Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this was petty

240 replies

Givemeabreak88 · 14/10/2020 20:56

I was just at my local coop, I used the self service check out and selected one bag as I thought all my items would fit in one, as I put them in it wasn’t going to fit, I had already paid so just grabbed an extra bag as there was no option to pay for the extra bag as I would have to remove all my shopping and had nowhere to put it, yes I know I should have paid but I had just spent £30 in the shop so for the sake of an extra bag I didn’t see the big deal, anyway as I went to walk out the security shouted at me in front of everyone that I had taken two bags and paid for one! I was made to go back and empty out all my shopping. AIBU for thinking this was really petty? Considering how much I had just spent in the shop it all seemed a bit over the top

OP posts:
DeliciouslyFemale · 14/10/2020 22:12

@NotOfThisWorld

i have never known such a bunch of sanctimonious, pious, smug arseholes as there are on this thread. FFS!

Exactly this.

I’ve never known so many dishonest people, who think they can steal something that they could easily pay for.
SquirrelFan · 14/10/2020 22:13

@DeliciouslyFemale I meant only purchasing one bag at first was a mistake. And I am giving the op the benefit of the doubt that it would have been difficult to purchase another bag. I don't condone her taking another bag but I disagree with the shop's handling of it. If they'd nicely asked her to sort it, she'd come away a satisfied customer and they'd have their money.

NotOfThisWorld · 14/10/2020 22:14

Most supermarkets would actually just give you the bag for free if you explained rather than hold the queue up faffing around with bags.

Frappuccinofan · 14/10/2020 22:14

If I was the security guard, I would have just got a member of staff to put the bag through on a staffed till instead of the self checkouts as there was a queue. It definitely seemed like he was going out of his way to punish you by making you wait.

DeliciouslyFemale · 14/10/2020 22:16

SquirrelFan, she was at the payment point, packing her bags, she just couldn’t be arsed paying and the staff are probably sick of people taking the piss. It wasn’t a mistake, loads of people can accidentally walk out of a shop with something. She had no intention of paying. That’s the difference.

Prisonbreak · 14/10/2020 22:16

A classic case of
‘AIBU?’
General response ‘yes’
OMG NO IM NOT!!

NotOfThisWorld · 14/10/2020 22:19

@Prisonbreak

A classic case of ‘AIBU?’ General response ‘yes’ OMG NO IM NOT!!
It's more one of those classic AIBU where people just pile in for the sake of it because they want to bitch at someone. A bag is not actually a supermarket product. They don't want to charge for them but are legally required to do so. Normally no one would care if you accidentally took another bag and the staff would actually be more annoyed at the faff of having to ring it through separately.
BLASTPROCESSING · 14/10/2020 22:20

This thread didn't really go how you wanted it did it op

Goosefoot · 14/10/2020 22:22

I totally understand how this could happen, and yes. Some shops set up their system so it's really not very easy to add something to your order as you have to select the bags ahead.

It would probably have been best to call the person overseeing the self-serve stations, though, as I think they are generally anal about this because if they don't, people will take advantage.

It is petty though, and this sort of crap is why I don't like these stations. I've paid way more than the cost of a bag in discounts that didn't work properly and it was too much trouble to try and get someone to help.

LadyLoungeALot · 14/10/2020 22:25

I don't understand.
In my local supermarket, I check out, bag it up and then pay, including for bags. Nobody pays before packing, surely?

SquirrelFan · 14/10/2020 22:28

@DeliciouslyFemale The 'mistake' I'm referring to is her choosing only one bag. From the op, it sounds like she'd already paid and there was no option to pay for the bag. Yes, she should've beeped for assistance or whatever but the shop handled it badly. They were being petty.

BagThiefForLife · 14/10/2020 22:32

Oh fuck off with all this indignant theft chat. You people are probably the ones phoning the police on your neighbours for having an extra person in their house just now as well.

The stupid bag charge is ridiculous in the first place. Supposed to be a way to reduce plastic waste and make money for charity, has it actually happened for real? I know I’ve still got as many as before and anything I’ve read said retailers were “supposed” to donate to charity but it isn’t law. I believe it’s just another way of the government making money out of us. While they and their rich pals ACTUALLY steal from us we’re busy pointing the finger at each other for a bloody plastic bag Angry

The bags have went from 5/10 pence to 20 or 30 pence in some shops. Daylight robbery. The security guy is a knob, I bet he doesn’t pay for all his bags all the time either

Beautiful3 · 14/10/2020 22:33

I agree with you, it was pretty. All over one plastic bag!

