We’ve all had exasperating experiences at the supermarket before. Perhaps the line was too long, we encountered other rowdy shoppers, or maybe we couldn’t find that one item we really needed.

But for one Woolworths customer, a recent trip to their local store turned out to be more confusing (and frustrating) than usual.

The customer posted on Reddit, a popular social media forum, to relay his experience while shopping at Woolies just recently.

He shared that after queuing at a manned checkout, the cashier asked him to bag the groceries into his shopping bags.

The customer was confused why they were asked to bag their own groceries – at a manned checkout. Credit: SHVETS production in Pexels

‘The cashier told me to bag groceries myself (had about $130 bucks worth). When questioned whether this was their job or COVID measure, the cashier responded by stating “it made the process faster”,’ they wrote in their post.

The customer’s post sparked a discussion in the comments section, and said that this experience left him ‘curious’.

‘I obliged but was left curious whether this is accepted, tolerated, and normal nowadays. I should also highlight this is not the self-checkout area,’ the customer continued.

One user wrote: ‘Coles and Woolworths charge 30 to 50 per cent more than ALDI, so they should be bagging for you. Personally, I choose to shop at ALDI and save that money.’

Another added: ‘Yeah, that would annoy me. If I wanted to bag my own groceries, I’d go to self-checkout or ALDI.’

Where do you like to shop, members? Credit: Karolina Grabowska in Pexels

A separate user commented: ‘I know everyone needs a job but if you can’t do your job accordingly then sorry get a new one…sorry you had to pack your own.’

To which the customer replied: ‘Would be more upsetting if an elderly or less-able person was asked to do this. But yes, it is their job.’

Others said that they’ve never been asked to bag their own items. However, if they see other shoppers waiting behind them, then they help bag the items and add that helping out is entirely their choice.

A cashier offered more insight on the matter: ‘I go faster when I pack myself. Why they thought you packing is faster is beyond me. I work at Woolies and really shouldn’t have asked unless you have dirty bags or something like that. We have a sign on our register to answer the question of packing bags saying the process is faster if we do it.’

Someone else shared that they were on ‘both sides of the fence’.

‘In your defence, you do pay a slightly more premium price at Woolies to have your own groceries bagged at checkout. I used to do that job and believe me, the checkout worker you had would be in the wrong and could get into trouble for making you do your own groceries,’ they started.

But then offered another perspective: ‘However on the other hand…we are the only developed western country who makes staff bag customers groceries. But yeah, to each their own.’

A spokesperson from Woolworths said:

‘Our checkout operators are expected to bag groceries at our manned checkouts if that’s the customers wish, as per our bagging policy.’

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths supermarket customer revealed that a cashier had asked them to pack their own groceries at a manned checkout.
• In their post, the Reddit user said he was confused by the experience, and questioned whether this was now normal practice.
• A Woolworths employee responded to the post, stating that there’s only one reason that customers may be asked to pack their own bags is if the bags are dirty.
• Other Reddit users said the cashier’s request would frustrate them, but others agreed with the cashier, saying they preferred to pack their own bags.

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you agree that staff should pack your groceries at checkouts, or do you prefer doing it yourself? Let us know in the comments!

 

[Thecheesequeen]

I’m stunned that a customer would be asked to bag her own groceries at a manned checkout. That’s the point of using a manned checkout. I would be speaking to the manager.

 

[Suzanne rose]

I would have said ' since when ' I would have packed my bags real slow.
I would have then got the checkout person's name .
Then I would have proceeded to the service desk and asked for the manager !.
If I wanted to pack my own bags I would have gone to aldi or the self serve

 

[Dennis]

Here is another view on the packing of groceries, my late wife and I was visiting our son and family in Santiago Chile a city of about 13,000000 people, their big supermarkets had up to 50 checkouts with special ones for pregnant ladies and there was always someone in the aisles restoking the shelves, all staff wore white hats, guess who did most of the packing Children and you gave them what you wanted to do out of your change, and another thing if you wanted too you could have your car washed whilst shopping by people with a mobile cart, with a big population there were many poor people, no wonder they want to come to Australia

 

[missy605]

We’ve all had exasperating experiences at the supermarket before. Perhaps the line was too long, we encountered other rowdy shoppers, or maybe we couldn’t find that one item we really needed.

