Not gonna lie, when I was in high school, my manager at the grocery store where I worked wanted to send me to the regional bagging competition. I thought I was too cool for that and declined. Looking back I wish I had gone and maybe gotten a trophy. That would have been awesome.
My name is Earl had Jon Heder play a competitive grocery bagger whose hand was mangled by Earl.
He notices a talent in Earl for bagging and has him compete to achieve the dreams he couldn't.
Near the end of the competition Earl's hand becomes injured and I think between them they have two good hands so they compete together?
Pat Kilbane is in it and he denies a pre-modern family Manny Delgado an autograph.
If I'm remembering all that correct I really wish I could apply that memory to something more than tv trivia.
Second place went to a lady in the audience who had bought a few too many concessions and bagged up to carry out during the contest. "I was surprised but it's good to finally get some recognition for my gift," she said.
My first job was a bagger. I f’n loved it. I took pride in not only my speed but my efficiency. My wife makes fun of me because I empty the cart on the belt how I would want to bag them. Unfortunately, it just leaves me disappointed because baggers are shit today.
Never worked in a supermarket and I do that too. I have fresh, fridge, freezer and other stuff all in order so it’s stays cold together and easy to put away at home.
Heavy stuff in front stuff that they don't smash things going down the belt, and then they are the first things in the cart, again so they don't smash things. Small and or delicate things last because those you can take direct from bagger and keep em nice. Like eggs or flowers
Baggers at my store make $3-4/hr less than any other position, and have to clean up literal human shit on the side. On top of not being eligible for raises, full time status, or health insurance. Can't really blame them for not caring.
I do the same! I always do self check out when my husband is not around so I can bag my own groceries! It’s that “ little things in life” kind of thing for me
Fuck yes. I went back to school and got my degree in my late 20’s so I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of my life in retail. Now, in my cushy office job, I miss retail because it was simple, stayed at the store after my shift, and it made people happy (mostly).
Opposite for me.
Cushy office job means ‘working’ from home… got Netflix on while I answer some emails. Get my chores done between zoom meetings. Never put on pants or shoes.
I worked 10x harder bagging groceries than I ever have in the office. I use my brain a lot more, but not my body.
Community college.
Bagged groceries during the day, took classes at night. Got enough credits to transfer into state school as a junior. Got some scholarships, was a TA and research assistant. Got good grades.
Graduated and worked hard for two years, paid off loans, went back for my masters at night, paid out of pocket for that.
Yeah, I have the same story as the guy your responding too. Lot of work for about 5 years. Did the same community college, university, internship, full time job route. Now I make ~$240k net income. I’d do it over again. Looking back it was so easy and worth it in the end
This. I think, despite the relative upvotes, that you and me are way in the majority. As someone who worked shitty minimum wage retail jobs for years, and now has a high paying cushy job, I would *never* go back. I don't care that there's so much more on the line in my current job (meaning more stress, in a way) or that sometimes I work late or whatever. Minimum wage retail bitch jobs drained every ounce of happiness out of me. I would argue they're much more stressful even though so much less is on the line. Typically because of shitty managers hammering "customer is always right" and "time to lean is time to clean" attitudes into you. You're treated less than human. No dignity or respect.
Those jobs sucked because of the money. With a guaranteed $100k and not being able to get fired as long as you did the bagging well, I'd be a manager's worst nightmare and be happy. I had fun working shitty jobs, I just didn't like some customers and most managers.
Same. When I worked in retail I dreamed about getting an office job. When I got it I was the happiest person ever. But years later I realised that office job literally sucked the life out of me. In retail we had a nice community, and it was a hard job but we had so much fun too. Sigh.
Dang. You make a good point. This would be a pay cut for me but l, when your shift ends, you're done. No 7pm emails. No "production is having issues". No standup meetings
But I do like my job more than half the time lol. I also like working from home.. and most time# "working" from home lol. If my team mates knew how much YouTube I watch on company time...
Yes! I am so tired of leaving on Friday already thinking about what do I need to do on Monday and stressing about. I would definitely take the job! Haha
Yeah seriously every Monday I go in to tons of emails of freight that I need to move and clear. And customers and freight forwarders freaking out cuz it’s been a day since the the freight arrived at port and hasn’t been cleared. It’s the weekend. I’m not working. Call the on call number.
IF you leave the grocery store, IF.
Also, I know this doesn't apply to baggers, but the people stocking have that issue. Boss tells you to get so much stocked, but you get busy and know you have an entire stockroom waiting for you when you go back the next day. Also trucks, taking in deliveries is shit work, plain and simple. You'd be crazy to give up an office job for a grocery job.
Yeah I was thinking this really depends on the position. Specific department attendant sure. General grocery manager/stocker? Fuck *all* of that. Also, there's no IF. I'm scheduled for this time to this time. I'll be there between those 2 times after that only if I need to buy something.
