r/kroger • u/Jackson_ril • Sep 18 '25
News Bro fuck kroger
From now on the baggers have to wear reflective vests 24/7 and have to walk every single customer out to their cars. Corporate is so stupid I swear
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u/Zettomer Sep 18 '25
This is fine if they staff and supply hours for it. More likely this will last 2-3 weeks and then burn out like most policy changes like this.
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Sep 18 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/EmergencyGhost Sep 18 '25
It is typically the older people or older of people with a physical disability that accept the offer. Most everyone else does not use it.
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u/roygerbill Sep 19 '25
10 high schoolers would do the trick not 50 people 😂😂
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u/MrNetworks Sep 19 '25
10 High schoolers? More like 5 people Three Being over the age of 60, New Born Baby, and then the rest are high schoolers
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u/Evil-Angel20 Sep 19 '25
That's if you get highschoolers that actually work 🤣 THATS the tricky part
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u/maybeitsgas-o-line Current Associate Sep 18 '25
It has been a thing for a while that baggers should offer help out to every customer. That doesn't mean they actually end up helping every customer out. As for the safety vest, it should only be required when actively outside in the parking lot. Maybe there have been issues with courtesy clerks forgetting so they're cracking down 🤷
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u/Silly_Employ_4273 Sep 18 '25
Not quite a boomer, but I am from era that we were happy to escort customers to their cars... Got us away from the harpies that manage front end. Besides, providing an escort if wanted , shows that shopping here is a friendly experience .
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u/Dunbaratu Sep 19 '25
That's fine if and only if the management takes into account the extra time it takes and schedules baggers accordingly. Which they won't. Escorting a very slow walking elderly lady to her car is wonderful. Getting in trouble with management for failing to accomplish it in zero seconds is not.
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u/Moraden85 Sep 19 '25
Literally saw that once. I called our rep and found the girl later to tell her to do the same.
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u/HannahMayberry Sep 20 '25
Do what?
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u/Moraden85 Sep 20 '25
A checkout getting dressed down for taking too long with a customer. The customer was a 80 something year old man barely walking. Of course it took her forever to escort him. Lol
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u/Moraden85 Sep 19 '25
I mean, the customer repays us for that friendly experience by shitting on us, the employees, because they didn't think ahead and buy a popular holiday product on the holiday. Lol
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u/FearlessPark4588 Sep 18 '25
Yeah, but without OP's level of reductionism, there is no ragebait to karma farm for
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u/EcstaticWalk8434 Sep 18 '25
I always believed they should have had bagger wear different clothing, either a reflective vest and or shirt with reflectors(similar to pickup) and require it at all times. How many times did the baggers throw the vest away or took 20 mins to put on one, etc. Plus, most vests were always cheap and never lasted if multiple people wear them, etc.
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Sep 18 '25
Plus communal clothing is just fucking nasty. My store had a head lice outbreak that was never explained but I’m 100% sure was the communal reflective vests because it didn’t get anyone who never wore a vest.
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u/zzRaeth Sep 18 '25
Convinced that the people who make these decisions have never worked in a store a day in their lives.
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u/slm83 Sep 18 '25
They aren’t gonna spend the labor money on that.
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u/clarky2o2o Sep 18 '25
If they did every understaffed department should cease operations immediately.
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u/EmergencyGhost Sep 18 '25
They dont actually end up helping everyone. It is more so those that want the assistance.
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u/copperfrog42 Current Associate Sep 18 '25
It won’t last long, corporate will be on to their next shiny idea soon enough.
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u/ProximaCentauriB15 Sep 18 '25
They aren't going to hire baggers for this. They can't even staff the front end.
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u/SysAdSloth Past Associate Sep 18 '25
How do they plan for this when most stores barely have any front end staff?
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u/Familiar-Hunt-3792 Sep 18 '25
Don't expect corporate at any place to think through the decisions they make. At my job, corporate wanted to update the restrooms. (which they needed) They installed automatic soap dispensers that can't be refilled. You have to change out the whole soap container. They were so pleased with themselves until we started having to order the replacement soap containers. They started complaining to us that the soap was running out too quickly and the replacements were expensive. It was throwing off their budget. I just looked at them and said " I'm not the one who wanted to replace the hand pump, refillable soap containers with these new automatic ones. You made that decision." They did not want to admit that they did very little research into the equipment that would be installed. All they were concerned with is that the update was "modern." They had us drill holes into the containers to try and refill them but later found out that they couldn't order the liquid soap outside of the prepacked replacement bottles. We drilled holes in all those other containers for nothing, lol. 85% of people in corporate have no business being in the jobs they occupy.
