Any Former Commissary Baggers out there?

[Roland Akins III - 89]

I remember working at the commissary as a bagger back at Lakenheath. It was definitely an experience. Bagging helped me pay for my senior prom and other expenses during HS. I think back and remember so many people worked there but Von Williams comes to mind as the bagger with the most work ethic for a teenager. That man would work anyone's shift because he was about making that dollar and I respected him for it. The saddest part is I remember the cheap tippers more than anything. I remember for the most part officers were the cheapest tippers overall and the younger NCOs/Airmen would give better tips. As many of you know now-a-days I'm an officer in the AF and I remember what I thought about those cheap officers and I make it a point to give big tips to those hard workers whenever I visit the commissary since I still have to visit commissaries :). Well I know there are many other baggers out there ... I'm curious to hear from you all. Final note full bird (0-6) Colonel Bopp can kiss my butt ... he was the cheapest man in the world. Those of you who bagged in 1989 know what I'm talking about 25 cents for a full load of groceries ... come on man LOL!

[Brad Reed - 89]

Damn... you can hold a grudge! I don't recall Col Bopp specifically, but damn let it go.... :)
Yeah there were some cheap so and so out there. I remember getting 50c for two full carts and at least 3 to 4 minutes to lad whatever subcompact car they were driving. Guess it was just part of the job. I used to get a kick out of so people's buying habits.... frozen dinners, ice cream, chips, twinkies, candy, and then.................. DIET coke! of course they all seemed to be on the heavier side of things, as if the diet soda would make all the difference. Good times!

[Steve Knox-71]

Yeah, I bagged there too back in the late 60s. It was GREAT money back then when the dollar was king. We used to make about 10 or 15 dollars after school and the really big money, maybe 50 or 60 dollars on Saturdays. We always noticed that the enlisted tipped better than a lot of the officers!

[KARI (AUSTIN) CUNNINGHAM-91]

maybe just the people in lakenheath were cheap cause i bagged at the commisary at beale a.f.b. in cali. before heading into the military and i made pretty good bank, bought my breakfast and lunch for the day and still went home with 60-80 dollars a day atleast, i guess i should of worked the weekends too if that's were the real money was, i did mon.-fri. morning until about 1-3pm, and maybe it's pilots who tip the best cause i remember a couple of them being very nice and quite generous with the tip......i made 20 with a retired couple once they had tons of groceries, but it was worth it....though then again maybe it's just roland and brad who got all the bad tippers, did you guys not smile enough? or maybe you weren't sweet enough.......so trying to joke with you guys........or maybe it's because girl baggers are so sweet and bag with a smile that we got better tips........guess we'll have to wait and hear from more guys/gals to know the answer to this one.......

[Steve Knox-71]

Kari,
If you look at our photos and then yours, I think you tell why we made less than you:)

[Roland Akins III - 89]

Kari, I agree with Steve guys can not compete with cute gals when it comes to tips but man they were wrong to do that to kids haha. I read Brad's comments about me holding a grudge "damn right" haha. No seriously I enjoyed the instant payment as a bagger .. like I said it got my the cash I wanted to do things. Wow I think it's cool to hear from guys who experienced the same thing we did even all the way back in 1971 :). I need to get more female's opinions on this subject ... now I'm curoius. For example I think Faye bagged and I know my cousin Sheryl also bagged. Damn cute girls! haha

[Faye (Peoples-Williams)Magwood]

Well, the way I remember it you are right the officers were cheap but there was always the exceptions. I enjoyed working there as a kid, it helped me with a lot of things too. It helped me learn to work for the things i want in life.

[KARI (AUSTIN) CUNNINGHAM-91]

now i'm blushing aren't you guys sweet.....you know roland i was thinking about your col. and maybe he bagged in his early days, but never got tipped so to hand over a quarter to him was generous, or maybe he was just not a nice man, i wonder if anyone else has bagged for him and got the same horrible tip? cause knowing you, i'm pretty sure you did smile and probably had sometype of joke for each customer.....

[Heather Halstead]

this thread is cracking me up. I didn't bag, my bro did, but hearing that creepy old guys tipped teenage girls better because they were cute! EW! I came back stateside and couldn't figure out why grocery stores didn't have baggers lol!

[Steve Knox-71]

Hey Heather,
sometimes it would be creepy old wives overtipping the young guy baggers too! Not that there was anything wrong with that :)

[Heather Halstead]

lol, touche!!!!