Grocery Stores
 

Spin off from the gas thread, because someone in there got me thinking.

At a certain grocery store here in Houston, the cashiers actually take your groceries out of the cart for you. There's no conveyor belt, you just push your cart up, and everything is done for you. I have been to grocery stores in at least 10 different states, and I've never seen this before, except maybe at the Costco/Sams Club.

In FL, half the time, there's no bagger, so you bag your own groceries - which didn't bother me, because that way the eggs and bread doesn't end up in the same bag as the huge laundry detergent bottle, or canned goods. But here, it's like once you pull an item from a shelf and put it in your cart, you can't touch it again until you leave the store. People will stand there and wait for the cashier to not only take the items out of the cart, ring them up, and then bag them. This takes forever, I don't see why people can't bag their own groceries.

Is this common in grocery stores in Texas? Anywhere else?

Re: Grocery Stores
 

There are a couple of grocery stores here in Florida that used to do that. (i.e. Food Lion, Kash 'n Karry)

Re: Re: Grocery Stores
 

Food Lion here doesn't take out of your cart, but Lowes Foods does. That combined with Lowes' foods having the biopay - where they scan your finger for your credit card info. (if that system ever goes down, I'll be screwed because I never even bring my wallent in anymore) , and great specials means they get my business 9 times out of 10.

they do that at a lot of military post commissaries - the baggers work for tips though

- marissa

Re: Grocery Stores
 

It's very common; we actually have this at the store i work at - It's actually a little easier for the checker to just do it themselves, but yall, seriously feel free to help them out with the 40 lb bag of dogfood and the 20 lb box of cat litter!

Ok..my little rant:P:
I work in a large, busy store, and I can't tell yall how many times I've hopped on a checkstand to help out, and get a customer with a huge load of groceries and all they do is stand there. Now when i hop onto a register, I pull people out of lines and check them out, which really, i don't have to do, I just do it to help out! Now if I pull you out of a line,and you have so many items and if the conveyor is so loaded down items are falling off, PUT DOWN THE PEOPLE MAGAZINE that you're technically stealing since you aren't paying for it (Yep, it's considered that-at least by our policy) and give me some help!

I can sort've understand, since they're not only paying for groceries they're paying for a service, but keep in mind, a checker really only gets paid to check.

Yeah, I used to live on base, and have been to quite a few, but I've never been to one that took the things out of your cart. The baggers take you out to the car and help you load the trunk, so they deserve a tip.

Rarely do grocery store baggers take people to their car, unless the shopper is handicapped or elderly. Unless it's Publix, where it's a store policy, but at Publix, "shopping is a pleasure!" I miss Publix :( I never had them take me out to my car, but it was nice that they offered.

Once again, Lowe's foods has mandatory policy that they ask if you need help to your car. Also, you can shop online and for about $4-$8(depending on how much you spend) they have it all packed and ready and all you do is drive up and they load it into your car. I've never used it, but I suppose I would sometime if I was in a major hurry. And they always have fresh Sushi. Yummy!

Dang, I'm starting to sound like a Lowe's commerical.:)

You don't have Harry Teets there??:)

AF, you're making me want to shop at Lowes, because it sounds like such a great grocery store. Sadly, after a quick online search, it appears that Lowes Foods is only in North Carolina and Virginia. They should send you coupons for giving them such good publicity!

Harry Teets - what a gross name for a grocery store. Almost as bad as Piggly Wiggly.

Bubblz, you're so lucky to have Publix. I might try to sneak in a trip this weekend while I'm in Atlanta. Crap - do they have them there? I am going to miss the holiday commercials the most!

I've never seen a store where they do that; the most they'll do around here is bag your groceries, and sometimes they won't even do that for you.

Yep. Publix is all over Atlanta. I love it. I usually don't have the baggers bring my groceries to my car unless it's night. I feel safer having them walk me through a parking lot at night.