But for one Woolworths customer, a recent trip to their local store turned out to be more confusing (and frustrating) than usual.

The customer posted on Reddit, a popular social media forum, to relay his experience while shopping at Woolies just recently.

He shared that after queuing at a manned checkout, the cashier asked him to bag the groceries into his shopping bags.

View attachment 8746

The customer was confused why they were asked to bag their own groceries – at a manned checkout. Credit: SHVETS production in Pexels

‘The cashier told me to bag groceries myself (had about $130 bucks worth). When questioned whether this was their job or COVID measure, the cashier responded by stating “it made the process faster”,’ they wrote in their post.

The customer’s post sparked a discussion in the comments section, and said that this experience left him ‘curious’.

‘I obliged but was left curious whether this is accepted, tolerated, and normal nowadays. I should also highlight this is not the self-checkout area,’ the customer continued.

One user wrote: ‘Coles and Woolworths charge 30 to 50 per cent more than ALDI, so they should be bagging for you. Personally, I choose to shop at ALDI and save that money.’

Another added: ‘Yeah, that would annoy me. If I wanted to bag my own groceries, I’d go to self-checkout or ALDI.’

View attachment 8747

Where do you like to shop, members? Credit: Karolina Grabowska in Pexels

A separate user commented: ‘I know everyone needs a job but if you can’t do your job accordingly then sorry get a new one…sorry you had to pack your own.’

To which the customer replied: ‘Would be more upsetting if an elderly or less-able person was asked to do this. But yes, it is their job.’

Others said that they’ve never been asked to bag their own items. However, if they see other shoppers waiting behind them, then they help bag the items and add that helping out is entirely their choice.

A cashier offered more insight on the matter: ‘I go faster when I pack myself. Why they thought you packing is faster is beyond me. I work at Woolies and really shouldn’t have asked unless you have dirty bags or something like that. We have a sign on our register to answer the question of packing bags saying the process is faster if we do it.’

Someone else shared that they were on ‘both sides of the fence’.

‘In your defence, you do pay a slightly more premium price at Woolies to have your own groceries bagged at checkout. I used to do that job and believe me, the checkout worker you had would be in the wrong and could get into trouble for making you do your own groceries,’ they started.

But then offered another perspective: ‘However on the other hand…we are the only developed western country who makes staff bag customers groceries. But yeah, to each their own.’

A spokesperson from Woolworths said:

‘Our checkout operators are expected to bag groceries at our manned checkouts if that’s the customers wish, as per our bagging policy.’

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths supermarket customer revealed that a cashier had asked them to pack their own groceries at a manned checkout.
• In their post, the Reddit user said he was confused by the experience, and questioned whether this was now normal practice.
• A Woolworths employee responded to the post, stating that there’s only one reason that customers may be asked to pack their own bags is if the bags are dirty.
• Other Reddit users said the cashier’s request would frustrate them, but others agreed with the cashier, saying they preferred to pack their own bags.

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you agree that staff should pack your groceries at checkouts, or do you prefer doing it yourself? Let us know in the comments!

We’ve all had exasperating experiences at the supermarket before. Perhaps the line was too long, we encountered other rowdy shoppers, or maybe we couldn’t find that one item we really needed.

But for one Woolworths customer, a recent trip to their local store turned out to be more confusing (and frustrating) than usual.

The customer posted on Reddit, a popular social media forum, to relay his experience while shopping at Woolies just recently.

He shared that after queuing at a manned checkout, the cashier asked him to bag the groceries into his shopping bags.

View attachment 8746

The customer was confused why they were asked to bag their own groceries – at a manned checkout. Credit: SHVETS production in Pexels

‘The cashier told me to bag groceries myself (had about $130 bucks worth). When questioned whether this was their job or COVID measure, the cashier responded by stating “it made the process faster”,’ they wrote in their post.

