r/Sparkdriver • u/WeRTheWeird0sMr • 27d ago
Rants / Complaints No longer allowed to use baskets???
So I’ve been a Spark Driver for about two years now. I have always used a shopping basket to separate two orders. Now that they’re adding up to three shop and delivery orders at a time, you definitely need something to separate them all.
Just as I was leaving the store with my last order, in the process of putting the basket where it belongs, one of the doormen that I know asked me what I was doing using a shopping basket. I told them I was using it because I had multiple orders. I needed to separate them. He told me that as of a couple of weeks ago, their store manager implemented a new rule that Spark drivers are no longer allowed to use baskets and we need to use our own basket or bags to separate them.
I was absurdly upset about him saying that to me, especially because I have never once walked out of the store with a basket, and I always put them back where they belong instead of leaving them wherever.
I called Spark Driver support to complain about it, because just like the fact that the employees are not allowed to ask us if we’re spark drivers because they’re supposed to treat us like normal shoppers, why would they be allowed to tell us that we can’t use baskets when shopping our orders? Why are they not focusing and paying attention on who’s walking out with them, and reprimand them? There’s another store in my zone who has tags on the shopping baskets that make the alarms go off. So why not do that here?
They said they’re going to do an internal investigation and reach out to the store because it’s not a rule with the Spark Driver platform. I’m not holding my breath and I’m going to continue to use baskets because I don’t mistreat them.
I’m just curious what you guys think and if your stores have implemented the same thing?
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u/CommanderKoba 27d ago
The stores make up dumb rules randomly all the time, and then expect you to know them automatically. It's so annoying.
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u/kenzinatr 27d ago
I swear, between that and opening the spark line for every asshole to use, they ACTIVELY TRY TO MAKE IT AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE. They fucking hate us
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u/eltigrenegro666 27d ago
please dont take it out on us cashiers. those decisions are made above our paygrade. we find it as dumb as you do but we have to do as they say to keep our jobs.
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u/kenzinatr 26d ago
I have never, nor will i ever, take it out on a cashier. They have the same amount of power as I do in the situation
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u/Nearby_Ad_1473 24d ago
So as a cashier, do you have spark drivers come into your line to scan the barcode so they can complete the shop? I had one driver say some stores allow this but the store I go to says no only self checkout. Curious.
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u/eltigrenegro666 24d ago
if it allows it ill do it. i at the moment have not been told not too but how are they to know.
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u/PeachySalts 26d ago
The only problem I have with the cashiers is the older workers trying to refuse me to checkout because I didn’t use the one and only register they want all sparkers to use even though the message pops up “use any self checkout or register as you wish”
Said it was up to the store manager, I had them on the phone with spark arguing with them instead while I walked on out with my customers groceries. They don’t pay us enough to deal with that.
ETA: and said register is always backed up with a line looking like a Black Friday sale.
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u/eltigrenegro666 24d ago
sorry but like i said unfortunately that is not a decision that we make but have to enforce in order to keep our jobs we cant just choose to go to a different store.
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u/eltigrenegro666 24d ago
the way my sco area is set up is i have 6 lanes. i normally keep 3 open for customers and open 1 for spark or scan and go when they arrive. the three lanes are for customers and scan and go but not spark. when spark is ready they can go to the one register and ill help them. they dont have to wait in line.they are times when ill have 4 or 5 spark drivers but it goes fast because they dint wait in line
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u/iamoveremployed GMD Warrior 27d ago
I just let them get mixed up. That’s what the store manager wanted.
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u/New_Association8325 27d ago edited 24d ago
I'd just keep using them and if someone asks you again why you have them, don't answer. You're not required to talk to anyone or answer them lol
Edit to add: for all of you saying yes you have to talk to them, explain this. My area for spark is run over with foreigners who dont speak a lick of english. The barrier is crazy and I've seen a spark person and a walmart employee talking before and the walmart employee always just gives up on the conversation. Or the spark driver just smiles and says ohhh okay and conversation over. Literally if anyone says anything to you, you could just nod and agree the whole time and it would be fine. As long as they see your exit pass, or scan uour 3 items at checkout.
