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AIBU?

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Original poster

Anyone else do this in small shops?

231 replies

stuck2023 · 09/12/2023 14:44

Lighthearted and not very interesting but...

My mum is visiting, we popped to the local shop earlier and I took my Tesco bag for life, the big thick one not the carrier bag style.

Once in the shop I started putting my shopping in it, Dm was horrified. She went and got a basket and made me carry the empty bag until we had paid then fill the bag up. She thought I looked like the most ballsy shoplifter ever just walking around filling up my bag.

Honestly never thought this was strange Blush had I put the bag in the basket I could still have put some things in to steal if I really wanted to. Plus the big bag takes up half the basket.

The shop is small with cameras and the staff know me it never occurred to me that it might be strange.

Does anyone else do it my way or have I been commuting some major corner shop faux pas?

OP posts:
Snowwhite83 · 09/12/2023 15:37

Hi I do this , I find I buy more than I think and find baskets heavy and cumbersome. I just double check I've scanned everything before paying. Don't think this is a problem.

Xmasblues · 09/12/2023 15:41

I would never do this!

I’d worry they’d think I was stealing!

I do remember older ladies coming in with a sort of wicker basket/bag or similar and putting their shopping in it and bringing it to the till.

This was before the reusable bags and I guess something they did when plastic bags weren’t available.

Discospacecherry · 09/12/2023 15:41

I don't understand why people are so confused about this saying you need to unload. As if you don't have to unload the basket to pay too. Either way you are unloading to pay. Doesn't matter if you use a basket or bag

Abitboring · 09/12/2023 15:42

I have done this in all big supermarkets since COVID when I didn't want to touch baskets or shopping karts and nobody ever said anything. I just did it yesterday in Sainsbury's and M&S. No security person or shop staff ever approached me.

I did this because I can carry it in a large shopper bag over my shoulder. Hate the baskets.

Denimdenimdenim · 09/12/2023 15:47

I only do it in a chain store if I have DS in his pram. I can't carry a basket at the same time so it's much easier.

Autumn1990 · 09/12/2023 15:48

I do it in the big supermarkets especially if I have the buggy and two children with me.
everyone does it in the local coop and no one bothers

Datafan55 · 09/12/2023 15:49

I do this these days... Although always wary of being stopped. It's a little more bad-back friendly than an awkward basket.

Floralnomad · 09/12/2023 15:50

I would never do this , the only time you shop straight into your own bag is when using the scan and shop .

ItsJollyTime · 09/12/2023 15:51

I've done this since covid times. It means I don't have to sanitize the basket and most the time there's nothing to clean them with anyway.

No one's ever told me I shouldn't be doing it and I have done it in front of many staff and they are not fussed at all.

Also, how is unloading a bag any different to unloading a basket at the checkout 🤷🏽‍♀️

Sera1989 · 09/12/2023 15:52

I do this in supermarkets if I just have a plastic bag or backpack and need to make sure everything will fit for my walk home. I have even put items in my pockets to take to the till if I've run out of hands (I did get a look from another shopper for that though). Putting something in a bag is not breaking any rules, it's only walking out without paying that's against the law

LifeIsGreatForUnicorns · 09/12/2023 15:52

I do this all the time if I’m just popping in… then I only buy what I can physically carry (the bag is smaller than the basket (iykwim)
never had a problem with it
never been challenged
im too busy to notice what others are doing 😂

EmmaEmerald · 09/12/2023 15:52

I'd actually like to do this but thought I'd be accused of shoplifting. Interesting to know others do it.

I've just moved from North London and many shops won't let you take a trolley bag around the shop at all. You can only put your shopping in once you've paid.

SleepingStandingUp · 09/12/2023 15:53

Not if it was just me,but when I had the buggy, I'd put bags on the buggy handles and fill them, fill underneath etc. I needed to be sure I could get it all home

AHFaemale · 09/12/2023 15:58

I started doing that during covid and I still sometimes do it as I like to know how full my bag is going to be (I walk home). DH hates it when I do that as he thinks it looks like shoplifting.

alwaysthinkingaboutfood31 · 09/12/2023 15:58

I do this! Mostly to prevent me from loading my basket up with more things than will fit in my bag.

Epidote · 09/12/2023 16:02

Depends.
I got a nice bag, no supermarket brand. Sometimes I go to the shop just for milk and bread and see an offer of a product I use and I take it. Because I did not pick basket/ trolley I will use the bag.
If I'm going to weekly shop I use a trolley, really unlikely a basket.

ThomasinaLivesHere · 09/12/2023 16:04

I’m surprised so many do this. It wouldn’t occur to me to do this and I would worry I’d look like a shoplifter.

Arabels · 09/12/2023 16:05

Much loved local shop here. We’ve had to ask people at the tills to empty their bags, causing them to huff and puff-but if you’re pulling your shopping out of a bag that’s still half full, we need to check! It’s a dick move imho and we have signs up asking people to use a fucking basket (not exactly, but that’s my feeling).

Zimunya · 09/12/2023 16:06

fingerguns · 09/12/2023 14:46

I do it all the time. I very rarely use baskets these days.

Me too

Sequinne · 09/12/2023 16:07

I’m with your ma on this one op!
I would feel like a brazen shop lifter.

RandomUsernameHere · 09/12/2023 16:07

I would only do this if using a self scanner. It wouldn't occur to me to put stuff in my bag until I had paid for it otherwise.

Lizzieregina · 09/12/2023 16:08

I always do it if I only have a few bits. The baskets are unwieldy for me to carry, so if I don’t need a whole trolley, I just use my shopping bag.

EggNoggin · 09/12/2023 16:08

I do this, generally when I've intended to buy a couple of items and find I've got a few that become a bit cumbersome. I stick them in my bag then take them out at the checkout.

catotangent · 09/12/2023 16:10

I've never seen anyone do this. I agree with your mother that it looks like shoplifting, and weird to boot.

joelmillersbackpack · 09/12/2023 16:11

I do this all the time, I started during Covid to avoid touching baskets.