Would you let an elderly person carry your groceries for you?

[LisaR]

Publix offers to take your groceries out to your car for you and load them. They are not allowed to accept tips. I think it is a great service for some situations.

I sat in the car while my DD ran in to pick up one item. These are the things I observed:

1. An elderly lady using a 3 wheeled walker had her groceries carried out by a middle aged female. They looked like they were talking a little but the lady was just trying to maneuver to her car without falling.

2. A young lady (25?) in an exercise outfit had her groceries pushed out by a gentleman that was probably 60 - 64 y/o. She had three bags and he put them in her trunk. This employee does not speak a word of English so there wasn't any conversation taking place.

3. A mom with her 3 y/o in the front of the cart had her five bags of groceries pushed out and loaded into her car by a 72 y/o male with severe scoliosis. I know the guy well. He is a sweet man and super talkative but he has a lot of pain. The toddler sneezed multiple times as the elderly man pushed the cart. I hope it was just allergies.

The temperature is in the 90's with high humidity.

My point is, I honestly don't think I could sleep at night if I made an elderly person push my cart and load my groceries when I am in better shape and more than capable of doing it myself. I totally understand the first situation and I am certainly glad Publix offers this service but I never let anyone cart my groceries for me; young or old. If the day comes when I need the help, I will certainly use their great service but not before it is necessary. Am I alone on this one? Based on what I saw today, I am thinking I am.

 

[Heidict]

I'm right there with you. I could never do that. If I was recovering from surgery or something, maybe then. I really can't think of any other reason to have someone do that for me, especially when it is someone elderly.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great service, and I know of some people who would benefit from it, but that is because they have issues that would make loading their own groceries difficult.

Some people just like to be waited on.

 

[swandiverpatt]

I'm with you on this one.

I'm glad that Publix hires the seniors and developmentally challenged (hope I am not Un-PC in that!) people that they do. They can bag my groceries for me, but I'm able to take my own out to the car. They always ask, the usually ask more than once.

I always tell them that "someday" I'll take them up on their offer, but not today.

 

[PatsMom]

Presumably the grocery carriers are working because they either need the money or the enjoy the job. Either way, if people do not use their services, then they would be unemployed. What would be worse? To have the elderly gentleman with scoliosis carry and load your groceries or have him potentially unemployed and possibly unable to buy groceries?

I would use their services.

 

[worm761]

First I want to say that I agree with you. BUT I would have more of an issue with management having the elderly people as bag carriers in the first place. There are other jobs they could be doing and younger people on shift that could be taking the groceries out. The only one I wouldn't have a problem with in your examples is the healthy middle aged woman. If it is her job and I needed help I would not mind it coming from her. No matter how much help I needed, I don't think I could take it from an elderly person I should probably be helping.

 

[diznygirl]

Sometimes the Publix employees insist on helping you out. I think they just want a chance to get out of bagging for a little while! So I let them. I try to do most of the loading tho.

I have also seen them accept tips. So maybe that is why some of them insist - hoping to get lucky.

 

[swandiverpatt]

Their only job isn't bag carrying. They sack the groceries, which is much more of a benefit to me than having them help me to the car.

 

[luvmy3]

I know elderly people in their 70's and 80's who still mow their lawn with a push mower. As long as they were able (and willing) I don't see anything wrong with using the services they provide, although I myself wouldn't feel the need to. I'm not sure how the manager feels, but maybe those job duties were discussed and agreed to by the elderly workers. Being old doesn't always mean they are incapable, and if they were, I would think they would have discussed their limitations with the manager when they were hired for the position.
Maybe they actually enjoy being useful to others?

 

[Micca]

I think Lisa's thoughts are kind and thoughtful. I will mention that not all old people are sick and broken. Presumably if they applied for the job they knew what they were getting into. Hopefully the management is aware if an employee is having difficulty dealing with their job. Still, I think Lisa is nice to be so considerate.

 

[sbell111]

I have no issue with an individual who freely accepts a job being expected to do the job.

 

[hegsag]

Publix offers to take your groceries out to your car for you and load them. They are not allowed to accept tips. I think it is a great service for some situations.

I sat in the car while my DD ran in to pick up one item. These are the things I observed:


2. A young lady (25?) in an exercise outfit had her groceries pushed out by a gentleman that was probably 60 - 64 y/o. She had three bags and he put them in her trunk. This employee does not speak a word of English so there wasn't any conversation taking place.

I wear my exercise outfit to the chiropractor's office - so you never know if that person is really fit or not.

However, to answer your question: I would not have an elderly person bring my bags to my car. It doesn't seem right...

 

[TriMom]

Yes, I would allow any person who has applied for and has been hired to carry my groceries to the car, to carry my groceries to the car. Publix is one of the most expensive places for me to grocery shop. If I am willing (which is rarely) to pay the added price for groceries - then I will accept the service that goes along with that premium.

That person wanted (for whatever their personal reasons are) that job, and I have no problem letting that person do his/her job. And I am chatty so I like talking about the weather on the way to my car.

