Plaza Extra Etiquette?

A CHANGE JAR?? That should make you very popular with them.

Um yea, 4 quarters = $1 ? 8 Quarters = $2, or do you think I should give them a $20 bill instead Linda? I think the $20 bill would be good to gain popularity with the Plaza Extra baggers, thanks for reminding me about the, "Most Popular Plaza Extra Tipping Customer" and how to help the baggers make more money than me show!

I give up posting on here......:-X

Never thought I'd say this but after reading some of Linda J ....... I miss Betty....go figure

Change is good ... what is wrong with a little change ??

I have tipped with change - lots of quarters = the same as dollars.

Sorry if I offended. We usually tip a dollar bill (or 2). While quarters are obviously the same thing -- it really does seem different, somehow.

I always tip $2 (in bills) at Pueblo, and I swear I get the feeling that they're looking at it like it's not enough. Maybe I'm just paranoid?

Have lived on STX 12 years and shop in all the grocery stores (though avoiding Pueblo due to the general yukkiness). I think its super nice that that the kids bag and deliver groceries to the car and I generally tip a dollar. But at times when I dont have change or think I can handle it myself I just say "thinks, I got it" and it has never been a problem whatsoever. They just go on to help the next customer. The only thing that srks me at times is that when you come with your own reusable bags they sometimes still insist on putting groceries first in plastic bags, especially at Plaza. Patience is a virtue here, especially when you are new. Little things like this, iTs best to go with the flow and handle any "little situations" with a friendly smile. We do have some much bigger problems and thing that we need to change around here. Better to save the ass-kicking energy for those.

Anybody else notice that the check out girls are friendlier at Plaza East than West?
We've wondered why that's true.

Not "real" friendly, mind you. Just friendly-er. 🙂

Anybody else notice that the check out girls are friendlier at Plaza East than West?
We've wondered why that's true.

Not "real" friendly, mind you. Just friendly-er. 🙂

Like they only sucked their teeth once or twice?

you must have hit a really good day. i have actually found the girls at pueblo ( you read that right ) to be very friendly. also food town and even schooner bay the girls are getting nicer.

ahhhh skighee....your humor was not lost on me. 😛 I was chuckling through the entire post. Thinking to myself about the good ole days when I first arrived on St. Thomas. lol The good news is that some how, for some people, this little island becomes so enchanting even with all its quirks. Hang in there. Once I made it to the six month mark things just seemed to move easier. Although most days on the island have some sort of "adventure".

Baggers are paid minimum wage by Plaza Extra, plus tips. They do make more per hour than most hourly paid employees in other service industries here and more than half of what they make is paid in tips, therefore untracked and not taxed. These young men are learning that their bagging skills are worth $12 to $20.00 and hour (one $2.00 tipping customer every 10 minutes!) .

I am all for helping hard-working kids keep good jobs and stay in school. I worked afterschool jobs myself, way back when. However, many of these kids work during school hours! Someone once said that Plaza only hires kids that are students, but I find that hard to believe given the hours they work. Even if they do "fire" them once they graduate from highschool... what good is that.? They've already learned that they are worth $20.00 an hour and that spoils them for many entry level jobs in this community. The temptation to take their 'hard earned' money and invest in more lucrative, but not necesarily legal, endeavors is high for these kids. I think that much money in a teenage kids pocket is just asking for trouble. Longterm I think it is very damaging to these kids expectations of the real world.

And what about the cashiers? They don't get tipped. They are typically young, teenage, high-school students. They watch their male counterparts rack in the bucks, making double or more of what they are making. Doesn't seem fair.

I wish that Plaza would instead institute a policy whereby you pay your tip at the register The money could them be pooled and shared, used for scholarships based on customer satisfaction, etc.

Baggers in the states aren't tipped! Why do we tip here? I happen to know for sure that baggers are paid a wage by Plaza (its illegal for them not to). This is part of them doing business and is a normal cost . They don't ask you to tip, or suggest tipping... where did this trend come from?

All this said... and I still tip when I have too many groceries to carry myself. Its tradition and I feel guilty if I don't. They so expect it. But I make the kid earn it with a smile and conversation.

Every time I tip though I worry that I am contributing to the delinquency of a minor. 🙂 Damned if you do. Damned if you don't.

Just roll with it--and give the kids a few bucks. I enjoy my interactions with them and feel good that they are being industrious.

Best,

Islandlola