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

[LisaR]

I'll try to keep this as nice as possible, cause I'm pretty offended .

I guess I'm not sure why it isn't enough for you that the gentleman and Publix both deemed him fit for the job . If he wasn't to be carrying groceries out to the car then he wouldn't have. They would have had someone else do the carrying out.

I kow you think you know what the gentleman's medical condition is from his gate and his age, but you probably guessed wrong. I'm not elderly, but its very evident that I'm not in perfect health. People frequently make comments or guess what I can and can't do and they are wrong. They are wrong every single time. How are you so sure the gentleman didn't need a short break from bagging to stretch his legs and give his hands a rest?

Wow! You must offend pretty easily because I can't for the life of me figure out how I offended you. I never once said that I didn't think the men were capable of taking the groceries out. Where did you get that from? I said if they were 100 y/o or even YOUNG, I don't feel they should schlep my groceries when I am perfectly capable. Someone with a walker, multiple kids, two grocery carts, fine. Me? Not so much. I would never do it. You? Feel free.

And by the way, if you read my first post you would know that I know the one guy personally. I can assure you I know his medical condition just fine, thank you.

I find it inappropriate for you to judge the folks who work carry out.

Many senior citizens do it b/c they enjoy people and want something to do.

When I worked for Winn Dixie we had some delightful elders who enjoyed working. They were fully capable of pushing a cart to a car and assist or full on load the groceries. Several that worked with us only worked for minimal hours as they received SS benefits.

While I won't treat a bagger like a pack mule--I will not age discriminate and refuse help solely on that.

You are not obligated to take assistance, but I find it inappropriate to only accept help from the younger ones and not the older ones.

They were hired to do a job and between them and their employer--they can do the job.

I'm a bit befuddled on how you knew the one bagger didn't speak English.

My mood varies on when I will take the help but my decision has nothing to do with the individual who is bagging my groceries.

I am not judging the baggers, I am QUESTIONING why a healthy person would want/need someone to carry their groceries for them.

And AGAIN, this wasn't a post about an elderly person being CAPABLE. I know many are capable. I simply couldn't sleep at night allowing someone to do such a simple task for me that I can do myself and I can't even tip them.

It isn't age discrimination because I clearly stated that I wouldn't even let a young person do it for me.

You can be offended all you want about the guy that doesn't speak English. I know the one older man personally. He lives in my neighborhood. The other guy does not speak English. It is his pet peeve so this is where I got the info from.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I have to say that the requirement is more that the bagger is not permitted to refuse it. I would have a hard time believing that a store would require a bagger to go against the wishes of the customer.

They are required to offer--the customer can ALWAYS say no.

I feel better now

 

[Stevania]

Wow! You must offend pretty easily because I can't for the life of me figure out how I offended you. I never once said that I didn't think the men were capable of taking the groceries out. Where did you get that from? I said if they were 100 y/o or even YOUNG, I don't feel they should schlep my groceries when I am perfectly capable. Someone with a walker, multiple kids, two grocery carts, fine. Me? Not so much. I would never do it. You? Feel free.

And by the way, if you read my first post you would know that I know the one guy personally. I can assure you I know his medical condition just fine, thank you.



I am not judging the baggers, I am QUESTIONING why a healthy person would want/need someone to carry their groceries for them.

And AGAIN, this wasn't a post about an elderly person being CAPABLE. I know many are capable. I simply couldn't sleep at night allowing someone to do such a simple task for me that I can do myself and I can't even tip them.

It isn't age discrimination because I clearly stated that I wouldn't even let a young person do it for me.

You can be offended all you want about the guy that doesn't speak English. I know the one older man personally. He lives in my neighborhood. The other guy does not speak English. It is his pet peeve so this is where I got the info from.

If everyone had your mindset, then these elderly people would soon be out of a job. Just a FYI, you CAN tip them. I tip them all the time (very discreetly) and they always pocket it and thank me profusely.

 

[merryweather20]

Wow! You must offend pretty easily because I can't for the life of me figure out how I offended you. I never once said that I didn't think the men were capable of taking the groceries out. Where did you get that from? I said if they were 100 y/o or even YOUNG, I don't feel they should schlep my groceries when I am perfectly capable. Someone with a walker, multiple kids, two grocery carts, fine. Me? Not so much. I would never do it. You? Feel free.

And by the way, if you read my first post you would know that I know the one guy personally. I can assure you I know his medical condition just fine, thank you.

