You may not know this about Aruba's grocery baggers

[@rjentz]

Wow, I will be taking my 15th vacation in Aruba soon and I never knew that. I will be sure to give them a good tip.

[@ourhomeyourholiday]

That's great. They'll really appreciate it.

[@firemanstephen]

We go to this store every time we visit Aruba(home away from home) and I always tip a great amount! Reason why is As a Teenager I worked at a military Base in the states as a bagger at the Commissary and Tips were the only salary you made, even for the Adult baggers(usually military wives). I was always thankful for the military men and women and wives and husbands the gave me a generous tip. My dad was a 20 yer vet in the Army. So if you go it's not going to hurt you to have a generous heart and give a generous tip.

[@paulraddatz-kx1ju]

I was impress when I was there last May. The young man did an awesome job. I didn't know they didn't get paid. But I did tip him. Next time I will tip more.

[@DC-ym8km]

Wow! That's terrible. Thankful for these helpers.😊

[@Arjay404]

I used to do this when I live on the islands (born there and moved away when I was 18) and yeah, the job was great, the tip pay was usually great and it was a fun job getting to know people and become "friends" with repeat customers who would often have a specific bagger that they liked and would ask specifically for them or go to the cash register where they were bagging. Now unto the pay, while I'm against tipped pay for waiters like how is common in the US, I do not have a issue with this being a tipped only job. This job is NOT a job meant to sustain a life, this job is almost exclusively done by teenagers from around the age of 14 and above (so people that don't really have expenses and this money is generally spending money.), you usually won't find anyone aged 18-19-20 doing this job because they are able to find and do regular jobs. Unless things have changed one thing that made this job great for the teens is that you have no hours, there is no requirement on you on how many hours you have to work or how many days. So if you had busy day yesterday and made a good amount of tips, you could decide that you aren't going to go in today and go and spend that money instead. So don't feel too bad for the baggers, just tip them nicely (3-5 dollars that the one person mentioned sounds like a perfectly reasonable amount, less or more depending how much of their service you used.), it's not a salaried job, but in exchange for that the teens can be very flexible with when they work, which I think most would consider a fair deal.

[@ourhomeyourholiday]

Thank you so much for your insights! There's been many comments opposed to the fact that the position is unpaid. It helps that you are clearing this up! When I speak to the teenagers they seem very grateful for the opportunity, flexible hours and tips.

[@davidjackson7336]

Just wondering how many of these individuals transition into employees of the store when they become of age. Are their any guidelines that govern their behavior?

[@joeradino1062]

they are great always give them 5 they call a taxi for me too

[@ronalbers3152]

I've been to Aruba many times and didn't know this.While I always tip the amount will increase cause 50 years ago, I was a bagger with a salary.

[@ourhomeyourholiday]

That is great insight. Thank you, Ron!

[@ramonakearns2101]

Interesting stuff to read 🤔

[@bomamapuntocom]

Please check out Hopeful supermarket in San Nicolas. Multiple females doing this job.

[@ourhomeyourholiday]

Noted. Thank you!

[@steveleonhart5186]

Good to know. Is this the same for the folks who are pumping your gas at the full service fuel stations? Not sure if they depend on tips or not? Thx for the info

[@ourhomeyourholiday]

Yes, I believe it is the same idea. I will ask them the next time I'm there!

[@steveleonhart5186]

@@ourhomeyourholiday Thank You, I appreciate it.

[@davidjackson7336]

Very interesting story. In all of my reading and research preparing to come to Aruba (4/24), I wasn't aware of this. In two days, I've been to two different grocery stores (Super Foods and C-Mart) and thought the young guys were employees because of their official-looking company shirts they wore. As a 35 plus year employee of the 2nd largest grocery chain back in the Washington, DC area, this would be a paid position for those who are at least 16. However, they would have other responsibilities as well. The US grocery stores and other retaiiers are pushing more and more of a shift to the customer via self- checkout to help reduce labor costs. Grocery store cashiers always had the responsibility of bagging your groceries but would rely on baggers to assist when the store was extremely busy (usually on weekends and holidays) or when needed. These bagging positions have been eliminated now. I remember when I was 17 and would relieve for breaks the person who loaded your groceries into your car. Working in a wealthier neighborhood as I did, on a busy weekend, a bagger could receive more in tips than their daily salary. Although I only had a few items, I will be more mindful of how they work and are paid now.

[@karlitosway4791]

To watch this might be quite frustrating for the females doing this job as the reporter only talks about “young men”.

[@CarlenthekidRS]

As an Aruban there are no girls doing this job, believe me

[@karlitosway4791]

@@CarlenthekidRS apparently you don’t go shopping at save more or do it center.

[@DancehallExplorer]

@@CarlenthekidRS this was literally my first job on Aruba 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@CarlenthekidRS]

You are right friend, indeed I did forget about the smaller shops/chains who do have females as ‘packers’ 💭

[@ourhomeyourholiday]

Thank you for your comment. As a resident of Aruba, I have only seen men occupy this role. I did this story 12 years ago and only came across males in this position as well. I'm happy to update the voiceover as soon as I see females as grocery baggers in Aruba.

[@johna5428]

Who do I tip the baggers or the man that takes it to your car or is that the same person

[@Djigorifico]

It's the same person.

[@Arjay404]

It's usually the same person however sometimes it may be different and sometimes multiple of the teens will bag your groceries (usually when you have a lot of items) and then one of them will take it to you car, the person to tip is the person that brought it to your car. The teens take turns bagging, so even though two of them bagged your groceries, it's that one person's "turn". However if you feel like it, there is nothing stopping your from tipping them both, maybe a larger share for the one that brought it to your car and a smaller share to the other. Just tell them if you do this, "This is for you and give this to the other kid." and the money should get to the other person (these kids are usually friends, especially if they bag at the same cash register, so they will share the money because they know it could be them the next time.).

[@newdimension4731]

WOOT? they are not HOURLY paid by the STORE OWNER? what a rippoff

[@smooothjasminka]

They have a dirty soul what a store owner slavery first class I’m from Croatia 🇭🇷 we have beautiful islands and never tread people like that. Croatia would never let happen a tourist take over island shame the citizens are slave why the government let that happen and not jumping in????

[@Mike_Greentea]

3rd world country what do you expect. Here in the USA alot of stores make you bag your own groceries.

[@adamheck8367]

3rd world?