People who go Grocery Shopping, I could use your help

[gilligan fanatic]

All this week at work I have been suggestions ideas the store could do. They have really been likeing the ones I have suggested. I made a list of ten so far, I have had more I just haven't written them down. The Front Line Supervisors said there is a meeting next week. They want the list to discuss them there. They said if they pass any of them that they might give me a raise. Sounds good to me. Now I know all grocery stores are different, but it is the same basic thing will similar annoyances. Let me know the annoyances and if you have any suggestions. Here is what I have so far on my list. Now the words aren't perfect, but I typed it kind of fast.

__________________________________________

• Always have someone above 21 working the registers.

Explanation: Many people buy alcohol. There should always be at least one person old enough to ring it up

• Have a step by step guide next to the EBT Machine on how to use it.

Explanation: It wastes time when people don’t know what they are doing. I explain it, but if they read it while they were doing it they could learn it on there own and not have to hold up lines asking me.

• Have Recycling Bins around the store.

Explanation: Many people drink from soda bottles. They are big, it takes a lot out of the trashcan. If we got the recycling bins that have a whole just for the size of bottles we could save space in the cans and be doing our world good by recycling.

• Have disclaimer about waiting for approval in the Beer and Wine alcohol.

Explanation: Give them a warning they might have to wait that way it isn’t a big shock to them. Also if they see two lines open and one person is young and the other is above 21 they might choose the right person that way.

• Trash Cans in the actual parking lot.

Explanation: For the people who do put there carts away if they see the trash can they might actually throw something away and it won’t just sit in the cart. Also when I do carts Management wants us to throw the trash away and we have no place to put it while we are doing carts. We could bring one out there and bring it back in when we are done too.

• Replace one of the paper towel machines in the bathroom with a air one.

Explanation: It gives the customer a choice. Not everyone likes the paper towels and not everyone likes the warm air. Plus if we run out of towels there is still the air option. If that breaks we still have the towels.

• Have band aids for sale at the end of the registers.

Explanation: A lot of people ask me for band aids and I don’t have them. If they need one they could buy a little pack and use it then.

8. Have a centralized location to put items that people changed there minds about in one of the aisles.
Explanation: While doing reshops I notice things placed in random spots all over the store. If we have a area to put things people might put them there instead of in a random spot. It would cut down time doing reshops. We might have to have a regular and a cold one even though I don’t notice many cold things put randomly.

• Have a little refrigerator/freezer near the reshop cart.

Explanation: Some people come up to the register and say I don’t want this cold item anymore. On busy days it can’t be taken back instantly. If we had a little refrigerator the item could stay colder longer and not get damaged.

• Have a Soda machine and payphone in the store.

Explanation: Some people buy just a soda and nothing else. It cuts down time starting and stopping orders for just little items. Sometimes they have to wait in a long line for that one thing. If we had the soda machine they could get it and go. I have noticed people asking at the front desk if the store has a payphone. There is one in the break room, but we should have one downstairs.

• Sell other stamps.

Explanation: I know for sure at my register I sell plenty of stamps. I think it would be a good idea if we sold postcard stamps and other ones

___________________________

Thanks for any ideas and help!

[MsOrange]

um... must be different in other states, in SC you do not have to be 21 to sale alchol. I sold it when i was 16 and worked in a grocery store.

The others sounds good to me.

[PZelda]

Does your grocery store have a newspaper dumpster outside in the parking lot? The one that is closest to me, has one and it's VERY helpful.

I can't think of anything else- you have great ideas there so far.

[gilligan fanatic]

Originally Posted by MsOrange

um... must be different in other states, in SC you do not have to be 21 to sale alchol. I sold it when i was 16 and worked in a grocery store.

The others sounds good to me.

When you are 16 or 17 here in VA you can sell it, but one of the managers need to approve it. The computers have everyones age, but it still needs aproval if you are under 21 from some reason. 18 is the legal age to sell it, but the computers just don't recognize it.

Originally Posted by PZelda

Does your grocery store have a newspaper dumpster outside in the parking lot? The one that is closest to me, has one and it's VERY helpful.

I can't think of anything else- you have great ideas there so far.

