facebook today. First they took out the large order self checkouts a couple months ago, I loved being able to do it all my way but that's no longer an option. Now it takes at least a half hour to check out now, seriously, I've timed it from the time i get in line till the time I walk out the doors.....upwards of 30 minutes (at 1pm on a Wednesday, though it's always like this regardless of day/time). Anyhow, the picture I posted today was one of my many grocery bags; it contained a package of raw chicken, a toy, fresh produce (peppers, tomatoes), laundry chemicals (shout color catchers) and some other random stuff. Who the actual f### puts all that in a bag together? Now, if it were some young kid who didn't know I'd cut them some slack, but nope it was a woman I'd guess roughly my age (late 30s, early 40s). They replied to my FB post asking me for my contact number but I don't know what they'd actually change unless they retrain all their cashiers. Give it to me straight, am I asking too much of the place? I'd bag my own groceries but their belt isn't long enough for me to unload my cart fully before I'd have to be at the other end to bag (and there's no room to bag at all). I'd be holding up all the people behind me and since it's so ridiculously slow to start I'd hate to do that. On an aside, I have been using Walmarts grocery pick up and there are some quirks (they tried to give me Diet Coke instead of Coke Zero  ) but for the most part I do really like it. I feel like their produce and fresh meats are rather limited which is why I don't use it all the time. |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 19:59:12 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 20:40:20 GMT
I want the local Winco to stop allowing dogs in the store. I am sorry but your comfort pet is a pet. A service dog has been trained to be in public.
I have started just shopping sales at yokes and Fred, and avoiding the those precious snowflakes that believe I should love their dog as much as they do. Fortunate dour yokes is in a part if town that is really not on a bus route and uber is too expensive to get there.
Edited to add:
Fred's has been trying to keep pets out. One of the managers is pretty old about it. .
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,948
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Apr 25, 2018 20:44:45 GMT
I hear you! I wish someone beside me would explain to the baggers that deli meat and raw meat do not belong in the same bag. I always tell them to bag the meat separately. And please don't put the quart of OJ in with the bag of lettuce. Or the milk with the bleach. All of which I've had happen in the last two weeks.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Apr 25, 2018 20:45:29 GMT
I want the local Winco to stop allowing dogs in the store. I am sorry but your comfort pet is a pet. A service dog has been trained to be in public. I have started just shopping sales at yokes and Fred, and avoiding the those precious snowflakes that believe I should love their dog as much as they do. Fortunate dour yokes is in a part if town that is really not on a bus route and uber is too expensive to get there. Edited to add: Fred's has been trying to keep pets out. One of the managers is pretty old about it. . WalMart policy is to not ask about service animals, so you might see them there too. |
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,948
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Apr 25, 2018 20:48:27 GMT
I want the local Winco to stop allowing dogs in the store. I am sorry but your comfort pet is a pet. A service dog has been trained to be in public. I have started just shopping sales at yokes and Fred, and avoiding the those precious snowflakes that believe I should love their dog as much as they do. Fortunate dour yokes is in a part if town that is really not on a bus route and uber is too expensive to get there. Edited to add: Fred's has been trying to keep pets out. One of the managers is pretty old about it. . WalMart policy is to not ask about service animals, so you might see them there too. I don't think I've ever seen a dog in the grocery stores around here, service or not. I see a service dog trainer working with her Great Danes in the Staples next door, but she doesn't take them into Stop and Shop. I'm sure they must allow it, but I've never seen one and I'm in there at least three times a week, if not more. |
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Post by AN on Apr 25, 2018 20:55:25 GMT
It is totally reasonable to want your groceries bagged appropriately. Not a crazy request.
However, as consumers, we also want rock bottom prices. Grocery is a psychotically cut-throat business with nearly no margin.
While you said that you'd probably not be as annoyed if it was a kid that doesn't know better, I'd also propose that a woman in her 30s or 40s who is bagging groceries doesn't necessarily have the best situation. Obviously that isn't always true, but that is a rough job in many circumstances - very low pay that most people can't live on, irregular hours, dealing with the general public, etc. Most people who have other options would be working somewhere else. So while she may be grown, she also may be in that role for a reason (who knows? Maybe it just works with her kids school schedules. But grocery bagging isn't exactly a lifestyle job, let's be honest).