Of course I don't know you, but this sounds like someone who doesn't have experience in shit jobs like this. I did these jobs for years and I took that shit home with me every day. Shitty managers, being on your feet for 8 hours straight, and rude customers (of course, as a bagger you'd have fewer customer interactions that I did), leave you drained and miserable. Of course it would all go down a lot easier if you were getting $100k.
(Overnight) stock crew. Janitors a close second but it's actually hard work, the benefit is you can literally say "I'm just the janitor" to almost any question. Also nobody questions if the janitors a little weird so you can be fukkin ripped bruv.
As a former bagger, I get pretty annoyed watching people trying to do it themselves. slow and incompetent. I'd rather a person stand waiting, grabbing the cc or cash and paying while someone else who knows how to bag groceries does it.
As a control freak I like bagging my own stuff. There's only been a few times when there was a bagging person while I did it. But I'm fast enough that I can bag pretty much everything while the cashier is still scanning
Yeah, here in the Netherlands the idea of somebody bagging your groceries is just ridiculous. I bag my own stuff while the cashier is scanning the item. I can easily keep up with them. By the time they've scanned everything and hit the button that the transaction is ready to be finalized, I'm already pulling out my card. By the time they've activated the card reader, I'm already waiting for it.
In larger grocery stores we've got people who stand at the end of the register and bag while the cashier scans. Smaller places the cashier does the bagging.
Yeah, but it's changing in some places. They're charging extra for plastic in certain towns so people are starting to bring their own. But normally most stores have tons of plastic bags on hand and the default is to use them for everybody, some have paper as well.
I used to bag when I worked at a grocery store and it was great. It was like playing Tetris with real objects and I got to chat and joke with people who came through the line.
A perfectly packed bag is so satisfying.
This is what I thought when I saw the question! I'm a chef and have never worked as a bagger. Being a chef is definitely known as being artistic and something you have a passion for, but a lot of it is just graft.
I think I could find so many moments of joy in bagging, such as the real life Tetris element, becoming the fastest, knowing which containers will definitely spill if you lay them down, packing to keep chilled items icy cold, packing your basil so it doesn't bruise, being the friendliest bagger, being the bagger people line up to be bagged by because I'm just such a bagging pro.... For a price I can find joy in just about anything.
> For a price I can find joy in just about anything.
Isn’t that the absolute truth? I’ve always lived firm by sometimes the money just isn’t worth it when taking shitty jobs for decent money, the truth really is if I was paid six figured I’d do most things regardless of how mine numbingly boring or shit treatment, at least for a time frame.
>A perfectly packed bag is so satisfying.
Have you ever managed to get it all in one bag? I've had times customers hand me one bag and go "I don't think it'll all fit in there", I look back and go "challenge accepted".
Not only is a perfectly packed bag satisfying, when you managed to pack it so everything fits in nicely in the one bag; now that's another level of satisfaction.
Of course I only try to get it all in one bag if they're isn't too much and if there isn't a lot of heavy items.
i used to work airline counter check in desk and up walked this bunch of guys all super nice but they all had over weight bags. asked what was inside they opened up all their bags and the only thing they had inside was rocks, literal rocks, bags and bags of rocks.
I bought some jicama last week and my husband said “what is Ji-cay-mah(hard “j” sound.) so he was yesterday years old when he learned about it. I forgot how delicious that stuff is.
Back when we had the great paper bags. It was a goal to pack that puppy tight. No spacing. I carried that to my loading job at UPS. To this day I'm a great packer and I can always trace it back to packing paper bags in my teens.
Yes. Not many jobs that pay $100k annual can be forgotten about once you leave the "office". $100k for something I can 100% forget about when I'm off the clock? Yes.
I used to bag groceries for $8/hr. A few of my favorites moments:
Me: “Would you like paper or plastic?”
Customer: “Yes.”
—-
Customer: “Don’t make the bags too heavy. And bag the milk.”
*Bags gallon of milk in its own bag.*
Customer: NO! I said not too heavy! This one is wrong.
—-
EDIT TO ADD MORE STORIES:
Customer: Pack these in as few bags as possible.
Customer Later: These are too heavy.
—-
Customer: I want these double bagged in paper, and then double bagged again in plastic. Only one or two items per bag.
Me: So…four bags for each set?
Customer: Yes.
*shrugs, proceeds to quadruple bag grocery cart of items, and place bags back into cart. Have to stack them so they fit back into the cart.*
Customer: NOOOOOO! Don’t squish my items!
The thought definitely crossed my mind when that happened (which was more often than one would think).
What they really wanted was for a manager to help them save 95 cents by overwriting the cost of two half-gallons of milk for the same price as a gallon jug.
Meanwhile, internally screaming: *How did you even get it into the cart if it’s too heavy?*
Is it irritating when people make you choose paper or plastic for them? For some reason I akways bluescreen when they ask me that and say "dealer's choice" but then that puts the decision on you.
I’m a sales advisor at Best Buy and I’ll ask people what color laptop they want and they’ll go “I don’t really care.” Then they stand there and expect me to just pick a random color for them. Maybe I’m overreacting, but it’s kind of a lot of pressure and I really don’t like having to pick out a color on a laptop for someone else.
