Tuesday, August 26, 2008

curbside heaven

Has anyone else been fortunate enough to experience the nirvana otherwise known as curbside grocery pick-up at HEB?

I'm not sure how long they've been offering the service, but I just discovered it this week.  For those who aren't familiar...you pay for your groceries, you get a laminated number, you leave all your bags inside, you drive your car up to the specially designated area at the front of the store, and your groceries are loaded into your car for you.  I guess it's not that much different than getting "help out with your bags," but for whatever reason it makes me positively giddy to pay for a huge basket full of groceries and then just walk, unencumbered, out of the store.  No guilt about dragging someone out to your car in the furthest row of the parking lot in the sweltering Texas heat, no small talk with the bored high school student employee on the way to the car, no awkward "do I help them unload, or just stand around outside the car waiting while they unload, or go ahead and get in the car and start the engine thereby blowing exhaust in their face but getting the air conditioning going while they unload" decisions.  Maybe I'm the only one who has anxiety about these things, but as you can see the old system was causing me some distress.

But I do have one question...do I tip the kid who loads up my groceries curbside?  I never tipped the one who helped me out to my car with my bags (and he was actually working harder), but somehow this seems more like a service that warrants a tip.  I want to do the right thing, so please take a moment to vote in my handy little poll (at right) and give me your thoughts.  

3 comments:

queenoftheboys said...

I love this!!! you are such an awesome writer...I felt like I was there!! love it, love you!

Boyz3Mommy said...

What an awesome service! I had no idea. I'm doubting the Plus in Kyle has that service. Are you talking about the one on Escarpment? :)

P.S. I say tip 'em.

holly said...

well i can say as a previous heb checker/bagger... we were strongly told that we couldnt accept tips. rules may have changed but i doubt it b/c the owner of heb was so against it. i will admit to taking them from time to time when offered though :) people used to even give me popsicles or money for a coke when it was hot :D i never cared when people got in their car while i unloaded. but i will say i loathed people that had me do carryout when it was pouring rain! come on people!