Why must grocery clerks stand in the States?

Uh ... bagging pressure! And I thought I was the only one ... It's funny, I always get the feeling that the shopper in front of me has all the time in the world, but the moment it's my turn, it's a different story! Luckily, I live next to a Tesco so I never buy more than the contents of maybe 4 bags. Without training and/or education, I'm quite well-organised (basic survival skills thanks to non-existent customer service in Germany) in self-packing ... actually, I'd appreciate some form of compliment for my extraordinary skill  (what about a "customer of the month" award??)

For me it was of course the other way round in the US, I felt quite embarrassed to have someone bag stuff for me (it was like make someone be your slave!). After a while I got more comfortable with it but I got annoyed that the cashiers would use a new bag for almost every item. I probably quite confused them when I rearranged the items in the bags and gave them the unused ones back!

One thing to the packing help: at my Tesco, the cashier usually starts to pack the first couple of bags or even prepare opening the stuck-together bags during their downtime. Also, they actually have employees designated to help packing, though their observation skills are a bit questionable ... it makes me wonder why I am offered help with 10 items while at the next till a mum with a huge trolley is struggling!

Sounds like the only way you can avoid the annoyance is the same way I avoid mine - shop at odd hours. Than you have the slight annoyance of steering your trolley around the people trying to stock the shelves, but in my case that's not even a consideration in comparison. I love having the store all to myself. I can spend as much time as I like in indecision  

You probably don't even have to wait until midnight like we do, just find a time when the store is not busy.  But where do you live? I'm curious, because all the stores around here are VERY friendly and helpful. I can't even ask where something is located (i.e which aisle number) without being escorted to said aisle, to the product and having the merits of the various brands or sizes of said products discussed.  Even home delivery we have never had a problem with - once we learned to say "no substitutions"  Aubergine is not an acceptable sub for an avocado! LOL But everything else has been nice; fresh and lovely.

Rosie

I don't know if it's so much where I live as to which shop...

The lovely Tesco's; where I might have shared with some of you, when I asked where the pecans were at Thanksgiving time; she stared at me as if I was not speaking English... even when I changed my accent four different ways to pronounce it.  Then she casually waved to the nut section - which I was standing RIGHT IN FRONT OF.
This is the store whose ads I actually believed... if there was a long line, they'd open another check out stand.
HA.  I was a fool.  I even went to a manager once, and because I was aware, I did ask calmly and politely, do you think you could open another stand?  I was met with a blank stare, and swear to god, she said, 'I dunno.  I have to see.'  You wanna make me pull my hair out?!?  Give me a vague answer.  Keep in mind also, there were no less than FOUR employees STANDING AND CHATTING not six feet away.
*breathe*

Now, Waitrose, on the other hand... less than a mile away... 'oh yes madam, we should have them right over here, let me just go with you... is there anything else I can help you with?'
I stood, and cried.

Okay, not  really.  But it was really nice.  And I have had similar experiences at Sainsbury's.  But there is not one near where I live.  Tesco's is by far the closest and easiest to walk to.

I have to stop now.  See y'all got me all worked up; and I have WORK today!
 

 Aubergine is not an acceptable sub for an avocado!

Outstanding

Waitrose is a good place, and their online delivery service, www.ocado.com, is fantastic.

Sainsbury's seems to be going downhill quite a bit lately, I think their sales are really dropping off or something.  For some reason, in my town the Tesco and Sainsbury shops themselves look really crummy.  The Morrison's looks shiny and new although they took over a relatively new Safeway.

But definitely Waitrose is the best, the fruit & veg is fantastic and the organic and freerange choice is very good and they have very close links with their suppliers so you are more likely not to get something dodgy but really nice.  And I think they train and incentivize John Lewis staff to be very customer oriented.

Matt

Yeah, Waitrose is definitely the best. Our Sainsburys on the edge of town is pretty good. Tesco is OK. Asda is a nightmare. No matter what time you go. I should shop there as we're on such a tight budget. But I hate supporting a WalMart company and they don't have the variety I like (I'm a total foodie). I've always hated Morrisons so don't know what the local one is like.

ElizabethK - have you thought about having your groceries delivered? I do it quite often with Tesco and I've been pretty happy with it. I like the time I have to figure out exactly what I want w/o the little one falling over the back of the trolley or hitting people as we walk by them ( I DO love him, really, I DO). Seriously, though - it's a good service and delivery charges, especially if an order is made 3-4 days in advance, is quite reasonable.  It sounds like the shops in your area just suck pumice, period.  This might be a way around it. Good luck!

Thanks; yes, I have.  See above post.

We're missing the point... the checkers stand in the US because then they can easily step to the end and bag your groceries for you. 

I will miss my store in Virginia.  At Ukrops, they not only bag the groceries, but they carry them out to the car for you.  *sigh*

Where I used to shop, the cashiers didn't bag the groceries (though they still stood).  There were always spotty oiks at the end of the checkout to bag my groceries.  And they always offered to carry the stuff out to the car -- I think that's where the good money was!   

In the states.. the  bag  'person' always offered  to take your bags  out to the car..  always an option..  i miss that..