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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be annoyed with the check out man at Sainsburys?

72 replies

LadyOfTheManor · 23/05/2011 17:13

I went into Sainsburys this afternoon as I had a scan due and was killing time without stopping long enough to pee. I picked up some organic snacks, a few tins of soup and a punnet of cherries and 2 loose peaches in a bag.

I got to the til, and there was a man serving. He said;

"Do you need bags?"

I said; "Yes please".

And he gave me one. I then said;

"Can I have another one so I can bag my fruit separately from the tins?"

To this, he glared at me, tutted, looked from me back to the few items I had, shook his head and said;

"The poor environment" and slammed one down.

Now, as far as I'm aware the bags are free and I'm entitled to them. It isn't compulsory for me to take my own bags in (which in all fairness I usually do for a planned shop, which this was not). But I feel that it is none of his damn business how many bags I need, as they are not being paid for out of his own personal packet. I may be hormonal, but is it the job of a shop worker to tell me about the state of the environment?

OP posts:

mymummyisasquarehead · 23/05/2011 17:30

Really rather mad?!

YABSU!

Insomnia11 · 23/05/2011 17:30

What I'd have done (if I'd have thought of it) after him making that comment is to say "Ok then, you won't mind if I remove every single bit of packaging and leave it here for you to sort out will you? Because, you know, as you say, you have to think of the environment and I wouldn't want to be seen as encouraging Sainsbury's to package everything unnecessarily."

melpomene · 23/05/2011 17:30

Supermarket carrier bags are also a lot more flimsy than they used to be, and can't hold so much weight so people end up having to use more bags than they did previously.

We get deliveries from Tesco and I get those delivered in bags because otherwise I have to faff about picking up scores of loose items at knee height while the delivery man tuts at me. However, the bags are so flimsy that they often spilt when picked up. I

CoffeeDodger · 23/05/2011 17:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thefurryone · 23/05/2011 17:32

I suspect the reason you're annoyed about this is because you know you are behaving in a way that is damaging the environment, you started this thread to justify your behaviour as the assistant just touched a nerve and made you feel uncomfortable. Just be glad there are people out there who cares about how we use the earth's precious resources, it means that your unborn child may yet get to spend it's adulthood in a world we haven't totally ruined

littleducks · 23/05/2011 17:32

There was a big fuss over bags where i used to live....I shopped in asda and they kept commenting that they were going to start charging for bags 'soon' if I asked for any.....I would laugh and say that would send me over to shop in Tesco....funilly enough they didnt start charging and its been over 18 months now

I would bag tins and delicate fruit like peaches seperately, it must be better for the environment to recycle two carrier bags than throw out half a punnet of bruised fruit

Original poster

LadyOfTheManor · 23/05/2011 17:33

Coffee, you're clearly a better driver than myself!

I'm usually very polite to workers in shops, unless they answer the phone at the desk in Boots (which happens rather often).

I did think of the additional packaging that supermarkets use when I was driving back (when you think of all the things you should've said at the time). Ho hum.

OP posts:

Nospringflower · 23/05/2011 17:33

I'm with coffee, I'd have shoved them all in the same bag or tried to put them in my handbag if I was really bothered. I do try to take as few as possible when I havent brought my own bag but yes, it would probably irritate me to have someone pointing it out.

Original poster

LadyOfTheManor · 23/05/2011 17:35

The Furry One, tbh I'm not massive on helping the environment. My car is eco friendly-ish, I feed all scraps to the pigs and chickens and use energy saving lightbulbs and re-usable nappies. I think asking for a bloody extra bag the one time I don't take mine isn't going to bring down the world as we know it. He only touched a nerve because he commented on something I don't believe is any of his business to. If he had peered at my feet and said;

"Ohh, leather, wonder how many cows to make those?" I'd have been equally as annoyed, as I don't think it's his business. If he wants to save the environment so badly why the bloody hell is he working for a company that is ruining it every day?

OP posts:

Original poster

LadyOfTheManor · 23/05/2011 17:36

how many cows died

OP posts:

TheFlyingOnion · 23/05/2011 17:36

I don't think the OP is saying shop workers are the lowest of the low. I understood it that, while the OP perfectly respects this man's right to exist as a human being and I'm sure was polite, respectful, yadda yadda, it was not up to him to lecture her on the state of the environment.

and I quite agree. I can bear being given unsolicited advice. Makes me quite unreasonable with people....

ChocolateTeacup · 23/05/2011 17:37

You are angry because you subconsciously feel guilty about the request and laughing at: 'but would you put tins in with loose fruit and organic puff crisps'

usualsuspect · 23/05/2011 17:38

Some supermarkets limit the number of bags each checkout assistant is allowed

So you would have been more pissed off if he had ran out altogether

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 23/05/2011 17:38

YANBU!

It has been proven that somthing like 1% of the rubbish in the sea etc is casued by plastic bags, the rest is down to packaging. I also read something about food packaging still being excessive and contributing far more in terms of waste and pollution than plastic bags.

It pisses me off that shops hand out 4 bags when you have a trolley piled high. I dont use bin bags but use the plastic bags and recycle them instead that way.

Why aren't shops forced to make them biodegradable if they are really so bad for the environment?

And for the plastic bags littered about - lazt twats who want put them in the bin.

Off high horse now.

TheFlyingOnion · 23/05/2011 17:38

the OP subconsciously feels guilty?? Are MN posters psychic now?

Praline · 23/05/2011 17:40

I just love how you had to mention you got ORGANIC snacks. Was a feckin Cornish Pasty wasnt it?

TallulahBetty · 23/05/2011 17:41

If any shop tuts at me for asking for bags, I point of that we use them to line our bins, thus removing the need to buy binbags. Just say that next time.

thefurryone · 23/05/2011 17:41

Erm perhaps because he needs to feed his family and we all have to make compromises in order to get by in life. Maybe the only way he can justify this to himself is by trying to encourage his customers to be less wasteful? Perhaps he hopes to encourage the company to be less wasteful whilst he is working there?

Through your actions you clearly do care about the environment so I stand by my touch a nerve comment. Otherwise why are you still put out by it?

TallulahBetty · 23/05/2011 17:41

Point OUT, dammit!

diabolo · 23/05/2011 17:42

Didn't you know that Sainsbury's checkout operators are IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD?

Silly you!

At least he didn't try to tell you that the shade of hair-dye you were buying wouldn't go with your complexion! (My personal fave).

LittleMissFlustered · 23/05/2011 17:46

I took some reusables into the soooperdooopermarkup today, and still ended up needing a carrier too. Fecking shopping!

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 23/05/2011 17:51

I had this in Sainsbos in Biggleswade the other day. The woman glared at me and said - would you be using those if you had to pay for them . Actaully I do nornally take my own, but have never been to that stre begore - just made a detour driving up the A1 and had no intention when I set out of going shopping... but did not see why I should get a lecture from the checkout girl.

luvlemoncheesecake · 23/05/2011 17:57

He was rude.I would remind him of his position and that he is there to serve......and told him to maybe concentrate on his job as he is quite clearly not even good at being a till boy.

Original poster

LadyOfTheManor · 23/05/2011 18:03

Well Praline, they are more expensive, thus I don't want them squished, hard times and all that. Quite fancy a cornish pasty now though.

OP posts:

Insomnia11 · 23/05/2011 18:07

Agree with cookcleaner...while I do make an effort to use reuseable bags, it just makes sense, it's a bit of a red herring about them being the root of all evil.

And as far as M&S are concerned I think it's a case of any excuse to charge you another 5p. Especially when they are about the worst for plastic packaging.

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