The customer’s post sparked a discussion in the comments section, and said that this experience left him ‘curious’.

‘I obliged but was left curious whether this is accepted, tolerated, and normal nowadays. I should also highlight this is not the self-checkout area,’ the customer continued.

One user wrote: ‘Coles and Woolworths charge 30 to 50 per cent more than ALDI, so they should be bagging for you. Personally, I choose to shop at ALDI and save that money.’

Another added: ‘Yeah, that would annoy me. If I wanted to bag my own groceries, I’d go to self-checkout or ALDI.’

View attachment 8747

Where do you like to shop, members? Credit: Karolina Grabowska in Pexels

A separate user commented: ‘I know everyone needs a job but if you can’t do your job accordingly then sorry get a new one…sorry you had to pack your own.’

To which the customer replied: ‘Would be more upsetting if an elderly or less-able person was asked to do this. But yes, it is their job.’

Others said that they’ve never been asked to bag their own items. However, if they see other shoppers waiting behind them, then they help bag the items and add that helping out is entirely their choice.

A cashier offered more insight on the matter: ‘I go faster when I pack myself. Why they thought you packing is faster is beyond me. I work at Woolies and really shouldn’t have asked unless you have dirty bags or something like that. We have a sign on our register to answer the question of packing bags saying the process is faster if we do it.’

Someone else shared that they were on ‘both sides of the fence’.

‘In your defence, you do pay a slightly more premium price at Woolies to have your own groceries bagged at checkout. I used to do that job and believe me, the checkout worker you had would be in the wrong and could get into trouble for making you do your own groceries,’ they started.

But then offered another perspective: ‘However on the other hand…we are the only developed western country who makes staff bag customers groceries. But yeah, to each their own.’

A spokesperson from Woolworths said:

‘Our checkout operators are expected to bag groceries at our manned checkouts if that’s the customers wish, as per our bagging policy.’

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths supermarket customer revealed that a cashier had asked them to pack their own groceries at a manned checkout.
• In their post, the Reddit user said he was confused by the experience, and questioned whether this was now normal practice.
• A Woolworths employee responded to the post, stating that there’s only one reason that customers may be asked to pack their own bags is if the bags are dirty.
• Other Reddit users said the cashier’s request would frustrate them, but others agreed with the cashier, saying they preferred to pack their own bags.

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you agree that staff should pack your groceries at checkouts, or do you prefer doing it yourself? Let us know in the comments!

You can’t blame the checkout operator , maybe she was being diplomatic. A young operator the other day was presented with a bag with granny undies in it didn’t know if they were soiled or clean and was told they were the customers spare ones. She felt very uncomfortable touching the bags . People don’t only use them for groceries. So before you March the checkout operator to the manager think about what they are dealing with and that this one was possibly saving the customer some embarrassment.

 

[Glo72]

We’ve all had exasperating experiences at the supermarket before. Perhaps the line was too long, we encountered other rowdy shoppers, or maybe we couldn’t find that one item we really needed.

But for one Woolworths customer, a recent trip to their local store turned out to be more confusing (and frustrating) than usual.

The customer posted on Reddit, a popular social media forum, to relay his experience while shopping at Woolies just recently.

He shared that after queuing at a manned checkout, the cashier asked him to bag the groceries into his shopping bags.

View attachment 8746

The customer was confused why they were asked to bag their own groceries – at a manned checkout. Credit: SHVETS production in Pexels

‘The cashier told me to bag groceries myself (had about $130 bucks worth). When questioned whether this was their job or COVID measure, the cashier responded by stating “it made the process faster”,’ they wrote in their post.

The customer’s post sparked a discussion in the comments section, and said that this experience left him ‘curious’.

‘I obliged but was left curious whether this is accepted, tolerated, and normal nowadays. I should also highlight this is not the self-checkout area,’ the customer continued.

One user wrote: ‘Coles and Woolworths charge 30 to 50 per cent more than ALDI, so they should be bagging for you. Personally, I choose to shop at ALDI and save that money.’