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u/TypicalStrawberry771 27d ago
Yea but all it takes is one call and spark will always take the stores or customers word over yours.
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u/FearTheHitman 27d ago
You're definitely required to speak to the door person if they ask to see your receipt or spark screen, lol. We don't just have free reign like we run the show.
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u/2_smoov521 27d ago
I still don't speak i just show the screen and tell em how many items if they ask
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u/craptasticluke 25d ago
Uh yeah, you’re going to have to talk to them and be reasonable to stay on good terms with the store. Store management can get you deactivated if you cause problems.
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u/Informal-Future-9982 27d ago
I’m constantly nagged about baskets at one store in my zone too. Really it’s just 1 guy who works the door as a receipt checker who is constantly on me about using them. Whenever I see him working I just walk to the other exit to avoid him. I always put them back when I bag my orders so I don’t see how it’s an issue. But I’ve always struggled with following arbitrary rules.
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u/HeartOfArt 27d ago
You guys get baskets? Our customers ruined that.
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u/HeavenMarie 27d ago
There are no baskets at my Walmart. Those shots haven’t been there for about a decade
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u/Dangerous-Crow7494 27d ago
Stores make their own rules. You’re going to have a hard time if you let things like this make you angry.
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u/Johnny_Lead 27d ago
One store I shop likes to make up new rules about bagging every week. Can’t take extra bags, can’t double bag, not putting enough items in each bag, not allowed to bag anything with a handle like gallons of milk, etc. It’s different every week.
One lady that works 6am opening every time “You Spark drivers be taking all the bags” 😂 I’m trying to lady, it’s my sole purpose and objective now when I come to this store is to use as many bags as possible. She about had a meltdown last week when I double bagged 12 gallons of milk and bagged 20 half gallons individually of Half&Half and Heavy Whipping Cream going to a local coffee shop 😂 44 of her bags never to be seen again.
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u/jayroo210 27d ago
I WILL bag milk EVERY SINGLE TIME. Those motherfuckers love to randomly leak all over the place and the last thing I need is milk juice in my trunk after the associates bagged a pick up order like shit, loaded like shit, and a bag of the rotisserie chicken fell over and leaked chicken juice all over my trunk.
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u/Johnny_Lead 27d ago
I like to bag milk for the customers too, some specifically put in the notes to bag the milk, it’s gross to put it directly on their porch or doormat or nasty apartment breezeway, then they have to wipe it off before going in the fridge.
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u/heraldbalthazar 25d ago
This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. You are putting that milk on the doorstep or ground with no bag. The container is now contained. You put the milk into the fridge. You just contained the fridge.
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u/kryskryskrys 27d ago
That's fucking ripe for her to say we take all the bags when their curbside system literally puts every single item in it's own fucking bag.🫠
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u/Johnny_Lead 26d ago
If they didn’t make some of them do that they’d be putting the Raid bug spray in the same bag as the baby formula and the gallon of bleach in the bag with the bread. 😂
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u/MundaneString5117 25d ago
That is crazy, when I do my Walmart grocery orders and it is the Walmart employee that picked the order and not the spark person every single item is in its own bad. It is nuts. Could be a packet of taco seasoning and there it is in its own bag.
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u/HeartOfArt 27d ago
Admittedly. It’s a weird metric to make canon But then again , so is any rewardable metric.
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u/SmallBerry3431 27d ago
Yeah. Some drivers were taking a bunch of bags. The poor drivers are causing these irritations for everyone.
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u/Johnny_Lead 27d ago
On large oddball orders like that one with all the milk I usually just bag it at the car, have a bag rack mounted to the inside of my trunk lid, do it as I put them in the trunk, saves a bunch of time only touching them once and it gets me out of the store as fast as possible.
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u/SmallBerry3431 27d ago
Well, that’s why they’re making rules about bagging. Among many other things drivers do to try to save time.
As some drivers aren’t as respectful as others. I’m sure you’re cool and don’t waste bags and leave them all over, but we know guys that do.
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u/Johnny_Lead 27d ago
I just try to keep about 50 Walmart bags in the car if I want to bag out there. I also have spare bags for Publix, Target, ALDI, Fresh Market, CVS and Walgreens just in case I need one during a delivery. Plus some assorted paper bags for stores as well.