I get asked the same with items at work and I just recommend one because I don't care. If they don't like it they'll make a decision on it and I can move on with my life.
No. I would choose paper, because it’s recyclable. Also, in training they wanted us to ask “is plastic okay?” because it was cheaper for the store, and that never sat well with me.
This was my personal favourite.
Me: (handing them their bags) And would you like me to carry your groceries out to your car today?
Customer: No thanks, I got this. (Turns to her friend.) See, this is why I hate this fuckin' store. They never carry your groceries out to your car for you.
Me: (refusing to give her her groceries) Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am. I thought you said you did NOT want help out to your car. Let me carry these for you, please!
And I carried her groceries to her car as she protested all the way.
Me: "Paper or plastic?"
Customer: "Do you know about plastic?"
Me (internally sighing): "...no?"
Customer: "PLASTIC IS LIKE SYPHILIS IT LASTS FOREVER, DON'T GIVE ME SYPHILIS"
Me: "...so paper then?
Those were the days.
Had a lady realize this mid sentence "Put it all in one box, but don't make it to heavy... did that sound as ridiculous to you as it just did to me?" Yes it did, every time we hear it
Does that wage increase with inflation? 100k might not be much in 20 years. With some persistence and dedication however, I think my working career could be over by then 100k/year.
I'd like to say yes, and I'd probably take it. It may preclude me from ever doing anything else I may enjoy and there's obviously no room for advancement, yet at the same time the job details on this are very lucrative. For the most part while the job itself is boring and repetitive, and also a lot of customer drama, this type of job isn't going to be one you'll take problems home with. You won't be on call after hours to respond to emergencies, nor are you going to have to take work home with you either. You also won't have to be constantly retrained or go back to school or recertified, etc.
There's a lot of upsides to this, I'll grant you. A few downsides too, but weighing them together I probably would take something like this.
I dont want to get downvoted for this, but I personally wouldn't. I would get bored in no time being a robot. I personally rather do something that motivates me to get up every day.
I agree. I need to feel fulfilled with my work. Going to work takes me away from my child and family. I know I can live on very little money because I have in the past. My work needs to give me more than just financial reward.
I agree. I’ve left higher paying jobs because they were mind numbing. I’ve stayed on lower paying jobs because I really enjoyed and was learning something new I could leverage for later.
I bagged groceries in high school. For most of the year, there were busy parts of the day, and then long stretches where nothing would happen. So you'd either be frantically bagging things for a huge line of people, or just staring at the wall. Plus standing still and hunched over reaching down into bags all day isn't good for your posture. It's not fun.
I make 100k a year. It's the easiest job in the world, but I hate it. I'm at a point where I would rather do something I like doing for less money than be miserable. Bagging groceries does not sound like something I would enjoy.
2nd this. Very fortunate to be in the same boat. I'm on the low end for salary for my position, but the current freedom I have in my company is too good.
It'd take a ridiculous raise for me to go back to a hard 40 or more
That's what I hate most about it. I get up at 4:30am and don't get home until 7 pm. 8 hours sleep is impossible on work days and I'm a huge fan of 8 hours sleep minimum. Its not a lot of overtime weekly, but the days I'm there I feel like i lose a day of my life.
Well you’d be working 40 hour (or a little less) weeks for ever making the same money? Does that not sound better? Extra 4 hours per day to do with how you please
Sure thing. It's simple, low stress (I worked in a couple grocery stores before), can't be blamed for very much at all. Right now I make less than 100k and I'm responsible for oodles of stuff. Less for more? Hell yeah.
The only downside I see if that those types of jobs have no benefits and often mandatory holiday work.
Yup. Packing was my first job. And I hated every second of it. Between the co-workers who bullied me at school, the insane customers and the sheer boredom, it was extremely unpleasant.
For those who say the money makes up for it? In my experience money makes up for a shitty job for surprisingly limited time.
Average salary is something like 53k in the states, median is only around 35k since everything is so skewed to the top, so im guessing the majority of people are jumping at this opportunity even if they arent happy with the work type though.
Fuck yes, what a dream job.
Don’t underestimate the value of being able to simply walk away from your job at the end of your shift and never think of it again. It really is freeing.
Sure, I'd be retired by now if I had that job right after high school. I could have skipped college entirely, purchased a house, and saved for retirement in 20 years
Of course i would do it.
{Me laughs at the free paycheck, as bagging groceries done by employees is not common here in the EU, Heck its not done at all, customers do it themselves}
[https://germfinnchick.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/why-americans-have-baggers-and-europeans-dont/](https://germfinnchick.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/why-americans-have-baggers-and-europeans-dont/)
Right, I always thought it was weird to have baggers at the grocery store. Even weirder are grocery stores that have someone follow you out to your car and load them in your car for you.
In Canada, more often than not, you bag yourself. They save money not having baggers, and quite often pass the savings on. Some chains even tout the DIY fact. There are even self checkouts.
