Customer service pushed to the point of annoying

[sns4063]

This happened to me a few days ago, but it's still bugging me. I took the week off to do some housework/relax. This allowed me to go grocery shopping during a weekday after a doctor's appointment. Everything went smoothly until I had paid and went to take my basket of groceries out to my car. The customer service person/bagger started to push my basket out. I told her that I didn't want or need help, but thanks anyways. She then started following me. I told her again, that I needed no help. She said that upper management wanted 100% carryout. I told her again that I didn't need help (mostly because my car is a mess and I had to move some stuff to fit all the groceries in-I hadn't planned on buying so much). She followed me, telling me that she'd have to go out to bring in the basket anyway. I insisted that I did NOT need help, and that I would even walk the basket back in-to just leave me alone. She did not. She essentially stalked me out to my car, stood there while I hurriedly threw my groceries into my car and even commented that I needed to clean out my van. Excuse me?!? GRRRRRR. NO means NO! For pete's sake, leave me alone and go stalk other customers! I even talked to my mom about this and she said the same thing happened to her at that store.

Anybody else have these problems? Why would a store push customers away by doing this? I really don't want to go back to this store because I might be stalked out to my car again, just because they don't want a single cart outside in a corral!

[3timesoccermom]

I understand your point but I feel for her if the managers insist they do carry-out because that kind of put her between a rock and a hard place. Maybe she hadn't experienced anyone else not wanting/needing help before either.

It's not like that where I am! Most of the sackers grudgingly ask if you want help, they don't do it willingly.

Now her comment about the car, however, out of place!

[wrestlegirl]

Tell upper management if they continue with the stalking baggers, you're shopping elsewhere. Complain, complain, complain!

I worked at a grocery store for a little while, and at one point when a competitor store opened up nearby this sort of "service" was added to gain an edge over the new store.

December, middle of freaking winter in the Northeast, a foot of snow on the ground, and there were two employees stationed outside each entrance door greeting everyone who walked in and half-chasing those walking out to offer help to their car. There were employees stationed at various points around the store to ask passing customers if they needed help finding anything. It was like a freaking gauntlet to get a loaf of bread.
Customers would walk in, be greeted by someone standing outside in a huge winter jacket, scarf, coat, gloves, obviously freezing cold and uncomfortable. They'd try to make it to the bread aisle and back while dodging someone offering to help every 10 feet. THEN they had to wait through the spiel from the cashier, be told goodbye by any employee in the vicinity while en route from register to door, and THEN be accosted by another bundled-up employee offering to help them carry their loaf of bread to the car.

Needless to say, shoppers complained loudly and started to take their business elsewhere.
The customer service gauntlet only lasted maybe 3 or 4 weeks before "upper management" scrapped the idea due to irate customers.

[sns4063]

Normally when I shop at that store, it's busier and they barely have enough registers open to get through the checkouts in a reasonable amount of time. I guess since a newer and cheaper grocery store opened a second store in the area, they think that stalking people in the name of customer service will up their game. In any case, I did email corporate, although I doubt it will help.

[Mama Stu]

I would complain also, tell them that you understand and appreciate the service being available but do NOT always wish to take advantage of it. I also would tell them you didn't like the comment that she made about your car.
If someone told me my van needed cleaned out, I would tell them to feel free to clean it out anytime

[AmyRD]

I have the same problem at one chain store I shop at but they only insist on following you out if you have a child with you. This was just fine when ds was and infant and even 1 or 2 years old but he is now 5 1/2 and I certainly do NOT want their help. This is not my main chain I go to (which is Giant EAgle) but a different chain. THe good news is I have another of this chain just a few miles away and if my ds is with me I go to that one. That last 2 times I was there and the bagger one was probably in her 60's started to follow me and I told her I do not want her help. She told me she had to or she would get fired. She told me she had listened to a couple other customers who told her not to go out and was suspended from work and the next offense would be fired. I felt for her BUT my 5 year old was having a major tantrum, crying, yelling the whole bit and I was trying to hurry and get him out as soon as possible to have a private conversation outside with him but if I sent this bagger away I was afraid the bagger would lose her job.

My neighbor used to work there and told me MANY employees were fired after customers refused and insisted the employee not follow. I did call and complain to the manager but he basically apologized and inisited the policy would continue. Now I boycott that location.

It is CRAZY to force this and fire employees over it!

[wrestlegirl]

In any case, I did email corporate, although I doubt it will help.

Find the store manager and complain to him/her directly as well. At the very least that should take care of the rude comment about your car (totally unacceptable, bagger stalking or not), but if the manager hears enough feedback directly they may loosen the 100% carryout rule on their own until corporate backs off.

You have to wonder if "upper management" has any earthly clue how to operate a retail store. They always come up with the WORST ideas!

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Why are they doing this? To try to get tips for carting out your groceries like they do at the Commissary?

[AmyRD]

Why are they doing this? To try to get tips for carting out your groceries like they do at the Commissary?

I my case the "manager" thinks it is good customer service despite the fact that customers complain about it and employees get fired.

[sns4063]

Why are they doing this? To try to get tips for carting out your groceries like they do at the Commissary?

I have no idea, but they won't get tips from me, as I don't carry cash. Annoying me just loses me as a customer-especially since this isn't the best priced store in town.

I think next time, if I do go back to this store, I'll tell them they can take my groceries out to my car if they'll come with me to my house and bring them in/put them away for me too!