5p at Florist for a bag. AIBU?

[macarmahouse]

I bought my mother a planter of flowers for £50 and paid with all the cash I had. I asked for something to cover it as my mum was in my car as I’d ferried her to an appointment. She said it’s too big for paper but I can give you a bag?

I said ooh great thanks! She said, 5 pence please? Oh I don’t have anymore change, ruffling through my handbag for some. She stood there holding the bag. So I said oh sorry I don’t have the 5p. Then she put the bag away and handed me the flowers.

I was a little bit taken aback but I do see it from her point of view. BTW I used to work in retail and we gave backs out willy nilly. I guess it is better for the environment.

AIBU to expect her to have said oh don’t worry, here you go, have the bag for nothing. £50 isn’t an insignificant amount to spend.

Just been of gov website...250 or more employee's you have to charge 5p if it's a smaller business they can volunteer to pay 5p! I think after spending £50 she could have let you have one for free.

*more change

Makes me really cross when I buy flowers and am asked if I want a bag. YES. OF COURSE I DO. They're dripping water. Just stick it on the bloody price.

Aveeno, that is the guide for England. Scotland and Wales have to charge for all bags

The reason you don’t pay for flower bags is for hygiene reasons - the water in the vases/ buckets contains microbes that are known to cause disease. This is also why fresh flowers aren’t allowed on NHS hospital wards.

LittleCandle... well aren’t you a bundle of joy. Sanctimonious .......

Maybe you need to get out a little more! People can be based in more than one place.

I am sure the florist had enough change to give you at least 95p change.
But the point is, you managed perfectly well without the bag and so the whole whinge on here is just you bumping your gums because you didn't manage to bully her into giving you a freebie.

Flower bags are even free in Sainsburys

Presumably those microbes are also present when you put them in a vase at home. Sounds like bollocks to me.

I often forget, actually. But then I pay the 5p (or 10p in most supermarkets these days!) without complaint, because it’s my fault I don’t have one with me.

At home you change the water daily to reduce the microbes and also the flowers will last longer. Not sure the water in the florist gets changed that often.

In the circumstances I would definitely have been miffed about not having a 5p bag thrown in.

I don’t change the water daily, life’s too short.

"after spending £50, I’d have assumed the bag was free too OP "

So because you spend £50 you think the law can be broken?

I spent £80 on some clothes yesterday and was asked if I would like a 5p bag. Naturally I said “no thanks” and pulled out a foldable fabric bag.

macramahouse I work in retail. I have had to explain to cheeky fucker arseholes about the law more times than I have had hot dinners and even after these few years of this law, there are still some people who think they are above the law. It is not a rare occurrence - it happens every single day. You cannot just give the carrier bags away. Bloody hell, I have to count the bloody things on a regular basis and account for any discrepancies against the number that have been put through the till. I'm sure the florist was in the same position. You really think that it was worth her risking her job to give the OP a fucking carrier that she was too cheap to pay for? Really?

It's weird that a florist who normally have loads of paper around for wrapping etc couldn't have given you a couple of sheets of paper and then you could have McGyvered a cover for the plants.

Does anyone ever read the fecking thread ? three times I've linked the law

The law says the 5p charge only applies to business with over 250 employees. It also doesn't apply if you buy wet fish or an axe

Actually - they cant charge for plants

www.gov.uk/guidance/carrier-bag-charges-retailers-responsibilities#bags-youre-not-required-to-charge-for

Food and plants

You’re not required to charge for plastic bags that are solely used for:

unwrapped loose seeds
flowers
bulbs, corms or rhizomes (roots, stems and shoots, such as ginger).
goods contaminated by soil (like potatoes or plants)

Surely a florist would have cardboard boxes?

Of Course she should have given the bag for free. She could have logged the sale at 49.95 . Or if that was not possible ( bar codes or such like ) even have the till short by 5p and explain to boss.
Ridiculous.

@buggeroff - because it cant be charged for:

The law says the 5p charge only applies to business with over 250 employees. It also doesn't apply if you buy wet fish or an axe

Actually - they cant charge for plants

www.gov.uk/guidance/carrier-bag-charges-retailers-responsibilities#bags-youre-not-required-to-charge-for

Food and plants

You’re not required to charge for plastic bags that are solely used for:

unwrapped loose seeds
flowers
bulbs, corms or rhizomes (roots, stems and shoots, such as ginger).
goods contaminated by soil (like potatoes or plants)

@Franciscrawford - the law ….

The law says the 5p charge only applies to business with over 250 employees. It also doesn't apply if you buy wet fish or an axe

Actually - they cant charge for plants

www.gov.uk/guidance/carrier-bag-charges-retailers-responsibilities#bags-youre-not-required-to-charge-for

Food and plants

You’re not required to charge for plastic bags that are solely used for:

unwrapped loose seeds
flowers
bulbs, corms or rhizomes (roots, stems and shoots, such as ginger).
goods contaminated by soil (like potatoes or plants)