 

[LisaR]

Thanks for the replies.

I realize all elderly people are not in bad shape and many are capable of pushing a cart or putting groceries in a car. For me, it wouldn't matter if the person was 100 y/o and in better shape and healthier than I am. I wouldn't want that person hauling my groceries to my car. Of course, there are plenty of young people that work at Publix and I wouldn't want any of them carting my groceries for me. I think it is a great service but it isn't something I need. Publix offers free use of electric scooters. There aren't any signs saying, "reserved for elderly or handicap individuals only." I could use one if I wanted but I view it as another free, great service they offer that I will take advantage of if I ever need it.

I also realize that just because someone is in exercise clothes and looks young doesn't mean they can't have problems. However, if she managed to shop for her groceries, I really think she can push her cart the rest of the way to her car and throw the bags in.

Unemployment won't be the end result because they are still bagging groceries and dusting the shelves.

 

[Buckalew11]

I used to let an older gentleman carry my groceries when I was pregnant. The place I shopped at was on a hill and managing the cart was tricky. He was a grandfather type man and I'd drive down and he'd load my groceries into the trunk.

I still see him now, he is very old and frail. I see him at our library quite often. Sometimes I buy him a cup of coffee to enjoy while he reads the paper and magazines. Last month I was out in the parking lot and I saw him fall down! He popped up lickety split--not sure how he got up so fast--I rushed over there to him but he was already up and so embarrassed.
Anyway, I digress, but I did form a little friendship with him 16yrs ago during my pregnancy when he carried out the groceries for me. Now, when I see him, I get to "pay him forward" for his kindness towards me. I know he was doing his job but I still thought of his service as kind.

 

[MariDisney]

Yes, I would allow a person who has willingly applied for and accepted a particular job to carry my groceries. I feel like it would be insulting to not allow them to do that and treat them as if they were too delicate to be do their job well.

 

[MariDisney]

I used to let an older gentleman carry my groceries when I was pregnant. The place I shopped at was on a hill and managing the cart was tricky. He was a grandfather type man and I'd drive down and he'd load my groceries into the trunk.

I still see him now, he is very old and frail. I see him at our library quite often. Sometimes I buy him a cup of coffee to enjoy while he reads the paper and magazines. Last month I was out in the parking lot and I saw him fall down! He popped up lickety split--not sure how he got up so fast--I rushed over there to him but he was already up and so embarrassed.
Anyway, I digress, but I did form a little friendship with him 16yrs ago during my pregnancy when he carried out the groceries for me. Now, when I see him, I get to "pay him forward" for his kindness towards me. I know he was doing his job but I still thought of his service as kind.

I think that it is wonderful that you feel led to show someone such kindness. I'm sure you brighten his day!

 

[RadioNate]

Yes, I would allow a person who has willingly applied for and accepted a particular job to carry my groceries. I feel like it would be insulting to not allow them to do that and treat them as if they were too delicate to be do their job well.

I agree. I can and do use the Publix bag carry out service. That is part of their job. In fact, I had a younger bagger tell me that they were REQUIRED to push your groceries out and the only way to get them not to was to object.

At our Publix, they don't even ask if you want help out, they just start out with the cart. Even the elderly ones.

The fact is these men (they are all men at my store) are fully aware of the job requirements when they apply and accept the position. Therefore, I assume they are not too old, frail or whatever to carry my groceries out.

Now do I use them EVERY time I go to Publix. No. But when I have both kids and a cart full of stuff and they just start on their way out with out me saying anything, I let them.

I think our Publix wants the shopper to use the service so that the carts are returned to the store. Before we get into THAT can of worms, I have posted several times that this publix only has 2 corrals for the entire parking lot.

 

[LisaR]

Yes, I would allow a person who has willingly applied for and accepted a particular job to carry my groceries. I feel like it would be insulting to not allow them to do that and treat them as if they were too delicate to be do their job well.

I would agree with you if that was their ONLY job. If I let one person take my groceries out, the person behind me loses their bagger. If that person is elderly and needs help, they may now have to wait for the person helping me to return.

I would also agree with you if there was anyway that they would think, "Oh wow! She doesn't want me to take her groceries out because I am too delicate." I don't think that is the case. At my Publix, I think the vast majority of customers schlep their own groceries. Both young and old are turned down regularly. A simple, "thanks so much but I've got it" works fine.

I know it gets into the whole, "they shouldn't take the job if they can't handle the duties" but it just never crosses my mind to let anyone, let alone someone much older, do something for me that I am perfectly capable of doing. If I was paying for the service, that is a whole different story.

 

[disykat]

I prefer to take my own bags out to my car, but if I wanted the help I would accept the offer from any employee that the store deemed able to do so.

 

[akhenaten]

We have no Publix here and no one helps you to your car...

I would have to say that if the same person who bags helps you out.... I would think they would pack the bags to be comfortably carried....

I would probably use the services , especially if I had my little one with me....