Another added: ‘Yeah, that would annoy me. If I wanted to bag my own groceries, I’d go to self-checkout or ALDI.’

View attachment 8747

Where do you like to shop, members? Credit: Karolina Grabowska in Pexels

A separate user commented: ‘I know everyone needs a job but if you can’t do your job accordingly then sorry get a new one…sorry you had to pack your own.’

To which the customer replied: ‘Would be more upsetting if an elderly or less-able person was asked to do this. But yes, it is their job.’

Others said that they’ve never been asked to bag their own items. However, if they see other shoppers waiting behind them, then they help bag the items and add that helping out is entirely their choice.

A cashier offered more insight on the matter: ‘I go faster when I pack myself. Why they thought you packing is faster is beyond me. I work at Woolies and really shouldn’t have asked unless you have dirty bags or something like that. We have a sign on our register to answer the question of packing bags saying the process is faster if we do it.’

Someone else shared that they were on ‘both sides of the fence’.

‘In your defence, you do pay a slightly more premium price at Woolies to have your own groceries bagged at checkout. I used to do that job and believe me, the checkout worker you had would be in the wrong and could get into trouble for making you do your own groceries,’ they started.

But then offered another perspective: ‘However on the other hand…we are the only developed western country who makes staff bag customers groceries. But yeah, to each their own.’

A spokesperson from Woolworths said:

‘Our checkout operators are expected to bag groceries at our manned checkouts if that’s the customers wish, as per our bagging policy.’

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths supermarket customer revealed that a cashier had asked them to pack their own groceries at a manned checkout.
• In their post, the Reddit user said he was confused by the experience, and questioned whether this was now normal practice.
• A Woolworths employee responded to the post, stating that there’s only one reason that customers may be asked to pack their own bags is if the bags are dirty.
• Other Reddit users said the cashier’s request would frustrate them, but others agreed with the cashier, saying they preferred to pack their own bags.

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you agree that staff should pack your groceries at checkouts, or do you prefer doing it yourself? Let us know in the comments!

 

[Glo72]

My daughter does my shopping at Aldi. If I went through a manned checkout at Woolies and was asked to pack my own groceries it would be a firm no. I have a torn rotator cuff and a tear in a muscle in my shoulder. I can’t use my right arm. I don’t care if we are the only country in the world that have the cashier pack our groceries,if it is in their job description do it.

 

[Plow]

We’ve all had exasperating experiences at the supermarket before. Perhaps the line was too long, we encountered other rowdy shoppers, or maybe we couldn’t find that one item we really needed.

But for one Woolworths customer, a recent trip to their local store turned out to be more confusing (and frustrating) than usual.

The customer posted on Reddit, a popular social media forum, to relay his experience while shopping at Woolies just recently.

He shared that after queuing at a manned checkout, the cashier asked him to bag the groceries into his shopping bags.

View attachment 8746

The customer was confused why they were asked to bag their own groceries – at a manned checkout. Credit: SHVETS production in Pexels

‘The cashier told me to bag groceries myself (had about $130 bucks worth). When questioned whether this was their job or COVID measure, the cashier responded by stating “it made the process faster”,’ they wrote in their post.

The customer’s post sparked a discussion in the comments section, and said that this experience left him ‘curious’.

‘I obliged but was left curious whether this is accepted, tolerated, and normal nowadays. I should also highlight this is not the self-checkout area,’ the customer continued.

One user wrote: ‘Coles and Woolworths charge 30 to 50 per cent more than ALDI, so they should be bagging for you. Personally, I choose to shop at ALDI and save that money.’

Another added: ‘Yeah, that would annoy me. If I wanted to bag my own groceries, I’d go to self-checkout or ALDI.’

View attachment 8747

Where do you like to shop, members? Credit: Karolina Grabowska in Pexels

A separate user commented: ‘I know everyone needs a job but if you can’t do your job accordingly then sorry get a new one…sorry you had to pack your own.’

To which the customer replied: ‘Would be more upsetting if an elderly or less-able person was asked to do this. But yes, it is their job.’

