Weird encounter at the grocery store on Saturday.........I push my loaded cart to the exit where I pick up my numbers for curbside loading. I wasn't aware that this process could confound anyone. As I grab my numbers, two guys (I'd guesstimate their ages to be 30 and 50) stopped me and asked,"How does this work?" Guarded person that I am, I quickly looked around to see where the employees of this fine establishment were hiding. I guess they were busy loading cars, this being the weekend before T-Day. So, I cautiously say to the guys, "What don't you understand?" I didn't think the process was exactly rocket science. You grab two identical numbers, put one on your cart and take the other to your car. You hang the number in your window and pull up. A kindly retired man or high school kid comes out with your cart and loads it into your trunk. You thank him (no tipping is allowed) and you drive off.
My explanation didn't seem to satisfy either one of them. I'm looking at them, contemplating what their deal is........they speak English quite clearly, so they weren't from a foreign country, they were both holding fancy Starbucks drinks, so they should be used to semi-complicated retail procedures (non-fat, double whipped mocha whatever), and neither had any discernible disability.
They then proceed to ask me, "Do you HAVE to have your cart loaded this way?" I told them, yes, because you are not allowed to take the carts out to the parking lot. I sure don't want someone putting a scratch in my black Jag (hahaha). Then it dawns on me that these two chuckleheads probably aren't going to be buying a cart full of groceries like all the women with organized shopping lists and coupons like moi. I told them, "Well, if you can carry your bags yourself, you don't need to take a number." They were like this: "OOOOHHHH!!!!"
I walked to my car, peering over my shoulder a few times. Now I'm nervously awaiting one of those "BEWARE" e-mails about men attempting to abduct women at grocery loading zones.
See, I would totally be those guys. I've never heard of that!
ReplyDeleteMama - REALLY? Maybe it's a cold weather climate thing? It's really hard to push a cart in two feet of snow!
ReplyDeleteAnd it's not a new concept. The grocery store my mom went to in the 70's had this system and it's about an hour away from me.
The store where we do the bulk of our grocery shopping has something like this, but there's no 'take a number' system connected with it. In fact, I'm not at all sure how I would be matched up with my groceries, once I drive up; the service is not used terribly often (mostly by the elderly, or if the weather is really bad). They hire teenagers to go out and collect the carts from the parking lot.
ReplyDeleteThis would confound me too. Never heard of that, not once my entire life. You can't take shopping carts into the parking lot?
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I've had to push carts through a foot of snow and ice. Good times!
Desmond - are you implying I'm elderly?
ReplyDeleteFTN - You need to be like me and find retailers who will pamper you. I'm spoiled by this store, no doubt about it.
But would it really be that confusing? Put a number on your cart, and the same number in your window and drive up?
i'm with mama dawg, never heard of such a thing.
ReplyDeletein trinidad though the person who packed your bags for you used to follow you out to the car and pack them in for you though. i miss that. it was especially nice when i had two very wee ones.
Must be nice! I shop at some of the nicer grocery establishments in the area and we still push our carts (or buggies as they are called around here) to the car. Sure they will do it for you if you ask, but unless I have the kids, I tend to do it myself.
ReplyDeleteWhat you describe is "optional" at our grocery store. But I'm with ya...those guys would have given me the creeps.
ReplyDeleteCreepers.
At my grocery store, the baggers push our carts out to our cars and load them. Heck, a few weeks ago, one of them finished with another couple, saw me carring out my one green bag of produce, and ran over and opened my car door for me!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, other stores here write the cart number on the receipt, and you flash that to the person loading groceries.
But seriously! Those guys seem bizarre! I say that because last year, while I was leaving a library in a town near mine, I was approached by two scroungy men who did that whole "Do you want to sample some perfume?" routine on me, and it creeped me the heck out!
LOL, I bet I can guaran-damn-tee that they're Southern transplants to your area, cuz nothin' like that exists down here, not that I've seen anyway.
ReplyDeleteAll of our grocery stores have bins IN the parking lots for you to push your cart too after you've loaded your car.
You're lucky if you can even get a bagger to push your cart to your car or help.
Lime - this particular store wasn't built yet when my kids were young. It sure would have been nice.
ReplyDeleteRuss - I can see where women would appreciate this convenience more than men.
Laggin & FADKOG - Creepy & bizarre. Why wouldn't they just flag down an employee? That's what seemed really weird to me.
LB - Lots of stores around here have the bins (like Target) in the lots - but I still see people too lazy to use them!
Wow... seriously?! LOL They have grocery stores out there like this?! lol....I've never heard of such a thing...We have the old loading zone, where you take the chance of someone stealing your cart, or have a family memebr that tagged along watch it while you go and retrive your vehicle. Otherwise, you are pushing your cart to your car and unloading your groceries yourself..
ReplyDeleteButtafly - well, if you'd quit shopping at BJ's!!!! (joking)
ReplyDeleteI too live in a cold, snowy climate and have never heard of this. I would be just as confused.
ReplyDeleteThey were probably just afraid of looking stupid, it's like asking for directions and thought you looked more approachable than an employee.