Yes you did say that they weren't capable This is the entire theme of your post . Re-read your title you specifically question elderly people.
"Would you let an elderly person carry your groceries for you?"

You did not have this title
"Carry-out service for groceries is WRONG"


It didn't sound like you knew the gentleman that well at all . My parents and my physiotherapist guess wrong on my diagnosis and my abilities. Unless you are his medical Doctor, you do not know his medical condition or his limitations.

I'm very happy that the people at Publix llok at a persons actual abilities and don't pass judgement based on assumptions

 

[MariDisney]

:snipped:


I am not judging the baggers, I am QUESTIONING why a healthy person would want/need someone to carry their groceries for them.

And AGAIN, this wasn't a post about an elderly person being CAPABLE. I know many are capable. I simply couldn't sleep at night allowing someone to do such a simple task for me that I can do myself and I can't even tip them.

I will preface this by saying my grocery store doesn't have carry out service, so I'm speaking hypotheically. I also don't know how strict the no tipping is.

For me, accepting a service like carry out service when I could do the simple task myself is akin to several other simple tasks I have other people do for me. I have someone at McDonald's cook a hamburger, when certainly I could do that myself. I have a man deliver Chinese food to me when I am more than capable of getting in the car and going to get it. I sometimes have a valet park my car if I don't feel like walking into whatever business I'm going in. I have a seamstress hem my pants when I could do that myself. Any or all of these people may appear physically limited in some way (e.g., the seamstresses hands are shriveled up). All of these are optional, but I choose to use the services offered because the people are offering them.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm still reeling over the fact that a middle-aged woman was included with the elderly in the original post. Wow, that kind of boggles the mind.

Anyway, not wanting ANYONE to carry out groceries for you is something that I can understand. However the original post was not about anyone but about older people. I don't get that.

 

[lillygator]

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.

do you really know employees from #2 and #3?

I am in Publix almost every evening, (aside from the week I made myself stop going), but if it isn't a teen bagging the groceries, it is a retiree...."made an elderly person push my cart"..........no one MAKES them do anything, they may accept upon the question asked....and quite frankly, this makes many retirees get out of bed and have something to look forward to.

 

[lillygator]

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.

this is not true, someone else comes along behind them to bag the groceries or in "smaller" cases the cashier does it themselves.

 

[chell]

We have an upscale grocery store in San Antonio where the checker unloads your cart, (no conveyor belt or turntables) , the bagger bags and totes, as the free valet brings your car up from the underground parking (where it stays cool). They are more like an old-fashioned grocery store, very few pre-packaged meats, you need to see the butcher and the fish monger for most items, and a full service hot deli with pre-prepared full meals, and a beautiful produce section. Of course, most items are "specialty" store priced. I shop there every couple of months, though...they do have the freshest foods.

Rub it in why don't ya? Stores here SUCK! Thank you for letting me get that off my chest. It would be wonderful to have a real butcher at a grocery store. Sigh...

 

[chell]

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.

Sorry but I have to disagree with the statement bolded above. Sometimes if I go through the grocery store even to pick up just a few items by the time I get to the car it is all I can do to load the items. Usually I will suck it up when I shop alone and do it myself because most of our stores do not offer carry out assistance or they are too "busy" to help everyone.

If you saw me walking through the store or to my car you would not know the severe pain I am in. You would not know by looking at me that I may not be able to lift that bag of groceries because the bursitis in my shoulder is so terrible this week. You wouldn't think a woman in her mid 30's would have so much trouble, but I do.

Thankfully, I don't go to the store by myself often. My wonderful husband usually goes for me or with me so I don't have to carry a thing. When I'm in lots of pain and need to have my purse he even keeps up with it for me.

 

[LisaR]

Last post for me for the night because I can't keep my eyes open at the moment.

1. I do know the 72 y/o man personally and I know exactly what his medical condition is. I know the man. He lives in my neighborhood. I know info about a few of the other people that work there because of the man in my neighborhood. He is a great guy but boy does he love to talk!

2. I included the three situations I saw while waiting in my car today. I can't help what age any of them were. It was simply what I observed.

3. I never should have used the word elderly in the title. I won't change it now but if I could come up with a new title, it would say: Would you allow anyone of any age to carry your groceries for you. I am quite sorry that this became a thing about age. The examples I saw had the younger female with an older lady that needed a great deal of help and two elderly men helping women that didn't seem to be in much need. Hence the "elderly" comment. As I stated, I don't care how old or YOUNG they are. I would use the service if I NEEDED it; just like I would use their scooters if I needed it. Because it is a free service that is offered, it doesn't mean I need to take advantage of it.

