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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:
closingdownsale · 07/12/2023 15:05

MaryMcCarthy · 07/12/2023 13:27

If she can get away with it then why can't I?

Once you start making excuses for people, systems collapse.

Show quote history

Imagine believing that letting a woman juggling a screaming baby off with a plastic carrier bag two weeks before Christmas will cause systems to collapse...

Come one, inject some compassion into your life! Or expect the first ghost at Midnight!

whatsappdoc · 07/12/2023 15:08

Didn't happen because it's a non-story. You had a 'giant' trolley to put heavy bags and even baby in. Did you forget that made your story nonsense?

Parky04 · 07/12/2023 15:08

So the shop assistant had to deal with a baby crying, and an adult having a tantrum!

Verv · 07/12/2023 15:10

"Woman expects free bag because bébé"
More news at ten.

ChristmasPuddy · 07/12/2023 15:16

Er. YABU.

Why do people act like children are some “get out of jail free card” like they were forced into having them 😂

Alargeoneplease89 · 07/12/2023 15:18

Unfortunately the world doesn't stop because you've had a baby and tired / stressed.

Don't understand why you are complaining, why didn't it occur to you that you bought too much and would need a bag?

I'm not being unsympathetic, when my dad died I went to the supermarket to get teabags, milk etc and realised the world carrys on and I still need to pay for a bag though my mind was elsewhere.

YireosDodeAver · 07/12/2023 15:18

YABU it's not news to anyone that if you need a bag you pay for it. This has been the case for years. Sorry you were stressed with a baby it must have been difficult but there isn't a category of person to whom the rules on plastic bags don't apply.

electriclight · 07/12/2023 15:21

Having a baby doesn't make it ok to rob things.

Lorelaigilless · 07/12/2023 15:21

Yabu

WiddlinDiddlin · 07/12/2023 15:21

So when you set off to the shop, you had a baby with you?

That baby is known to you and you reasonably could have foreseen that she would become tired, grumpy, a pain in the bum and you might get frazzled... or is this brand new information to you?

Yet you failed to take a bag with you or pick one up before paying for your shopping, despite being fully aware of how the situation might pan out and in total control of the relevant elements.

And this is someone elses problem?

If you had been suddenly awarded a grumpy baby, having set off without one, and given a ton of extra shopping you weren't expecting... I might have sympathy.

toomuchfaff · 07/12/2023 15:23

YABVU
The store assistant was doing her job, she was absolutely in the right and you were very nasty and entitled to think anything else.
It may be just a bag in your eyes but just the same as saying - oh i wanted some gum/sweets after all my shopping had been put through so i grabbed some from the side of the till, its only 30p just let me have it?

You may be frazzled, that is not the problem of the store assistant, you need to work on making sure your shopping visits are not making you so stressed.

IncompleteSenten · 07/12/2023 15:28

I don't think shop assistants are allowed to decide to not charge for things. Even 30p things.

In fact, from what I hear about some shops, the assistant may have been in trouble if they'd have let it go.

A pain in the arse for you over 30p v someone being in trouble at their job over 30p because some employers are really that shitty.

Lucyintheskywithadiamond · 07/12/2023 15:28

Ffs having baby is not entitlement to not pay for things. Get a grip and pay the 30p.

dogvcat · 07/12/2023 15:33

Grimmz · 07/12/2023 12:49

On this occasion the shop obviously could have offered you the bag for free as a goodwill gesture and to minimise disruption. But most shops don't understand the value of good customer service.

Don’t be ridiculous. The shop assistant was just doing her job, making the OP pay for something that isn’t free. She could have got it trouble if she just let her take it, without paying, would you rather that had happened?

If her baby was tired and upset, why did the OP decide to do some Christmas food shopping, on the 7th December! She could just have got what she needed just now? Having an irritable baby is not an excuse to get something for free. Customer’s like the OP are a nightmare and I feel really sorry for the shop assistant having to put up with her entitlement!

Out of interest, are you like the OP and expect to get things for free, while everyone else pays?

Unbego · 07/12/2023 15:33

stepintochristmas1 · 07/12/2023 14:54

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 .

Show quote history

I gave birth on the self service scales and happily paid the 30p I got charged for unexpected item in the bagging area so don't think you're anything special you entitled snowflake.

Kisskiss · 07/12/2023 15:34

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?

Actually it sounds like OP made the interaction hostile.. and also embarassed herself to boot

Ohthatsfabulousdarling · 07/12/2023 15:34

Well I guess the next time my toddlers screaming in tesco I'll take whatever I want without paying then!
At wits end and all that!

Grimmz · 07/12/2023 15:36

@dogvcat I'm glad you ask and yes of course I expect to receive all manner of goods for free

Nowherenew · 07/12/2023 15:38

Omg are you ok hun?

katsusando · 07/12/2023 15:38

Am obviously a bit thick but I don't understand the AIBU - carrier bags are items that need to be paid for, yet you seem to think they you shouldn't have been charged?

WOW. Entitled much?

jolies1 · 07/12/2023 15:38

Grimmz · 07/12/2023 12:49

On this occasion the shop obviously could have offered you the bag for free as a goodwill gesture and to minimise disruption. But most shops don't understand the value of good customer service.

They have to charge for them if they are plastic.

Animallover87 · 07/12/2023 15:41

Ugh so many holier than thou people on this thread OP. YANBU.

Coconutter24 · 07/12/2023 15:44

YABU Imagine if everyone having a tough day got a free bag, think how much they’d be giving away. The lady in the supermarket was doing her job it’s not up to her to give away things for free. I certainly wouldn’t want to risk a job loss or any disciplinary action over a 30p bag.

twilightmoon3 · 07/12/2023 15:45

Fuck it as a contrarian I'm not going to join in the pile on over a 30p bag. Whilst sympathising with the lowly paid staff they are not to blame you should have said I'm liberating this for the people joining me on the barricades. Start the Tesco Spring with an act of rebellion. Half the folks on the thread would be burning witches in another era.

Heronwatcher · 07/12/2023 15:47

Good lord. Yes because I had a screaming toddler I decided to try to walk out with some cheese, a hoover, 6 scented candles and 3 bottles of vodka the other day and a staff member had the audacity to stop me…

It’s not supermarket sweep you know!

Oh and prams/ pushchairs are very useful especially if you’re inclined to shoplifting.

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