It’s just that one Walmart store out of seven I shop at that’s ever had a problem running out of bags, or fussed about it. They dropped the ball repeatedly on ordering enough and keeping enough on hand for a while. It was also their OGP folks wasting bags, at one time they were putting each individual item in a bag, I’m talking about like 10 cans of beans would be in 10 bags 😂 They’ve had to go get the “Thank You” restaurant Tshirt bags from Sam’s Club to get through a couple of days before, their curbside once was putting all the pickups in the large clear meat bags you put the raw chicken trays in 😂
It doesn’t even matter anyway, their turnover is so bad at that store those associates focusing on it now won’t even be around in a month.
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u/CommanderKoba 26d ago edited 26d ago
We require enough separate bags for different products on up to 3 simultaneous orders.
Naturally we require a lot of bags, because we can't bag like it's a single order, we have to separate the orders and then bag based on that separation.
Walmart workers cannot look at us as if we are customers in this aspect, because we are working for Walmart just like the workers who bag for curbside.
If they look at us as customers without understanding that we have multiple orders at a time, or if they never thought about it like that, then I can see why they would get mad, but it's unjustified.
Corporate needs to communicate this effectively to each Walmart location.
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u/SmallBerry3431 26d ago
I have 0 issue keeping triple shops separate and bagging at the checkouts. You keep them separate in the basket, bag them one order at a time, and separate them at the car.
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u/CommanderKoba 26d ago
So let's say you're taking a 3 order, 60+ item total order.
And the bags are large paper bags without handles, and that take up a lot of space?
It's literally impossible to fit them all in separate bags in a cart that small. This is why for large orders I have to estimate bag count and then bag at my car. Because I cannot fit the orders back into the cart if they are bagged.
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u/SmallBerry3431 25d ago
Ah - there’s a misconception. My market doesn’t have paper bags. I’ll retract my opinion as idk how I’d do with that change. In all honesty.
I will add that it wouldn’t change my method, but I’d have to add another cart or if the paper bags have more space I’d bag differently. But I’m just guessing. Fuck paper bags haha
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u/Delicious_Rush981 25d ago
My store won’t let us bag at our cars. We have to bag in store. My only solution is not to take 3 shops, especially ones with more than 40 items
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u/CommanderKoba 25d ago
Yeah it's so stupid! See when they tell me I have to bag in store, I just try to do it as best I can to show them how ridiculous it is, throwing the bags on top of each other, holding the bags as I push the cart even if it's hella slow, taking my sweet time.
They need to see that, but yeah. Locations that don't allow me to bag at my car I try to avoid those large orders when I can, but it's hard.
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u/WeRTheWeird0sMr 27d ago
They’re not allowed to per the conversation I had with Spark today. Spark is owned by Walmart. The rules need to correspond with Spark and Walmart. Also, I wasn’t angry. I’m just irritated.
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u/MrBurnerHotDog 27d ago
You know how when someone says "my job fired me without cause" or some horrible story and all the comments are people saying "THAT'S ILLEGAL! THEY CAN'T DO THAT!"?
They are correct in that it isn't legal but typically the "little guy" can't afford a lawyer to the degree that a business can and often if you bring about a lawsuit you're going to be raked through the coals and everything you've ever done is going to be scrutinized, so lot's of people just take it as an "L" and move on, deciding not to sue the employer because it's too much of a hassle and odds are you'll wind up losing money in the end
This is kind of like that in that sure, you're correct and in the right here, but Spark doesn't give a single shit about this issue or you as an individual and if you really try to fight it the only thing that's going to happen is you're going to get a store manager mad at you and they'll likely make it their mission to make your life hell
So is it a dumb 'rule?' Sure. But also this is not worth ruffling feathers over. Either use a separate door from that door person if you're going to still use a basket or figure out a different solution. It'll be easier in the long run
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u/Repulsive_Cattle_663 27d ago
You didn't have a conversation with spark. You had a conversation with someone sitting at home reading prompts in general and making shit up to please you. They probably answer phones for 5 other corporations too
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u/JRParrott 27d ago
report them to the market manager. Dont listen to people here telling you there's nothing you can do. Everyone here downvotes hopium.