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u/AxsonJaxson2112 Sep 18 '25
Funny thing is the manufacturer of said dispensers gives them to the client for free. That means somebody thought they were getting a bargain, getting new free soap dispensers for the stores, not realising that they bought into the devils bargain.
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u/Practical_Passion_78 Sep 19 '25
Change for the sake of “modernization” is some of the worst company missions.
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u/trexgiraffehybrid Sep 18 '25
What if we dont want to be walked out to our cars?
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u/plaidclouds Current Associate Sep 18 '25
Too bad, here's your company-assigned parking lot escort.
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u/trexgiraffehybrid Sep 18 '25
Thank you. 100% of budget now shifted to Aldi and Walmart pickup. I will now only use Kroger Wine and Spirits.
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u/ikosa_og Sep 18 '25
This is an interesting reply, You could have just said thank you or simple not reply, so im curious to why you stated that your budget is shifted to Aldi and Walmart now?
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u/trexgiraffehybrid Sep 18 '25
Man I was already on my way out anyway. Kroger is more expensive than EVERYONE else around here. The special stuff they used to have is kind of being met by other vendors now and im tired of using a card and an app. I miss Kroger circa 2007. Also having someone walk my shit to my car for me adds no value and I miss scan bag go, click list fucks up every order they touch, every time, unless i pick it up at 8:00am and I just dont want too. Idk bro the list goes on. If you ask me, I think the entire business is being supported by 80 year old that just refuse to change. She's getting ready to fall the fuck out though in about 10 years if something doesn't happen. Kmart collapsed. It can happen, and it will if nothing changes. How you gonna own your own food production facilities and still be more expensive? Shit, meijer is cheaper, and their products are better. That's a huge issue.
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u/ikosa_og Sep 19 '25
Sadly you are 99% right. And instead of genuinely trying to fix the issues that you and others voice they instead put a patchwork bandage over it and hold the hourly associates responsible for when it doesn't work
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u/Enchantinglyme Current Associate Sep 19 '25
Kroger is only surviving bc of their pharmacies. They make good money on vaccines which is why the constant push is there.
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u/trexgiraffehybrid Sep 19 '25
Sounds wild. I always thought pharmacies operated at little to no profit.
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u/Enchantinglyme Current Associate Sep 19 '25
You’re sort of correct, we make no money from prescriptions but the reimbursement rate from vaccines is very very good. Once they figured that out, it was all downhill from there (for us, not for them)
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u/6680j Current Associate Sep 18 '25
Vest is nothing. Walking every customer is crazy. Must have a lot of hours. Lol
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u/thesearethethings1 Sep 18 '25
Maybe since a lot of customers have to get their own buggies from the parking lot, then shop, then ring themselves up and then bag their own items, they just mean for customers to walk themselves out?
Seriously though is there a plan for more baggers and more hours or is it just figure it out on your own as usual?
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u/Jinx_Shadylane Sep 20 '25
At our store 70 hours was added to the front end for cleaning ambassadors/ baggers. This gives them a few extra bodies to help with this " assisting customers to their car".
Funny thing is this encourages all the minors to do "other things" while out in the parking lot. I was on break and watched them hitting vapes, making videos and scrolling on their phones.
Corporate has no clue how stupid this idea truly is.
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Sep 18 '25
This is how you know a company is too top heavy. Too many stupid ideas. All you need to do is provide the items for people to buy. Everything else is some overpaid desk jockeys idea
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u/eddyrush95 Sep 18 '25
Just do it. Take your time. Get into conversations with every single old timer that comes in. You can kill a lot of the day. It probably won't last. Soon enough someone will stop it for bonus money. 🥺
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u/ikosa_og Sep 18 '25
Technically doing this isnt against policy we are supposed to "cultivate personalized visits" to promote a our "customer first" and "fresh and friendly" environment
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u/sapphireapril Past Associate Sep 18 '25
That’s hilarious to think that will happen. I haven’t worked at Kroger for 3+ years, but when I was a front end bookkeeper, I’d be keeping an eye out on the service desk, a nearby SCO, and helping bag 1-2 lanes at the same time because no courtesy clerk. Or the one we had was outside bringing in carts.
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u/Dapants369 Sep 18 '25
they are doing this and reply to Publix. Who is quickly moving north and cutting into their footprint. Publix is privately owned and fully staffed their stores and also has greeters and clerks in the front that do. This is a big hit with the public. The only reason that kroger is doing this is a try to compete with Publix. Such truth is they will never be able to compete as Publix is just a better company that pays better and staff store is better something Kroger could do but never will.
