Another Spat With Meijer
(It’s possible I should change the name of this blog to Jennifer’s Meijer Ramblings Or Jennifer is a DORK and Can’t Believe You Keep Reading.)
As proud as I could be, I stood back and admired my work. Strategically planned and carefully implemented, I watched my groceries on the conveyor belt as they patiently awaited their turn to be scanned by the Meijer cashier. Large items like diapers and soda were placed on the belt first. The can goods, boxed items, and jars were lovingly segregated. Fresh fruits and veggies were placed far, far away from the germy raw meats. Bread, tortillas, greeting cards, and eggs were the final products, placed at the back so they’d be less likely to be crushed.
It was truly a work of art, fit for display in the Louvre.
I was pleased with my organizational abilities and looked forward to going home and putting each item in it’s place, knowing that it would be easy since it was already separated for easy unloading. The satisfaction I felt at my accomplishment made me feel all warm and snugly inside.
Imagine my horror, though, as the cashier began bagging my groceries all willy nilly. My carefully crafted work of art was suddenly dismantled at the hands of this maniac cashier. Why was she putting carrots in with one box of elbow macaroni, 2 jars of baby food and a can of pinto beans??? I audibly gasped when she put my bread upright next to the rice cereal, soy sauce, and one (of two) 1/2 gallons of milk. My eyes grew wider and wider and my heart raced with each bag she filled. And filled she did.
She somehow fit $172 worth of groceries into FIVE plastic grocery bags. I was certain that the bag filled with one package of size two Pampers, a jar of Apricot jelly, one can of artichoke hearts, four jars of baby food, rolled oats, flour, Swiffer floor wipes, and the other milk would bust. (Somehow it didn’t, but I don’t know HOW. It defied the laws of physics.) What should have taken five minutes, took double that as the cashier undid my handiwork, picking and choosing items to fill the bags.
I didn’t say anything to the cashier. I just sheepishly thanked her as she gave me my receipt and 746 Meijer coupons. Walking away, I tried to regain my composure as I headed for the automatic doors. Shell shocked and exhausted from the ordeal I drove home, replaying the horror over and over in my mind. Why didn’t I say something? What was I afraid of? Could Meijer and I still be best friends or were things cooling for us?
First the car carts and now the pillaging cashier. Oh, Meijer? Why? WHY? What have I done?
These Meijer stories keep me coming back…not completely sure why…I’m thinking it’s because I live the same nightmares at Shop-Rite. I FREAKING LOATHE those car carts!! And why exactly is it a good idea to place my bread at the bottom of the bag and then put the Ragu and canned tomatoes on top?!?!?
GOOD LORD!
Alison’s last blog post..The Kindness of Strangers
This kind of thing drives me crazy. At my last appointment my OB told me to stop lifting things like bags of heavy groceries. So lately I’ve been trying to organize my stuff into perishables and non-perishables so I can just leave the latter in the car for D. to carry in when he gets home.
Is it really necessary for the cashier to mix the two after I’ve so carefully separated them?
tulipmom’s last blog post..Sometimes A Little Push Is Good
first off I have a confession. I hate Meijer. Every time some internet person talks about Meijer I get a snarl, like when Jerry says “Newman!” I. hate. Meijer. I’ve never seen one, or been inside one either for that matter.
Onward.
T gets that at shop rite. He has learned which cashiers to avoid, and actually has favorites. I find this hilarious, because I didn’t think he was bright enough to notice trends like that. (we’re talking about a person who had to go outside to tell the appraiser what color the house was.)
Now all you need is some foreigner to come and express amazement that we Americans insist on our groceries being bagged! lol. Ever try to bag your own? you have to reach over into their personal space!
jen’s last blog post..the long list of things I can’t do.
This is why I love self check outs. I never get a grocery store clerk who can bag correctly. It’s maddening. I like to do it myself. (like might be a bit strong. )
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I used to really hate shopping at the cheapo store where you have to bag your own groceries, but now that they have those awesome canvas-like (no clue what they are made of) reusable bags that hold much an can be thrown over the shoulder, I don’t really mind, especially because I don’t have to worry about someone putting things together that are not how I think nature intended. Some of my logic follows normal trains of thought that I think everyone bagging should follow (which is why it’s so infuriating when they don’t…), but some of my thoughts maybe not - like scented dryer sheets not going next to fruits/veggies for fear of scent transfer or something. I’m difficult. It’s easier for me to just bag my own. I prefer checking myself out, too - um, I mean doing the self-checkout thing. It’s all more hassle, but it’s all exactly how I like it, and I don’t shop with kids so I probably don’t count
Maggie’s last blog post..Weekly Winners 3/2/08
ok, here is the deal….you went to Meijers on the weekend, during the first of the month……you are one of the lucky ones to walk out alive!
