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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:
VisionsOfSplendour · 09/12/2023 17:20

Viviennemary · 09/12/2023 17:18

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.

So all the posters who say that they do it (me included) don't live in the UK?

How weird that I haven't noticed relocating to a different country?

abominablesnowman · 09/12/2023 17:21

Most shops would treat that as suspicious and potentially looking like theft.
Don't do this.

sensationalsally · 09/12/2023 17:22

Have never done that, but do take own shopping trolley and use that instead of shop's trolley. it is difficult to manoeuvre two trolleys at the same time. Local shop actually told me to do it!

Viviennemary · 09/12/2023 17:23

VisionsOfSplendour · 09/12/2023 17:20

So all the posters who say that they do it (me included) don't live in the UK?

How weird that I haven't noticed relocating to a different country?

Show quote history

I have no idea where they live. I was saying it isnt customary in the UK to conceal items in your bag before you pay for them.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 09/12/2023 17:24

Viviennemary · 09/12/2023 17:18

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.

Well funny enough, you don't get to decide how things are done here in the UK Viviennemary! And the bags for life are open so the goods are not concealed 🙄

BlowingAway · 09/12/2023 17:29

Yes, I do that.
Or I put the shopping in the buggy if that's how I'm going to get it home.
You aren't stealing it so what's the problem.

privateano · 09/12/2023 17:29

Viviennemary · 09/12/2023 17:23

I have no idea where they live. I was saying it isnt customary in the UK to conceal items in your bag before you pay for them.

Show quote history

Those of us who do it aren't "concealing" items in our bags but carrying them. it's easy enough to get our small number of items out and then hold the bag upside down to make sure there is nothing else in there. Like other people I often have two bags with me so that I can pack into a second bag which takes no longer than using a basket.
If I'm buying more than a few items I'd use a small trolley anyway (usually after wiping the handle) but I don't like using baskets, they're cumbersome and filthy.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 09/12/2023 17:30

electriclight · 09/12/2023 17:12

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.

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

But the whole concept of the 'scan and shop' that many stores have is that you pack your food as you shop, and that doesn't get paid for until the end. So it's not really any different getting everything scanned from the bag at checkouts.

Ozgirl75 · 09/12/2023 17:30

So would you walk around a shop putting things in your clothes pockets? Or your handbag?
It just seems so weird to load up your own bag. I see how it’s fine, it just would feel so stealy to me 😁

ReadingSoManyThreads · 09/12/2023 17:32

Ozgirl75 · 09/12/2023 17:30

So would you walk around a shop putting things in your clothes pockets? Or your handbag?
It just seems so weird to load up your own bag. I see how it’s fine, it just would feel so stealy to me 😁

It's literally a shopping bag though. As in, a bag meant to carry shopping in.

It's not "stealy" unless you leave the shop without paying for it.

This thread is exhausting!

BlowingAway · 09/12/2023 17:33

Oh and yes I am in the UK.

And honestly I don't care if it's a bit annoying for the retailer or the staff. I'm not shoplifting I'm carrying things in the most convenient way around the shop and then paying for them all.

If we're supposed to be bringing our own bags now then this is completely logical.

Baskets are difficult to carry with a buggy, heavy and kind of unhygienic too.

Sticking to my bag!

Floooooof · 09/12/2023 17:33

Some people do it. I'd rather you didn't as we have to take it all out of the bag, scan it and put it all back in again which is time consuming and annoying if there is a queue. If you're using self service or a conveyor belt till then its probably fine. People with baskets and trollies shop lift too so it doesn't make me any more concerned than anything else.

Pipistrellus · 09/12/2023 17:35

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.

Just like a basket except easier to carry when heavy

CaroleSinger · 09/12/2023 17:36

But it means you have to get everything back out again at the counter. What's the point in that?

ReadingSoManyThreads · 09/12/2023 17:36

So to all of you who are horrified at this...my local small branch of Waitrose, some people used a trolley, filled it right up with alcohol, and then opened the fire exit door, which opened straight onto the disabled parking bays where they had conveniently parked to load up.