CoronaBollox · 14/10/2020 22:35

This happened to me at self service, my fault as I thought 2 would do but ended up needing 3. Bag police started shouting over that they saw I only paid for 2 bla bla. Everyone gave her an eye roll, one person sarcastically saluted her (to be fair she was right over the top with it) and I explained that I had paid by card etc. I left 20p on the till and walked out.

I've called over workers before who either tap the machine or tell me it's fine. That's probably the best way to do it and less shouty.

Eckhart · 14/10/2020 22:35

@BagThiefForLife

What a lot of irrelevant tosh Grin

Onedropbeat · 14/10/2020 22:36

I personally think the shop staff were being ridiculous

YANBU

BLASTPROCESSING · 14/10/2020 22:37

"Oh fuck off with all this indignant theft chat. You people are probably the ones phoning the police on your neighbours for having an extra person in their house just now as well.

The stupid bag charge is ridiculous in the first place. Supposed to be a way to reduce plastic waste and make money for charity, has it actually happened for real? I know I’ve still got as many as before and anything I’ve read said retailers were “supposed” to donate to charity but it isn’t law. I believe it’s just another way of the government making money out of us. While they and their rich pals ACTUALLY steal from us we’re busy pointing the finger at each other for a bloody plastic bag angry

The bags have went from 5/10 pence to 20 or 30 pence in some shops. Daylight robbery. The security guy is a knob, I bet he doesn’t pay for all his bags all the time either"

Hi OP

user1471447924 · 14/10/2020 22:37

You got exactly what you deserved! You’ll not do that again!

PurpleDaisies · 14/10/2020 22:37

Supposed to be a way to reduce plastic waste and make money for charity, has it actually happened for real?

www.gov.uk/government/publications/carrier-bag-charge-summary-of-data-in-england/single-use-plastic-carrier-bags-charge-data-in-england-for-2016-to-2017

You can read it here. Plastic bags down nearly 90%. Over £66 million donated to good causes.

Onedropbeat · 14/10/2020 22:40

@user1471447924

You got exactly what you deserved! You’ll not do that again!
Hahahahhhahaha
dogmad170 · 14/10/2020 22:40

I never pay for a bag! Sounds like you were unlucky. Forget and move on.

BoomBoomsCousin · 14/10/2020 22:45

@BLASTPROCESSING I believe it’s just another way of the government making money out of us.

Do explain to us how the government make money from the plastic bag charge. I’m fascinated.

BagThiefForLife · 14/10/2020 22:48

@PurpleDaisies

Supposed to be a way to reduce plastic waste and make money for charity, has it actually happened for real?

www.gov.uk/government/publications/carrier-bag-charge-summary-of-data-in-england/single-use-plastic-carrier-bags-charge-data-in-england-for-2016-to-2017

You can read it here. Plastic bags down nearly 90%. Over £66 million donated to good causes.

I’m sorry but if you believe anything published by this shitty Government then you’re more stupid than you’re trying to make out I am.

As if a Government full of thieves, liars, adulterer’s and tax dodgers would do something to genuinely help the planet and be charitable. While they’re squirrelling away all your tax money, you are all up in arms about someone making away from a multi million pound retailer with a 5 pence bag which was free only a few years ago Grin

fairynick · 14/10/2020 22:50

You are unreasonable, because technically you stole.
The security guard is also a massive jobsworth, as if he cared 😂

BagThiefForLife · 14/10/2020 22:53

[quote BoomBoomsCousin]@BLASTPROCESSING I believe it’s just another way of the government making money out of us.

Do explain to us how the government make money from the plastic bag charge. I’m fascinated.[/quote]
It is a Government mandated scheme brought into law, don’t tell me that there’s no rich Tories making money out of it. While they’re paying “consultants” £7000 a day for a test and trace system that isn’t working, I won’t believe that this scheme is nothing short of another sneaky way of skimming money from normal people.