Friday, December 03, 2004
Bag it!
One of the things I used to not fully appreciate in the US was having a cashier bag my groceries. Now I consider it a luxury. When I'm back in the States and a person bags my groceries I say "thank you" way too much. I feel like giving the cashier a tip.
Tonight I stopped at the grocery store on the way home after school. It took the cashier forever to help the people in front of me. I think one of them had a problem with the change she gave. As a result, I think I might have done some eye rolling or huffing noises. So by the time she finally got to me she started into fast gear and I had to quickly try to stuff the bags with my groceries while fumbling for my debit card. She was already helping two people after me by the time I was done filling my bags. It kind of stresses me out because then I'm in way of other people.
I'm reminded of an email a friend who had moved back to the US (from Paris) had sent to a friend in Paris about to leave for the US...
The American atmosphere is at once compelling and repulsive. You will be running between soccer games, play rehearsals and choir concerts. You will wonder where your family time is and long for two weeks of vacation every six weeks. Your living room will be besieged by garbage coming from the television. Your car will fit with ease between the white lines in parking lots; you will have help bagging your groceries. You will be able to negotiate bureaucratic night-mares and lose your temper at will in your own language. Your children will miss their friends in Paris and depending on their school here in the States find it easy beyond belief. There is green grass the children can actually play on but the parents ruin their play by yelling expletives at the referees and other parents.
I just thought I'd share it with you. I thought it was a really interesting perspective on things.
-- said Auntie M in Paris
9:35 PM
Cheers,
Sam
# posted by Anonymous : 12:16 AM
Re: your friend's email: I think it rings very true!
# posted by Anonymous : 2:39 AM
It's nice that they wait for you to finish bagging your groceries before they help the next person. I'd appreciate that. Thanks for your comment. I checked out your blog. It looks good.
# posted by Auntie M in Paris : 7:53 AM
# posted by Auntie M in Paris : 7:56 AM
# posted by NeeCee : 11:01 AM
I love the e-mail from your friend. It really does help put things in perspective.
Jason
http://jasonstone.typepad.com
# posted by Anonymous : 11:55 AM
Thank you for the info. I've actually tried Casion, but my problem is the 3 hour time frame they need to deliver the groceries to your apartment. Since most days I drop my kids off at school, pick them up three hours later, then pick them up three hours after that. Sometimes,when I'm feeling decadent, I'll order online from www.ooshop.fr. It's a wonderful thing.
Jason, That is exactly how I feel. I worry too much about the person behind me and how I'm in their way.
# posted by Auntie M in Paris : 1:16 PM
Thank you for the info. I've actually tried Casino delievery, but my problem is the 3 hour time frame they need to deliver the groceries to your apartment. Since most days I drop my kids off at school, pick them up three hours later, then pick them up three hours after that. Sometimes,when I'm feeling decadent, I'll order online from www.ooshop.fr. It's a wonderful thing.
Jason, That is exactly how I feel. I worry too much about the person behind me and how I'm in their way.
# posted by Auntie M in Paris : 1:16 PM
In Belgium it also takes ages to queue. What surprises me most is that the cashiers can do so many different things to delay the queue - as if the customers didn't do enough of that. I understand the normal bonjours being exchanged, but if a customer has anything else on her heart, the conversation goes on and on and work just stops completely. Or if there's a supervisor or a colleague of the cashier who wants a word or two: everything just springs to a halt. Oh, and the change of the working shift: it's a round of kisses on the cheek with the nearest cashiers as well. Mwuah! See you after the lunch break. Mwuah!
Normally it's the customer who does all the packing, but sometimes there are scouts "helping" and collecting money. I usually kindly ask them not to touch auntie's groceries but pay them anyway. How stupid is that?
Whereas in Finland you have to be quick, efficient and get out of the way... plus use a sturdy recycled eco-friendly plastic bag. Or even better, a cotton tote which you carry around at all times. Should you want to buy a plastic bag, they cost a small fortune (ok, maybe not, but if you do that daily, it will show in your budget).
But there's one simple but efficient way of improving the flow at the cash desk - this is something I really miss. After your groceries have been scanned, they continue their way on the rubber belt, as probably everywhere in the world. BUT: there's a flap which devides the belt in two in the middle, and the cashier flips it to another position after each customer, so their goods don't get mixed and it gives a bit of more time to pack your things. Next customer won't be breathing in your neck, their goods will go to the same side as the customer who was there just before you. And there's hoping that they've disappeared by then.
# posted by AnneV : 5:08 PM