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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to think that shops should start charging for coathangers (like plastic bags)?

52 replies

SleeplessInGarforth · 16/08/2016 20:50

Every time I buy clothes (for me or DC) I mean to tell them to remove the coathangers before they give me the clothes... But a lot of the time I forget (blame the 4 month sleep regression). I get home, unpack and find myself staring at coathangers from things such as pyjamas, underwear etc and wondering what the hell to do with them. They can't be recycled in our area and I have no use for a weird shaped coathanger that once housed a bra. I hate to send loads of plastic to landfill after a short lifespan.

So, yeah, AIBU to think they shouldn't give you them...and perhaps charge you 5p (or whatever) if you do want them?

OP posts:
Ginmakesitallok · 16/08/2016 20:50

Yabu

Original poster
SleeplessInGarforth · 16/08/2016 20:53

Care to explain why Ginmakesitallok? Do you think the 5p bag charge is U or NU? (Just interested)

OP posts:
Idefix · 16/08/2016 20:59

Yabu I use the coat hangers apart from the silly ones that come with bras etc. I also used the carrier bags as bin liners, but now by the real bin liners so my use of plastic has not been reduced.

Idefix · 16/08/2016 21:00

Buy not by...

marshamella · 16/08/2016 21:01

I see what you mean about the pointless hangers. I can't stand the ones that some child pjs are on. I usually just say I don't want them and they take them off for me

Original poster
SleeplessInGarforth · 16/08/2016 21:03

But unless you keep every item of clothing you ever bought, you don't need a new coathanger per new item of clothes (do you?).

And re the bin liners thing, the sales of bin liners have increased but not by the same amount that plastic bags taken has reduced - so I obviously can't comment on your individual usage, but overall it's been positive.

So far I'm definitely BU then!

OP posts:
DandelionAndBedrock · 16/08/2016 21:08

YANBU. Drives me potty. They make the wardrobe look cluttered, all different sizes and shapes. I ordered M&S knickers online and they were delivered on individual hangers. I was ready to scream!

Having said that...don't even get me started on the metal hangers from the dry cleaners. DP sends his shirts out and always asking for hanging not folded. He never returns them, so I do a walk of shame with approximately 7.2 million every couple of months.

ClockMakerSue · 16/08/2016 21:09

YNBU. I see it as the same in principle as plastic bags. They mostly can't be recycled and once you have a wardrobe full of hangers you don't need more. 5 p is reasonable.

megletthesecond · 16/08/2016 21:10

Yanbu.

muddypuddled · 16/08/2016 21:12

You could take them to a charity shop, they might be able to use them?

torthecatlady · 16/08/2016 21:14

I always ask for the hangers to be removed at the checkout. I think a charge would be a good idea, with a donation to a charity like with the plastic bags. If I ever have any plastic hangers, I give them to the charity shop, as I use the velvet/flocked style of hanger.

JaniceBattersby · 16/08/2016 21:17

Tesco and Sainsbury's have started asking if I want them and if you give them back to the server they reuse them in store rather than arsing about recycling them. Primark do the same apparently.

I guess if people start continually refusing to take them then clothes shops will cotton on and start to reuse them in more efficient ways.

MarbleFox · 16/08/2016 21:20

The environmental impact coat hangers have has never occurred to me before. YNBU, and this isn't a terrible idea.

I work in retail, we either reuse coat hangers or give them away to a local women who runs her own dry cleaning business. Both of which are better than just chucking them in a bin.

RiverTam · 16/08/2016 21:21

What would be better is for shops to train staff to always ask if the customer wants the hangers. The only ones that are useful are the ones that shirts and dresses are on, trousers and underwear ones are useless.

MistressoftheYoniverse · 16/08/2016 21:22

Yay lets charge us for everything! Hmm how about just saying no thanks..sometimes I want hangers...

Original poster
SleeplessInGarforth · 16/08/2016 21:26

Yeah I've bunged a few in a charity bag full of other stuff in the hope they can use them. And yes much better to be reused than recycled.

OP posts:
Original poster
SleeplessInGarforth · 16/08/2016 21:28

Mistress - re your comment about being charged for everything - everything does have a cost - both financially and environmentally. I don't see why you shouldn't expect to pay for 'everything' you get.

OP posts:
SapphireSeptember · 16/08/2016 21:31

I always take the clothes off the hangers myself (even when I used TU's click and collect service, I opened the package, took the hangers out and gave them to the lady at the desk, then took the plastic bags to the recycling bin in the shop.) In Peacocks they don't even ask, they just take things off the hangers, (unless you buy online, then you get hangers.) I've used the word 'hangers' quite a lot now, haven't I? But anyway, in Sainsbury's I take clothes off the things, leave them on the railing and put the clothes in my basket. Much easier.

Etak15 · 16/08/2016 21:32

I never seem to have enough coat hangers I don't think anything I've bought recently though I have the hanger from - they take them off as they put it in the bag? Recently in mothercare I was buying a pressie for friends new baby and they were about to take it off the hanger I asked if they could keep it on as thought it would look nicer as it was a set and a present, sales assistant was most put out she said they don't give hangers to customers usually they recycle them.

Etak15 · 16/08/2016 21:33

But yes the underwear ones are useless - who hangs up their bra and pants?

FeelingSmurfy · 16/08/2016 21:34

We order a lot online so we end up short of hangers, i find in shops that they either ask 8r automatically take them off and I ask for them

ftmsoon · 16/08/2016 21:37

YANBU. I think it's a great idea. I always used to give them back until I started using the self-service till and it got all confused. I did stop and de-hanger everything and gave them to the lady at the customer service desk and she pointed out that Asda have a hanger bin by the self service tills!

bloodyteenagers · 16/08/2016 21:41

I need to start shopping where you lot are. When my older ones moved out coat hangers disappeared. Now i have a huge shortage. I buy clothes, the coat hangers are whipped away, and either looked at like I'm mad and begrudgingly given them, or told no.

NotMyMoney · 16/08/2016 21:48

I keep the reply thick hangers but the rest I take up as a queue in a British manner when I order online they go in the recycling. Why would they need a charge? Could just train staff to ask customer's would like the hangers?

DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel · 16/08/2016 22:03

yanbu I think its a good idea too.

although Im sure Ive seen coat hanger recycling bins somewhere. Possibly at a Supermarket?

Although I do sometimes wish I had more coat hangers for tops. You can buy hangers, but only with the bars at the bottom. They dont hang up tops very well.

Also DC's school clothes need hanging up, but they usually come in packs and hangers dont come with them. I could use more of them. Which I would be happy to buy.

Might have a look on Ebay later.

Agree in general though.