4. For those of you that say you still tip, I never would (but don't worry because I don't use the service so I am not screwing them). My feeling is they have to wear a button that says NO TIPPING for a reason. If I force them into secretly taking a tip and they get caught, I would really not be able to sleep at night. I wouldn't risk that but that is just me.

5. For those that say that another bagger comes to replace them when they take groceries out, you are so wrong. Maybe your stores employ more people but at this store the cashier has to take over bagging. No biggie unless the next person needs help with their groceries. My store is not full of tons of baggers.

6. This comes down to me feeling funny about someone doing something for me that I can do for myself and not being able to compensate them for their service. Someone mentioned getting a burger from McD's or getting a car wash. Those aren't the same in my book. I can't go behind their counter and make my own burger or use their car wash to wash my car myself. I also can't go to Publix and ring up my own groceries. However, I can go to Publix and carry out my own groceries. The bagger will not lose their job if they don't take my groceries out. They will continue to bag other groceries and dust.

Let me reiterate that I think it is a fabulous service and I am very happy that they offer it. I know there are plenty of people that need the help. Until today I had never put much thought into it. They offer; I thank them and do it myself. Sitting in my car today watching who used the service made me start thinking about the topic. I have lived here for over 5 years and the thought never occurred to me to let anyone do this for me. I have had plenty of young bag boys and I still turn them down. My husband always says I have a hard time letting people do things for me so maybe this all ties into it.

Off to have a good nights sleep!

 

[lillygator]

5. For those that say that another bagger comes to replace them when they take groceries out, you are so wrong. Maybe your stores employ more people but at this store the cashier has to take over bagging. No biggie unless the next person needs help with their groceries. My store is not full of tons of baggers.

um, no I am not for FLORIDA stores. My DH has been a grocery store mgr for many many years, I have also worked part time for Publix as well as Albertsons in FL ....a replacement comes as one bagger leaves, they move from lane to lane as the majority do not want their groceries carried out by the "elderly".

 

[CowboyCO]

Last post for me for the night because I can't keep my eyes open at the moment.

1. I do know the 72 y/o man personally and I know exactly what his medical condition is. I know the man. He lives in my neighborhood. I know info about a few of the other people that work there because of the man in my neighborhood. He is a great guy but boy does he love to talk!

2. I included the three situations I saw while waiting in my car today. I can't help what age any of them were. It was simply what I observed.

3. I never should have used the word elderly in the title. I won't change it now but if I could come up with a new title, it would say: Would you allow anyone of any age to carry your groceries for you. I am quite sorry that this became a thing about age. The examples I saw had the younger female with an older lady that needed a great deal of help and two elderly men helping women that didn't seem to be in much need. Hence the "elderly" comment. As I stated, I don't care how old or YOUNG they are. I would use the service if I NEEDED it; just like I would use their scooters if I needed it. Because it is a free service that is offered, it doesn't mean I need to take advantage of it.

4. For those of you that say you still tip, I never would (but don't worry because I don't use the service so I am not screwing them). My feeling is they have to wear a button that says NO TIPPING for a reason. If I force them into secretly taking a tip and they get caught, I would really not be able to sleep at night. I wouldn't risk that but that is just me.

5. For those that say that another bagger comes to replace them when they take groceries out, you are so wrong. Maybe your stores employ more people but at this store the cashier has to take over bagging. No biggie unless the next person needs help with their groceries. My store is not full of tons of baggers.

6. This comes down to me feeling funny about someone doing something for me that I can do for myself and not being able to compensate them for their service. Someone mentioned getting a burger from McD's or getting a car wash. Those aren't the same in my book. I can't go behind their counter and make my own burger or use their car wash to wash my car myself. I also can't go to Publix and ring up my own groceries. However, I can go to Publix and carry out my own groceries. The bagger will not lose their job if they don't take my groceries out. They will continue to bag other groceries and dust.

Let me reiterate that I think it is a fabulous service and I am very happy that they offer it. I know there are plenty of people that need the help. Until today I had never put much thought into it. They offer; I thank them and do it myself. Sitting in my car today watching who used the service made me start thinking about the topic. I have lived here for over 5 years and the thought never occurred to me to let anyone do this for me. I have had plenty of young bag boys and I still turn them down. My husband always says I have a hard time letting people do things for me so maybe this all ties into it.

