The employees are told to ask this, whether or not they can see you're able bodied and carrying your own bags.
I have a fit young female friend ( lucky me) who works for Tescos, and she says it annoys her workmates intensely when she does some off duty shopping, they ask her if she needs help, and she says " yes ", then waits while they pack everything for her
.
On the same theme, I was amazed just how many filipinos / filipinas work in the Philippines shopping malls - I was told on less than minimum wage. They pack your bags without asking, then staple them closed with the receipt outside so you can get past the armed guards when you leave the mall.
