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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Made to pay for a bag in the supermarket

698 replies

christmasfoodshop · 07/12/2023 12:43

Just picked up a few bits for Xmas food shop.

Had baby with me and she was tired so getting a bit irritable.

Scanned all my shopping at self checkout, ended up with a quite a lot more than I needed (as you do).

Baby crying. Paid for my shopping.

Realised I needed a bag at this point so got one and put all my stuff in there.

Go to walk out.

The shop assistant said I needed to pay for a bag. Fair enough.

She said I had to rescan it.

Baby now screaming and wriggling out my arms. Heavy bag of shopping in the other hand.

She made me wait there until she'd scanned a bag, pressed 'check-out' , selected 'pay by card' and then I had to scan. All for bloody 30p.

In hindsight, I do understand I had to pay for the bag but I was so bloody frustrated and just wanted to get out of there that I paid 30p for the bag and stormed off. Left my giant trolley in the middle of self checkout. I was at my wits end. I felt like I was at school being held back by the teacher.

It's 30 bloody pence. Let me go!!

She acted like she was earning money out of making people pay for bags.

YABU - everyone ALWAYS must pay for bags no matter what

YANBU - in the circumstance, she should have just let me go all for the sake of 30p plastic bag.

OP posts:
alltoomuchrightnow · 07/12/2023 14:47

But, bags have not been free for about 8 yrs now... hardly a surprise ...

Unbego · 07/12/2023 14:48

The "poor lady working in the store" decided to inconvenience and humiliate OP. She set up their interaction as hostile. For what?

AlwaysGinPlease · 07/12/2023 14:49

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 07/12/2023 14:46

I don't understand this post at all.

Bags in supermarkets are no longer free. You needed a bag. You did not have a bag. Therefore you needed to pay for one. What's the issue, exactly?

This. What's the point you're making OP?

YourDiscoNeedsYou · 07/12/2023 14:49

Let’s try to remember that bags used to be free not so long ago. They only charge because it’s the law, to reduce single use plastics. It’s not like shoplifting at all.

Yes, OP should pay for a bag but so also think people in people facing roles could have a bit of compassion. If I was the shop assistant I’d have ignored it thinking OP had enough on her plate. We've all been there, surely, or know the feeling. I’d not be rude to retail (or any) staff, though.

WestwardHo1 · 07/12/2023 14:50

I'm somehow reminded of Billy Zane in Titanic. "I HAVE A CHILD. I HAVE A CHILD."

Carry a fold up bag in your handbag. It's really easy. They take up no room. Once you've packed away your shopping just fold it up and put it back in your handbag. There! And stop expecting free stuff because you've forgotten something.

Wellhellooooodear · 07/12/2023 14:51

christmasfoodshop · 07/12/2023 13:01

For those who keep saying I shoplifted, I paid for the bag

Lol, only because the shop assistant saw you!

CasaAmarela · 07/12/2023 14:52

YourDiscoNeedsYou · 07/12/2023 14:49

Let’s try to remember that bags used to be free not so long ago. They only charge because it’s the law, to reduce single use plastics. It’s not like shoplifting at all.

Yes, OP should pay for a bag but so also think people in people facing roles could have a bit of compassion. If I was the shop assistant I’d have ignored it thinking OP had enough on her plate. We've all been there, surely, or know the feeling. I’d not be rude to retail (or any) staff, though.

Agree - the shop assistant could have turned a blind eye. It's not like they would personally be pulled up on it. Also agree that OP shouldn't have made a fuss when called out though. People are acting as if she stole a box of steaks, not a 30p carrier bag. Classic MN hysteria.

Sausage1989 · 07/12/2023 14:53

christmasfoodshop · 07/12/2023 13:01

For those who keep saying I shoplifted, I paid for the bag

You tried to shoplift but failed miserably x

weirdoboelady · 07/12/2023 14:53

A few alternative titles for this thread.