No we do not, I will suggest it to them. It sounds good.

[theshark8777]

In Ohio minors cant scan alcohol. They either have to have another cashier do it, or have the customer do it

[gilligan fanatic]

Originally Posted by theshark8777

In Ohio minors cant scan alcohol. They either have to have another cashier do it, or have the customer do it

have the customer do it, that sounds very weird-lol

[theshark8777]

I agree, but ive seen it done.

[gilligan fanatic]

Originally Posted by theshark8777

I agree, but ive seen it done.

I would be very embarrassed to ask someone to do it themselves.

[Karen64]

Ok, this is gonna sound weird, has anyone else noticed the static electricity in the cold dry months?
It gets so bad when I go into grocery stores; even when i'm pushing the cart (and not touching anything else), there's a frequent static popping/crackling in my hands from the metal cart.
When I go to pick up a canned item, there's a huge static shock! It seems to happen in about every store I go into, and it's not just me-other people I know complain about the same thing!
I don't know what could be done other than maybe humidifiying the air in the store. I now carry static guard in my car and spray myself down with it before I go into the grocery store-it helps some, but not much!

[vienna waits]

suggestion: ban stupid customers (almost everyone) from the store

lol i'm so glad i'm not a cashier anymore.

[Chocoholic]

I agree with all of your suggestions, Matt. You sound like a very mature kid and I hope the mangaers take your suggestions. My favorite idea is the common area for leaving unwanted items. It always drove me nuts when customers couldn't be bothered to put unwanted items back where they belong instead of leaving them in any random spot. I have a few suggestion for grocery store managers too.

1. Allow employees to at least drink water while they're working. It is inhumane to expect someone to refrain from drinking water while on duty.

2. Instruct cashiers to at least make eye contact, smile, and greet the customer. Cashiers and baggers should pay attention to their jobs and not be fooling around and chatting with each other.

3. Unless it is very quiet in the store, keep more than three registers open so lines aren't backing up.

4. Always try to keep a bagger at each register to make lines run faster. Bagger should be instructed how to properly bag items and load them back into the cart. The customer shouldn't even have to ask the bagger to pack the cold stuff separate or put the bread and eggs on top. (Like they listen anyway.)

5. Do a much better job enforcing store policies. Customer gets in express lane with a full cart or cuts in line? Tell them they have to move! Customer is rude to an employee or another patron? Tell them they have to leave! Customer throws a tantrum because cashier won't bend store policy for them? Tell the customer that rules are rules and apply to everyone and if they don't like it, then that's too bad! Customer won't control their kids? Tell them to control the kids or get out! Closing time and customer is still shopping the aisles? Tell them they will just have to come back tomorrow!

That's about all I have for now

[gilligan fanatic]

Originally Posted by Homeriffic

I agree with all of your suggestions, Matt. You sound like a very mature kid and I hope the mangaers take your suggestions. My favorite idea is the common area for leaving unwanted items. It always drove me nuts when customers couldn't be bothered to put unwanted items back where they belong instead of leaving them in any random spot. I have a few suggestion for grocery store managers too.

1. Allow employees to at least drink water while they're working. It is inhumane to expect someone to refrain from drinking water while on duty.

2. Instruct cashiers to at least make eye contact, smile, and greet the customer. Cashiers and baggers should pay attention to their jobs and not be fooling around and chatting with each other.

3. Unless it is very quiet in the store, keep more than three registers open so lines aren't backing up.

4. Always try to keep a bagger at each register to make lines run faster. Bagger should be instructed how to properly bag items and load them back into the cart. The customer shouldn't even have to ask the bagger to pack the cold stuff separate or put the bread and eggs on top. (Like they listen anyway.)

5. Do a much better job enforcing store policies. Customer gets in express lane with a full cart or cuts in line? Tell them they have to move! Customer is rude to an employee or another patron? Tell them they have to leave! Customer throws a tantrum because cashier won't bend store policy for them? Tell the customer that rules are rules and apply to everyone and if they don't like it, then that's too bad! Customer won't control their kids? Tell them to control the kids or get out! Closing time and customer is still shopping the aisles? Tell them they will just have to come back tomorrow!