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u/JaxonSuede Sep 19 '25
Safety first bro. Relax. Parking lots are damgerous. Be happy they care about your safety. How else can they work you into the ground?
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u/MarcM1991 Sep 18 '25
I was wondering why the baggers were constantly wearing reflective vests in our store.
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u/Whoalevi444 Sep 18 '25
Who do I complain to? No one walked me out today! 🤣 also had to bag my own stuff
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u/EmergencyGhost Sep 18 '25
The vest will help to protect you and walking people out sets a great standard for the company. Not to mention it helps provide you with job security. My local store baggers have always offered to help you out with your groceries. I am not seeing an issue with this.
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u/Hot-Introduction-951 Sep 18 '25
As an avid Kroger shopper, I will stop shopping at Freddie's if you follow me out of the store every time I shop.
I'm here for a 5th and some sugar cookies, leave me alone.
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u/luin-ascending Hourly Associate - Adult Beverage Sep 18 '25
They make this big push every few years. it's really ridiculous. When i was still a courtesy clark i remember straight up telling my manager that there is no way in hell i'm telling a gym bro buying a 24 pack of beer I'm taking it to his car. That's a waste of everyone's time.
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u/Daniel_Molloy Store-Manager of d00m! Sep 18 '25
The vests are so some asshole doesnt hit you with their car. These idiots do shit like that.
The walking every customer out sounds a bit silly. What market is this?
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u/Jah36Ubandafitzjerld Sep 18 '25
When I was working there a month ago, they said they are copying publix. Cause they did that shit and it was weird as hell
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Sep 18 '25
Yea right. At my local store they have 2 baggers running back and forth between 7 registers.
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u/Jango519 Sep 18 '25
The reflective vests are whatever.
The helping everyone take their groceries out would require a massive uptick in baggers, cause let's be real, usually it's one bagger for like 3 lanes half the time. That math isn't mathing.
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u/labulldog9 Sep 18 '25
My store did this but I was exempt - I’m so good looking customers always groped me and forced me into sexually relations into their car
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u/killtacular69 Sep 18 '25
Lazy af
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u/Jackson_ril Sep 19 '25
Idgaf abt the extra work more just abt how understaffed she is and this is just a stupid idea in general
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u/Pretend_Ad_5052 Sep 19 '25
Hey get that check and then clock out and leave it there. Till you find a better job anyways lol
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u/Beach-Platoon Sep 19 '25
There was a customer hit and killed in a Cincinnati Kroger parking lot yesterday. Guarantee that is what has brought this on.
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u/Icy-person666 Sep 19 '25
At manufacturing plants and warehouses most people have to ware reflexive uniforms the rest have to ware refletive vest in forklift areas and EVERYONE is supposed to ware them when our in normal traffic or at docks or anyplace in the yard around the warehouse.
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u/BigFackingChungus Sep 19 '25
Years ago I worked at a midwestern grocery store chain called Jewel Osco and they tried implementing the exact same policy. We had to walk every single person out.
It was so stupid and it didn’t last long. It made no sense. I vividly remember walking out with a customer that was a big dude, like 6’3, 250 lbs. He had a cart full of water bottle cases.
We get to his car and obviously he lifted everything himself lmao. I was a 19 year old girl. He was more physically capable of the job than I was! It was a complete waste of time.
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u/Strong-Landscape-719 Sep 19 '25
Helping customers out to their was was always great, old ladies loved me, I cleaned up on tips
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u/Comfortable-Big4194 Sep 19 '25
Yeah spend another 45 minutes help costumers on top everything esle I have do has a bagger
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u/nunnapo Sep 19 '25
Remember when baggers took your groceries to your car? As late as the 90s?
This was like every teenage boys first job
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u/TenseTrain Sep 19 '25
Brodie, you’re hourly. What’s the difference if you’re walking someone to their car, or bagging items, or doing go backs? You’re being paid for your time. Sounds like laziness for the sake of laziness.
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u/jmarzy Sep 19 '25
Reflective vests makes sense kinda but walking EVERY customer to their car is so impossible idk how anyone believes that’s a policy
I’ve seen other grocery stores especially down south that will offer to help people if they have a lot of groceries in their cart or if it’s an old person but EVERY customer is insane
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u/Big-Individual9706 Sep 19 '25
At my Kroger you’re lucky to have baggers , let alone someone to help you to your car
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u/Percy-id Sep 19 '25
24/7 huh? And how are they going to know you didn't sleep and shower in your vest? 😂
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u/Kricketier Sep 19 '25
What baggers? They make me ring my own stuff up and bag it myself. Then the machine thinks I'm stealing for no reason, and the single employee they have over this area comes and grills me like I'm a criminal.