Off to have a good nights sleep!

Well, if the question really is - "Would you allow anyone to help you out with your groceries?" Then the simple answer is yes. It's good customer service. Whether or not I could tip would never enter into it. Good service is good service. I agree with your husband.

 

[Evil Genius]

If it's a service the store offers and their employees know that this is part of their job then yes I would use the service if I needed to. As far as, well the customer LOOKS healthy so why are they using the service? You don't know that the other person can do it.

My sister had neck surgery this past March and has an extremely bad lower back, so while she can do her own grocery shopping, picking up one item at a time, once you combine those items into a bag, no way can she/should she be picking it up. Would you know all this by looking at her? No she looks like a healthy middle aged woman.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am not judging the baggers, I am QUESTIONING why a healthy person would want/need someone to carry their groceries for them.

Just because a person appears "healthy" they may have a reason to have someone load their bags. You are making a snap judgement there.

Hope that answers your question.

 

[powellrj]

As the wife of a former store manager, many times especially the kids want to do a carry-out because it gets them out of the store for a few minutes and outside. When they have been sacking all morning and need a little break, I would have them do a carry-out for me just to get them outside and have a chance to take a breather!

I am always amazed at how quickly others judge situations they know nothing about.

My DS spend lots of time in VA hospitals last year. Because my dad is retired, he was able to take him to appointments when we had to work. Many times DS would require a wheelchair and my dad would push him in the chair. People would chastise my DS for 'making' that elderly man push him around. They would tell him he should be doing the pushing. It just made you want to scream MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

 

[Carly_Roach]

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.

Then that's the right choice for you and you should continue making that choice for as long as it makes you feel better. But to dun other people because they're not making the same choices you are making is wrong.

FTR, I rarely let any store employee carry my groceries to my car because I'm too independent for that. But if it was my FIL who has a chivalrous streak a mile wide and won't let a lady carry ANYTHING, I'd allow him to carry my groceries, packages, luggage, etc. simply because that's his way and to argue about it with him would make him feel bad, old and infirm.

 

[LKHomemail]

I almost always decline. In a couple instances, I have used the service, but tipped them well despite the policy. They refuse and I keep insisting.

It does really bother me to see elderly seniors in Wal Mart , at the grocery etc. doing hard work in their golden years. Disgusting what our country does to them. But then that is a politics thread that I won't get into !

When I see such things, I try to remember to get the person's name. I write it down and once a month when I do the bills, correspondence, mail, etc. I write a letter to the company and say that the person did great . I have a form typed and just modify it a bit so it takes all of five mins. I do my complaints too at this appointed time. Some months I don't bother but usually there are a couple. Currently, I'm on a crusade to complain about fast food workers that don't speak english.

I think too often we take time to complain and don't take enough time to commend. I try to balance.

 

[Mom21]

I live in South Florida and shop exclusively at Publix several times a week. I don't have anyone help me take out my cart. They usually ask, but some know me as I shop about the same time every day/week and they don't even ask anymore. Sad isn't it when your Publix baggers know you by name

The few times I've used them (after surgery or not feeling well), I've always tipped and never had anyone even try to refuse. Also they don't wear a "No tipping" button. Most of them are so sweet and nice and they need their job. I don't think though by not using their service they would lose their job. Publix already gets by with as few baggers as possible

 

[MushyMushy]

3. I never should have used the word elderly in the title. I won't change it now but if I could come up with a new title, it would say: Would you allow anyone of any age to carry your groceries for you. I am quite sorry that this became a thing about age. The examples I saw had the younger female with an older lady that needed a great deal of help and two elderly men helping women that didn't seem to be in much need. Hence the "elderly" comment. As I stated, I don't care how old or YOUNG they are. I would use the service if I NEEDED it; just like I would use their scooters if I needed it. Because it is a free service that is offered, it doesn't mean I need to take advantage of it.

Why do you think I make one of my kids go to the grocery store with me? They're really good about carrying the groceries and returning carts. Being elderly aside (because I already stated I wouldn't feel great about that), if we had a store that offered the service, and especially a store where I'm paying more for the groceries, YES, I would use the service. There are lots of services where I don't "need" someone else to do it for me, but I pay for it because I want someone to do it for me. If there weren't people like us paying for the services, they might be out a job.