Others said that they’ve never been asked to bag their own items. However, if they see other shoppers waiting behind them, then they help bag the items and add that helping out is entirely their choice.

A cashier offered more insight on the matter: ‘I go faster when I pack myself. Why they thought you packing is faster is beyond me. I work at Woolies and really shouldn’t have asked unless you have dirty bags or something like that. We have a sign on our register to answer the question of packing bags saying the process is faster if we do it.’

Someone else shared that they were on ‘both sides of the fence’.

‘In your defence, you do pay a slightly more premium price at Woolies to have your own groceries bagged at checkout. I used to do that job and believe me, the checkout worker you had would be in the wrong and could get into trouble for making you do your own groceries,’ they started.

But then offered another perspective: ‘However on the other hand…we are the only developed western country who makes staff bag customers groceries. But yeah, to each their own.’

A spokesperson from Woolworths said:

‘Our checkout operators are expected to bag groceries at our manned checkouts if that’s the customers wish, as per our bagging policy.’

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths supermarket customer revealed that a cashier had asked them to pack their own groceries at a manned checkout.
• In their post, the Reddit user said he was confused by the experience, and questioned whether this was now normal practice.
• A Woolworths employee responded to the post, stating that there’s only one reason that customers may be asked to pack their own bags is if the bags are dirty.
• Other Reddit users said the cashier’s request would frustrate them, but others agreed with the cashier, saying they preferred to pack their own bags.

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you agree that staff should pack your groceries at checkouts, or do you prefer doing it yourself? Let us know in the comments!

When I was in the USA in LA, Chicago, New York and even smaller towns, the supermarkets even have a person at the end of the check-out specifically to bag customer’s groceries so it’s not true we are the only “developed western” country to bag grocerie? Perhaps Woolies and Coles should be doing it here too seeing they are making record profits and keeping the savings from not supplying single use bags any longer.
BTY why are they not supplying paper bags which are recyclable.

 

[Macarj]

I’m stunned that a customer would be asked to bag her own groceries at a manned checkout. That’s the point of using a manned checkout. I would be speaking to the manager.

Yeah I have never been asked to pack my own bags on a manned checkout

 

[Aussie all the Way]

Here is another view on the packing of groceries, my late wife and I was visiting our son and family in Santiago Chile a city of about 13,000000 people, their big supermarkets had up to 50 checkouts with special ones for pregnant ladies and there was always someone in the aisles restoking the shelves, all staff wore white hats, guess who did most of the packing Children and you gave them what you wanted to do out of your change, and another thing if you wanted too you could have your car washed whilst shopping by people with a mobile cart, with a big population there were many poor people, no wonder they want to come to Australia

Yes we saw that when we were in South America, they find all sorts of ways of making money.

 

[Sloopy]

When I was in the USA in LA, Chicago, New York and even smaller towns, the supermarkets even have a person at the end of the check-out specifically to bag customer’s groceries so it’s not true we are the only “developed western” country to bag grocerie? Perhaps Woolies and Coles should be doing it here too seeing they are making record profits and keeping the savings from not supplying single use bags any longer.
BTY why are they not supplying paper bags which are recyclable.

We used to have that here too, in the early days of supermarkets, but it died out in the late 1970s-early 1980s.

 

[Kaylee]

We used to have that here too, in the early days of supermarkets, but it died out in the late 1970s-early 1980s.

Yes, I used to be one of those packers. 15 yrs old. My first job. Mind you we coped a lot of abuse from customers, bags too heavy or not how they liked them. We had paper bags then.

 

[Penny4]

That's a bit much! Like they said, Woolworths policy is they pack the groceries for customers.
Sometimes after scanning (either self serve or manned), I put my groceries back in the trolley and bag it at my car.
Heaps quicker and especially now that Covid has raised it's ugly head again.

 

[Ricci]

I had a lovely young man serve me at Woolies yesterday. He not only packed my bags but then lifted them into my trolley for me, all the while chatting and having a laugh. It was such a pleasant experience.