I tried to steal a bag and got caught
I tried to steal a bag accidentally because child was playing up and got caught
I feel entitled to free bags when I have a child in my arms
I resent shop assistants just doing their job
Entitled parent alert

stepintochristmas1 · 07/12/2023 14:54

AffableApple · 07/12/2023 14:28

I was doing a full shop the other day. My twin babies kicked off and cried at the till. Do you know what, I still had to pack my bags and pay for my shopping?! (This would have included bags had I not brought any/enough.) YABVU.

I went into labour in the supermarket with my toddler (known fast births) I put my shopping through the till and payed for it rather than walking out with shopping .
OP the more organized you are the easier life is with a baby , just spend a little time to organize things , it will be better for you in the long run .

PoliticallyIncorrectHitchling · 07/12/2023 14:54

Wow, you sound massively entitled, she was just doing her job as they have to charge for bags. Its the law. You need to know what you can or cannot carry and using your screaming crotch goblin is no excuse to steal a bag

CunkEverywhereOnEverything · 07/12/2023 14:54

She was doing her job, get over yourself.

Honestly, I see threads on here more and more often, complaining about customer service rapidly going down hill, but maybe those working in customer facing roles would be happier to help if they didn’t have to deal with customers like this?

Newtrix · 07/12/2023 14:55

christmasfoodshop · 07/12/2023 13:01

For those who keep saying I shoplifted, I paid for the bag

You did steal it, then were caught and made to pay for it!

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 07/12/2023 14:55

SkySecret · 07/12/2023 13:03

For those who keep saying I shoplifted, I paid for the bag

Yeah…. only after you tried to walk out with it and some poor retail assistant had to stop you! How embarrassing 😩

This. You wouldn't have paid had the assistant not stopped you.

What if Mrs Smith's parking time was running out, Mr Jones was coming down with a headache or Miss Turners child was desperate for the loo? If everyone who wanted to leave promptly was granted a free bag then the cost would go up for everyone and the assistant would get into trouble with their employer.

Having a baby does not make you exempt from paying for things regardless to whether they are 30p or 3p

Bobbob2015 · 07/12/2023 14:57

If you rephrase it as you realised you had forgotten to buy a 30p lemon, picked it up and left without paying would you question if you were being unreasonable? Unfortunately bags are a paid for item just like anything else in a shop. Of course you’re being unreasonable!

shams05 · 07/12/2023 14:57

If you had a massive trolley why were you lugging the heavy bag around?

theDudesmummy · 07/12/2023 14:57

Why didn't you title the thread "made to pay for my purchase in a supermarket"?

ilovesooty · 07/12/2023 14:57

Unbego · 07/12/2023 14:48

The "poor lady working in the store" decided to inconvenience and humiliate OP. She set up their interaction as hostile. For what?

She was doing her job.

Refurbishmentino · 07/12/2023 14:59

Screaming baby is not an excuse for theft

JoyeuxNarwhal · 07/12/2023 15:00

christmasfoodshop · 07/12/2023 13:01

For those who keep saying I shoplifted, I paid for the bag

Not without whining about it.

Yes, you should pay for a bag. No, you shouldn't have an exemption "because I've got a baybeee"

Instead of abandoning the trolley why didn't you put "the really heavy bag" in there?!

Starseeking · 07/12/2023 15:00

You sound unhinged, it's been a requirement to pay for shopping bags for years now. If you'd have bothered taking your own bags, you wouldn't have needed to pay a penny.

Shop assistant was doing her job; she can't just allow people to walk off the premises without paying for things.

TreeWell · 07/12/2023 15:01

Honestly the managers used to get on at us if we gave away bags for free! The poor staff get it in the neck from both sides!

PUER125 · 07/12/2023 15:02

You were ridiculous leaving the trolley in the self checkout area. You should have scanned your items, put them back into the trolley and pushed it to your car. You could then transfer your shopping into your car boot without needing to try to steal a bag.

Offleyhoo · 07/12/2023 15:03

Wow. I thought you were going to say you were made to pay for a bag that you'd brought from home because they didn't believe you.

Shep21 · 07/12/2023 15:05

It’s a disciplinary offence if found to be letting people off and not paying for bags. Feel for the worker who will no doubt get grief from customers when she enforced this for the safety of her job.

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