Commissary: How Much Do You Tip Baggers Discussion

[watawata]

Question... How much do you usually tip the baggers (is is what they're called?) It's been so long since I shopped at commissary, and I totally forgot to tip the bagger, and I believe they only get paid for tip. Since I don't carry that much of cash (a lot of times, only $1 -2 ....), I guess I'm gonna have to start carrying small cash... Just wanted to see how much (or percentage) you usually tip them.
TIA!

[PMFan]

there is an entire thread about bagger tipping
here

How much do you usually tip the baggers

[heidikuz]

Since my husband retired I have made it a habit to tip $10. I love the look on their faces when they see the $10 and are always grateful. :) I save about $40 in coupons each time I go so it's not really that much when I think of some of the coupons paying for the tip.

[JustSaying]

Ok, time to boil some blood here. I've heard a lot of things regarding the topic of baggers and why or why not they should be tipped. I've also heard some people on other sites giving different reasons as to why they can't tip or why they feel they shouldn't have to.

First, if you have ever worked for tips? I mean, have you ever worked at a country diner only making a few dollars a table because most customers are farmers and really can't afford to tip very much? Now, if you've worked at Red Lobster or some where like it then you do not truly understand what it is like to have people be so rude when you work so hard and then not tip.

Please, don't misunderstand, I do see that many families really can't afford to tip more than a dollar. Also, I know that some baggers can be rude, but I've only run into the ones who are too shy to talk. I've seen a lot of customers treat baggers rudely and act like they are lowly people who don't have the brain to get a better job. Perhaps, some people are not as personable as they think and were rude first without meaning to.

I, personally, always put $4 in the basket at the counter and give the person who takes my groceries to my car $6 or $7. I do this once every two weeks during major shopping. The days when I'm only going for milk, diapers or odds and ends I use the self check out. I have bills and debts too. However, I always consider that some people may not have the ability to have a better job and that many people to not tip well. Some may be trying to learn English or may be high school or college students or even moms who can only afford to work in the evening for a few hours after their husband is home.

I do not really sympathize with those financially who have husbands over seas. I do understand the emotional strain. I am a Psychologist and work with many of these families through their hard times. However, those women who say they can not tip more than a dollar when claiming their husbands are E-7 or E-8 and have been deployed several times I can not understand. They make nearly double the salary of lower enlisted. Also, those deployed to receive approximately $800 or more a month for separation and hazardous duty pays.

I am sorry, but if a person can not be compassionate enough to tip just a dollar or two more each time there is something wrong. I've heard people saying they can not tip when wearing $100 shoes, $80 jeans and $65 shirts or jackets and driving a brand new Escalade. Come on people, how glutonous and selfish can Americans get? Unfortunately, I am disappointed with our people every time that question is answered right in front of me.

There are ways to save money and pay bills while sparing $10 for tipping two times a month. Ladies, we do not NEED five different coach bags from the PX. We already save a lot of money just by having the opportunity to shop at the commissary. There is no reason we should be so selfish. It is actually very unhealthy to display so little empathy and compassion.

To those who are lower enlisted families I understand, but those who have husbands making twice as much money complaining about tipping a few extra dollars to someone less fortunate should be ashamed of themselves. Say what you like. Bickering over tipping a few extra dollars tells me that you may need to consider picking up a hobby or coming to visit my office for an evaluation.

[tiffybear01]

i always tip $5 when i do my big shopping 2x a month.

[mommyof2_angels]

I HATE tipping at the commy lol Seems to ruin my 'good deal high' haha. I usually do $2, but most of the time I don't have cash on me so I have to scrounge around.

[Madayena]

A lot of the time, my hubby and I are tight on cash. So I go through the SCO. When we're having a good month, I'll treat myself and go through the normal check out and tip $3-5 depending on if I have a bunch of coupons, what the weather is like out, etc.

[usmcwifex07]

My sentiments exactly!!!

Also, I was talking to a bagger I know just before the self checkouts were installed and was told that the head baggers were concerned because once the self checkouts were installed they would receive less in tips. I couldn't figure out how that effected the head bagger. That's when she explained it to me. Basically, the person bagging the express lane gets paid about $5 an hour and all tips go to the head bagger. Now the $5 dollars an hour comes out of the tips earned through that line. Now think about this. The express line earns way more than $5 an hour and I had a problem with this. I told the young lady bagging that line (I know her), I will not be leaving a tip when coming through that line anymore. I would always leave tips for her. Sometimes more than I normally would leave. My reason for leaving a tip was because I received good service and it was left under the belief that it would be going to the person who bagged for me. If the head bagger bagged my groceries, then I have no problem with it. But since this is not the case, I don't leave a tip. The bagger will still get her $5 an hour and the head bagger who did absolutely nothing for me, gets nothing from me.

Sure, I know they have some other responsibilities such as replenishing carts and managing all the baggers, but I think they get paid enough considering that every bagger has to pay a percentage of their days take to the head bagger. Combined with the money from the Express lane, the head bagger makes hundreds of dollars of tax free money a day!!!! And remember, the head bagger never has to walk a customer out to the car in rain and snow.

Not all commisaries do this.

I used to bag at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, the day we bagged in the express lane, the tips we earned were ours. We would switch the head bagger all day. The bags she bagged and got tipped for were hers. Also we NEVER had to give a percentage of our earnings to the head bagger. We did, when I first started have to give a couple dollars to the person bringing in the carts, since they were not bagging that day. That stopped about 3mos in.

Bringing up bagging your own groceries, OP stated. You can do this. I remember we would have a couple people that would bag their own groceries because they did not like the way the baggers packed.

Keep in mind, that each bagger has their own way of bagging. If you have a problem with a bagger, attitude or the way they bag. Go talk to the head bagger. If you write into DECA sometimes the email the gets forwarded to the base commander (and in some cases it should be). We had a problem with one of the baggers taking out a customer, and the customer said her tip was in the can at the register. The bagger said "you mean all those pennies." We all knew which bagger it was. I eventually found out the customer, just by chance.

If you find a bagger that you like, you can request that particular bagger everytime you go through the checkout. If the bagger is out taking another order, or if they are not there that day, you might have to use another bagger. I had a couple people that would request that I bag their groceries whenever they came in.

Tips for bagging (from experience) ranged from .50 to $20+. It all depends on the customer. Some baggers would take a customer all the way to the back of the parking lot and only get tipped $2.

I take my own groceries out every time I go to the commisary. I have had issues with the way my groceries are packed. If my husband or someone else is with I will bag my own.