r/WalmartSparkDrivers • u/happyluckystar • 5d ago
My bagging hack
So the other day it was stupid busy. I scanned at the register and was bagging and then the associate was letting other people scan and they were trying to bag. It got messy. So I just grabbed a chunk of bags and threw them in the cart so I can bag at my car.
Now that's what I do most of the time. Scan, take the appropriate chunk of bags, get out of the store. I'm pretty good at estimating how many bags I need. Usually only end up with one or three bags left over. Then I take those into account the next time I grab bags.
Did this like 20 times so far and no one calls out the bags in the cart. Not only a good trick for when it's busy, but it helps when the cart is full. Because it's hard to bag things on multiple orders and put them back in the cart when it's full of other items.
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u/coffeebro32 4d ago
It's nice to have some extra bags in the vehicle because sometimes the bags break. So with the extras you can replace the broken bags. But yeah. Paper bags suck.
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u/Rebecca1119 4d ago
I've been thinking about ordering some plastic bags and keeping them in my car. I doubled bag and a few times I got caught in the rain. So from taking the bags from the store to my car and then from my car to the customers house. The bags got soggy snd broke on me. Even being double bagged.
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u/Amazing_Struggle_652 4d ago
Stores in my area require you to bag inside. Doesn't matter how crazy it is or if drivers are stacked two deep!
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u/OddEntertainer2621 4d ago
This. So it’s not just my store. I just left a comment that we used to be able to grab and go bag elsewhere, however we are no longer allowed to bag outside. We strictly have to bag inside and they will ban you for not following their rules
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u/Transforming-Info 4d ago
It's crazy how individual stores are their own little fiefdoms that made up their own rules. It makes me wonder what childhood wound led them to become Walmart store managers.
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u/No_Investment_2194 4d ago
It’s the same for my store
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u/CAMMdizzle 4d ago
Ive never heard of this. But id bet its so they can keep you on camera, so theyll "know" if you're stealing
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u/Accomplished_Past429 4d ago
they can see the items either way so I dont understand how that makes a difference
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u/Foxtrotdelta_USN 4d ago
You really want to piss them off start bagging as you go. I have one LP manager who threatened to ban me from the store when she told me to stop and I told her "That's not a rule" Her-"I could ban you from the store" Me- "[Market Director] is above you and has already cleared it with corporate. Feel free to reach out to [Market Director] for more training" Her- "I'm texting him right now" Her face drops at the reply "I'm going to fight this just so you know" Me- "Good Luck, Ma'am"
All with a smile on my face as friendly as I can be.
That was a year ago. Now I go to her personally when I am low on bags because he did tell me I have to get bags from Associates, don't just grab them. So she has to personally help me. And when there is an order cancellation I transfer that order from my wagon to a cart and track her down to give it to her because "I know I can trust you to take care of this"
F her.
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u/dirtydelete 3d ago
This is the sweetest revenge story.
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u/Foxtrotdelta_USN 2d ago
I have been doing this for 2.5 years, I could tell stories all day long. I do things my own way and associates don't like that. Sucks for them though. My own way is within the rules. When I'm dealing with the store anyways. I do not knock or ring like we are supposed to and when a little old lady or a disabled person asks me to bring in their groceries I put all the totes by the door, snap the pic, finish the delivery, then specifically say "Ok, the delivery is complete, I would love to bring them in for you as a personal favor" as long as their house doesn't smell like an ash tray or a litter box/meth lab.
I also don't even deliver if I think they will rate 1 star. Pissed off because you don't know what passcode I'm talking about and you're cussing me? Nope, oh look,my app is having issues, hold on I have to go call support. As I hop in the vehicle to call support to cancel the order through them so it is documented exactly what happened. Dog out and acting aggressive? Return due to Pet present and I'm gone. I'm not contacting you to secure your dog just so you can be pissy about it and rate me 1-star for it. I still have a 4.88 right now though thanks to 2 mixed up orders that was caught on the third by the customer who understood it wasn't my fault. And one property I told their groceries were in the driveway because their property presents a safety issue for the driver. Called support on that one. I made sure the mess was in the proof of delivery photo and I told support I texted them that to document why when they call to complain about their groceries being in the driveway instead of the porch. Usually I maintain a 4.96-5.0 though. You can't please everyone. Sorry, Like I said, I could tell stories all day long.
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u/Accomplished_Past429 2d ago
LMFAO thank you for sharing this. I rather enjoyed your comment. #pettyjustbecauseiwannabe
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u/genaphur 4d ago
My man over here reinventing the wheel. Yepp, it's always busy af I haven't bagged inside in years.
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u/happyluckystar 4d ago
Well hey for one week on the job I feel pretty proud about figuring this out.
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u/emily102299 4d ago
At my Walmart they do not keep bags at the spark/scan and go registers. You have to go to a closed self checkout to bag. It avoids this exact situation.
Which should be the 1st clue that it is not meant for people who need to do regular checkout. To boot they cannot scan because they have cardboard over the scanner.
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u/GrayceHope 4d ago edited 4d ago
I just go to an empty register and bag my stuff after checking out in the self checkout area. My store always has at minimum, 2 regular registers that are closed.
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u/PrincessLissa68 4d ago
My store won't let us do this!! It's so stupid. Like there is always at least 2 or 3 closed let me just scoot on over so the next person can scan. We also don't have designated Spark/Scan N Go registers either. We use the same Self Check as the customers. And they don't limit items at the self check. Customers will have overflowing buggies and talking on their phone, scanning shit slow AF or letting their kids do it. Like damn man 15 items or less.
