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Alright, so Christmas eve was my last day of work at Save-On-Foods after being there for almost 3 years. I figured I'd give some advice and share my experiences with others who might end up stocking shelves for a job in the future.
- Some customers believe they are always right. Yes, there is a level of balance you must maintain, but don't waste your time on things that are out of your reach. Ex. Customer asks for a specific brand of mayonnaise that we don't carry. I tell them we do not carry it. They insist they have boughten it here before, somehow hoping that that will miraculously make a case of said mayonnaise appear in the warehouse. I am 100% positive we do not carry said product (or ever have). Ex. Customer says the price tag on the shelf was lower than what comes up when the item is scanned. Customer either misread tag, read the wrong tag, is blatantly stupid, or someone actually messed up when placing the tags on the shelf (least likely from my experience)
- If you are doing a carry-out for a customer, keep a spare coin (25c, $1, $2 coin, etc) to just give to the customer in exchange for taking their coin from their buggy that you will return. Before I did this I had a couple people just wait for me to come back out to their car with their quarter back when I forgot or figured they didn't care for it. Most customers will just let you keep it as a tip if you don't say anything, but better safe than sorry.
- If you are case cutting something to put on the shelf don't cut the strip of cardboard facing outwards off until you have placed the case on the shelf. I found this out the hard way when I case cut a case of 2L sauerkraut to put on the top shelf and massive jars came crashing down on my head. Not fun.
- Don't leave half finished wheelers or other jobs on the floor when going on a break. Managers just tend to get pissed.
- Use common sense when bagging groceries. That is don't squish soft items (eggs, bread, chips, etc), don't mix hot/cold groceries together in the same bags, don't make the bags super heavy when it's an old person who needs to carry the stuff. Put separate bags around things like dish soap. bleach, and anything else chemical-y that if you are going to put them in the same bag as exposed/fresh food. Some customers want their 4L jugs of milk in bags, and some just prefer using the handle. You'll frequently need to ask if the customer wants a hand out with the groceries, if they want a bag for the milk, etc.
- If you have to pull buggies outside and you think the train of buggies is going to tip, don't bother trying to save them. I've cut up my hand pretty bad from this. Same rule applies for moving towers of hand held baskets.
- Watch where you are cutting with your boxknife. Almost everyone cuts them self at some point or another, minor or not. If you are cutting open a box/case of cans of pop or bags of rice or something that has packaging that might be penetrated when cutting the plastic off be careful. I've accidentally sliced open like 6 cans of pop simultaneously when the knife went completely through the box and punctured the pop can.
I'll keep posting more as they come to me. Ask questions if you like, or are unsure of anything.
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- Assuming you are authorized to do so to maintain customer service, feel free to knock a couple bucks off the price of something, open it up and give them a sample to try, give 2 500mL cans beans for the price of a 1L can of those beans if the 1L is out of stock or something.
- Wear a jacket + gloves when working in the freezer or dairy. It's not so bad for a couple minutes, but no point in trying to man up or whatever when you are just going to get a cold in the end.
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I worked at a grocery store for almost six years. Everything you said is definitely correct. Can you explain the coin and buggy part? We didn't have that so I have no idea what you're talking about.
The only thing I'd add is to just be patient with people. Or simply don't care. Smile, nod, and go on with your day and don't stress about it. You'll encounter some real idiots. You'll also encounter the types of people that expect you to read your mind and when you don't they try to get you fired. It happens.
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On December 29 2010 05:45 LazyMacro wrote:
I worked at a grocery store for almost six years. Everything you said is definitely correct. Can you explain the coin and buggy part? We didn't have that so I have no idea what you're talking about.
The only thing I'd add is to just be patient with people. Or simply don't care. Smile, nod, and go on with your day and don't stress about it. You'll encounter some real idiots. You'll also encounter the types of people that expect you to read your mind and when you don't they try to get you fired. It happens.