 

[Pat T]

We’ve all had exasperating experiences at the supermarket before. Perhaps the line was too long, we encountered other rowdy shoppers, or maybe we couldn’t find that one item we really needed.

But for one Woolworths customer, a recent trip to their local store turned out to be more confusing (and frustrating) than usual.

The customer posted on Reddit, a popular social media forum, to relay his experience while shopping at Woolies just recently.

He shared that after queuing at a manned checkout, the cashier asked him to bag the groceries into his shopping bags.

View attachment 8746

The customer was confused why they were asked to bag their own groceries – at a manned checkout. Credit: SHVETS production in Pexels

‘The cashier told me to bag groceries myself (had about $130 bucks worth). When questioned whether this was their job or COVID measure, the cashier responded by stating “it made the process faster”,’ they wrote in their post.

The customer’s post sparked a discussion in the comments section, and said that this experience left him ‘curious’.

‘I obliged but was left curious whether this is accepted, tolerated, and normal nowadays. I should also highlight this is not the self-checkout area,’ the customer continued.

One user wrote: ‘Coles and Woolworths charge 30 to 50 per cent more than ALDI, so they should be bagging for you. Personally, I choose to shop at ALDI and save that money.’

Another added: ‘Yeah, that would annoy me. If I wanted to bag my own groceries, I’d go to self-checkout or ALDI.’

View attachment 8747

Where do you like to shop, members? Credit: Karolina Grabowska in Pexels

A separate user commented: ‘I know everyone needs a job but if you can’t do your job accordingly then sorry get a new one…sorry you had to pack your own.’

To which the customer replied: ‘Would be more upsetting if an elderly or less-able person was asked to do this. But yes, it is their job.’

Others said that they’ve never been asked to bag their own items. However, if they see other shoppers waiting behind them, then they help bag the items and add that helping out is entirely their choice.

A cashier offered more insight on the matter: ‘I go faster when I pack myself. Why they thought you packing is faster is beyond me. I work at Woolies and really shouldn’t have asked unless you have dirty bags or something like that. We have a sign on our register to answer the question of packing bags saying the process is faster if we do it.’

Someone else shared that they were on ‘both sides of the fence’.

‘In your defence, you do pay a slightly more premium price at Woolies to have your own groceries bagged at checkout. I used to do that job and believe me, the checkout worker you had would be in the wrong and could get into trouble for making you do your own groceries,’ they started.

But then offered another perspective: ‘However on the other hand…we are the only developed western country who makes staff bag customers groceries. But yeah, to each their own.’

A spokesperson from Woolworths said:

‘Our checkout operators are expected to bag groceries at our manned checkouts if that’s the customers wish, as per our bagging policy.’

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths supermarket customer revealed that a cashier had asked them to pack their own groceries at a manned checkout.
• In their post, the Reddit user said he was confused by the experience, and questioned whether this was now normal practice.
• A Woolworths employee responded to the post, stating that there’s only one reason that customers may be asked to pack their own bags is if the bags are dirty.
• Other Reddit users said the cashier’s request would frustrate them, but others agreed with the cashier, saying they preferred to pack their own bags.

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you agree that staff should pack your groceries at checkouts, or do you prefer doing it yourself? Let us know in the comments!

We’ve all had exasperating experiences at the supermarket before. Perhaps the line was too long, we encountered other rowdy shoppers, or maybe we couldn’t find that one item we really needed.

But for one Woolworths customer, a recent trip to their local store turned out to be more confusing (and frustrating) than usual.

The customer posted on Reddit, a popular social media forum, to relay his experience while shopping at Woolies just recently.

He shared that after queuing at a manned checkout, the cashier asked him to bag the groceries into his shopping bags.

View attachment 8746

The customer was confused why they were asked to bag their own groceries – at a manned checkout. Credit: SHVETS production in Pexels

‘The cashier told me to bag groceries myself (had about $130 bucks worth). When questioned whether this was their job or COVID measure, the cashier responded by stating “it made the process faster”,’ they wrote in their post.

The customer’s post sparked a discussion in the comments section, and said that this experience left him ‘curious’.

