Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
VisionsOfSplendour · 09/12/2023 16:13

AmazingDayz · 09/12/2023 15:03

No And I imagine the security would be approaching anyone doubt this

I see people do this and I've done it myself too, its obvious that you've emptied all your shopping out of the bag at the till. I dont see what the issue is.

ToDoListAddict · 09/12/2023 16:14

I always do this - I tend to buy much more than I planned for so putting it in the bag helps me realise how heavy it's going to be carrying it home etc

Catslovenip · 09/12/2023 16:16

Aprilx · 09/12/2023 14:46

No I would definitely not do that. You would have to take everything out again when you go to pay.

But you have to take everything out of a basket too.

Konfetka · 09/12/2023 16:18

I do it if I'm going to be walking any distance with my shopping - that way I know I'm not buying more than I can comfortably carry. I'm aware of how it might look though, so put the bag up and empty it completely at the checkout.

Catslovenip · 09/12/2023 16:19

I do this OP but I only really shop at one small Waitrose and they must know my face by now. I know I’m not shop lifting so I don’t really care if anyone else thinks it. I’ll happily let security check my bags if they want to. The baskets are awkward to carry.

slashlover · 09/12/2023 16:19

Our local Iceland has a sign specifically asking people not to do this.

fussychica · 09/12/2023 16:20

I land up doing it sometimes when I pop in for one or two things I can carry but land up buying more stuff than I can hold. I'm not going back to the entrance to get a grubby basket - do stores ever wash them? Trolleys always seem slightly more hygienic.

ChishiyaBat · 09/12/2023 16:25

I'm a retail worker on the shop floor and we are warned to watch out for people like you😂.

catotangent · 09/12/2023 16:25

slashlover · 09/12/2023 16:19

Our local Iceland has a sign specifically asking people not to do this.

I've also seen a notice asking people to use the designated baskets outside an Iceland. I wondered what it meant. Never seen that anywhere else.

The Waitrose here wipes the baskets down with a cloth and spray so I never worry about cleanliness.

UnNiddeRides · 09/12/2023 16:25

It’s annoying when people do this as they have to wait till all the stuff is out of their bag before they can put it all back in again.
I use a basket & while Mr Co-Op is taking things out & scanning them, I’m putting them in my bag.

Shodan · 09/12/2023 16:28

Yes, I've done it when I've ended up juggling rather more than the one or two items I originally popped in for, or when there are no baskets at the entrance or nearby tills.

However, I always rather ostentatiously upend the bag when I've emptied the shopping onto the belt/self checkout area, as if to demonstrate that I am not, in fact, a hardened shoplifter 😂I do think a shoplifter would use a more discreet method of pinching goods though?

Strawberryjams · 09/12/2023 16:28

I’ve noticed an increase in people doing this and every single time I do a double take because my first thought is how bloody bold, then I realise what they are doing. I wouldn’t do it partly because I don’t see the point in having to unpack and repack but partly because I’m a shitebag and would be mortified if anyone approached me!

FancyFanny · 09/12/2023 16:29

No!

OneTC · 09/12/2023 16:29

Lots of customers do it. We hate it because you look like a shoplifter and make us nervous.

OhpoorMe · 09/12/2023 16:30

Yeah I do this in bigger supermarkets too. Much easier to carry heavy shopping on my shoulder then in a basket plus I know if I'm buying more than I'll be able to carry home!

VisionsOfSplendour · 09/12/2023 16:31

UnNiddeRides · 09/12/2023 16:25

It’s annoying when people do this as they have to wait till all the stuff is out of their bag before they can put it all back in again.
I use a basket & while Mr Co-Op is taking things out & scanning them, I’m putting them in my bag.

I've never seen a shop assistant take things out of the basket, where does that happen?

Unless you have a rubble sack how could it take more than a couple of seconds to tip the shopping out?

Confusedx4 · 09/12/2023 16:33

So much easier to carry the bag than a basket. As long as you empty it at the till I don’t see the difference?

ReadingSoManyThreads · 09/12/2023 16:35

Yes, I do this. I don't like baskets, always bang them off my hip or clunk my daughter by accident with them, so I pop my stuff in my shopping bag. Empty out at the till and repack. I don't see the issue.

However...one day, shopping in a very different area and different kind of shop (think of an area rife with shoplifters), the security guard told me off for doing it, as it was shoplifting, I told him it's not shoplifting as I'm not leaving the shop with unpaid goods, I'm placing my shopping in a vessel to carry it to the till. Anyway, he argued with me repeatedly telling me to stop filling my bag, I continued to ignore him...he chased me to the till, by this time he was making a scene. I was kind of entertained by him by now accusing me of being a shoplifter when he just witnessed me empty everything out of the bag onto the conveyor...anyway, the cashier interrupts, asks me "is he bothering you?", I said yes and he told him to leave me alone!!! It was so funny, then the cashier apologised to me for his behaviour.

Anyway, that didn't put me off doing it. I prefer it to carrying a basket.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 09/12/2023 16:37

OneTC · 09/12/2023 16:29

Lots of customers do it. We hate it because you look like a shoplifter and make us nervous.

😂😂😂

Sunshineandrainbow · 09/12/2023 16:37

I do this as I hate touching baskets and trolleys
I make a point of flattening it once I have emptied it so staff know it's empty.

rainbowsparkle28 · 09/12/2023 16:37

I put in basket before paying only in bag once paid else would think they would think I was shoplifting! Only time I don't is when self scanning (with a scanner as you go around not self serve tills) and put straight in bags.

phoenixrosehere · 09/12/2023 16:39

Definitely not unless it is a scan as you shop. I don’t want to be accused of shoplifting. I even stop and show my receipt in M&S when there is someone at the self scan when I use the app to scan and pay.

Not19foreverpullyourselftogether · 09/12/2023 16:39

No, I wpuld never do this.

MrsMarzetti · 09/12/2023 16:39

I do it

OldTinHat · 09/12/2023 16:40

No. I wouldn't do this.

Yes, if its a supermarket with scan and shop but a big no otherwise.