Only in Bermuda
12Feb2008
I have written about my love for shopping before, especially when it comes to paying by card. But sometimes, when you have no real cash in your wallet, you just have to use the card.
So there I was, shopping in one of my local supermarkets the other day. Upon reaching the checkout I realised I had no cash. I pulled out my debit card to pay. But then I began to frantically dig deep in my pockets looking for change – I needed to tip my bag packer something, or else feel an overwhelming sense of guilt. And that sense of guilt worsened when I saw that my bag packer was an 11 year-old schoolgirl.
I eventually dug out the only cash I could find – a two dollar bill. Which raised the dilemma: give the girl a $2 tip (which is a bit steep for one bag of groceries, I thought, and definitely goes against my 25c tip per bag rule), or give her nothing, and face eternal guilt.
Fortunately the question was answered for me. As she finished packing my bag of groceries she reached into her pocket and pulled out a BlackBerry to check her messages.
Any 11 year-old with a smartphone definitely isn’t short of cash, so as she handed me my shopping I returned the two dollar bill to my pocket, smiled sweetly at her and said thanks. Then I left, safe in the belief that I would not feel guilty this time.
I tell you, it’s a jungle out there….
I like to think I am a generous tipper, but I have never heard of tipping someone for bagging your groceries. In fact, here in Canada, stores are starting to charge for grocery bags, hoping you will start using fabric re-usable bags, which will cost the company nothing and is definitely better for the environment. Also, if you don’t ring yourself through, the cashier bags them while ringing them through… seems to be more efficient
YOUR LIVE IN BERMUDA..GOOD ISLAND TO BERMUDA …I BRAZIL…
http://aazun.blogspot.com/
Yeah, what brownboy said. In New Jersey, you practically have to beg the check-out chick to ring up your stuff and there’s no one there to bag. I usually do a better job of it than they would, anyway.
When I lived in Florida, not only would there be a bag boy to bag your groceries, but he pushed the cart to your car and loaded the groceries for you. Now that I tipped for. Big time.
You’ve forgotten your roots Tom…Here in the UK, if you can’t keep up with the cashier the best you can expect is not help, but a surly look, and a tirade of tuts from other shoppers.
Hi Thom, Guess what, yes, its your Mum. I always that you were tight about things that didnt matter, and always very generous about things that do matter. Its nice to know that kidz with Blackberries really dont NEED a $2 tip. If on the other hand she had had a cell phone and was checking for texts I presume she would have had the tip?!!!!!
Tom – your mum is checkinbg you out….thats bad when she agrees you’re tight!! lol
I’ll still be laughing tomorrow!
The correct amount is 50c per bag now anyway