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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

DP really embarrassed me today

117 replies

Doookie · 12/09/2010 14:45

We were in the supermarket paying for our groceries and the lad behind the checkout handed up two carrier bags. After they had ran out we still had loads of stuff to pack away but he didn't offer anymore bags. DP said quite loudly "You not giving out anymore bags then?" so the lad replied "sorry no, they were my last ones and I was told once they've gone I have to sell the bags for life instead. They're only 5p, do you want one?". I was about to say I'd have two but DP flew into a rage about how pathetic it was and that he was going to complain. The lad ignored him mostly and carried on putting the shopping through but DP carried on, accussed the lad of keeping bags under the till to which the lad offered to show DP under his till (DP actually went around behind the till to check which was mortifying) and then carried on kicking off. At one point he said "Is Adolf Hitler running this place or what?" to which I seriously contemplated walking out. I was so embarrassed. DP then went and checked behind the neighbouring till whilst complaining loudly until people were staring at us. The lad then shouted across to another young till assistant "This is all because I have no more carrier bags" and they both started laughing. Out of sheer frustration, another employee came and dumped a load of carrier bags on the belt. I apologised to the lad and walked off as DP was instructing the staff to put up a clear sign at the entrance "warning" people that there are no carrier bags etc. We must have been a laughing stock. He knows I'm angry and has been pretty quiet since. I'm not over-reacting am I? Would you have been embarrassed or am I just a wimp? I dread to think what DD would have done if she'd been with us, she'd have never shopped with us again.

OP posts:

fedupofnamechanging · 12/09/2010 22:42

This is about expectation. We happily pay for bags in Aldi because we know at the outset that this will be the case. We then choose the amount of shopping we buy accordingly (and the cost of shopping is cheaper).

I'd be mad if I did a trolley load of shopping, only to discover halfway through the checkout that the supermarket had no bags. The onus is on the shop to tell people the situation from the start. I'd have left my shopping at the till and walked out if not provided with bags at that point.

It is very wrong to be rude to checkout staff, but the cashier concerned was hardly perfect either.

I like farmfoods, where you get proper, strong carrier bags (like in the 1980s) and no hypocritical bollocks about the environment

drfayray · 12/09/2010 22:52

Here in some places (Australia) certain stores have gone bag free. You have to pay for a biodegrable bag (10 cents) or a green bag ($1-2).

I think the cashier should have told you that he was running out of bags when he started cashing up your groceries.

It has become a matter of habit now to carry a bag with me. And I make some fancy ones out of fabulour fabric as well.

No need to lose one's temper.

splashy · 12/09/2010 22:52

For everyone who is going on about the travesty of there not being more free bags, why not just bring your own bags? Or reuse free bags? Its incredibly wasteful otherwise.

I saw a man have a go at the poor cashier in holland and barret for saying they were charging for bags. Bring your own or shell out 5p! I think supermarkets should be commended for encouraging reuse.

I do agree that there should be notice given however, but really don't see the big deal.

drfayray · 12/09/2010 22:53

Biodegradable I meant to say.

diddl · 13/09/2010 08:20

But the OPs partner was offered the chance to pay for a couple of bags-at 5p each.

Maybe you have to have lived outside of the UK to find this sense of entitlement over a free plastic bag well, pathetic really.

Rockbird · 13/09/2010 12:01

Maybe you have to have lived outside of the UK to find this sense of entitlement over a free plastic bag well, pathetic really.

FFS, they aren't free. Do you really think the supermarkets provide us with free bags out of the goodness of their hearts??

And it's not entitlement, it's part of the service that the supermarket offers. If they can't offer it then it is their duty to inform the public. We should all just shut up about things that piss us off then. That way nothing ever changes and we can continue to put up with crap service. It would take half an hour to put some signs out.

OrmRenewed · 13/09/2010 12:04

Nope it's perfectly reasonable to expect customers to use their own bags - or buy them. If he wanted to do neither he could have just piled the stuff in the trolley and taken it out to the car like that.

YANBU.

Squitten · 13/09/2010 12:13

Your DH was out of order to have a fit at the boy on the till - he has to do as he is told so shouting at him is pointless. If my DH had done that, I would have had no problem telling him to calm down and shut up in front of everyone!

The supermarket should sort out its bags policy though. If they don't want people to use carrier bags, then just stop offering them completely and tell people that. Fact is, people will forget their bags sometimes and it's only fair that they know whether they can shop there or not!

diddl · 13/09/2010 12:18

"FFS, they aren't free. Do you really think the supermarkets provide us with free bags out of the goodness of their hearts??

And it's not entitlement, it's part of the service that the supermarket offers"

That´s sort of exactly what I mean-carrier bag rage.

Just can´t get the fuss about being asked to buy bags at 5p tbh.

conkie · 13/09/2010 12:20

If they run out of normal carriers then they have to give you bags for life for free.

diddl · 13/09/2010 12:22

"If they run out of normal carriers then they have to give you bags for life for free."

Perhaps the lad on the till didn´t know that.

Is it law, then?

BrightLightBrightLight · 13/09/2010 12:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

conkie · 13/09/2010 12:26

I used to work in checkout and that is what we were told. It isn't the customers fault the store has run out of bags so they must provide the bags for life for free.

diddl · 13/09/2010 12:33

"It isn't the customers fault the store has run out of bags so they must provide the bags for life for free."

Yes of course, that makes sense.

I mean I can see that it would be annoying to get to a checkout expecting a free bag & there not be any.

But I just don´t think that being asked to pay 5p is unreasonable either.

undercovamutha · 13/09/2010 13:35

Well said Rockbird.

FOr some people to make out that supermarkets have just been being SO kind letting us have free bags, is just bonkers.

You don't get anything for free. They make huge profits, and their procurement of millions of plastic bags will have been taken into account in all of their budgeting/profit margins.

It SUITS them now to make more profit by selling them at 5p or whatever (believe they are going to be 7p everywhere in Wales soon). Tescos have the right idea - you get points for how many of your own bags you use. A carrot not a stick!

And btw 9+ times out of 10 I take my own bags, I just don't like being lectured to by supermarkets, with their record for packaging!

diddl · 13/09/2010 13:47

I doubt many/any one here think that carrier are free as such-but that the term is being used to mean that you are not physically charged at the till.

readinginsteadnow · 13/09/2010 13:48

This is a slight aside, but this thred has reminded me of something that really irks me.... in Tesocs, you get a clubcard point for every bag of your own you bring. All well and good. But why why why can I only have one point fora 100 litre rucksack? Thats worth at least 5 carrier bags. If I brought 5 of my own carrier bags with me , I'd get 5 points.

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