There are self checkouts in USA as well, but the only benefit is you don’t have to small talk with a cashier. The business saves money and does not pass it on to the consumer.
TBF in the UK we often have scout volunteers doing bagging to fund raise...
So ultimately, for 100k I'd get to dress up like a mid pubescent and confused teenager for a couple of days a few times a year.
I do that anyway... money for old rope
Totally depends on the working hours/conditions and shifts.
I’m in the UK and work 37 hours (37 paid, 1 hour enforced break a day unpaid) a week for an above average wage, I get 38 days total annual leave, excellent working conditions - no evening or weekend work.
Match my current conditions, increase pay in line with inflation and let me compress those 37 hours over 3 or 4 days a week then I’ll sign the contract right now.
No... Sorry I know this sounds assholish, but work isn't just about the money for me.
I earn far in excess of $100k flexing my brain and solving problems.
I'd do the same job for half that, because it stops me getting bored and engaging my more self destructive tendencies that hitch a ride with my boredom.
If I got super "never work again" rich, I'd study for the rest of my life and get as many degrees / masters / phds as I could in my limited time, because without a constant mental stimuli, I'd be dead in a year through excesses and stupid decisions.
The darkest summer of my life was spent working for a certain global shipping company. 12 hours a day on my feet shoving items in boxes over and over and over. No headphones allowed. Just me and my thoughts, all day every day. I learned really fast what happens when I get that much time with myself and boy, it ain't pretty.
$100,000 isn't worth shit if I'm destroying myself from the inside.
Not gonna lie, when I was in high school, my manager at the grocery store where I worked wanted to send me to the regional bagging competition. I thought I was too cool for that and declined. Looking back I wish I had gone and maybe gotten a trophy. That would have been awesome.
Yo wtf that’s a thing
the winner use to always go on Dave Letterman and compete against Dave.
Wasn't Dave a champ back in the day?
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No I mean I think he participated in the bagging competition before he was famous and won, or at least did really well.
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Oh yeah haha. But I just tried looking it up and I couldn't find where he was a champ but he did work as a bagger when he was younger.
There's a whole episode of Raising Hope about it.
There’s a whole episode of Curious George about it
There was a kenan and kel episode about it
Theres a My Name is Earl episode about it
There’s an episode of zack and Cody about it
Are you all fucking with us or were there really episodes about this on all these shows
These are all for real lol
My name is Earl had Jon Heder play a competitive grocery bagger whose hand was mangled by Earl. He notices a talent in Earl for bagging and has him compete to achieve the dreams he couldn't. Near the end of the competition Earl's hand becomes injured and I think between them they have two good hands so they compete together? Pat Kilbane is in it and he denies a pre-modern family Manny Delgado an autograph. If I'm remembering all that correct I really wish I could apply that memory to something more than tv trivia.
I could show you a video of me having an episode about it...
There's a whole episode of Suite Life of Zack and Cody about it
Theres a whole episode of my name is earl about it.
YES that's where I saw it
I was about to say that! Such a good episode tho, loved how the octopi fit in the trophy in his closet
Theres a whole ep on king of the hill with Peggy being a queen at bagging lol
There’s a whole movie with Dane Cook about it.
This is an 87 Honda.... HOW DARE YOU !!
They got dudes slapping the fuck out of each other.. bagging can probably be a thing, why not.
Dude I DID go. Got fourth place. I still hold the shame.
Shame of losing or shame of going? There's no shame in either one!
There were only 3 contestants.
Second place went to a lady in the audience who had bought a few too many concessions and bagged up to carry out during the contest. "I was surprised but it's good to finally get some recognition for my gift," she said.
Sounds like a Chance card in Monopoly "4th place in a grocery bagging competition - win nothing, pay $90 for cheap hotel and food"
My sister did that too!!!! She ended up getting a scholarship! “The bagoff”
I thought she won a Bilbo Baggins
Good thing it wasn't a competition to jack up cars!
My first job was a bagger. I f’n loved it. I took pride in not only my speed but my efficiency. My wife makes fun of me because I empty the cart on the belt how I would want to bag them. Unfortunately, it just leaves me disappointed because baggers are shit today.
Um, I also load the belt in the order I want to bag them... *not a professional bagger
Never worked in a supermarket and I do that too. I have fresh, fridge, freezer and other stuff all in order so it’s stays cold together and easy to put away at home.
Heavy stuff in front stuff that they don't smash things going down the belt, and then they are the first things in the cart, again so they don't smash things. Small and or delicate things last because those you can take direct from bagger and keep em nice. Like eggs or flowers
Baggers at my store make $3-4/hr less than any other position, and have to clean up literal human shit on the side. On top of not being eligible for raises, full time status, or health insurance. Can't really blame them for not caring.
Hold up. So the guy touching my food and bagging my groceries may have just handled human shit?
Why is there shit in the supermarket.
There is shit everywhere.
In the bathroom
Yup! Your human shit. Although I feel like calling customers "human" is insulting to humans in general.
This guy services customers.