I know some grocery stores don't force you to "rent" a buggy by unlocking one with a coin (be it a quarter, loonie, toonie, etc), where you return the buggy afterwards to get your coin back, but that tip is for the ones that do. When you finish a carry-out for a customer it is common courtesy to ask them if they would like you to take back their shopping cart. If they have a coin in the buggy that they leave with you to take back and "steal" from them, they sometimes get pissed off. Usually they won't care, but for the ones that do, I carry a spare coin in my pocket that I will give to them as I take back their cart so that I don't have to run back with their coin to return to them. You simply replace the coin that was in your pocket with the one that was in their cart that you returned.
And yeah, I probably should have included the patience thing. Some customers are just genuine dickweeds and will straight up piss you off. There are also the really nice customers who are really understanding even if you had to make them wait a while or something. Don't take it personally, it happens to everyone. If someone really ticked me off I enjoyed going in to the back of the warehouse and punching boxes of paper towl/toilet paper to relieve stress. If you did you job fully and were at least somewhat kind then your managers should side with you if the situation really starts to blow up.
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Oh, so your store basically rents a cart (carriage, buggy, etc.)? I live in Massachusetts (northeast US) and they're free. You just walk in the store, grab one, and you're good.
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On December 29 2010 05:45 LazyMacro wrote:
I worked at a grocery store for almost six years. Everything you said is definitely correct. Can you explain the coin and buggy part? We didn't have that so I have no idea what you're talking about.
The only thing I'd add is to just be patient with people. Or simply don't care. Smile, nod, and go on with your day and don't stress about it. You'll encounter some real idiots. You'll also encounter the types of people that expect you to read your mind and when you don't they try to get you fired. It happens.
Some grocery stores have a system where you place a quarter(or any other small coin) in a slot on the cart so it will unlock from the other carts. After you are done using it you can take it back to the cart area, snap the lock back in, and take your coin.
Notice I said cart. Buggy is craziest word ever. When I first moved tot he great american south and went to buy groceries for the first time (in the inner city no less) I asked where the smaller hand baskets were and the employee asked why I didn't "jus use uh buggay". I asked her to clarify what exactly a buggy was and the question was just met with confusion and anger. It took me a little while to figure out that they meant CART.
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Valhalla18444 Posts
i'm pretty sure the only people who refer to shopping carts as "buggies" are grocery store employees. I worked at a safeway for a while when i was in high school, that's where i heard it first. the first time my boss asked me to do something involving a buggy i had to ask what she was talking about. those things are SHOPPING CARTS!
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On December 29 2010 05:53 LazyMacro wrote:
Oh, so your store basically rents a cart (carriage, buggy, etc.)? I live in Massachusetts (northeast US) and they're free. You just walk in the store, grab one, and you're good.
For us, (Midwest) this usually is true for some stories. But we have an Aldi around here and they have this system to keep the racks nice and proper
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On December 29 2010 05:54 seanisgrand wrote:Show nested quote +On December 29 2010 05:45 LazyMacro wrote:
I worked at a grocery store for almost six years. Everything you said is definitely correct. Can you explain the coin and buggy part? We didn't have that so I have no idea what you're talking about.
The only thing I'd add is to just be patient with people. Or simply don't care. Smile, nod, and go on with your day and don't stress about it. You'll encounter some real idiots. You'll also encounter the types of people that expect you to read your mind and when you don't they try to get you fired. It happens. Some grocery stores have a system where you place a quarter(or any other small coin) in a slot on the cart so it will unlock from the other carts. After you are done using it you can take it back to the cart area, snap the lock back in, and take your coin. Notice I said cart. Buggy is craziest word ever. When I first moved tot he great american south and went to buy groceries for the first time (in the inner city no less) I asked where the smaller hand baskets were and the employee asked why I didn't "jus use uh buggay". I asked her to clarify what exactly a buggy was and the question was just met with confusion and anger. It took me a little while to figure out that they meant CART.
Mmmm I suppose the term 'shopping cart' is more of a global term, but around here everyone just calls them buggies o.o
edit: or at least the staff does. "buggy" has just been hammered in to my brain after all these years lol. They are buggies to me.