My point is, if people are going to be thieving robbing bastards, they'll use any means, whether being sneaky, slipping a bottle of whiskey into their coat or brazen as fuck by filling up a big fuck off trolley and using the fire door.

The people using a shopping bag to carry goods to the checkout to pay for them are not doing anything remotely horrifying here.

Ykn · 09/12/2023 17:40

ReadingSoManyThreads · 09/12/2023 17:36

So to all of you who are horrified at this...my local small branch of Waitrose, some people used a trolley, filled it right up with alcohol, and then opened the fire exit door, which opened straight onto the disabled parking bays where they had conveniently parked to load up.

My point is, if people are going to be thieving robbing bastards, they'll use any means, whether being sneaky, slipping a bottle of whiskey into their coat or brazen as fuck by filling up a big fuck off trolley and using the fire door.

The people using a shopping bag to carry goods to the checkout to pay for them are not doing anything remotely horrifying here.

That's awful! Did they get caught?

Ozgirl75 · 09/12/2023 17:42

I didn’t say it was stealy, I said it felt stealy.
Like, I wouldn’t just pop things in my handbag - even if I knew I would pay, it would just feel wrong!

theDudesmummy · 09/12/2023 17:46

I started putting my shopping in my own bag during Covid and I still do it now, every time. Prefer that to touching the trolleys/baskets. But I never do a "big shop" so it's easy for me to do.

penjil · 09/12/2023 17:48

I couldn't put it all in the bag, and then take it all out again to be scanned....then put it all back in thr bag again. 🙄

A basket is beat, and should be used as intended.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 09/12/2023 17:50

Ykn · 09/12/2023 17:40

That's awful! Did they get caught?

Show quote history

Well, they were caught as in the staff saw it happen and were doing what they could but I have no idea if they were ever arrested. They definitely did make off with some of it at least. I can't remember exactly though as it was before covid and I just turned up when it was all kicking off!

Sadly, in my local store, the staff are told not to chase after the shoplifters. They used to have security there, years ago when I first moved here, but they got rid of them.

I've seen a few shop lifters in the same shop over the years, it's my local and I am in their almost daily so most of the staff know me by name and I'll go mention to one of the staff when I've seen one. It's always at the alcohol.

The other day, I was getting my coffee before leaving the store and some people were leaving, one of the staff who I know by name, was walking behind them to the door, the children then turned round and scolded her, she then said to me that they'd been thieving but she wasn't allowed to stop them leaving. Then the checkout lady came out and told her that they'd forgotten to lift their cigarettes which they'd paid for! Karma 😂

Wednesday6 · 09/12/2023 17:52

I do it to make sure I can fit my shopping in the bag I carried. I kind of make a fuss making sure I take everything out when I pay

ReadingSoManyThreads · 09/12/2023 17:53

Ozgirl75 · 09/12/2023 17:42

I didn’t say it was stealy, I said it felt stealy.
Like, I wouldn’t just pop things in my handbag - even if I knew I would pay, it would just feel wrong!

I know that's what you said, but I still don't see how it 'feels stealy', it's literally just goods in an open vessel, same as a basket would be. These aren't concealed goods.

Pipistrellus · 09/12/2023 17:53

CaroleSinger · 09/12/2023 17:36

But it means you have to get everything back out again at the counter. What's the point in that?

You'd do the same with a basket

Kittensat36 · 09/12/2023 17:56

They had signs up in one of my local Tescos asking you not to. One of the guards told me that some people were unloading a modest amount of shopping and scanning it, while there was meat or drink in the bottom of the trolley. When the alarm went off, they would produce an item that should have have bee tagged an the guard would check the receipt clear the alarm and wave them through. Mom

Floooooof · 09/12/2023 17:58

Pipistrellus · 09/12/2023 17:53

You'd do the same with a basket

Show quote history

Speaking as staff, not really. You take it out of the basket, scan and put it in a bag.

The way op does it you take it out scan it, put it to the side until you have scanned everything and then put it all back in the bag. Or worse, the customer takes it all out and puts it on the side, then I have to scan it, making sure nothing gets scanned twice by accident, then the customer puts it all back in the bag. Its a faff.