An apparatus and method for compacting bulk material in an open container having a compacting device including a poker compactor, the poker compactor having an outer wall and being suitable to be inserted into an open container to cause the outer wall of the poker compactor to contact the bulk material and to degas and compact the bulk material in the open container. The outer wall of the poker compactor is at least partially formed by a gas-permeable, outer suction wall of a suction device and the poker compactor includes a vibration exciter to support degassing the bulk material by way of vibrating motion of the poker compactor generated by the vibration exciter. The vibration exciter is radially surrounded by a tube device and the suction wall surrounds the tube device.