Accused of stealing a bag for life

[MindfulMess]

I went to my local supermarket this afternoon to pick up a few bits and pieces. We’re in a big city and I’m in there almost every day. There’s only one checkout with a person working it; the rest are self-checkouts.

I got chosen for a random check. No drama, it happens a lot. Then I was told I hadn’t scanned my bag for life. No , I said, it’s mine. I just took it out of my pocket. The woman repeated that I hadn’t scanned it, and I repeated that it was mine and had just come out of my pocket. She called a supervisor and they told me to wait.
A few minutes later the supervisor came back, and the first woman said (without looking at me), “You can go”. Nothing was said about what had happened but I assume they reviewed security tape or something and saw that yes, my bag had in fact come out of my own pocket.

I pointed out that they had been quite rude and was pointedly ignored. I was shaking. I’m shy in public at the best of times and I really didn’t know what was going on or what was going to happen. I mean, you wouldn’t expect they’d call the cops over a bag for life but I had no way of proving I hadn’t stolen it. They were, if anything, even more rude once they said I could go.

What should I do? I’m honestly quite scared to go back. None of the usual staff seemed to be working today (I’ve been in there perhaps every second day for over a decade, quite a few of them know me by sight.) But it’s my local shop…

(By the way I am well aware that regulars steal things too, and I have no issue with being checked. The attitude, though, was awful. When I questioned it I was basically told to leave the shop now please madam!)

Bloody hell it's a carrier bag not the crown jewels.

I too would have been upset and angry to have been treated that way OP. But given that two posters already have admitted that they regularly take the bags without paying, I can see why the store would be on the lookout .

It’s still a product that’s been manufactured for sale - and then stolen by that poster

making it more expensive for everyone else

I'm glad I'm not the only one who does this

I’ve been charged for my own bags a few times when I’ve had them in my trolley ready to bag items. (when using the main checkouts)

Yes complain. They made you feel terrible and didn't apologise. It's not ok.

Email head office. I once had a phone call off a police woman, accusing me of not paying for my petrol at the supermarket. I printed out I had in fact paid for my petrol, but the staff were too busy discussing a car that had just driven off without paying. I complained to head office,, as it wasn’t a particularly pleasant experience having to prove my innocence due to staff incompetence. To apologise they sent me a £50 voucher for the store.

☝️ that's the reason they thought you may be stealing it, and why they were suspicious, because people do stuff like that and they need to explain why they're not catching/challenging people when shrinkage is high, and likely those people also say they brought it when asked about it.

Unfortunately it wasn't handled the best way I agree, but I don't understand why you think you 'need' to do anything? Just go back next time you need to and get your shopping as you usually would. It's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things and pointless turning it over in your head and stressing about it - and I know this is easier said than done because I'm a worrier too.

And as an aside you must keep your bag pristine because mine look dog eared and tattered and would never be mistaken for a new one 😃

I bet you just throw them away too.

I’d be really insulted at the accusation, especially if I were a regular customer like you, OP. Never mind the fact it’s a 30p bag, it’s the principle! How dare they?! And to be fair, if you were going to pinch something, I’m sure you’d go for something a bit better than a carrier!

🙄 @ all the bag thieves on here. Only on Mumsnet!

But you ARE a thief 😳

So what is the price point where it goes from just a cheap item to stealing?

Can we also walk out with just a carrot, onion, banana, a tin of value beans?

Couldn’t agree more

And you're proud of this?

Honestly I wasn’t really insulted at the accusation. But the attitude… and I’m now realising that it was the uncertainty while I was waiting that really got me. I didn’t know what was going to happen. They left me standing at my self checkout thingy and another man came to use it. I think he had special needs and was asking me loudly why I was standing there and could I go because he needed to use the register. It was all very awkward (in front of a long queue of people).

Surely they can tell the difference between a used bag and an unused one.
Oh and they have no power to detain you so you could have just walked out.
Email head office to complain

Meh. Capitalism is a theif, stealing from tesco is a victimless crime.

Same excuse people use for eating whilst shopping then not paying for it, same with drinks, This is exactly why supermarkets are pushing for online only and click and collect, they lose an absolute fortune due to theft.

Only on MN could people work themselves up into a tizzy about a plastic bag.c

Wow this thread is depressing. I always pay for the carrier bags if I forget mine. Like a fool, it seems. I did accidentally steal a pepper once so I'm not exactly squeaky clean.

I would be absolutely furious about this OP and would be putting it all over their social media and local Facebook pages along with contacting the store manager and head office.
The whole point of bags for life is that you bring them into the store with you to re-use. If we cannot do this with confidence that we won't be accused of stealing them, then we will stop doing it.
Their attitude afterwards absolutely stinks and they should be called out for it.

Surprised by the people cheerily admitting to stealing. It's not a victimless crime.

Heavens above. I would be furious. I would have written to the manager with copy sent to head office; explaining that I was a regular and long time customer and had been treated so badly that you went home in tears. Of course you explain that you had no objection to the scanning of your shopping but to be accused of stealing a carrier bag which you brought from home and then rudely dismissed without a word of apology is unacceptable. Add that this was your local shop but are now reluctant to shop there again.

I think I’d only used it once. More fool me!

I hadn’t paid yet so I was kinda waiting to pay, I suppose I could have left without my shopping but it was all packed up in my own bag 😂😂 Also I was a bit confused, they weren’t clear at all about anything, just rude.

drip feed you won’t believe this but when I got home and looked at my receipt, I’d been charged for a bag as well. I think she added it on when doing the check. It was my fucking bag!!!

So yes, I was treated rudely, and then they stole 30p from me under false pretences and asked me to leave the shop! You couldn’t make it up 😂😂