That's about all I have for now

Thank you for the compliment and thank you for the suggestions. They sound like great ideas!

Originally Posted by vienna waits

suggestion: ban stupid customers (almost everyone) from the store

lol i'm so glad i'm not a cashier anymore.

That would be fun, it is so busy too that if we banned all the stupid people they would still make a lot of money

[vienna waits]

Originally Posted by Homeriffic

I agree with all of your suggestions, Matt. You sound like a very mature kid and I hope the mangaers take your suggestions. My favorite idea is the common area for leaving unwanted items. It always drove me nuts when customers couldn't be bothered to put unwanted items back where they belong instead of leaving them in any random spot. I have a few suggestion for grocery store managers too.

1. Allow employees to at least drink water while they're working. It is inhumane to expect someone to refrain from drinking water while on duty.

2. Instruct cashiers to at least make eye contact, smile, and greet the customer. Cashiers and baggers should pay attention to their jobs and not be fooling around and chatting with each other.

3. Unless it is very quiet in the store, keep more than three registers open so lines aren't backing up.

4. Always try to keep a bagger at each register to make lines run faster. Bagger should be instructed how to properly bag items and load them back into the cart. The customer shouldn't even have to ask the bagger to pack the cold stuff separate or put the bread and eggs on top. (Like they listen anyway.)

5. Do a much better job enforcing store policies. Customer gets in express lane with a full cart or cuts in line? Tell them they have to move! Customer is rude to an employee or another patron? Tell them they have to leave! Customer throws a tantrum because cashier won't bend store policy for them? Tell the customer that rules are rules and apply to everyone and if they don't like it, then that's too bad! Customer won't control their kids? Tell them to control the kids or get out! Closing time and customer is still shopping the aisles? Tell them they will just have to come back tomorrow!

That's about all I have for now

Socializing with other cashiers was about the only thing that made the job bearable this summer. But I still always greeted all the customers in my lane.

I think a good policy would be to ban paper bags. They're expensive, inconvenient, and take way too long to load, especially if it's a large order. Meijer doesn't operate with a bagger like the traditional grocery store. They use the "scan and bag" technique where the bags are on a turning kiosk so you immediately bag each item after you scan it. And these things aren't designed to hold paper bags. I don't understand why some grocery stores still use the bagger technique. That seems like such a waste to scan every item and then have to go through and bag everything. Just my two cents!

[Janice]

Can you get them to do something about the high prices?

I've always wished for smaller grocery carts. At my grocery store, they have these huge carts and the hand held baskets. Sometimes, I'm in between that. Occasionally I shop at a small speciality store that has these small carts, which are perfect. This would actually add more work for store employees, so maybe it's not a great idea.

I hate when it's raining and all the carts are soaking wet. That drives me crazy. Have them invent a drying machine for carts, lol.

At the deli, I wish they would slice, wrap and price popular items in the morning and put them out for customers to take. I hate waiting forever in the deli line when all I want is a 1/2 pound of Land O Lakes white cheese and either salami or ham. Same thing with their salads in the summer. I wish they would put containers of potato salad, cole slaw, etc. out for customers to take on their own.

I'll try to think of more. The grocery store is one giant pet peeve for me.

[gilligan fanatic]

Originally Posted by Janice

Can you get them to do something about the high prices?

I've always wished for smaller grocery carts. At my grocery store, they have these huge carts and the hand held baskets. Sometimes, I'm in between that. Occasionally I shop at a small speciality store that has these small carts, which are perfect. This would actually add more work for store employees, so maybe it's not a great idea.

I hate when it's raining and all the carts are soaking wet. That drives me crazy. Have them invent a drying machine for carts, lol.

At the deli, I wish they would slice, wrap and price popular items in the morning and put them out for customers to take. I hate waiting forever in the deli line when all I want is a 1/2 pound of Land O Lakes white cheese and either salami or ham. Same thing with their salads in the summer. I wish they would put containers of potato salad, cole slaw, etc. out for customers to take on their own.

I'll try to think of more. The grocery store is one giant pet peeve for me.

I like the deli one, I don't go back there that often, but that would save a lot of time.