Supermarket Sensitivities

Not so funny, but interesting?

In Japan, the shopping carts just barely hold a supermarket shopping basket.
In the US, the shopping carts are like trucks–children can even ride in them.

In Japan, EVERY cherry tomato (even in your salad) comes with a little bit of stem on top*.
In America, you cannot find cherry tomatoes in stores (or restaurants) with the stem tips.

In Japan, mayonnaise comes in a tube.
In America, it comes in a jar.

In Japan, condensed milk comes in a tube.
In the US, it comes in a can.

In Japan, most fruits and vegetables come in packaging (10 string beans in a pack) or at least with a piece of tape around them.
In the US, you help yourself to bins (sometimes very large) of them.

In Japan, rice, pasta, dried fruit, grains, cereals, etc. are sold in commercial packages.
In the US, you can also scoop them from bins–as little or as much as you like.

In Japan, if you ask a store employee where something is, s/he will take you there and show it to you.
In the US, they will say something like, "It's on aisle 5", or (happened yesterday) "Let me call and find out" (nobody answered the phone).

In Japan, the cashier says, "Please wait a moment (while the customer ahead is being checked through)", then "Welcome", then "Thank you and come again".
In the US, the cashier chats you up, "How's your day going?", or "What are your plans for the weekend?", or "Oh! I really like this product (in your bag) too! Did you know you can mix it with this other product we have?".

In Japan, the cashier takes the items out of your shopping basket, scans them, and puts them into another shopping basket which the customer carries to another counter to self-bag.
In the US, the customer puts the items on a conveyor belt and the cashier scans them and then bags them for you.

In Japan, the cashier will put a bag around the cat food or shampoo separately.
In the US, they bag the meat this way.

In Japan, the cashier swipes your credit card and enters the data.
In the US, the customer does it.

In Japan, they always give you your change on top of your receipt or the receipt alone.
In America, they often toss the receipt into your shopping bag. 

In Japan, you cannot get cash in addition to your groceries when you pay with a card.
In the US, you can (no need to use an ATM, no ATM fees).

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* Why IS that?!