If you ask anyone if they have any BEEF with grocery stores, most people will probably talk about everything getting more expensive. But if you specifically ask Boomers, well, you better grab a chair. They have a laundry list of grievances. Here are the Top 10, according to Fox News:
1. Self-checkout. This is a younger person’s game. In a previous poll, 62% of older folks said they preferred cashier-assisted checkout. (It’s not just the extra work and touch-screens . . . they also love to chat up the cashiers.)
2. Bargain grocery stores. Boomers prefer classic supermarkets . . . rather than dealing with the lack of inventory and organization at the bargain places.
3. Searching for products. They do NOT like stores moving things around . . . or having to find “tofu” for their granddaughter.
4. Digital coupons. The share of people 65 and older who are using smartphone apps is growing . . . but Boomers still prefer physical coupons.
5. Neglected shopping carts. No one likes having to FIGHT a shopping cart with a janky wheel, but it can be extra annoying if you have mobility issues.
6. Generic brands. In a recent survey, 26% of Boomers say they “rarely or almost never consider switching from their favorite name brand.”
7. Sold-out products. Similarly, older folks are more likely to be frustrated by something being out of stock, because they don’t want to pivot from their routine.
8. Understaffing. Grandparents don’t want to deal with longer checkout lines, slower service, and fewer opportunities for personal interaction.
9. No grocery baggers. Older folks complain about having to bring their own bags, and do their own bagging. They consider that “labor.”
10. Convenience foods. Boomers don’t want a grocery store to be focused on prepared foods and packaged meals. Those are more popular among Millennials, who’d rather pay for convenience, rather than making something from scratch.