Taking your own bags in same store -embarrassing incident

[annoyed663]

Not really sure where to put this and can’t really talk about in RL as it’s a non-issue so will look crazy but on here I’m wondering what others would do. I have anxiety so I do worry about everything! Went to B and M yesterday with the kids just to pick up cheap halloween stuff. I had my own bags with me (for the same store). Started packing and woman said it’s x for the bags (can’t remember amount) I said no they’re my bags I brought from home, she sounded unsure then to top it off my 8 year old says “mummy you picked the bags from here!” She probably saw they were the same. I got flustered and told the cashier “look you can see my bags are crumpled so they’re from home”. Lol! Next time I’ll take different bags in, not had that before and yes I know it’s a non issue before anyone likes on just wanted to share my embarrassing moment 🙈

At a local supermarket self service check out that is designed so the banks of checkouts are back to back

I noticed a rather well to do looking older couple using the self service check out
I think this was their first time using the self service

They had used one of the carrier bags that were off the rack
When they pressed pay the woman read aloud the question on the screen “Have you brought your own bag”

”Yes” she said tapping her hand bag
”Well I ways bring my own bag” she said to her dh “I take it everywhere.Who’s bag do they think I have“

This thief is also the reason that stores are being extra vigilant and I would be she would be one of the biggest complainers! were she challenged!

I used to work as a cashier and so many customers seemed to worry about this! At least once every shift someone would comment on the fact they’d brought bags from the wrong store (especially if it was a less posh one). I promise you that cashiers don’t really care about these things or judge, or at least I didn’t.

I always make a point of taking bags from another supermarket or shop with me when I go shopping. Ocado bags seem to be the strongest carrier bags as mine have been reused many times.

I used a permanent marker to fill in the barcodes on my sainsburys bags for life.

I hate the whole "everyone is a possible shoplifter" vibe in shops at the moment.
I was waiting for my car to be serviced and popped into the next-door Morrisons for a browse of the Christmas goodies. When I tried to leave I couldn't get out because of all the barricades and metal bars that have been erected. I asked a member of staff to override the electric gates but she just shrugged and told me I would have to wait for a paying customer to leave. I had to stand like a muppet for a good 5 minutes and then slide out behind another customer.

That's why so many stores put security tags on their bags now.

But yes I've had the same store same bag worry before now.

My trick is to mark the inside somehow with a sharpie (surname works for me)

Please can you tell me how it is any better for these bags to be sitting in a supermarket... than in shoppers hands. Afterall, they exist ready to be put in landfill. You do realise the actual process of making carrier bags is what harms the environment more than anything. I suggest they just stop making them if things are that bad. I guess charging customers tax money stops them all going to landfill... no... and it doesn't reduce the amount used from what I have witnessed. They always have millions sitting in boxes ready to go to landfill. But not before someone pays some tax and carries their food out of the shop... I see the environment is so much less damaged now. Not.

Less demand means fewer are produced. Are you really this dense, or are you on a wind up ?

Im sure its not this theif solely...

I use string bags; they can be crumpled up in a bag or pocket and expand like no-one's business to take a load of shopping.

Are you me? 😂

So has everyone bought a bag for life and used it for life, and never used any other bag?!

My mother in law has bags for life that are bloody ancient. So crumpled and reused the ink is worn 😂

I have one from 1995 that I put up on ebay as its now a retro item... not true... i didn't really. But I have seen them on ebay before.

I’m so confused about bags 😂

If I take my ‘bags for life’ from home, the self check out thing accuses me of stealing them and summons a staff member to type in a code for each flipping bag. I get fed up of this so end up scanning all the shopping loose, paying for it and only then getting out my bags and packing it all (while the checkout keeps beeping annoyingly ‘don’t forget your shopping’). Such a waste of time I’d far rather pack straight into my bags. The whole check out process is such a misery for customers now.

Also - recently I had my bags for life in my trolley, left trolley alone for a minute while I went to get some milk from a different aisle, came back and someone had stolen my bags from my trolley!! Keep an eye on your bags people 🤯

Have you asked the supermarkets whether there is less demand and less production...? E.g. has it worked?. As I said, if they are so bad - stop producing them. Produce an alternative that people don't have to pay tax on.
What does paying for them do for the environment? Are you so dense you comply with every rule without questioning what you are doing? Clearly

Get DC to customize them with a permanent pen.

OP beat you to it, but thanks for taking the time to post.

We have Tesco, Waitrose and Morris ons in town. Lidl and Aldi are currently under construction. It's going to be bag carnage!

I also seem to remember that the charge for the bags went to "charity", or something.... I really really don't think it does, unless it is HelpTheSupermarket, or some such thing.

No. Because it’s fairly obvious charging people will impact demand, a quick Google shows demand has decreased by 95% since the scheme was introduced.
Many shops also clearly advertise where the extra revenue raised from charging goes Aldi donates to RSPB and M&S to Unicef, if you want to know where the shop you are stealing bags from donates to and their individual policy, look on their website, but I guess you won’t with you being so edgy stealing carrier bags, as opposed to just cheap.

In Carrefour in france the cashier uses a red pen to put a x through the barcode after she's scanned the bag.

This is me! The waitrose bags come to tesco, Morriston and Lidl 😂 they really are the best reusable ones.

@Bumcake

This.