The Shaws in Allston will send it down a conveyor belt to the parking lot area and then put it in a car for you.

The little grocery store in my hometown takes the stuff out of your cart for you. It's just a little mom and pop store, but it's really close to my house!

Same here. Worse, one of the local supermarkets has installed self-checkout lanes, so not only isn't there a bagger, there isn't a cashier either.

We have those here in MA, although I didn't know they'd started installing them in CT. I actually like them better; I can go at my own pace, and pack my own groceries. Our store tends to pack heavy things like cans on top of bread, eggs, and easily breakable products.

I already have the pilgrims and the snowmen salt and pepper shakers. Let me know if they ever come out with anything else!

I also have to express my love for Publix. In addition to having the distribution center here in town, I can name 12 Publix stores within 10 minutes of my house (one of which is less than 60 seconds from my house). Not only that, but there are 2 more being built within this 10 minute radius. I think it is safe to say that Jacksonville is madly in love with Publix. :D

There has to be somewhere around 20 stores in this city.

C-TOOOOWN!

Here in the UK, very very few stores have baggers. Even Tesco, one of the largest grocery chains, has no baggers. You're expected to bag your own, which is grand because I HATE THOSE BAGS! I really prefer to use my backpack/panniers for my bike because it is easier to carry. They've got this drive on to have people buy these heavy-duty bags for like 10p and reuse them...I own a few, and they make carrying the heavy stuff (soda pop, potatos, etc) easier.

I only get ticked off when the cashier starts ringing the next person's crap up while you're still bagging. I've lost many a newspaper and a loaf of bread that way.

Never been to a store that takes stuff out of the cart... but Safeway here in CA always offers to give you help out to your car, and if they DO help, they refuse a tip.

I've been to stores where you drive your cart up to a little dock-like place and the checker does the rest. I can't remember where, though.

We have a Safeway within walking distance of our home, and they always ask if we need help getting our stuff to the car. I've never taken them up on it, but doubt that they would accept a tip.

Our Safeway offers to take stuff out for us. I have used it once when I had all 3 kids with me and 2 were cranky. It just meant that all my bread got squashed in my truck cause they put other stuff on top of it.

Just order it online and have it delivered to you. Then you dont deal with gross houston people.

-Rudey

BTW, they won't accept tips because they are not allowed to. I've worked many retail jobs and can tell you that is one thing that is stressed during orientation and training is that you are NOT allowed to accept tips for anything.

I shop at Kroger and they usually take the stuff out of your cart, and they'll usually bag it but honestly I try to make it easier for them by bagging it myself.

I've never been to a supermarket where they take your bags out to your car (unless you're elderly or handicapped and specifically ask them to carry your bags). As far as the self check-out, I like it. There's usually no one using them, and I can get through pretty fast (because I can actually follow the instructions and am not TOTALLY technically challenged).

The Harris Teeter in West Ashely closed about three years ago. I guess the traffic on 61/Sam Ritterburg got to be way too much and people had a hard time getting in and out. It's where Total Wines is now.

Publix is building two more stores: One on 17 (in what we call Red Top in WA) and one in Mt. Pleasant (like they need another grocery store). I can't wait for them to build the one on 17 so we don't have to go all the way to Sam Ritterburg. I heart Publix too.:)

The baggers at my grocery store accept tips. In fact, they have a tip jar at the bottom of the grocery chute area. Of course, the delivery boys take tips as well. I think the "no tips" policy might be more applicable to major chains instead of local stores.

Who can tell me about Whole Foods Market, please? There is one that is going to open here in Birmingham, Al. Just wondering what it is like.
In the mean time, Publix has opened at least 5 stores in the area with in the past couple of years. I love Publix because they have nice produce, fish, meats.... all very fresh and a good selection too.

I usually shop at the commissary and they have someone bag the groceries, load the cart, push the cart to your car and load your car. I always help load the car, though, because I would feel bad just standing around doing nothing while someone loads my groceries.

