Safeway's new "unload EVERYTHING" policy!

[pookie111]

I agree this is one of the silliest threads I have read in a long time. I work for a large supermarket chain and am a coupon queen as well so I see both sides of everything. In my store we don't have to put everything up but if we did as an employee and custumer I would just do it. Most chain stores are having shrink and need to try to prevent it in order to stop raising prices.

[RainyNights]

Well if there is one thing I have learned from message boards it is once the attacks start "Silliest thread" any chance of getting to the real problem is nil. So this will be my last post because anything else really is adding fuel to the fire and that was not my intention.

I will say that at my stores the sign simply says "Everything must be put on the belt" there is NO sign saying "if you can't or dont' want to do this , just ask us" I am thinking of my grandmother and mother ( arthritis suffers) that would NOT ask them to help and would do heavy lifting themselves as I am sure there are a lot of other people out there that would.

Also it is pretty silly to suggest that I think cashiers shouldn't lift or even sillier to think I think stockers shouldn't...stockers KNOW what they will be doing every day. I doubt any cashier expects to have to life 5 31lb boxes, back to back.

YES I completely realize in todays world there are much more important issues out... the war, our soldiers, our economy, and random gunmen taking out churches and work places at an alarming rate but I CAN NOT change those things so comparing my post to them well....is in itself a bit silly don't ya think?

Again I am truly sorry if I wasted your time by posting such a silly thread but I do encourage anyone that may know someone like my grandmother and mom that would feel it was their job to do all this lifting to email Safeway and let them know that it is wrong...if you don't feel it is wrong, then you simply don't have to do anything at all...no harm, no foul!

ETA: in an "us against them" kinda world (fighting for the right to use our coupons) I never wanted this thread to become HCWers against each others.

[patcat]

I have no problem removing my stuff from the cart. I think it should be every customer because otherwise it would be wrong.

I can not tell you how many times something small has fallen behind a bigger item. If I didn't remove it, I might have missed putting it on the belt.

I do know not everyone is honest and they will steal. I live in an area that I know people steal a great deal. They shove meat up their shirts and in their purse. I have even seen them stealing the grocery cart.

I feel the customer can unload a heavy product 6 inches to the belt because they were able to get it off the shelf and haul it a great distance to put it in their cart. I have help older customers when I felt they needed it and the cashier was clueless.

Safeway has the staff to help customers and they use them. They own the items in the cart you are pushing until you pay and take them away.

I am all for anything that is going to keep shrinkage down and cost down too.

[ladyeeyore7]

I just want to throw out one small point on this. I suffered arm damage from my job. Lifting and pushing is fairly painful for me but you wouldn't know I was handicapped by looking at me. It's embarassing to ask and I generally end up explaining to avoid the dirty looks. I try to go shopping with someone so they can help me but it's not always possible. You should see the looks I get when my 70+ yo mom helps me unload my cart. After I'm done shopping I usually have to ice my arms.

[Merczilla]

We've had the "unload your own cart" thing here for years. It's the norm for any grocery/Walmart/Target or just about any other store. It's nothing new at all. If I have a 50lb bag of flour or cat or dog food, they actually prefer it left in the cart and use the "gun" thingy to scan it. That's no biggy.

I have helped other customers that seem to be having difficulties or are holding a baby or something, but we're all used to it up here.

[southsider]

Originally Posted by Merczilla We've had the "unload your own cart" thing here for years. It's the norm for any grocery/Walmart/Target or just about any other store. It's nothing new at all. If I have a 50lb bag of flour or cat or dog food, they actually prefer it left in the cart and use the "gun" thingy to scan it. That's no biggy. I have helped other customers that seem to be having difficulties or are holding a baby or something, but we're all used to it up here.

Merczilla I am a little confused by your reply. You said that there is an unload policy in your area for years and then further down say that they prefer that the 50 lb bag of flour or cat or dog food stay in the cart. I understand the OP to be saying that where before those large items stayed in the cart and were scanned with the scanning gun. Those large items now need to come out of the cart. I believe that is what the OP is complaining about - not about putting smaller items on the belt. Would you please be kind enough to clarify what you are saying. Thanks!

[Merczilla]

There is no posted policy at any store that I've seen. No one here will make you put any of the big/heavy items on the belt.

[derketchup]

Originally Posted by Merczilla There is no posted policy at any store that I've seen. No one here will make you put any of the big/heavy items on the belt.

Yes, but that's the point of this thread -- OPs store is indeed making all customers do this, which is hard on employees and customers.

[Merczilla]

I guess I misunderstood. I thought they just started putting things on a belt out of their own carts, rather than the cashier doing it as it used to be in the "olden days".

[danimn]

Originally Posted by southsider Are you talking about the carts where the front end flipped open. There either was a short conveyor belt or none and the cashier took items out of the cart scanned them and then put them on the conveyor belt to be bagged.

didn't Jewel used to have this? I remember those carts too, but can't remember what store it was at