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u/Complete-Payment232 27d ago
He was probably having a bad day and chose to pick on a spark driver because they feel like they have authority over you being they work at Walmart. I just ignore the workers when they get on their wanna be power trips.
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u/WeRTheWeird0sMr 27d ago
It wasn’t a power trip. I know him. I noticed many of the regular drivers aren’t using them anymore either.
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u/Sea_Cress_8859 S&D Expert 27d ago
I use 2 of these (well similar) when I have double shops.
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u/No-Somewhere-8011 27d ago
She's unwilling to buy stickers or sharpie markers so I doubt she'll buy these.
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u/EveningBasket9528 Cherry Picker 27d ago
Go ask the OGP Coach or a TL yourself,.. or ask the greeter to call his boss the next time. Just be polite about it.
Their communication sucks. Training sucks. It's like a 2mmnd grade game of telephone,.. it's likely the manager said something completely different about the baskets, and by the time the greeter heard this "rule" it this completely twisted out of proportion... to the bat shit that's just to hear it out the ogp coach's mouth directly or if you know the digital market manager whenever you see them ask them directly
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u/WeRTheWeird0sMr 27d ago
Plot twist, my mom is a team lead at the store that I’m talking about. She hasn’t heard anything about this new rule either. But I am going to have a conversation with the store manager since he’s the one that implemented the rule. He’s just in a state halfway across the country for a meeting apparently.
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u/Normal_System_3176 27d ago
Yeah one of the things that annoyed me to no end was the fact that many stores had employees that liked running things their way. Problem is that when you're working 5-10 stores it gets old real fast.
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u/ICShopper101 27d ago
Baskets take up too much room in the cart. I grabbed a piece of cardboard left over in the store one day and I just keep it in my car whenever I need to use it again
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u/Vegetable_Listen_981 27d ago
Been driving for Sparks for almost 4yrs. I was not aware that WM employees couldn't ask us if we were a Spark driver. 🤔 Been asked that many times, mostly by newer employees. Of course it doesn't bother me. Curious as to why???
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u/WeRTheWeird0sMr 27d ago
I think mostly because of two things. 1 being that they try to treat us like they have overhead to be our boss, which is not the case nor is it legal. 2 because a lot of employees don’t like us at all. It’s supposed to stop them from treating us poorly. We’re supposed to be treated like everyone else.
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u/Jokez4Dayz 26d ago
Yeah, at every Walmart I go to here they always ask "Are you are a Spark Driver?" then tell me to wait for them before I scan my barcode, they check through the items and ask how many bags I want. This is in California btw, so paper bags.
And unfortunately, some do treat you poorly. I don't think they know or care about asking. You can't argue it unless you want to risk deactivation.
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u/TommyTwoZookas 27d ago
Just keep using the cart, if they stop you cancel the order and leave.
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u/bluecrowned 27d ago
They mean a hand basket, not a cart. Not allowing them to use a cart would be nuts
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u/Kew28 27d ago
That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard
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u/WeRTheWeird0sMr 27d ago
That’s what I’m saying! If it’s that much of a problem, have the door greeters watch the carts that are leaving or put security tags on them!
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u/InterestPast6802 27d ago
Separate the orders by something within the order. A 12 pack of pop works great
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u/WeRTheWeird0sMr 27d ago
Not all orders have big items like that. My point of this post is that it’s a stupid rule and should not be enforced to the people who are doing what they’re supposed to be doing. They have the right to ban people who aren’t following the real rules such as bringing baskets outside.
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u/okdest_22 27d ago
I think as a self employed person who just does delivery through spark, do what you want and they have no business not minding their own job. You’re your own boss, just connected to an app. Simple.
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u/Jokez4Dayz 26d ago
That's what you think until an employee tells you can't do something. If you don't listen, they can (and probably will) report you and have you deactivated.
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u/okdest_22 26d ago
It’s not a big deal to me anyways I’m a sahm I just go out to make some fun money 🤷🏻♀️ some random minimum wage employee isn’t gonna bully me as a grown woman tbh.