So anyway, combine those forces... we (general we) expect the lowest prices. Grocery stores pay crap wages to bring those prices down. The few higher end stores get run out of business in anywhere except major cities, not enough people will pay the prices needed to keep the service. So then, the only people they can attract for the jobs are those who don't have a lot of other options, maybe don't feel invested in customer service because they aren't really trained much or invested in their development, etc.
Wanting your groceries bagged well is reasonable. Unfortunately, we as a society voted with our pocketbooks, and large swaths of the country have lost the option to even find somewhere that can provide that at the prices the market will support. Sucks.
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Post by MichyM on Apr 25, 2018 20:56:17 GMT
Apparently I don't pay close enough attention to how my groceries are bagged. As long as the tomatoes and/or avocados aren't at the bottom of the bag under canned goods, I'm good  That said, since it bothers you enough to leave a note in their FB page, and they reached out to you...I'd surmise that they are truly interested in hearing your suggestions/concerns! I'd go ahead and give them my phone number. Good luck! |
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Post by Linda on Apr 25, 2018 20:57:52 GMT
I love Aldis - I bag my own groceries and I can shop/check-out/bag and be done faster than anywhere else in town. And I've never seen a pet or 'emotional support' animal in there.
Walmart? I've seen skunks, kittens, puppies, dogs...in fact I had one snarling and growling at me. I've seen some obviously legitimate service dogs - and they were well-behaved and clearly on the job.
local supermarket? I stopped shopping at one because there was a monkey climbing all over the produce - I talked to the manager on duty and he said there wasn't anything he could do about it as the customer said it was a service animal. My response was that there was something I could do,I could and WOULD stop shopping there.
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suzastampin
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,587 
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Post by suzastampin on Apr 25, 2018 20:58:22 GMT
I always unload my cart putting like things together. Drinks (heavy bottles) go first so I can put them in the bottom of my cart to take to the car. All frozen together, all canned goods together, then bread, eggs, etc. last. That way they don't throw everything in a bag like they did you. I don't think anybody tells the checkers how to pack, especially if it's young kids that wouldn't think of that.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,950
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Post by Rhondito on Apr 25, 2018 21:01:07 GMT
Thank goodness for Kroger!
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Post by monklady123 on Apr 25, 2018 21:02:02 GMT
No, I don't think you are asking too much. ugh. Thankfully our cashiers are all experience and well-trained. Too bad the grocery store itself sucks.  Honestly...I live in the metro DC area, wouldn't you think that a mainline chain grocery store (Giant) located along the subway line (i.e., high rents) in an area with high diversity would have garam masala??? Nope.  And I can't tell you how many times I've returned produce there because it was bad quality. If the Costco just a mile or so down the road can do quality control then why can't Giant? |
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Post by femalebusiness on Apr 25, 2018 21:04:05 GMT
That complaint is exactly why I love it that we have outlawed plastic bags and have to bring our own. I like bagging my own groceries. I would not shop at a store that insisted on bagging my groceries. I have rules about how my bags should be packed.  |
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Apr 25, 2018 21:07:39 GMT
It is totally reasonable to want your groceries bagged appropriately. Not a crazy request. However, as consumers, we also want rock bottom prices. Grocery is a psychotically cut-throat business with nearly no margin. While you said that you'd probably not be as annoyed if it was a kid that doesn't know better, I'd also propose that a woman in her 30s or 40s who is bagging groceries doesn't necessarily have the best situation. Obviously that isn't always true, but that is a rough job in many circumstances - very low pay that most people can't live on, irregular hours, dealing with the general public, etc. Most people who have other options would be working somewhere else. So while she may be grown, she also may be in that role for a reason (who knows? Maybe it just works with her kids school schedules. But grocery bagging isn't exactly a lifestyle job, let's be honest). So anyway, combine those forces... we (general we) expect the lowest prices. Grocery stores pay crap wages to bring those prices down. The few higher end stores get run out of business in anywhere except major cities, not enough people will pay the prices needed to keep the service. So then, the only people they can attract for the jobs are those who don't have a lot of other options, maybe don't feel invested in customer service because they aren't really trained much or invested in their development, etc. Wanting your groceries bagged well is reasonable. Unfortunately, we as a society voted with our pocketbooks, and large swaths of the country have lost the option to even find somewhere that can provide that at the prices the market will support. Sucks. I agree. If they gave me my self check out back then they could cut their cashiers and I could bag my own groceries....win-win Apparently they were having theft issues, that's while they removed them (I understand that, but I shouldn't have to put up with crappy service because of it). |
