I always used to just unload the cart in random order. My bags would be a total mess, heavy stuff crushing the bread. Watching that system work was a real lightbulb moment. Putting the heavy, sturdy items on the belt first gives the bagger a solid base to build on. Everything just stacks so much more logically from there. Tried it myself and my groceries were packed better in half the time.
@richardprice, you're basically a grocery bagging genius now, lmao. I remember my old method was just hurling items onto the belt like a chaotic game of Tetris. Heavy stuff would always end up on top of my bread, turning it into flatbread by the time I got home. Now I stack those cans and jars first, and it's like building a solid little pyramid in the bag. My chips and eggs actually survive the trip, which feels like a minor miracle.
Okay but what about the stuff that's not heavy but also not light, like a box of pasta or a bag of rice. Where does that go in your system? @rayb82's flatbread story is exactly what I'm trying to avoid, but I feel like my middle-weight items always end up in a weird spot and mess up the whole bag. Do you put those right after the cans, or do you save them for later to fill in gaps? Trying to picture the exact order on the belt.