I have worked just over a month as a bagger, and from what I've noticed it seems like bagger do A LOT more work than the cashiers. I've never operated the register, but it just seems like the cashiers slide things across the scanner and occasionally typing in codes. They just carelessly and rapidly fire off items leaving the bagger to try to move things like bread and chips out of the way, sort the items by type, and fit as many of those items as possible into bags. Once that register is done, baggers have to immediately rush to the next active register and continue the process. If for some reason none of the registers are actively scanning, then the baggers need to go outside and haul in as many carts in as possible, no matter the weather. With all this, all that cashiers have to do is scan at whatever pace they want, and get little breaks in between customers; baggers work and move nonstop. I find this a little unfair considering the fact that baggers can't get raises. Have anyone here worked both positions? If so, which is worse in your opinion?
I have worked just over a month as a bagger, and from what I've noticed it seems like bagger do A LOT more work than the cashiers. I've never operated the register, but it just seems like the cashiers slide things across the scanner and occasionally typing in codes. They just carelessly and rapidly fire off items leaving the bagger to try to move things like bread and chips out of the way, sort the items by type, and fit as many of those items as possible into bags. Once that register is done, baggers have to immediately rush to the next active register and continue the process. If for some reason none of the registers are actively scanning, then the baggers need to go outside and haul in as many carts in as possible, no matter the weather. With all this, all that cashiers have to do is scan at whatever pace they want, and get little breaks in between customers; baggers work and move nonstop. I find this a little unfair considering the fact that baggers can't get raises. Have anyone here worked both positions? If so, which is worse in your opinion?
I have worked just over a month as a bagger, and from what I've noticed it seems like bagger do A LOT more work than the cashiers. I've never operated the register, but it just seems like the cashiers slide things across the scanner and occasionally typing in codes. They just carelessly and rapidly fire off items leaving the bagger to try to move things like bread and chips out of the way, sort the items by type, and fit as many of those items as possible into bags. Once that register is done, baggers have to immediately rush to the next active register and continue the process. If for some reason none of the registers are actively scanning, then the baggers need to go outside and haul in as many carts in as possible, no matter the weather. With all this, all that cashiers have to do is scan at whatever pace they want, and get little breaks in between customers; baggers work and move nonstop. I find this a little unfair considering the fact that baggers can't get raises. Have anyone here worked both positions? If so, which is worse in your opinion?
I have worked just over a month as a bagger, and from what I've noticed it seems like bagger do A LOT more work than the cashiers. I've never operated the register, but it just seems like the cashiers slide things across the scanner and occasionally typing in codes. They just carelessly and rapidly fire off items leaving the bagger to try to move things like bread and chips out of the way, sort the items by type, and fit as many of those items as possible into bags. Once that register is done, baggers have to immediately rush to the next active register and continue the process. If for some reason none of the registers are actively scanning, then the baggers need to go outside and haul in as many carts in as possible, no matter the weather. With all this, all that cashiers have to do is scan at whatever pace they want, and get little breaks in between customers; baggers work and move nonstop. I find this a little unfair considering the fact that baggers can't get raises. Have anyone here worked both positions? If so, which is worse in your opinion?
Cashiers also have to bag. Cashiers have to deal with pissed off customers more than you do. Cashiers have a lot more they can mess up (checks, WIC, etc.).
I don't think either is necessarily easier than the other. Cashier is certainly harder mentally. The only cashiers who couldn't be a CC are ones who are disabled/injured and couldn't push carts. My store has a ton of CCs who couldn't cashier because they aren't smart enough.
I have worked just over a month as a bagger, and from what I've noticed it seems like bagger do A LOT more work than the cashiers. I've never operated the register, but it just seems like the cashiers slide things across the scanner and occasionally typing in codes. They just carelessly and rapidly fire off items leaving the bagger to try to move things like bread and chips out of the way, sort the items by type, and fit as many of those items as possible into bags. Once that register is done, baggers have to immediately rush to the next active register and continue the process. If for some reason none of the registers are actively scanning, then the baggers need to go outside and haul in as many carts in as possible, no matter the weather. With all this, all that cashiers have to do is scan at whatever pace they want, and get little breaks in between customers; baggers work and move nonstop. I find this a little unfair considering the fact that baggers can't get raises. Have anyone here worked both positions? If so, which is worse in your opinion?
As a former bagger that's worked at Kroger for quite some time, I can attest to the boldfaced part of this quote. Most cashiers I work with seem oblivious to the fact that baggers have to organize and sack the groceries, so they just toss whatever's closest to them on the belt. It's so annoying, and occasionally, products become damaged as a result.
That, and a lot of them don't really seem to know how to bag. One cashier once put a loaf of bread with two milk cartons. I cannot make this stuff up. Very few cashiers (as well as all the supervisors) don't make such mistakes. That just shows you how good the training is.
As for pushing carts, other than how annoying it is, especially when understaffed, I never understood the point of this. They're all going to disappear, anyway, so why bother?
Anyway, I do think it's a little unfair that cashiers get paid a little more, but other than that, I don't have a problem with their position.
Anonymous wrote:
Cashiers also have to bag. Cashiers have to deal with pissed off customers more than you do. Cashiers have a lot more they can mess up (checks, WIC, etc.).
I don't think either is necessarily easier than the other. Cashier is certainly harder mentally. The only cashiers who couldn't be a CC are ones who are disabled/injured and couldn't push carts. My store has a ton of CCs who couldn't cashier because they aren't smart enough.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I just started as a cashier yesterday, and I already annoyed a few people. Granted, I didn't have much training (again, "stellar" training), but the minority of customers I had were not so forgiving. Most were, however, so that was nice.
At least as a bagger, you don't have to worry about money, and you don't have to deal with annoying customers as much as cashiers do. You don't have to deal with go-backs as often, and you also get a bit more exercise. (I'm just not used to standing in one place for so long.) Still, from what I've seen so far, I prefer being a cashier. It still sucks, but you don't have to go outside or conduct price checks. =)
-- Edited by VGM123 on Tuesday 7th of June 2016 02:37:03 PM
-- Edited by VGM123 on Tuesday 7th of June 2016 02:37:31 PM
as a person who has work both for at least a year i can say with certainty that baggers get the short end of the stick. hard physical labor clean up after the grossest stuff possible anything from **** to vomit and blood plus food and drinks. and yes i have cleaned all of it. to take backs. i wish baggers got payed better and treated with more respect. cashiers if you know what your doing is a really easy job. and if you can score the uscan it doesn't get any easier than uscan. baggers have it much worse.