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Apr 25, 2018 21:08:23 GMT
That complaint is exactly why I love it that we have outlawed plastic bags and have to bring our own. I like bagging my own groceries. I would not shop at a store that insisted on bagging my groceries. I have rules about how my bags should be packed. I use my own....they bag in your bags (or theirs, whatever the customer wants)  |
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Apr 25, 2018 21:10:08 GMT
I always unload my cart putting like things together. Drinks (heavy bottles) go first so I can put them in the bottom of my cart to take to the car. All frozen together, all canned goods together, then bread, eggs, etc. last. That way they don't throw everything in a bag like they did you. I don't think anybody tells the checkers how to pack, especially if it's young kids that wouldn't think of that. I do that too! Infact I yelled at dh one time because he was putting stuff up on the belt all willy-nilly and told him to back off  The cashiers pick and choose what they scan/bag next, I think they're looking for size or something, I don't know. |
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Post by AN on Apr 25, 2018 21:10:57 GMT
It is totally reasonable to want your groceries bagged appropriately. Not a crazy request. However, as consumers, we also want rock bottom prices. Grocery is a psychotically cut-throat business with nearly no margin. While you said that you'd probably not be as annoyed if it was a kid that doesn't know better, I'd also propose that a woman in her 30s or 40s who is bagging groceries doesn't necessarily have the best situation. Obviously that isn't always true, but that is a rough job in many circumstances - very low pay that most people can't live on, irregular hours, dealing with the general public, etc. Most people who have other options would be working somewhere else. So while she may be grown, she also may be in that role for a reason (who knows? Maybe it just works with her kids school schedules. But grocery bagging isn't exactly a lifestyle job, let's be honest). So anyway, combine those forces... we (general we) expect the lowest prices. Grocery stores pay crap wages to bring those prices down. The few higher end stores get run out of business in anywhere except major cities, not enough people will pay the prices needed to keep the service. So then, the only people they can attract for the jobs are those who don't have a lot of other options, maybe don't feel invested in customer service because they aren't really trained much or invested in their development, etc. Wanting your groceries bagged well is reasonable. Unfortunately, we as a society voted with our pocketbooks, and large swaths of the country have lost the option to even find somewhere that can provide that at the prices the market will support. Sucks. I agree. If they gave me my self check out back then they could cut their cashiers and I could bag my own groceries....win-win Apparently they were having theft issues, that's while they removed them (I understand that, but I shouldn't have to put up with crappy service because of it). They also pay a lease fee on self checkout machines. Like 2 years ago I went down a rabbit hole learning about self checkout machines. They go back to the 80s. Fascinating stuff. They're pretty expensive if people don't use them though, so they try to force the adoption of them. It is a bummer they got rid of the large order ones, that is one of the reasons I don't like self checkout sometimes - not enough room!! |
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Apr 25, 2018 21:12:30 GMT
I love Aldis - I bag my own groceries and I can shop/check-out/bag and be done faster than anywhere else in town. And I've never seen a pet or 'emotional support' animal in there. Walmart? I've seen skunks, kittens, puppies, dogs...in fact I had one snarling and growling at me. I've seen some obviously legitimate service dogs - and they were well-behaved and clearly on the job. local supermarket? I stopped shopping at one because there was a monkey climbing all over the produce - I talked to the manager on duty and he said there wasn't anything he could do about it as the customer said it was a service animal. My response was that there was something I could do,I could and WOULD stop shopping there. Skunks? a MONKEY?!?!? OMG, I really do live in a boring area, it's rather rare to see a service dog around here. |
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AmandaA
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,502
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Post by AmandaA on Apr 25, 2018 21:15:45 GMT
Our meijer isn't convenient for me, but I do go occasionally since we currently don't have a traditional grocery store near us. The self checkout and bagging is the best part. Our freezers and the extra fridge are in the basement so I like being able to bag according to where it needs to go at home too. I know... total first world issue ther.