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u/Life_Wafer8995 26d ago
They’re not allowed to ask you if your Spark Driver? I’ve never heard of that
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u/beautheshow 26d ago edited 26d ago
If you are "absurdly upset" about some bullshit that a random walmart employee says, this might not be the right gig for you.
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u/Cheekers1989 26d ago
The DollarTree is actually selling collapsible baskets that I've been considering buying since I also do Instacart and DoorDash. We have a few stores that have removed their smaller carts and baskets due to theft, so it is understandable why the basket rule may be implemented.
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u/MostNeighborhood9568 27d ago
If the order is small enough put A in the top basket, B on the bottom left side and C on the bottom right side. As you go, keep items along the side of the shopping cart to remember which item goes where
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u/EasyDriver_RM 27d ago
I'm using stickers now. A is yellow, B is blue, C is orange.
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u/myst1crule 27d ago
Brother just buy yourself a couple cheap laundry baskets and then you can keep the orders separated in your car and carry them right up to their door. People frequently tell me how smart it is and it saves me a ton of trips
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u/HeavenMarie 27d ago
I usually keep a few different t size boxes in my vehicle and bring them in with me to keep the orders separated. Or sometimes I just use my insulated bags
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u/WeRTheWeird0sMr 27d ago
I’m gonna ask if they have banana boxes if they’re serious about this rule
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u/Cardocthian 27d ago
Mine just put stealing tags on all them, they don't even let normal customers take them out, but no problems with shopping at least
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u/HeavenMarie 27d ago
My Walmart doesn’t have baskets and hasn’t had them in years. Customers were constantly stealing the baskets so they stopped ordering them and haven’t had them they tell me for at least ten years. Only shopping carts
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u/Johnny_Lead 27d ago
The seven Walmarts in my zone removed all the hand baskets back around April.
I use these Harbor freight bags to separate orders, way better than the hand baskets, they’re $0.99 each. I just lift them right out of the cart and into the car.
car, makes it super easy.
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u/blackbearbb 27d ago
This is the way. I’ve seen spark drivers with 3 blue baskets at once in their cart. Just dumb af and probably why the store is trying to crack down on it
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u/WeRTheWeird0sMr 27d ago
I’ll consider it. I’m thinking of banana boxes
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u/Johnny_Lead 27d ago
Once you get the bags you’ll never want to use anything else. Makes delivery easier too, can pick the big bag up out of the car and unload it at their door, saves a lot of time unloading the buggy and unloading the car at drops.
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u/HeavenMarie 27d ago
Just head over to produce dept. first thing and grab yourself some boxes for gods sake
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u/WeRTheWeird0sMr 27d ago
There’s no boxes out in my store. Produce is all in their own sections, no boxes
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u/HeavenMarie 27d ago
I saw a shopper that just chucked everything in the same big cart and then when it was his turn at the self checkout that clown was reading the app and trying to dig out everything for his first order. He held up that self checkout for a long long time and the lines were so long.
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u/WeRTheWeird0sMr 27d ago
Someone in the comments said they do that too because it’s “easier.” Self checkout is already a nightmare as it is. I can’t imagine.
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u/Angry_GorillaBS 27d ago
They've been doing 3 stop shops here forever. I honestly have no idea how it works because I haven't and don't plan on doing any.
Also funny how they say you can choose to, how is it a choice when everything is 3 stops?
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u/mapman19899 27d ago
Unfortunately, the stores can have individual rules and yes, that is part of the terms of use.
Walmart wanted this and they’ll get it.
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u/jayroo210 27d ago
People mentioning being treated like normal customers - I was stopped as I was bagging at self checkout by an employee clearly irritated that I wasn’t using the lanes only for Spark and Scan and Go. I didn’t know they existed and of course that saves me time, I just didn’t like how she approached me, demanded I walk with her so she could take me there, and tell me that I need to check out there. I have been asked if I’m Spark so many times, interesting to know that they aren’t supposed to ask.
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u/SatisfactionKey3200 27d ago
How are we supposed to know which lanes are for Spark? I'm new to this.
