If you are one of those who take advantage of the free customer service at the commissary, shame on you!
What happened to the national mantra “support your military families?” All of the baggers at the commissary are military family members, spouses, children, active duty and retired, so when you the “customer” have them bag your groceries, many times to your specifications, carry them out to your car, load them into your vehicle and return your cart to the store, for nothing, nada, zero, free, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Many of you have taken it to the point of insult, telling the baggers to get real jobs if they expect to be paid; or, “oh sorry, I don’t have any cash” (every time you come to the store), wow, that hurts.
A couple of the baggers have been accused of being rude. Wouldn’t you tend to be a little testy if you worked all day for nine bucks? What is it that you, the military customer, do not understand about the commissary baggers? They do not get paid by the commissary. They depend on rotation and tips. They stand ready to assist you with your groceries only to be stiffed time and time again.
When you and your family go to a nice restaurant for a meal, it is nothing for you to drop a little extra for the waitress, say 15 to 20 percent and hey, wait a minute, they get paid a salary, small as it may be, they get something for what they do, and for that matter, they didn’t even cook the meal or do the dishes or seat you or check you out or walk you to your car and yet, you tip them!
The baggers do not expect 15 to 20 percent of your grocery order a little appreciation would be warranted.
How many groceries could you buy if you worked for free?
So, the next time that you go to the store, have a couple of bucks available to tip that nice young man or fresh faced girl or even that experienced veteran that is ever so faithful who shows up every day to provide a service. Imagine what it would be like if they were not there at all, ever. Doesn’t seem like that big of a sacrifice now, does it? Come on people, support your commissary baggers, your military families.
Norman Hamrick
Oak Harbor