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Apr 25, 2018 21:18:17 GMT
Our meijer isn't convenient for me, but I do go occasionally since we currently don't have a traditional grocery store near us. The self checkout and bagging is the best part. Our freezers and the extra fridge are in the basement so I like being able to bag according to where it needs to go at home too. I know... total first world issue ther. I get it, I bag all of our drinks (pop, gatorade, juice boxes) so I can take them right into the family room bar where we keep them. Enjoy your self checkout while you have it, rumor has it they're removing all of them  |
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Post by femalebusiness on Apr 25, 2018 21:22:00 GMT
That complaint is exactly why I love it that we have outlawed plastic bags and have to bring our own. I like bagging my own groceries. I would not shop at a store that insisted on bagging my groceries. I have rules about how my bags should be packed. I use my own....they bag in your bags (or theirs, whatever the customer wants)  At all but one store in my area I bag my own. The one store insists on their employees bagging. I just don't shop there any more. |
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Apr 25, 2018 21:28:57 GMT
It's not too much to ask, that said some of you would be horrified at how I just stuff everything into random bags LOL! My goal is to get out of the store asap so I don't pay attention to putting things in certain bags,
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georgiapea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,846
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Post by georgiapea on Apr 25, 2018 21:29:52 GMT
I place my items on the conveyor in the order I want them bagged. If s chemical item was put in a bag with food I'd likely move it and say something. Unfortunately I didn't notice the avocado and cantaloupe in the same bag till I was at the car yesterday. We have 2 grocery choices, Walmart or Winn Dixie. The latter uses baggers who pelt things into bags with produce under cans. I need to speak up, but instead i go to Walmart.
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Post by Basket1lady on Apr 25, 2018 21:30:55 GMT
I always unload my cart putting like things together. Drinks (heavy bottles) go first so I can put them in the bottom of my cart to take to the car. All frozen together, all canned goods together, then bread, eggs, etc. last. That way they don't throw everything in a bag like they did you. I don't think anybody tells the checkers how to pack, especially if it's young kids that wouldn't think of that. I do that too! Infact I yelled at dh one time because he was putting stuff up on the belt all willy-nilly and told him to back off The cashiers pick and choose what they scan/bag next, I think they're looking for size or something, I don't know. I do this, too. I very deliberately sort my groceries as I put them into the cart, then unload the big stuff first, then cold, then a mish mash, then produce. I shop pretty much just at the base commissary or at Wegman's. They usually ask if I want my meat bagged in a specific (reusable) bag, or I will ask for my meat to be bagged separately, usually in one of the store's plastic handle bags so that I don't have to wash my reusable bags. I also watch as things are bagged and will stop a bagger from putting meat and produce together (and will tell them about cross contamination, too!) OP, I don't think you are asking too much. But if you are forced to use this grocery store, I'd watch the baggers and hold up the line to train the employees in proper bagging practices. This isn't a whim--cross contamination could actually kill someone. And I'd suck it up and bring the bag back to the store just as it was packed, asking for new items that were in with the meat. |
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Post by peano on Apr 25, 2018 21:35:11 GMT
My store got rid of self-check, I think because the machines were always messing up and staff constantly had to be called. I know I am OCD about groceries so prefer to do my own bagging. I am at the store almost every day so I can use express and don’t have to deal with baggers putting weird grocery combos together. This has also cut down on me forgetting bags which is really annoying.
