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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who knew there was shopping basket security

182 replies

Familyshopper · 10/01/2021 22:43

Is it me or has this shopping basket etiquette always been in place 🤷‍♀️

I went shopping for a few bits on a local supermarket but as usual I forgot my bags but instead of wasting money & plastic I decided against buying a bag & didn’t fancy juggling my shopping to the car so I took a basket to my car, a security guard came charging after me telling me I wasn’t allowed to remove the basket, I told him I’m taking my shopping to my car & I would be returning it straight away.

I mean seriously I don’t want another plastic bag in the house let alone a big metal basket aibu to think this rule is crazy or is it an unspoken rule that I’ve never been informed of

OP posts:
Teandsympathy · 10/01/2021 23:28

Slightly off subject but I lived somewhere once where I wasn’t allowed to shop unless I checked all my bags including handbag in first. I was only allowed to carry my purse!

Gwenhwyfar · 10/01/2021 23:30

YABU. Bring your own bag like everyone else. If you forge you have to pay for one.
I don't have a car, can I take my basket home as long as I bring it back the next day? No, I have to spend 10p on a new bag just like you should be doing.

Gwenhwyfar · 10/01/2021 23:31

@Teandsympathy

Slightly off subject but I lived somewhere once where I wasn’t allowed to shop unless I checked all my bags including handbag in first. I was only allowed to carry my purse!
Some shops where I live make you show them your open bags (ie your personal bags) at checkout as you leave.
50shadesoflunacy · 10/01/2021 23:33

I do the same as you Witch.

squarepinks · 10/01/2021 23:34

Back in my student days I moved house using a shopping trolley so they didn't have security then Grin

Covidcovid · 10/01/2021 23:34

@Teandsympathy

Slightly off subject but I lived somewhere once where I wasn’t allowed to shop unless I checked all my bags including handbag in first. I was only allowed to carry my purse!
Toys r us used to do that. Used to put me off going in.
Original poster
Familyshopper · 10/01/2021 23:36

It is far away from being about 10p !

OP posts:
WaxOnFeckOff · 10/01/2021 23:36

i popped in for a smallish shop on my way home from work and when i got to the tills they had no bags and no boxes. Large branch of sainsburys but nope, nothing. I usually have bags but hadn't been expecting to go shopping on the way home that day. I asked what they wanted me to do and they said just take the basket to your car.

So it's allowed when it suits them.

GabsAlot · 10/01/2021 23:36

its not fake my tesco has the barrier invisible-you just lift it a bit over

GabsAlot · 10/01/2021 23:38

they are 10p pe bag unless you want the ibgger study ones

safariboot · 10/01/2021 23:38

@Teandsympathy

Slightly off subject but I lived somewhere once where I wasn’t allowed to shop unless I checked all my bags including handbag in first. I was only allowed to carry my purse!
Toys R Us used to do this. Toys R Us went bankrupt, just saying.
slashlover · 10/01/2021 23:40

Where I used to work was refurbed and we got 40 of the black baskets with the extendable handle so you can pull them. After 4 months we had about 10 left because people were stealing them. Head office refused to replace them because of how expensive they were.

FlosCampi · 10/01/2021 23:41

I started taking a wicker basket, Little Red Riding Hood style, around big supermarkets at the start of lockdown. They were fine with it, cornershops aren't though, which is strange.

Original poster
Familyshopper · 10/01/2021 23:42

I understand the cost thank you but I am saying this is far away from being about 10p if I can afford to shop I can afford 10p it’s about the constant plastic that is being dumped back into our environment just because we can afford 10p!

OP posts:
CeibaTree · 10/01/2021 23:42

Have you not noticed there is nowhere to return shopping baskets in the car park? That should have been your first clue :) I can see even more now why the shops wouldn't want you coming back into the shop to drop off your basket.

maggiecate · 10/01/2021 23:45

When the business I worked for introduced the baskets with wheels that you can pull behind you the number that went walkabout was unbelievable. People were taking them for laundry, to use in their gardens. Someone sent me a photo of one being towed behind a motorbike. Eventually it slowed down - I think pretty much every house in some towns must have had one.

PyongyangKipperbang · 10/01/2021 23:49

@WitchQueenofDarkness

I use my own bag walking around the local convenience store, I empty it at the checkout and then put my shopping straight back in so I don't need to touch any of the baskets they provide.

I'm surprised more people don't do it

I used to but (our local) Aldi banned it, probably because it led to more thefts by people "forgetting" to put stuff through the till.
BumbleFlump · 10/01/2021 23:49

Fuss that’s such a good idea! Years ago in France, it was ok to use your shopping basket/bag as a basket then empty it at the checkout and refill after paying...shame we can’t do that in the UK, there’s so much suspicion from shop staff nowadays, they’d just think you were stealing 🙄

Gwenhwyfar · 10/01/2021 23:50

@BumbleFlump

Fuss that’s such a good idea! Years ago in France, it was ok to use your shopping basket/bag as a basket then empty it at the checkout and refill after paying...shame we can’t do that in the UK, there’s so much suspicion from shop staff nowadays, they’d just think you were stealing 🙄
Belgium too. Did it stop at one point?
Oreservoir · 10/01/2021 23:53

In France they go mad if you try to take your basket from the shop.
They also check carriers are empty before you start to pack. And if you forget something you’re not allowed to return with your previously paid for shopping, they take it off you.

Oreservoir · 10/01/2021 23:56

@BumbleFlump I still put shopping in my carrier bag, empty it at the till then show my empty bag to the assistant.

HibernatingTill2030 · 10/01/2021 23:56

This is where you need a trolley, your own bags and scan and go (if the store offers it!). Shopping straight in bags, pay and out the door.
(not helpful if you've forgotten bags, of course, but you can always take trolley to car sans bags and return)

GreyHare · 10/01/2021 23:57

All the supermarket baskets are security tagged round my area as when the supermarket stopped having the free carriers everyone took their shopping home in the basket, within 2 days the local big Tesco had about 6 baskets available as the locals all cleated them out and then posted hilarious pictures of themselves at home with their baskets.

Goldieloxx · 11/01/2021 00:00

Just take a canvas bag, put your shopping in that. Like a PP, since covid I put mine straight in the bag, take it out to pay and back in again, the staff at my supermarket don't bat an eyelid

Herdwick · 11/01/2021 00:00

I would happily pay up to £5 for a supermarket basket to keep.

I rarely go into a supermarket and buy more than a baskets worth.

It seems to make a lot of sense to me now I've thought about it. Keep the basket in your car, take it shopping, fill it up , unpack and pack out and in to it and the whole lot goes back in the boot of the car in a sturdy, washable, reusable basket.

No single use plastic, no juggling around with different bags etc, no broken eggs or wine bottles crashing around in the boot.