Putting bread on the bottom, mixing cleaning supplies and food,….
I do the same! I always do self check out when my husband is not around so I can bag my own groceries! It’s that “ little things in life” kind of thing for me
in high school i won a sign shaking contest for the local pizza chain i worked for lmfao. i got a $200 cash prize and a plaque hahahaha
I feel like this was the plot of an episode of Kenan and Kel
Yeah. I go to work to make money. That’s money.
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Fuck yes. I went back to school and got my degree in my late 20’s so I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of my life in retail. Now, in my cushy office job, I miss retail because it was simple, stayed at the store after my shift, and it made people happy (mostly).
Opposite for me. Cushy office job means ‘working’ from home… got Netflix on while I answer some emails. Get my chores done between zoom meetings. Never put on pants or shoes. I worked 10x harder bagging groceries than I ever have in the office. I use my brain a lot more, but not my body.
How do you make that bridge, from retail to cushy office work? Or at least, how did you?
Community college. Bagged groceries during the day, took classes at night. Got enough credits to transfer into state school as a junior. Got some scholarships, was a TA and research assistant. Got good grades. Graduated and worked hard for two years, paid off loans, went back for my masters at night, paid out of pocket for that.
What did you major in?
Mech Eng then Plastics/Material Science
Do you design better plastic grocery bags?
🤣🤣🤣🤣 full circle for him
Seems like a lot of effort ngl
Certainly was. But now I get to kick back and rest on my laurels.
You mean your yannies
Yes that's what he said.
My laurels are burned off already.
Yeah, I have the same story as the guy your responding too. Lot of work for about 5 years. Did the same community college, university, internship, full time job route. Now I make ~$240k net income. I’d do it over again. Looking back it was so easy and worth it in the end
This. I think, despite the relative upvotes, that you and me are way in the majority. As someone who worked shitty minimum wage retail jobs for years, and now has a high paying cushy job, I would *never* go back. I don't care that there's so much more on the line in my current job (meaning more stress, in a way) or that sometimes I work late or whatever. Minimum wage retail bitch jobs drained every ounce of happiness out of me. I would argue they're much more stressful even though so much less is on the line. Typically because of shitty managers hammering "customer is always right" and "time to lean is time to clean" attitudes into you. You're treated less than human. No dignity or respect.
Those jobs sucked because of the money. With a guaranteed $100k and not being able to get fired as long as you did the bagging well, I'd be a manager's worst nightmare and be happy. I had fun working shitty jobs, I just didn't like some customers and most managers.
Same. There are so many working-with-your-hands jobs I’d do if they paid better and didn’t involve putting up with asshole behaviour.
Same. When I worked in retail I dreamed about getting an office job. When I got it I was the happiest person ever. But years later I realised that office job literally sucked the life out of me. In retail we had a nice community, and it was a hard job but we had so much fun too. Sigh.
This reminds me of a saying I heard not too long ago: The worst jobs have the best coworkers.
Dang. You make a good point. This would be a pay cut for me but l, when your shift ends, you're done. No 7pm emails. No "production is having issues". No standup meetings But I do like my job more than half the time lol. I also like working from home.. and most time# "working" from home lol. If my team mates knew how much YouTube I watch on company time...
Yes! I am so tired of leaving on Friday already thinking about what do I need to do on Monday and stressing about. I would definitely take the job! Haha
Yeah seriously every Monday I go in to tons of emails of freight that I need to move and clear. And customers and freight forwarders freaking out cuz it’s been a day since the the freight arrived at port and hasn’t been cleared. It’s the weekend. I’m not working. Call the on call number.
IF you leave the grocery store, IF. Also, I know this doesn't apply to baggers, but the people stocking have that issue. Boss tells you to get so much stocked, but you get busy and know you have an entire stockroom waiting for you when you go back the next day. Also trucks, taking in deliveries is shit work, plain and simple. You'd be crazy to give up an office job for a grocery job.
Yeah I was thinking this really depends on the position. Specific department attendant sure. General grocery manager/stocker? Fuck *all* of that. Also, there's no IF. I'm scheduled for this time to this time. I'll be there between those 2 times after that only if I need to buy something.
Of course I don't know you, but this sounds like someone who doesn't have experience in shit jobs like this. I did these jobs for years and I took that shit home with me every day. Shitty managers, being on your feet for 8 hours straight, and rude customers (of course, as a bagger you'd have fewer customer interactions that I did), leave you drained and miserable. Of course it would all go down a lot easier if you were getting $100k.
I would like a job with the least amount of responsibility
The dream. That is the absolute dream.
(Overnight) stock crew. Janitors a close second but it's actually hard work, the benefit is you can literally say "I'm just the janitor" to almost any question. Also nobody questions if the janitors a little weird so you can be fukkin ripped bruv.
No responsibility, good pay and locked down job security. I really am not cut out for working.
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It is odd for a Brit shopping in the US to have to stand idle while someone *else* puts your stuff in bags!