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Post by mrssmith on Apr 25, 2018 21:39:28 GMT
My store got rid of self-check, I think because the machines were always messing up and staff constantly had to be called. I know I am OCD about groceries so prefer to do my own bagging. I am at the store almost every day so I can use express and don’t have to deal with baggers putting weird grocery combos together. This has also cut down on me forgetting bags which is really annoying. My local grocery store did too. They added 2 additional 15 item lanes. I prefer to do my own bagging. My pet peeve is when the baggers put everything BUT the cold stuff in the cooler bag. Not so bad now, but it does make a difference in the summer. I will sometimes rebag everything before loading it into my car. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:59:12 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2018 21:45:50 GMT
Once upon a time, my job was a grocery store bagger. Perfect for teenagers. I had watch two different videos about bagging stuff and 25 years later, those lessons are still ingrained. I've gotten so anal about how things are bagged that I refuse to let anyone do it for me.
I wonder if stores still make cashiers watch that bagging video.
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Sue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,266
Location: SE of Portland, Oregon
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Post by Sue on Apr 25, 2018 22:09:25 GMT
I'm another one who loads the grocery belt by item type so like things are usually bagged together.. i.e. dairy products, raw meats, produce, boxed dry things like cereals and mixes, cleaning supplies, personal use products etc. It saves me a lot of time at home when I am putting things away to have everything mostly sorted in separate bags.
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Apr 25, 2018 22:20:57 GMT
Just had a thought.....wonder how much they'd hate me if I bagged my stuff as I put it in the cart they had to unbag, scan and rebag one bag at a time. They'd probably want to kill me, but I'm very tempted to do it if I ever shop there again (which might just happen since my options are so darn limited). I did give them my number so we'll see what happens when/if they call.
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Post by bc2ca on Apr 25, 2018 22:23:28 GMT
It is totally reasonable to want your groceries bagged appropriately. Not a crazy request. However, as consumers, we also want rock bottom prices. Grocery is a psychotically cut-throat business with nearly no margin. While you said that you'd probably not be as annoyed if it was a kid that doesn't know better, I'd also propose that a woman in her 30s or 40s who is bagging groceries doesn't necessarily have the best situation. Obviously that isn't always true, but that is a rough job in many circumstances - very low pay that most people can't live on, irregular hours, dealing with the general public, etc. Most people who have other options would be working somewhere else. So while she may be grown, she also may be in that role for a reason (who knows? Maybe it just works with her kids school schedules. But grocery bagging isn't exactly a lifestyle job, let's be honest). So anyway, combine those forces... we (general we) expect the lowest prices. Grocery stores pay crap wages to bring those prices down. The few higher end stores get run out of business in anywhere except major cities, not enough people will pay the prices needed to keep the service. So then, the only people they can attract for the jobs are those who don't have a lot of other options, maybe don't feel invested in customer service because they aren't really trained much or invested in their development, etc. Wanting your groceries bagged well is reasonable. Unfortunately, we as a society voted with our pocketbooks, and large swaths of the country have lost the option to even find somewhere that can provide that at the prices the market will support. Sucks.  I think the store reaching out to you is a positive and wouldn't assume they need to retrain the entire staff. I was disappointed to discover a local store had removed their self-check outs and was forced into the under 15 items check out line with about 10 people in front of me. There was only one other cash register open.  Fortunately my first choice stores have enough staff and cash registers open than I rarely have to wait for more than 1 or 2 people in front of me. |
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Post by chances on Apr 25, 2018 22:25:55 GMT
I hear you! I wish someone beside me would explain to the baggers that deli meat and raw meat do not belong in the same bag. I always tell them to bag the meat separately. And please don't put the quart of OJ in with the bag of lettuce. Or the milk with the bleach. All of which I've had happen in the last two weeks. What is wrong with orange juice and lettuce? I don't understand this one. |
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Honestly...I live in the metro DC area, wouldn't you think that a mainline chain grocery store (Giant) located along the subway line (i.e., high rents) in an area with high diversity would have garam masala??? Nope. 
And I can't tell you how many times I've returned produce there because it was bad quality. If the Costco just a mile or so down the road can do quality control then why can't Giant? 
I think the store reaching out to you is a positive and wouldn't assume they need to retrain the entire staff. 