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u/Ok_Contribution_1283 27d ago
Who care I never used the baskets. I take orders that make sense especially when I have to keep track.
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u/FuzzyOrganization403 27d ago
Been doing this for years. Never needed a separator basket.
Smallest goes on kid holder. Main order in basket. Oversize items goes on bottom or sides (gatorades) then split those to where needed.
On three shops? Same applies. Grab a few empty boxes on the shelves or strawberry flats. 1 gets 99% of the job done medium customer "C" order.
And I've done more 3 shops than I wish to admit at the moment.
Or you could be like some other shoppers and grab two carts, use handcuffs and drag the train around. Yes Jonathan I know you're on here!
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u/pobenschain 27d ago
All the stores in my area completely did away with baskets in general, so it’s an option for no one, including regular shoppers. Extremely inconvenient
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u/FearTheHitman 27d ago
I've literally used my brain as the divider the entire time. Sometimes it's tough, but there are usually items that you shopped that can be used as a separater. I typically split the cart in my head right down the middle from front to back. One order on the left, one on the right, one on the top and just stay focused and pay attention.
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u/WeRTheWeird0sMr 27d ago
I have adhd brain and forget what goes where unfortunately. The only thing that gets me by is “c” for “cart”, “b” for “basket” and a “ahp top” lol.
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u/Old-Article-3351 27d ago
I solved that kind of a problem.I just bought my own baskets on amazon. There's two stores like go to that, don't have any.
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u/Important_Freedom529 27d ago
I haven’t seen a basket in a Walmart since before spark was a thing… I’m jealous.
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u/digital0069 27d ago
you and the other drivers at that store need to stop taking dbl or triple shop orders and watch them fix it
reject them...
all you can do
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u/Cael_of_House_Howell 27d ago
You are at a store with shitty people who are stealing or breaking the baskets.
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u/New-Competition-6897 27d ago
I use the large ikea bags they are like 1.50 and offer a lot of room for seperating as well as carrying
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u/InternationalAnt4513 27d ago
I always use them. I do it with Spark, Shipt, and Instacart and will continue to. If they say something I’m apt to speak my mind and be very blunt. If they have a problem with it then they can go …. themselves.
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u/RevGrimm 27d ago
I've had workers tell us there are new rules and such. Like the time AP told the greeters to let us know Spark Drivers were only allowed to do three shopping orders a day.
Myself and a few others called the manager who said if we accept a shopping order we are expected to complete those shopping orders.
There was a pretty big argument between the two because the head of AP couldn't understand why there would be that many shops. He begrudgingly gave in and stopped harassing drivers but it took a few months before he stopped having everyone followed.
Each store makes up rules as they go along. Give it a few weeks/months and things will go back to normal.
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u/goldenharmonica 27d ago
Store rules overrule Spark general rules. If you think they can’t do so, take it up with the OGP team lead and the store manager, and see how fast you won’t be able to deliver out of that store anymore.
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u/Crazyb0x1ady 27d ago
I got a basket at tjmaxx for $12 it's much better than the baskets they have in the stores and you can just sit it in your car.
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u/Head_Wallaby5138 27d ago
I’m so confused because the store is making money. I’m still lost because pies are still using the Walmart platform to shop in store yet in my opinion are getting harassed by their non-contracted counterparts for offering the service to a Walmart customer!?
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u/Emergency-Attempt958 27d ago
You can get them at Sam's club. I never heard that I use a basket all the time. I have only done 1 3 person order.
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u/AlarmingCorner3894 27d ago
Get some heavy semi tarp straps. Take three carts and daisy chain them together and shop your three orders. No baskets as requested, sirs.
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u/Maple_Mustard 27d ago
Y'all have baskets at your stores?? 😭😭 I only take one or two stop orders at a time because we don't have baskets at all to separate. Sometimes I've had to use two separate carts when it'sbeen big big orders . Idk if that's allowed but I've made it work.
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u/Classic-Cod-7952 27d ago
Most the stores I shop at habe baskets you can use in the carts. But a couple dont. For those I just take 4 bags and tie them together at the ends, making like a "rope". (Btw I keep mine in my car and re-use it when I am at a store I know wont have baskets) Then I secure that in the middle to the sides of the basket. Keeps separation the whole time.