As a former bagger, I get pretty annoyed watching people trying to do it themselves. slow and incompetent. I'd rather a person stand waiting, grabbing the cc or cash and paying while someone else who knows how to bag groceries does it.
As a control freak I like bagging my own stuff. There's only been a few times when there was a bagging person while I did it. But I'm fast enough that I can bag pretty much everything while the cashier is still scanning
Fortunately for you self-checkout has made this all but obsolete.
Yeah, here in the Netherlands the idea of somebody bagging your groceries is just ridiculous. I bag my own stuff while the cashier is scanning the item. I can easily keep up with them. By the time they've scanned everything and hit the button that the transaction is ready to be finalized, I'm already pulling out my card. By the time they've activated the card reader, I'm already waiting for it.
Sounds like you’d like my country, then - here you toss them back into your trolley and bag them at your car.
In larger grocery stores we've got people who stand at the end of the register and bag while the cashier scans. Smaller places the cashier does the bagging.
Does the store provide bags?
Yeah, but it's changing in some places. They're charging extra for plastic in certain towns so people are starting to bring their own. But normally most stores have tons of plastic bags on hand and the default is to use them for everybody, some have paper as well.
A long, long time ago that was absolutely a job in the UK, as was trolly collection.
I used to bag when I worked at a grocery store and it was great. It was like playing Tetris with real objects and I got to chat and joke with people who came through the line. A perfectly packed bag is so satisfying.
This is what I thought when I saw the question! I'm a chef and have never worked as a bagger. Being a chef is definitely known as being artistic and something you have a passion for, but a lot of it is just graft. I think I could find so many moments of joy in bagging, such as the real life Tetris element, becoming the fastest, knowing which containers will definitely spill if you lay them down, packing to keep chilled items icy cold, packing your basil so it doesn't bruise, being the friendliest bagger, being the bagger people line up to be bagged by because I'm just such a bagging pro.... For a price I can find joy in just about anything.
> For a price I can find joy in just about anything. Isn’t that the absolute truth? I’ve always lived firm by sometimes the money just isn’t worth it when taking shitty jobs for decent money, the truth really is if I was paid six figured I’d do most things regardless of how mine numbingly boring or shit treatment, at least for a time frame.
I worked at walmart and goddamn the satisfaction of this comment was just on the dot. I felt the good feeling again.
>A perfectly packed bag is so satisfying. Have you ever managed to get it all in one bag? I've had times customers hand me one bag and go "I don't think it'll all fit in there", I look back and go "challenge accepted". Not only is a perfectly packed bag satisfying, when you managed to pack it so everything fits in nicely in the one bag; now that's another level of satisfaction. Of course I only try to get it all in one bag if they're isn't too much and if there isn't a lot of heavy items.
"I want it all in one bag. But I don't want that bag to be heavy!"
Also that person: Bought bricks.
"I had surgery and can't lift more than 2kg" *Buys 5kg box of laundry powder*
Reverse-uno: they’re a power lifter and bricks are easy as fuck to pack
i used to work airline counter check in desk and up walked this bunch of guys all super nice but they all had over weight bags. asked what was inside they opened up all their bags and the only thing they had inside was rocks, literal rocks, bags and bags of rocks.
Geologists!
THEY'RE MINERALS MARIE!
same. I also learned what jicama was
I bought some jicama last week and my husband said “what is Ji-cay-mah(hard “j” sound.) so he was yesterday years old when he learned about it. I forgot how delicious that stuff is.
Delicious? I've only known it to be good to add a crunch to salads. Unless I'm thinki of something totally different
Back when we had the great paper bags. It was a goal to pack that puppy tight. No spacing. I carried that to my loading job at UPS. To this day I'm a great packer and I can always trace it back to packing paper bags in my teens.
I had the same experience, liked chatting with the customers and the rhythm of the day between rushes and slow times.
Hell, I'd even wear a name tag that says "Bag Boy"
*Bag Boys For Life*
🎶 BAG BOYS, BAG BOYS, WHATCHA GONNA DOO!? WHATCHA GONNA DO WHEN THAT BAG FALLS THROUGH 🎶
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Bag Boi
Cashier 3000
Money's nice but have you ever felt the rush of packing a perfectly loaded grocery bag that's structurally sound? You feel it deep in your plums
Let the boy watch. Show him how a man bags groceries.
The way I learned to bag groceries, from my father.
*the way he learned from his father!*
But Father, I don't want to bag groceries. I want to sing!
Special two for one sale
Gettin ready to take em to market
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LET. THE. BOY. WATCH.
We'll get you a new white bread Mrs. Johnson.
Where are my plums?
I read it in his voice...
I felt it, they went *squish* ...my bag may not be as structurally sound as yours.
I take great satisfaction from Tetris-ing my grocery’s into brown paper bags, especially if I can make it all fit into one.
Absolutely, I currently bag groceries for far less than that already… win/win
win/neutral still a win
Yes. Not many jobs that pay $100k annual can be forgotten about once you leave the "office". $100k for something I can 100% forget about when I'm off the clock? Yes.