As I think back, as a kid, I remember the baggers loading the bags on different kinds of carts and always taking the out to the car.

As I said above, they offer here -- but I've seen very few people take them up on it.

Still being in good health, I'd feel like an idiot allowing some kid to load my car.

There's a Publix on Hwy 17 (going towards Awendaw) in this new shopping center. Does this mean there's going to be 3 Publix stores in Mt. Pleasant?

I'm so happy they have that one further up Hwy 17 because it's closer to my parent's house, plus they have delicious fresh baked cookies (which I haven't been able to find in the Publix closest to me in Columbia for some reason). I like buying my seafood from Publix, all the other stores seem a lil sketchy in their seafood departments.

Publix is the BEST!

It is quite nice, they have people walking around in the produce section who will help you pick the right stuff at the right time. And their meat/fish/poultry is very very fresh and tasty.The stores tend to be, well, a bit pricey. But they carry stuff that is pretty hard to find, and if you're vegan/veg or big on organics, you can't ask for a better place. They carry this AWESOME organic white cheddar age 3 years. They're also big on fair trade and on paying a good wage to their workers. If you're willing to pay the extra $$, its worth the experience.

wow i have never heard of some of the grocery stores listed on this thread.

we have albertsons, tom thumb, kroger, super walmart/target.

i used to remember there once was a piggly wiggly.

down towards austin/san antonio i saw lots of HEB stores.

Don't forget about crappy Super Saver;)

^^^^
If you turn off on Bees Ferry on to 17, make a left. It will be next to the little shopping center where Subway is.

Yes, PV there are building another Publix in Mt. P. The Post and Courier ran a story last week about all the grocery stores that Mt. P. has and then the Super Wal-Mart is coming and (I think) they are going to make the excisting Wal-Mart a Super one too (because the Pig left that shopping center).

I don't think we've mentioned King Soopers here in Denver, Big Bear in Ohio and Giant on the East Coast.

Sorry to report that Big Bear is extinct in Central Ohio. We've gotten a few more Giant Eagles (love) and a wonderful new Whole Foods (Dublin) where the old Big Bears were.

Another shout out for Whole Foods--you can also do your shopping and get lunch or dinner at the same time. The fresh meals are fantastic and I can't say enough for the spice selections.

At most of the grocery stores in the 3 cities of Florida I have lived in (Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tampa), there are conveyor belts and baggers.

One of the reasons why I like road trips so much is because I get to see the different grocery stores, restaurants, and other establishments that are available only in certain parts of the country.

Grocery stores present in Florida:

- Publix (most popular)
- Albertsons (though the one in Tampa closest to me gave place to one of those bulk stores)
- Kash and Karry: no, make that Sweetbay. They are changing names in Tampa. In Gainesville all but one went out of business. And in Jax there were none.
- Winn Dixie, though they are closing a bunch of stores.
- Food Lion, though they closed in Gville and I have not seen them in Tampa.
- And a Harris Teeter or two in the nicer parts of Jax.

According to the website, there is a Piggly Wiggly store somewhere in the Panhandle.

Did they build a Whole Foods in Columbus while I was away? I'd be all over that. I know there's a Trader Joes out @ Easton, but I really dig Whole Foods.

And I remember that the first grocery store I shopped at when I moved to Otterbein was Big Bear...it closed shortly thereafter. I like Giant Eagle because of the Advantage Card stuff, it allows me to bribe my friends with fuel discounts. Although I miss Meijer like CRAZY!! Meijer is like Walmart, only not evil.

Didn't know about Big Bear. I drove by the old Big Bear Farm near Powell last time I was in Columbus.

They have Meijer there, don't they? I think there's one up on North High Street -- Yes?

It's fun to buy Safeway's generic brands -- about half are marked Safeway, and the other half Kroger since the later owns the former.

Mrs. DA will love having the Whole Foods in Dublin when she visits her sister who lives in Muirfield.