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Are you sure you weren’t in Kohl’s? I think they get fired it they don’t fit everything in one bag no matter how much you have. I have gotten so ocd about my groceries and bags, that I now go through the self check out lane and have been known to growl at the employees if they come near my bags.
Oh, I hate that. I always ask for the cold stuff to be put together, and they invariably forget that cheese is supposed to be cold.
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Ooh I hate the neanderthal cashiers at the grocery! My favorite is when they take the fresh fruit (that you have lovingly picked out) and place ot ontop of the one frozen item you have purchased. I have now resorted to ordering my groceries online and having them delivered. Some lucky man brings them into my kitchen for me
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I actually organize my cart while I shop, and they have literally no respect for how hard I work. I have gone so far as to leave large spaces in between ‘boxes’ ‘cans’ ‘veggies’ on the belt and they still manage to mess it up!
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Before I had my own bags, I used to ask them to put the cold stuff in plastic and everything else in paper. That way, at least it was half way sorted. Also, I could get the cold stuff out first when I was unloading it.
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Im also anal about my conveyer belt placement and also why I enjoy bagging my own groceries at our local grocery. Though I don’t recommend taking small children along. You would think there would be some kind of grocery bagging training or even a little common since would be good.
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I, too, am not in love with the car carts, nor do I love the virus and germ laden pony ride that is only a penny. I let the in-laws take the kid on that. I doubt they do the car carts, since they are cheap as hell (oops, did I say that out loud?) And, although it’s dangerous to say this since I live very near the birthplace of Meijer, I really really hate shopping there. Always have. But since moving from the land of Kroger, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s, Meijer is basically my only alternative
I don’t ever think I could trust a grocery store with a silent “j” in its name. I mean what else are they trying to sneak by us??
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Yeah, weekends are like that - though I’d rather have my stuff mixed up than one bag per product.
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Could it be the 746 coupons? Just a theory.
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I do the EXACT same thing. I put all of my things in a specific order hoping it willbe bagged with way. But add on top of this the fact that I bring reusable bags and the cashier and baggers look at me like I am crazy. Oh well!
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Hi- New here-
Ugh! I totally would have said something. SUCH a peeve of mine. I may be a freak, but I have actually shooshed “baggers” aside before and just bagged my own groceries. If they don’t do it right, I CAN NOT take it!!! My heart races and all I can hear is the blood pounding in my ears.
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The key to this is to bring your own bags. I too used to hate it when they mixed up all of my stuff, but now that I bring my pretty blue mesh bags they don’t bag anything. It’s like they’re afraid of my pretty blue bags. And I’m okay with that.
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I think I might’ve mentioned I was never a big fan. I hope you still find love now that the honeymood phase is over.
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Bringing my own bags has definately helped solve some of my bagging issues. I also seek out specific check out lanes. My favorite bagger some how managed to fit my huge “I haven’t been to the grocery in two weeks and we’re out of every thing” order into 3 very well balanced and not at all squished bags. I still don’t know how she did it. So much better than the girl I got stuck with yesterday who put three cans of soup in a bag and tossed in the cart and then looked irritated when I suggested that she could fit some more in there.
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You have to find a woman who looks like she’s had kids! They know how to bag the groceries in the right order. Teenage girls and old men just do not get it.
Unless of course it’s an Indiana thing. I’ve heard there a bit weird out there. Not observing Daylight Savings Time or such nonsense.
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Yeah, and that would be “they’re” not “there a bit weird”. I done got me some learnin’.
Jenni’s last blog post..Scrolling Saturday: Little Helpers
I would seriously have a (very quiet) inner stroke if that happened to my carefully placed groceries. But because I am the largest whimp ever, I would never have said anything.
Meijer needs to get it together!
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OMG ! That drives me crazy, but I am so anal about it, that I will resack the things. I guess that comes from being an ex grocery store manager. If it bothers you, fix it. The cashier should have done it right to begin with.