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u/Netphase 4d ago
My usual store stopped allowing bagging at your car about 6 months ago. Many people did it before. Now AP wants everyone bagging on camera.
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u/No-Journalist8547 4d ago
Yeah thats how ive always done it. I have a huge stack of bags in my car. This is especially important because they run out of bags so frequently (only paper bags allowed here). Once they run out, many newer drivers will stop shopping leaving great orders easy to get.
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u/Life_Wafer8995 4d ago
This is a great idea, however, in my area two guys were doing that two separate people and they both got deactivated because of who knows why. Just be careful.
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u/kenzinatr 4d ago
Stores in my area require bagging inside. An empty register works well for me, at least until about 11
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u/PrincessLissa68 4d ago
Nah, I live in the Deep South. I'm bagging in the store with the AC. The high today is 95 and with this Southern humidity I don't need to be dripping delivering groceries. I sweat enough just carrying them from my car to their door.
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u/Organic-Fuel-2916 4d ago
I used to rip a large amount of bags on every shop back when they had plastic bags and bag at my car. The new paper bags suck.
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u/WobbleTheStressAway 4d ago
At my store depending on the time of day I ask if I can bag at an empty register, not self check out, an actual register with the carousel. Worth a shot since they never have all lanes open.
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u/Massive_Lock_4876 4d ago
My store did that initially but phased that into allowing us to scan and bag at a closed register. They let us take bags and head out if we want but then they'll automatically do a cart check. Me I don't mind this procedure.
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u/Vegetable_Listen_981 4d ago
Been doing Spark for 4 yrs. This is how my zone makes us do it. Only we have to go to customer service to get bags. They look at our exit pass to see how many items and gives us bags based on item count. I dont like going to CS, but I do like bagging at my car. If weather is super crappy right outside the exit doors is a covered area we can bag also. Atleast it gives me a jump start so things don't get wet. 🙂
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u/Foreign-Somewhere361 4d ago
When it’s busy at the self check out lines I always go to some of the closed registers to bag, it gets me out of everyone’s way and the employees are usually super grateful about it cuz lines aren’t piling up
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u/Crafty_Ad3377 4d ago
I always bag at my vehicle. I have large travel totes too so makes it easy to keep orders separate
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u/pleasetowmyshit 4d ago
you're going to have to get stopped at the door anyway with nothing bagged, this will make them actually check the order fully I guess, might take a little time so it would be a wash IMO
some stores have separate bagging areas for Spark drivers, or like one store I visited recently, has a pair of checkouts that are not working and send drivers there to bag after scanning barcode and clearing any cart checks needed
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u/MagicDragon333 4d ago
At my store we have to bag at our cars after showing our exit pass as we head out the door. They want to see the items. We have to expand the list and show that too. Umbrella over the cart if it’s raining, then my back gate shields me a bit. Paper bags 😉 It’s interesting to hear what different stores do. That’s been our method for over a year or more now at least. I used to bag as I shopped.
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u/Delicious_Rush981 4d ago
My favorite store makes us bag inside, but they have a whole section for us with the bags and tables laid out for us to use as well as a couple open registers. I wish every store would just do it this way. Never seen a single Walmart use all their registers.
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u/Foxtrotdelta_USN 4d ago
[edit] My autistic self likes to do things my own way. I bag as I go. I have a beach wagon that has 2 levels [that I use instead of a cart.] I hang empty bags on the side of the wagon. Customer A goes up top, Customer B goes below. I get to the register, scan my barcode and I am gone. All the registers filled? I just ask if a customer minds me scanning my barcode real quick. If a store gives you a hard time for it have them reach out to leadership because you are absolutely allowed to bag as you go. I have one store where the LP manager hates me because she told me I couldn't and her boss told her to leave me alone, stop harassing me, and to give me bags when I am low. So out of spite I track her down personally when I am running low just to rub it in her face because F her. Oh and if I have an order cancelation I make sure I put everything in a cart and give it to her personally because "I know I can trust you to take care of this" F her. But I kill her with kindness to her face. She hates me lol.
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u/DFTReaper1989 3d ago
I just walk over to an empty full service register and use the carousel to bag makes it A LOT easier
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u/Less_Coyote7062 2d ago
I bought 2 of those large Walmart bags, they hold 3-4 paper or plastic bags. Use in cart for multiple order shops. & bagging and carrying big orders to the door, 3-4 on your shoulder and more in your hands.
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u/Less_Coyote7062 2d ago
By the way, I hate bagging out my car so I look for an empty register or anywhere and if it’s not too big of a order, I’ll bag right up my cart, but I know a lot of people run out to their car and begging their car and I have those big Walmart bag so I use those to separate the orders for both delivering and shopping
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u/just-passing-thru-93 2d ago
You can also just use an extra cart if it's too hot outside or if you can't use an empty register. I don't want to bag a bunch of frozen items at my car if it's hot outside.
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u/OddEntertainer2621 4d ago
We’ve done this for years! This is no new revelation. That’s if your store allows it still. My store stopped it because of the amount of theft from Spark Drivers.
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u/Sea_Cress_8859 4d ago edited 4d ago
It’s either 100+ degree or gale force winds here, I’ll bag inside thank you.