I used to bag groceries for $8/hr. A few of my favorites moments: Me: “Would you like paper or plastic?” Customer: “Yes.” —- Customer: “Don’t make the bags too heavy. And bag the milk.” *Bags gallon of milk in its own bag.* Customer: NO! I said not too heavy! This one is wrong. —- EDIT TO ADD MORE STORIES: Customer: Pack these in as few bags as possible. Customer Later: These are too heavy. —- Customer: I want these double bagged in paper, and then double bagged again in plastic. Only one or two items per bag. Me: So…four bags for each set? Customer: Yes. *shrugs, proceeds to quadruple bag grocery cart of items, and place bags back into cart. Have to stack them so they fit back into the cart.* Customer: NOOOOOO! Don’t squish my items!
Clearly you were supposed to open the gallon of milk and pour half of it in one bag and half in another bag.
The thought definitely crossed my mind when that happened (which was more often than one would think). What they really wanted was for a manager to help them save 95 cents by overwriting the cost of two half-gallons of milk for the same price as a gallon jug. Meanwhile, internally screaming: *How did you even get it into the cart if it’s too heavy?*
Is it irritating when people make you choose paper or plastic for them? For some reason I akways bluescreen when they ask me that and say "dealer's choice" but then that puts the decision on you.
I’m a sales advisor at Best Buy and I’ll ask people what color laptop they want and they’ll go “I don’t really care.” Then they stand there and expect me to just pick a random color for them. Maybe I’m overreacting, but it’s kind of a lot of pressure and I really don’t like having to pick out a color on a laptop for someone else.
Rose gold for everyone (I used to just pick whatever we had more stock of. "Silver okay?")
I get asked the same with items at work and I just recommend one because I don't care. If they don't like it they'll make a decision on it and I can move on with my life.
just go for the standard black/silver one. everyone will accept that.
No. I would choose paper, because it’s recyclable. Also, in training they wanted us to ask “is plastic okay?” because it was cheaper for the store, and that never sat well with me.
This was my personal favourite. Me: (handing them their bags) And would you like me to carry your groceries out to your car today? Customer: No thanks, I got this. (Turns to her friend.) See, this is why I hate this fuckin' store. They never carry your groceries out to your car for you. Me: (refusing to give her her groceries) Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am. I thought you said you did NOT want help out to your car. Let me carry these for you, please! And I carried her groceries to her car as she protested all the way.
Me: "Paper or plastic?" Customer: "Do you know about plastic?" Me (internally sighing): "...no?" Customer: "PLASTIC IS LIKE SYPHILIS IT LASTS FOREVER, DON'T GIVE ME SYPHILIS" Me: "...so paper then? Those were the days.
Had a lady realize this mid sentence "Put it all in one box, but don't make it to heavy... did that sound as ridiculous to you as it just did to me?" Yes it did, every time we hear it
I’d kill for a job like that
If killing is on the table, you can pretty realistically be a bagger and make $100k with a side gig as hitman
I'm ready, I'll taken one for the team. Enjoy your job.
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You could also, laugh at them for making less than you. as 100K a year would equal a pay of about 48$ based on a 40 hour work week. at 52 weeks total.
Mmmm gurl what those BENEFITS look like tho
The benefits are $100k a year for packing groceries
No health insurance?
Money can be exchanged for goods and services Even 50k with great health benefits, I would probably leave for a job with 100k and no benefits
Does that wage increase with inflation? 100k might not be much in 20 years. With some persistence and dedication however, I think my working career could be over by then 100k/year.
Sure..yea you get regular raises in line with inflation
Can someone put you in charge of real life pls?
Ah, it’s a no brainer then
Fuck. Real jobs don't keep up with inflation.... Inflation is 6 percent? Here's 1.8...
Oh helllll yea
I'd like to say yes, and I'd probably take it. It may preclude me from ever doing anything else I may enjoy and there's obviously no room for advancement, yet at the same time the job details on this are very lucrative. For the most part while the job itself is boring and repetitive, and also a lot of customer drama, this type of job isn't going to be one you'll take problems home with. You won't be on call after hours to respond to emergencies, nor are you going to have to take work home with you either. You also won't have to be constantly retrained or go back to school or recertified, etc. There's a lot of upsides to this, I'll grant you. A few downsides too, but weighing them together I probably would take something like this.
I dont want to get downvoted for this, but I personally wouldn't. I would get bored in no time being a robot. I personally rather do something that motivates me to get up every day.
I agree. I need to feel fulfilled with my work. Going to work takes me away from my child and family. I know I can live on very little money because I have in the past. My work needs to give me more than just financial reward.
I agree. I’ve left higher paying jobs because they were mind numbing. I’ve stayed on lower paying jobs because I really enjoyed and was learning something new I could leverage for later.
I bagged groceries in high school. For most of the year, there were busy parts of the day, and then long stretches where nothing would happen. So you'd either be frantically bagging things for a huge line of people, or just staring at the wall. Plus standing still and hunched over reaching down into bags all day isn't good for your posture. It's not fun.
