Supermarket etiquette

I don't shop at Food Center but maybe they have a unique policy not shared by other supermarkets and consider it part of their service that baggers take out the carts - and pay them accordingly since you say the bagger always seems surprised at the tip. (Aside: one of the reasons I don't shop there is because in general I find them to be way overpriced!)

Anyway, I usually tip $1 and sometimes $2 for a particularly heavy load with several cases; Thanksgiving and Christmas a few extra! If there are only a few bags and I don't need the help I'll just smile and say, "Thanks but I can get it this time!" No problem at all. Hope that helps.

Same policy here on STX at Plaza. They bag and cart to your car. I thought it was to prevent thier carts from going walkabout. 😎

They do the same thing at Food Town and Pueblo on STX, too. If you don't want them to take your groceries out, just politely tell them "thanks...I've got it" or "thanks, but I'll take them from here." They do (and should) expect a tip for helping you. It's a way for them to make some extra money. It's a nice service if you want it, a little annoying if you don't. Just be nice and polite, smile, and say thanks.

I usually don't buy enough for someone to help me to my car - but should I tip the person who bags my groceries in the store?

Moving from Texas, they don't allow baggers to accept tips. Tax issues.

We don't tip unless the person takes the bags to the car. If we only have 2-3 bags, we just say "thank you, we can get it".

That's what I've been doing. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't being offensive. Thanks! 🙂

I'm remembering that it was only the good students who were allowed to do this to earn extra money and it was considered a privilege of sorts.

i like to tip if the bagger brings my stuff out, starting with $1, at a dollar per bag. that could go up, depends on the person and how well i feel they bagged my groceries and the general feeling they give off, like they are there to help me whether i tip or not. i will tip up to $5 for this.

if the bagger just bags and i don't need help out, i give 1-2 dollars.
now don't y'all tell... i don't want folk rushing me at the food center, LOL!

it is very rare that i don't tip regardless of what i am receiving. one exception - i recently visited a local restaurant, only to receive little more than a grunt from my waitress the whole time i was there, and have her begin to mop right next to me while i was eating, with heavy chlorine... and just bring my bill and put it on the table, no asking if i wanted anything else, or dessert menu or anything. here's the kicker - the change was $5 and a quarter. she had the temerity to break down that $5. i took every lick of my change and put it in my wallet. sad thing is, she likely thinks she DESERVED that tip simply for showing up for work that day. smdh.

of course, i will always feel that it remains at the discretion of the customer to tip or not to tip. but truth be told i generally do tip.

I'm remembering that it was only the good students who were allowed to do this to earn extra money and it was considered a privilege of sorts.

Several of the supermarkets who hire after-schoolers as baggers keep them on only if their grades are maintained at a high level.

Anita - if I ever get to be a bagger in this or the next life I'll be sure to come and bag where you shop! 😀

I'm remembering that it was only the good students who were allowed to do this to earn extra money and it was considered a privilege of sorts.

Several of the supermarkets who hire after-schoolers as baggers keep them on only if their grades are maintained at a high level.

Anita - if I ever get to be a bagger in this or the next life I'll be sure to come and bag where you shop! 😀

ok, who put me on blast? :$) - oh, twas me! LOL!

Thank you all so much - glad I was doing it right! (tu)

I tip $1 at Plaza Extra when they pack my groceries in my car, which usually isn't much.
I don't shop there often and when I do I just pick up a few items that I can carry out myself.