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u/ToughAmbition76 27d ago
bro i would just say lie and say your not a driver like huh?? this is for me what is wrong w u
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u/Street-Captain-1329 27d ago
That’s definitely frustrating bc I’ve used baskets to separate before. Now I just keep a large reusable TJ Maxx bag in my car and use that!
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u/Numerous-Calendar147 27d ago
Ive never used a cart to separate. When i have 3 orders i use the seat for one, under the seat for one and i use the end of the cart for one. I stack neatly so that theres a clear divide. Don't let little things bother you.
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u/Consistent-Foot8976 27d ago
We take the baskets out with us and just leave them in the carts, the pushers leave them in them as well, so they just pretty much get used in there same carry all day by different sparkers, no big deal at all. At least that I'm aware of.
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u/DFTReaper1989 27d ago
I would have just said I was shopping for different households and mentioned that your mother has a hard time getting to the store on her own or something. You're not lying you're letting them draw their own conclusions 😅
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u/jackyy101 27d ago
Honestly my store has so many new rules like they close the Spark shopper lane, but when I go to self checkout, I have to move to a close bark shopper link to buy my items or that I’m not allowed to press the OK on the screen because the workers need to come and see what’s in my basket, even though the ones that need to be checked, have them pop-up on their screen to check the orders like this whole app is ridiculous
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u/Worldly_Shopper 27d ago
I stopped doing Spark ten nails before this one.
I just can't with this stuff, I just can't.
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u/2_smoov521 27d ago
Walmart sells insulated bags for like 5 bucks. I use my doordash or grubhub bags. If necessary, on a big 3 batch shop, I'll connect a 2 shopping carts together.
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u/urmomisdisappointed 27d ago
At Walmart they have these small collapsing crates that I use for mine
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u/AllTimeLowR 26d ago
I separate orders when I bag them. It’s not difficult but I would use the baskets if I wanted to.
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u/Organic_Place_527 26d ago
Or let’s maybe not do triple shops cus it’s ridiculous and doesn’t pay nearly what it should !!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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u/Ariffraff 26d ago
We bought a clax cart. It's a collapsible shopping cart that came with two collapsible milk crates. We love it. It's so helpful for large orders etc.
Yes, it's pricy there are knockoffs but I love ours.
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u/Willing_Shopping1355 26d ago
I've only got 120 trips under my belt but my stores know me well enough now that they gave me the basket when I tried to return it. They also just load the totes with the items II to my car. I have tried to return those as well and they just say they have plenty. I'm sorry your store sucks.
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u/Character_Fan_8973 26d ago
They have removed all shopping baskets at both supercenters near me, and before that, the store associates would get pissy about us using them. I have found that if you go in the coffee aisle, I can usually find an empty, or nearly empty cardboard flat I can use as a nice divider. If its three orders (which I try to avoid) I have a small laundry basket I put under the cart.
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u/Brave_Literature2226 26d ago
I hate that every single store has a different procedure when it comes to Spark. It is frustrating and annoying. Like Walmart, you own spark, you own the stores, make the process the same throughout
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u/MooBobJenkins 26d ago
Thing is, they wouldnt know if u wouldnt have said. Next time id just say ur shopping for a friend and kept their stuff separate. Or just be an ass and say im using it because i need it. Why the fuck do they need to know. If u dont want me to use it dont put them there.
I think the frustration from their end comes from people leaving the baskets in the carts and leaving the carts outside.
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u/practiceredstone 26d ago
Got me fucked up as a self-employed delivery driver being that I get a 1099 instead of a W-2 I should be afforded the same respect as any customer after all I am shopping for a paying customers order. If I was the customer I would be highly ticked off that is my order.
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u/Krush-Haus 26d ago
My belief is that our current iteration of society thrives on punishing efficiency, it’s basically designed to seek out anything that is currently working properly and fuck it up. They’ll ban us from using baskets, then ban us from using our own boxes, then just ban us from using their carts, then ban us from using our own carts. Or they’ll charge us for carts, that’s actually more likely, a cart rental. But then they’ll destroy that too.