‘I obliged but was left curious whether this is accepted, tolerated, and normal nowadays. I should also highlight this is not the self-checkout area,’ the customer continued.

One user wrote: ‘Coles and Woolworths charge 30 to 50 per cent more than ALDI, so they should be bagging for you. Personally, I choose to shop at ALDI and save that money.’

Another added: ‘Yeah, that would annoy me. If I wanted to bag my own groceries, I’d go to self-checkout or ALDI.’

View attachment 8747

Where do you like to shop, members? Credit: Karolina Grabowska in Pexels

A separate user commented: ‘I know everyone needs a job but if you can’t do your job accordingly then sorry get a new one…sorry you had to pack your own.’

To which the customer replied: ‘Would be more upsetting if an elderly or less-able person was asked to do this. But yes, it is their job.’

Others said that they’ve never been asked to bag their own items. However, if they see other shoppers waiting behind them, then they help bag the items and add that helping out is entirely their choice.

A cashier offered more insight on the matter: ‘I go faster when I pack myself. Why they thought you packing is faster is beyond me. I work at Woolies and really shouldn’t have asked unless you have dirty bags or something like that. We have a sign on our register to answer the question of packing bags saying the process is faster if we do it.’

Someone else shared that they were on ‘both sides of the fence’.

‘In your defence, you do pay a slightly more premium price at Woolies to have your own groceries bagged at checkout. I used to do that job and believe me, the checkout worker you had would be in the wrong and could get into trouble for making you do your own groceries,’ they started.

But then offered another perspective: ‘However on the other hand…we are the only developed western country who makes staff bag customers groceries. But yeah, to each their own.’

A spokesperson from Woolworths said:

‘Our checkout operators are expected to bag groceries at our manned checkouts if that’s the customers wish, as per our bagging policy.’

Key Takeaways

• A Woolworths supermarket customer revealed that a cashier had asked them to pack their own groceries at a manned checkout.
• In their post, the Reddit user said he was confused by the experience, and questioned whether this was now normal practice.
• A Woolworths employee responded to the post, stating that there’s only one reason that customers may be asked to pack their own bags is if the bags are dirty.
• Other Reddit users said the cashier’s request would frustrate them, but others agreed with the cashier, saying they preferred to pack their own bags.

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you agree that staff should pack your groceries at checkouts, or do you prefer doing it yourself? Let us know in the comments!

 

[Pat T]

I would have gone SO slow that she would soon have started packing.

 

[Vinylted]

We used to have that here too, in the early days of supermarkets, but it died out in the late 1970s-early 1980s.

My son earned welcome pocket money as a "redcoat" at Safeway (now Woolies) packing groceries into bags, collecting trolleys etc.. now all phased out in the name of the great god profit!

 

[Capsam]

I do my bit as the customer by placing items on counter grouped. E.G. all soft breads etc together, all frozen together, all dairy together etc. I bring heaps of bags and as a senior I expect cashier to bag as they go. I lift my own bags into trolley. Fairs fair, I am not an employee, I am a customer & service is fast disappearing out the door with online everything!

 

[Trudi]

I am very particular as to how my bags are packed. For example, I don't want cleaning products in the same bag as food items or breakables in the same bag as flour or sugar. For this reason, I do not allow a checkout operator to pack my bags and because stores like Coles or Woolies don't have packing areas for customers, I place my purchase back into the trolley and pack next to my car.

Various supermarkets I have visited in Europe (Germany, Austria) are run in the same way as Aldi, you place your purchases back into the trolley and pack in the packing area after you paid. On one occasion I attempted placing things into a shopping bag and was very quickly told off by the checkout operator.

The elderly are coping quite well in Europe. My mother lived independently until her 95th birthday and did all of her shopping by herself.

 

[Liz]

As I am now using Aldi more, I had a worker tell me it is faster if I have multiples of items to put only one on the conveyer belt and tell the operator how many I have in my trolley. It does speed things up as there is usually only one checkout open at the Aldi I use and the line is quite long. Woolies however, I feel because of their dearer prices, could at least help me pack my groceries.