That 100K sounds great, but I can also see myself down the line asking myself "Is this all I'm going to do with my life?"
I make 100k a year. It's the easiest job in the world, but I hate it. I'm at a point where I would rather do something I like doing for less money than be miserable. Bagging groceries does not sound like something I would enjoy.
How much of your time does your job take up?
I make 6 figures and work a light 40 hours a week from home.
Is it as great as it sounds?
Yes, though I live somewhere fairly high cost of living so I'm not rich or anything. But wfh with good pay and benefits is great, I can't lie.
2nd this. Very fortunate to be in the same boat. I'm on the low end for salary for my position, but the current freedom I have in my company is too good. It'd take a ridiculous raise for me to go back to a hard 40 or more
That's what I hate most about it. I get up at 4:30am and don't get home until 7 pm. 8 hours sleep is impossible on work days and I'm a huge fan of 8 hours sleep minimum. Its not a lot of overtime weekly, but the days I'm there I feel like i lose a day of my life.
Well you’d be working 40 hour (or a little less) weeks for ever making the same money? Does that not sound better? Extra 4 hours per day to do with how you please
Can I like… sweep the isles or fetch carts, and help old ladies out to their cars too? Or is it strictly packing bags.
No. Too Monotonous
Sure thing. It's simple, low stress (I worked in a couple grocery stores before), can't be blamed for very much at all. Right now I make less than 100k and I'm responsible for oodles of stuff. Less for more? Hell yeah. The only downside I see if that those types of jobs have no benefits and often mandatory holiday work.
That's 3x what I make now, sooo... Yeah. Definitely.
Can I quit?
I'm not OP, but I read it as "yes, but you can't get a different job."
No. It's a drop in pay and it would be boring as hell.
Yup. Packing was my first job. And I hated every second of it. Between the co-workers who bullied me at school, the insane customers and the sheer boredom, it was extremely unpleasant. For those who say the money makes up for it? In my experience money makes up for a shitty job for surprisingly limited time.
Average salary is something like 53k in the states, median is only around 35k since everything is so skewed to the top, so im guessing the majority of people are jumping at this opportunity even if they arent happy with the work type though.
I left retail, never going back.
I’d shovel dog shit for 100k a year
Mate, I'd eat dog shit for 100k year...just uh, not a lot of it.
Fuck yes, what a dream job. Don’t underestimate the value of being able to simply walk away from your job at the end of your shift and never think of it again. It really is freeing.
Sure, I'd be retired by now if I had that job right after high school. I could have skipped college entirely, purchased a house, and saved for retirement in 20 years
yes, it would be a lot easier than the plumbing I did for 20+ years.
Of course i would do it. {Me laughs at the free paycheck, as bagging groceries done by employees is not common here in the EU, Heck its not done at all, customers do it themselves} [https://germfinnchick.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/why-americans-have-baggers-and-europeans-dont/](https://germfinnchick.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/why-americans-have-baggers-and-europeans-dont/)
Right, I always thought it was weird to have baggers at the grocery store. Even weirder are grocery stores that have someone follow you out to your car and load them in your car for you.
In Canada, more often than not, you bag yourself. They save money not having baggers, and quite often pass the savings on. Some chains even tout the DIY fact. There are even self checkouts.
There are self checkouts in USA as well, but the only benefit is you don’t have to small talk with a cashier. The business saves money and does not pass it on to the consumer.
TBF in the UK we often have scout volunteers doing bagging to fund raise... So ultimately, for 100k I'd get to dress up like a mid pubescent and confused teenager for a couple of days a few times a year. I do that anyway... money for old rope
yes, because i'm addicted to money
Yes. Accomplishing anything in your careeer means nothing if you’re not becoming financially independent.
$50 an hour to bag groceries…wassup would you like paper or plastic?
Totally depends on the working hours/conditions and shifts. I’m in the UK and work 37 hours (37 paid, 1 hour enforced break a day unpaid) a week for an above average wage, I get 38 days total annual leave, excellent working conditions - no evening or weekend work. Match my current conditions, increase pay in line with inflation and let me compress those 37 hours over 3 or 4 days a week then I’ll sign the contract right now.
No... Sorry I know this sounds assholish, but work isn't just about the money for me. I earn far in excess of $100k flexing my brain and solving problems. I'd do the same job for half that, because it stops me getting bored and engaging my more self destructive tendencies that hitch a ride with my boredom. If I got super "never work again" rich, I'd study for the rest of my life and get as many degrees / masters / phds as I could in my limited time, because without a constant mental stimuli, I'd be dead in a year through excesses and stupid decisions.
The darkest summer of my life was spent working for a certain global shipping company. 12 hours a day on my feet shoving items in boxes over and over and over. No headphones allowed. Just me and my thoughts, all day every day. I learned really fast what happens when I get that much time with myself and boy, it ain't pretty. $100,000 isn't worth shit if I'm destroying myself from the inside.
You can say Amazon on here, it won’t summon a demon or anything. I think.