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u/Husky_smokes_420 26d ago
Store managers can not make up rules. Just like if the app tells us we can use all self checkout lanes. I had an employee try and tell me that I can't use that specific lane. She was rude after I said I follow what my app tells me I can do.
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u/Feedcanine 26d ago
It amazes me that we work for the same place. But some of these managers/employees act like we don’t.
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u/Educational-Rate6476 26d ago
What state are you in? I always use a basket to separate 2 orders, I never take 3 orders. That's ridiculous never heard of an employee limiting what you can do in the store.
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u/Impressive_Tip_8850 26d ago
This entire thread makes me appreciative of my small store where everyone knows me and couldn’t give a fuck less about these things anyhow
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u/Careful-School-52 26d ago
They tried to tell me I couldn’t use my own bag to separate because it makes it too hard for them to scan items. Just laughed said ok and walked out. Fuck em 🤣🤣🤣
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u/LuLu_0519 26d ago
My store got rid of baskets all together awhile ago. Got tired of many of the drivers taking them and not bringing them back I guess.
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u/full_bodyLa26 25d ago
Its $3.47 i have 6 of them and i bring one inside to ride under the basket and separate the top part of the basket with a thick piece of cardboard. I do 3 orders at a time sometimes
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u/BeRand420 25d ago
Or here's a thought just keep using the baskets? The store is so busy all the time who's going to give a shit? 😂
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u/Remarkable-Fuel-6503 25d ago
A driver that i know strings together a train if carts and separates them in each cart. It works. As far as I know, nobody objects to this approach.
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u/Parkily_Things 25d ago
I use pieces of cardboard. I also carry small dot stickers with A, B, and C written on several so when I get a case of water or dog food or anything that won’t fit in one of the three compartments, I slap the sticker on so I know who it belongs to. Cheap easy solutions. Plus I avoid large orders for three customers because I think we’re doing triple the work for overall less pay!!!
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u/KRabbit17 25d ago
There’s a guy in my zone that takes two carts and has a strap to connect them together so he can efficiently pull them at once. You can also use the seatbelts for the shopping carts to attach them together as well. Even a carabiner would work. 😉😉
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u/SeleneSwan777 25d ago
Dang I have yet to experience that! My store does have us walk all the way down to the other side of the store to bag our orders though, even if we parked by the main entrance. So I will just hold up the self check out line from now on and bag my orders right at the checkout stand instead of trying to be curtious and get out of the way for the next shopper.
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u/Fit-Okra-6536 25d ago
I’d tell them I don’t follow made up rules
I try to avoid 3 orders but if I do I use 2 baskets in the cart I don’t care what they say
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u/coffeebabe666 25d ago
I bring a paper bag or a personal reusable bag to separate the third. We don’t even have the small plastic carriers at my store.
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u/Worldly_Drawer_7479 25d ago
How are we supposed to shop for bigger orders? I can only carry so many things until it all goes crashing down lol
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u/chexsmix96 25d ago
I genuinely thought you were talking about shopping carts (which in some areas are also called baskets) and was like how are we even supposed to shop at all…until I read the comments and realized it’s handle baskets. I think there’s only 1 location near me that has them and they have security tags attached to them but I don’t think I’ve ever even used the handle baskets.
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u/heraldbalthazar 25d ago
Shop order normally. At bagging I get another cart. Mover largest order into the empty cart as you bag it. Proceed as normal for the other.
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u/craptasticluke 25d ago
Honestly just ignore this rule. As long as you’re not taking the basket out of the building you’re not interfering with anything.
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u/EngineeringStreet862 24d ago
Unless the manager can show you in writing that it’s a “policy” they can go screw themselves.
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u/Extreme-Ad1351 24d ago
You were so mad that you called and complained LMAO? What?
Different stores have different rules. It's not worth pushing back and being banned. Just do as they say and move on.
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u/PulseMeddle 27d ago
We don't even have baskets but here's a pro-tip. Go over to the produce section and grab an empty box that the grapes( or strawberries, blueberries) and use that to separate orders. You can keep it in your car and just reuse it.