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Well don’t I feel lazy. I usually throw the stuff up there as quick as I can while I’m scanning the gossip magazines for the latest on Brit. Yeah I know, so bad.
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Heeheehee. I totally do the same thing. Only I put the cold stuff first and tell them to bag that all together (except for the eggs, which, of course, comes last with the bread) so that when I get home with a) a cranky baby who needs to nap, b) an active baby who needs to be contained, or c) a napping baby who will get left in the car (in the garage, windows open, door to garage open so I can hear him wake up), I can just grab the few cold bags and put those away and do the rest later.
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And once you start letting him get away with things, it’s just this long slippery slope into misery and eventual break-up. I TRY to keep my boyfriend Target in line, but sometimes….sometimes his behavior is so shocking, it catches me off-guard.
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LOL! I totally get why you’re annoyed. But I’m still a little jealous. In my country, you have to pack your groceries in bags your self. And they charge like 25 euro ct. for a big bag!
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I do the same organizing hoping to encourage the cashier to use common sense.My experience is though that some people could care less so there is nothing wrong with you saying something!
I take my OCD a step further and start wondering about all the meaty germs that the cashier has on her hands from the last person that came through touching all my stuff. I have also dragged hubby through the store pointing out all the dirty people manhandling the fruits and veggies and explaining why it’s so important to separate and sort. So good to know I’m not alone.
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omg I hate when they mess up my sorting. I work so HARD keeping all the canned goods together, frozen goods together etc. I was always finding cans of tomato sauce in with the bathroom products or frozen veggies with the meat. I will speak up if I catch them doing that. I don’t CARE if they’ve wrapped the meat in an extra bag. EWWW. Actually I’ve just taken to bagging my own or even redoing it. I’m not sure which is worse. The mix-up or watching them put only one box of cereal in a bag. Hello? You could at least put that box of spaghetti in there too! Yeah, just get out of my way. Amateurs.
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I KNOOOOOW!!! Drives me IN. SANE. I’m very anal about loading items on the conveyer - cold with cold, squishy with squishy (and last), meat with meat - and it makes my anus pucker when Bagger Vance throws my apples in with canned goods *and* bread.
Meijers? You are dead to me.
I hate it when they do that in a store. Stupid non-anal-retentive people!
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Well, that’s just irritating. I hope you two make up soon.
andi’s last blog post..Preschoolerville: The essential guide book
Safeway baggers do the same thing. But they’re usually 15 or 16 and probably have never had to buy a cart full of food that needs to survive the week.
One time a bored bagger “helped” me by taking things from my cart and putting them on the conveyor belt. I watched in horror as all my produce, which I used to lovingly place in the top part of the cart where now my wiggly 1-year old sits, was being chucked onto the conveyor belt. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and said I was okay, thanks for the help, please leave me alone now (all the while hoping he wouldn’t be my bagger).
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Ach!!! I’d have DIED, right there on the spot! John gets most of our stuff at Aldi and he bags it and we shop at Cub’s and you bag your own groceries
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I thought I was the only OCD grocery person. I meticulously unload my groceries and have an absolute fit if the cashier doesn’t respect my talent. I will, however, stop them from putting non-produce items in with my produce or putting anything in with the meat. Put your foot down woman! Demand respect!
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I was lazy and didn’t read all the comments, but I think I might know why your cashier crammed everything into 5 bags. (the bread with the milk, I can’t explain, though.) My mom sells things to a big super store, and said that the cashiers at that store chain have an incentive to not use as many bags. It’s to save money for the chain, as well as help the environment (I’m sure.) So Meijer, might be doing the same thing. Or you could have just gotten a cashier who has never had the joys of trying to unmush flattened bread.
I am convinced that cashiers do this on purpose. I too take pride is my perfect assembly line only to have it ruined! I think I might actually prefer overstuffed bags though. At Walmart, I get no more than 3 items per bag. Grr!
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Oh no! Meijer had better get its rear in gear if it wants to keep the spark alive! I would hate to have you fall out of love with our little love triangle we’ve got going.