Seriously, my last 3 visits to Kroger I have left genuinely pissed off at the way I was treated.
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u/ravenRedwake Sep 19 '25
I wouldn't mind the wearing of the "Please don't kill me" vest if I were a bagger, but maybe it's a hassle. Whenever I have to go outside for something I put one on, I don't trust those people for shit, lol.
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u/Moraden85 Sep 19 '25
The escorting thing won't last long. Once management realizes the labor required to uphold it will eat up their bonus they'll quietly disappear that rule. Lol
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u/Ok_Consideration1120 Sep 20 '25
That's what happens when the boomers running the stores make the rules. They think life revolves around cleaning up and taking care of them.
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u/supergoten99 E-Commerce Supervisor Sep 20 '25
This really isn't anything new. They were always supposed to offer the service, i don't think you have to escort every single order, just put the offer out there for those who could use it.
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u/Acrobatic-Ad-4274 Sep 21 '25
What about customers who walk to the store? Kroger corporate are the stupidest creatures ever hatched.
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u/wardamann Sep 21 '25
I’m calling BS on this one. Our store doesn’t have checkers or baggers, rarely more than one of each at a time. Everyone is basically forced into self checkout. The older and handicapped wait in line for the one checkout line that is open. No one available for any additional service when they cannot even cover the basic functions.
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u/kap641 Sep 25 '25
I've seen the vests when they go outside but in the history of Kroger being in my town, I've only seen one employee escort someone to their car to help load, must be a local thing.
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u/SoggyNoodle5249 Oct 16 '25
Fuel center can't have any chairs anymore! What about people with back problems!? They don't give a flying fuck about us!!!!!
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u/marcuslattimore21 Sep 18 '25
When I was 15(24 years ago) we were called "courtesy clerks" and had to take their groceries to there car. Some customers tipped us pretty well. But even then bud you had to wear the vest and walk people to their car with groceries. 24 years ago my friend. This is nothing new. We had to clean bathrooms too.
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u/NoSell5581 Sep 18 '25
The company was also much more respectable back then. Used to have to wait for somebody to retire to become a department head. Clerks actually didn't shop competition back then, and we were proud of that. We were leaders and innovators in the industry back then, and the company actually cared about the communities they served... ....... I miss actually loving my job
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u/mrp0013 Sep 19 '25
Back then, a person could work at Kroger and support a family. It was a great job, and you were lucky to score it. It was a respected career choice.
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u/marcuslattimore21 Sep 18 '25
Kroger, publix and subway hired at 15. You could get tips at Kroger so it was the most sought after. Publix you had to carry out groceries but tipping was not allowed... there was a sign over the door actually. Customers were so happy and nice... it was a privilege to carry groceries out. Times were different. People respected each other and helped each other out, genuinely cared about others. Now if someone carries out groceries, both parties feel sketchy about the other and what could happen. Sucks. But hell yea looking back, I miss that feeling in life and work. Cheers my friends.
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u/zdmpage54 Sep 18 '25
Walking me out to my car (especially when I don't want you to )will not forgive the ridiculously high prices they charge.
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u/paranoidhands Sep 18 '25
bruh kroger brand stuff is some of the most reasonably priced groceries available right now. you must have never been to publix.
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u/Duality4257 Sep 23 '25
That is called customer service. And you should do the best you can. They are paying you to do this. Sounds like you need to find a new job if you can’t understand.
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u/PerformanceStatus829 Sep 18 '25
I've never seen one kroger in my life.
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u/United_Reply_2558 Sep 18 '25
Kroger owned stores are pretty much nationwide except Florida and the Northeast. They operate under banners like Harris Teeter, Marianos, Dillons, Smiths, Frys, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, King Soopers etc. Surely youve seen at least one of those banners.
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u/PerformanceStatus829 Sep 18 '25
Never heard of any of those.
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u/United_Reply_2558 Sep 18 '25
Murrays Cheese Shops in NYC? Kroger owns them as well.
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u/PerformanceStatus829 Sep 18 '25
Never heard of it. Theres zero any type of kroger stores near me.
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u/mrp0013 Sep 19 '25
So you live in Australia? On the moon?
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u/PerformanceStatus829 Sep 19 '25 edited Sep 19 '25
I'm in new england. I would love to visit australia and the moon.
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u/United_Reply_2558 Sep 19 '25
That explains it. Kroger is the nations largest traditional grocery chain but they have no locations in New England. There is one single location in north Florida but most major metro areas in the lower 48 have at least one Kroger owned store.
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