Anyone else do this in small shops?

[stuck2023]

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 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?

Just this once : Listen to your mum grown woman.😁

I remember when my first child was young, I used to pop my groceries in the bottom of her pram, the security guard used to follow me around the whole store. Used to piss me off that he did that, but how else was I meant to carry my shopping whilst pushing a pram? Anyway, I still did it, at least I kept him occupied, (I wonder how many shop lifters he actually missed whilst following innocent me). I'm not a shoplifter so I'll continue to do as I do, it's not an offense unless you actually leave the shop with it unpaid, and as an honest person, I don't do that.

Yes absolutely, especially if I'm doing self-scan! What's the point of scanning everything into a basket then transferring to your own bag at the checkout? It's no different to putting carrier bags in a trolley and doing self-scan 🙄😂

I was going to say that it's appeared normal when we've been on holiday in France. And you're encouraged to put the empty bag on the conveyer belt so the cashier can see that you've emptied it.

It happens at the Co-Op (& Sainsburys Local).
Nobody unpacking their bag in front of me in the queue tips their shopping out. It all comes out one-by-one as if they’re handling Fabergé eggs.

I always do this in any shop.supermarket if Im only getting a few things. It became a habit during covid when no one wanted to touch baskets or trollies. It also means that I can't get more than will fit in my bag. I do get some looks, but I really am not bothered.

I started taking my own bag (usually on of those jute Lidl jobs) into shops instead of using a basket at the start of Covid. I don't think I've touched a basket since. Never had any problems.

Yeah, exactly this. This is how you're supposed to do it. I don't see the point in putting it in the bag when you've then got to take it all out, just to put it back in.

I’ve only done it once, fairly recently in hobbycraft, didn’t pick up a basket because I went in for 1 ball of yarn. Ended up with about 20 so I shoved them in my shopping bag to carry them downstairs.
I do put stuff in my pram basket though, or straight in the bag if I’ve used the zapper gadget at Sainsbury’s.

Several people have mentioned having to unpack the bag to repack it again at the till. Several other people have commented that it's no different to having to unload a basket. Yet none of the first group of people have replied saying how it is different. Any of you basket carriers want to explain or are you just going to keep ignoring the bag fillers?

Probably because it IS no different to having to unload a basket.

A bag with soft handles is far more comfortable to carry and ergonomically correct. Baskets are awkward, dig into your fingers and uncomfortable.

Never!

I’d be a nervous wreck worrying that I might get mistaken for a shoplifter

Interesting to read how many others do it, I honestly never thought it might be weird.

I'm only ever popping in for around half a dozen things so takes seconds to empty the bag.

If I'm not getting much I put it into my bag too, then I know that I'm not getting more than I can carry in it. Makes sense to me, I've had no trouble with security guards, though sometimes other shoppers give me funny looks.
I've done it since the peak of the covid epidemic when I didn't want to use baskets that hadn't got cleaned handles as my DH has a dodgy heart and is vulnerable.

I wouldn't do it and have never seen anyone do it, unless using a scan & shop service.

To me, the items don't belong to you, and shouldn't be in your bag, until you've paid.

I wouldn't go into a clothes shop and start putting outfits in my handbag either.

Isn't that why they provide trolleys and baskets?

It isn't even efficient if you have to empty it again at the checkout.

Yes, exactly why I do it.

"I looked like the most ballsy shoplifter ever just walking around filling up my bag."

Pritty much, i usually use either my arms, basket or basket on wheels otherwise it looks like theft

I work in a shop and so so many people (mainly older people) do this. Then they pull out the shopping onto the counter with a used tissue, receipts from many other shops and once a human tooth- that was a great day 😂

Shops near us have signs saying please do not do this.

I might try this in a department store. Just go round putting everything I want into my own bag. They will just have to trust me at the checkout when I get it all out to pay.

I can't believe that shops want customers to do this. They provide baskets for a reason.

No. I agree with your mother.

No. That isn't how you do things here in the UK. We use a basket or just carry them. You don't conceal them in a bag.

I sometimes do this but feel awkward that I look like a ballsy shoplifter!!

Isn't that what you do with a basket??

I kess you don't pay for something how would that happen? And why would it matter anyway if anyone thinks you aren't going to pay for your shopping?

I don't recall ever being in an independent clothes retailer that provides baskets??!