I used to work as a cashier at Meijer through college (so did hubby - that’s how we met….awwww! ha ha! We don’t brag about it - teehee!) ANY-who, I would LOVE if someone awesome like you would come through my lane. I was the good one that would sort it out and bag them PROPERLY if they didn’t have them already seperated as such. It’s just common sense, right? Not to some. I totally get what you’re saying. At least it’s not as bad as WalMart. Yikes. I try to always go through the self check there just to avoid the cashiers and their dreadful bagging skillz.
i am so sorry to hear that you and your “friend” are having another spat! hopefully your “friend” is listening and will shape up for your next visit!
ps - i have given up w. the organizing of the conveyor belt and now have learned to love my smooshed bread!
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I am the same way. I always thought they would bag it as it was loaded on the belt. I found out that they don’t. They pick and choose and I think gauge your reaction to see just how far to push you! Who would have thought that eggs, a jar of spagetti sauce, 3 cans of peaches and 2 bags of bread should go in one bag! I would have never put them together. Of course I also think my eggs should get home unbroke and the bread shouldn’t be smashed beyond ever being used!
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Blech!! One of my biggest pet peeves is bad bagging at grocery stores. Thankfully commissary baggers are pretty good, and I think it also helps that I bring my own bags.
I do miss Meijer, though..
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Speaking as my former self, a 2 month veteran 16 year old bagger at Kroger: “We truly do not care about your bread being smashed or your cardboard boxes being ruined by condensation from the frozen foods. We have probably coughed into our hands and then bagged all your food willy nilly. We wish you knew the importance of making social plans and discussing boyfriend drama as we bag your groceries and would not stop us mid conversation to insist on things being done a certain way. GEESH!”
Yes, I would have fired my former self.
I feel you pain. I have become convinced that in order to be hired as a cashier/bagger at the grocer you have to be defective in spacial understandings. Plus, have never been on the receiving end of a bag of mushed bread with crushed eggs made by placing the gallon milk carton on top of both!!
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I do this with my groceries, too. Usually I have no problem, so maybe it was the cashier? I do know they are supposed to put 8 items in each bag, so maybe if you specify that you prefer segregation to minimal car trips? :sob: Don’t break up with my best friend, Meijer!!
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Ok, you need to call that manager and have that cashier FIRED. Right now. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
.
.
.
.
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are you done yet?
. .
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..
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Jen?
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This confirms it! We’re twins separated at birth. I’ve always thought we had so many of the same ‘quirks’ (like food safety!), but this confirms it. I totally arrange my groceries - in the cart and on the conveyor belt - in meticulous manner, too.
And it’s not just about the size of the boxes, but what’s in them, dammit! And what about keeping all the frozen stuff together and not with the non-perishables? I could go on for days, but I don’t have to because you already did.
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i equally get peeved when our $60 worth of groceries from publix comes in no less than 10 bags.
you should go to publix… apparently they’re afraid to have any food touching at all.
way to go for knowing how to unpack your grocery cart. i take great pride in that myself… all the cold products together; boxes, jars, cleaning items together, etc…
the problem is that most of the time it’s the cashier that has to bag… so obv they’re in a hurry and don’t pay attention. when i was a cashier, i felt the pressure, but i always did my best.
what’s up w/ the work ethic these days????
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I am in love with Meijer but the baggers? Are NOT paying attention! I do the exact same thing lining up my groceries and they are usually placed willy nilly so that my organization is screwed!
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Jeez, you pissed karma off in a mean way.
I’m a Meijer cashier and I love it when you segregate your stuff on the conveyor belt, and will wait to start the order if you ask me. Except on a Sunday afternoon, the busiest time of the week.
One tip for you nonsorters: Since we have those bagging carousel things, don’t automatically grab the bags as they whirl by you. I may be sorting for you and intend to put more items in that bag! (This usually happens when you have a second person with you who is trying to help.)
And always put the eggs at the end. Occasionally stuff gets jammed up on the belt and crushes the egg carton into a wall. Ick.
It is a guessing game some days knowing how much to pack in a bag. You can’t judge by the appearance of the customer, either. I’ve had little hunched-over elderly ladies who walk with canes, who look like a good breeze could blow them away, ask me to pack as much as possible in a bag (turns out they don’t want to make multiple trips from their car to the house.) And middle-aged women who ask to pack light (like, 3 cans of soup in a bag). There are people like me who almost never put their produce in one of those clear plastic bags, and then there are people who put plastic bags over everything, including their plastic containers of strawberries or lettuce and the net bags of onions.
Some of my fellow cashers drive me nuts with their bagging. I actually don’t like it when they offer to help, and I try to use the self-check whenever possible.