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No offense but there is nothing you can teach me about being a clerk. Good read though 
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lol buggies confused the hell out of me
i was thinking dune buggies at first and wondering wtf kind of store is this
+ Show Spoiler [dune buggy] +
never ever heard that term before heh
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My tip that everyone (clerks and customers alike) can use: When giving change to somebody, always give the coins first, and then the paper. Coins like to slide around on the top of bills and nobody likes picking up 88 cents worth of change off the counter/floor.
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On December 29 2010 05:56 FakeSteve[TPR] wrote:
i'm pretty sure the only people who refer to shopping carts as "buggies" are grocery store employees. I worked at a safeway for a while when i was in high school, that's where i heard it first. the first time my boss asked me to do something involving a buggy i had to ask what she was talking about. those things are SHOPPING CARTS!
never heard this before, and I've worked grocery stores. Must be a canada thing. just like you guys say pop, it's soda everywhere I've ever been.
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I've never understood the concept of packing the bags for the customers. Wouldn't that add a ton of staff needed and thus more expensive food?
Also, the plastic bags you guys use are such low quality, you can keep like three products in each bag. Very, very annoying
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On December 29 2010 06:13 SpoR wrote:Show nested quote +On December 29 2010 05:56 FakeSteve[TPR] wrote:
i'm pretty sure the only people who refer to shopping carts as "buggies" are grocery store employees. I worked at a safeway for a while when i was in high school, that's where i heard it first. the first time my boss asked me to do something involving a buggy i had to ask what she was talking about. those things are SHOPPING CARTS! never heard this before, and I've worked grocery stores. Must be a canada thing. just like you guys say pop, it's soda everywhere I've ever been.
shopping trolley and fizzy drinks (altho we always call fizzy drinks by the brand name... how can you ask for a bottle of pop or soda ...do you have to like clarify afterwards what brand you want every time?)
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I'm unsure as to why you think the customer isn't always right LOL How is it possible that I a shopper would not know more than a lowly clerk? Whilst I meant this in jest, trust me that's how most shoppers think.
As far as paying for the "buggy" "shopping cart" "shopping trolley" (which has way to many syllables for me hehe) it's my understanding that having to pay compels lazy ass shoppers, who can't take those few extra steps, to put the "cart" where it belongs. Thus
eliminating theft and also saving other shopper's cars from those inevitable dings.
*runs off to get a "fizzy drink" which I guess I'll have to ask for by name, but OMG...I can't wait to see the expression on someone's face when I ask for one. I love saying it. "Gimme a fizzy drink - make it a coke please" LOL
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1.5L free beans? Holy hell, where did you work, I want some of those beans.
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This was a good read Looking forward to another.
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On December 29 2010 07:21 luckyseven wrote:Show nested quote +On December 29 2010 06:13 SpoR wrote:On December 29 2010 05:56 FakeSteve[TPR] wrote:
i'm pretty sure the only people who refer to shopping carts as "buggies" are grocery store employees. I worked at a safeway for a while when i was in high school, that's where i heard it first. the first time my boss asked me to do something involving a buggy i had to ask what she was talking about. those things are SHOPPING CARTS! never heard this before, and I've worked grocery stores. Must be a canada thing. just like you guys say pop, it's soda everywhere I've ever been. shopping trolley and fizzy drinks (altho we always call fizzy drinks by the brand name... how can you ask for a bottle of pop or soda ...do you have to like clarify afterwards what brand you want every time?)
well like fast food places where you just order the cup and fill up yourself. Or like someone just offers a soda at their place, where you have no choice in the flavor. "hey you wan'a soda or somethin'?" type of thing.
Also, no one really calls you a clerk at a grocery store either. When I first saw the thread I was thinking like office work. http://degreedirectory.org/articles/What_is_Clerical_Work.html
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On December 29 2010 15:06 SpoR wrote:Show nested quote +On December 29 2010 07:21 luckyseven wrote:On December 29 2010 06:13 SpoR wrote:On December 29 2010 05:56 FakeSteve[TPR] wrote:
i'm pretty sure the only people who refer to shopping carts as "buggies" are grocery store employees. I worked at a safeway for a while when i was in high school, that's where i heard it first. the first time my boss asked me to do something involving a buggy i had to ask what she was talking about. those things are SHOPPING CARTS! never heard this before, and I've worked grocery stores. Must be a canada thing. just like you guys say pop, it's soda everywhere I've ever been. shopping trolley and fizzy drinks (altho we always call fizzy drinks by the brand name... how can you ask for a bottle of pop or soda ...do you have to like clarify afterwards what brand you want every time?) well like fast food places where you just order the cup and fill up yourself. Or like someone just offers a soda at their place, where you have no choice in the flavor. "hey you wan'a soda or somethin'?" type of thing. Also, no one really calls you a clerk at a grocery store either. When I first saw the thread I was thinking like office work. http://degreedirectory.org/articles/What_is_Clerical_Work.html
Hmmm I guess it depends on the location. Here, everyone calls you a clerk. I rarely hear stockboy or anything else.
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Korea (South)1897 Posts
Nice tips, its good to get this kind of work under your belt, builds the right work ethic as well as interpersonal skills that come naturally as well as the ability to relate to all levels of management and your work force; plus, customer service, routine work and operations is always good experience regardless of the level of 'prestige'.
I've seen a lot of guys who have never done such work and while in finance or as a consultant, they won't deal very much with the front line people, when they do take on more of a management role they usually end up not appreciating the staff who have worked their way up from an operational role or they aren't aware that they are projecting a kind of elitism/prejudice and the secretarial or middle management tends to not be cooperative (as they think the guy is an asshole).
I worked at my parent's convenient store for about 4 years, waited tables for about 3 years and worked as a sushi chef for about 5 years (and helped with dishwashing about 3 times a week), builds character and keeps you in touch with reality. Actually in my industry, a lot of casino executives all started as dealers, you'd be surprised to the actual percentage and executives are proud that they worked their way up, I think its a unique thing about casinos.
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On December 29 2010 07:04 Stenstyren wrote:I've never understood the concept of packing the bags for the customers. Wouldn't that add a ton of staff needed and thus more expensive food? Also, the plastic bags you guys use are such low quality, you can keep like three products in each bag. Very, very annoying
This. Crazy Americans  And if you have to ask all the time what the preferances of the customer are it's in most cases also faster to have them do it themselves. I know I can pack my groceries very fast and even put the heavier things first on the conveyor belt so I can start packing as soon as the first articles are scanned. I finish about the same time as the checkout scans the last items. It also helps I have my own big sturdy bags with me.
And that thing used by new mothers is called a buggy (just remembered Americans call it a stroller but imagine my confusion first reading about you constantly talking about buggies). Grocerystores have a shopping cart.
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Good read. Never had a job at a grocery store so always interesting to see what the people go through.
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On December 29 2010 23:07 Golden Ghost wrote:Show nested quote +On December 29 2010 07:04 Stenstyren wrote:I've never understood the concept of packing the bags for the customers. Wouldn't that add a ton of staff needed and thus more expensive food? Also, the plastic bags you guys use are such low quality, you can keep like three products in each bag. Very, very annoying This. Crazy Americans And if you have to ask all the time what the preferances of the customer are it's in most cases also faster to have them do it themselves. I know I can pack my groceries very fast and even put the heavier things first on the conveyor belt so I can start packing as soon as the first articles are scanned. I finish about the same time as the checkout scans the last items. It also helps I have my own big sturdy bags with me. And that thing used by new mothers is called a buggy (just remembered Americans call it a stroller but imagine my confusion first reading about you constantly talking about buggies). Grocerystores have a shopping cart.
the extra staff are called 'bagboys'. Basically its the shittiest job there. What you do is go around doing random tasks that people assign you, picking up messes, stocking shelves, collecting carts, or helping people do their jobs when its busy or needs to be done asap.
When there is a down time they just default to bagging groceries, they often hop from lane to lane bagging nonstop to speed up the checkout process so the cashier doesn't have to multitask. Its probably better on company losses when people handling money have less things to do.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/StDL1.jpg)
