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?

If the shop doesn't have baskets on wheels then sometimes it's the easiest option. Heavy baskets are awkward to carry. I've also seen elderly people use a granny trolley as a basket as it's clearly all they can manage.

I do this all the time and as a result got shouted at by the manager of a food shop who assumed I was going to do a runner. I would have had no problem if she'd said "here's a basket. It's much easier for the staff if you use that rather than your own bag." or similar.

But, no. Shouting across the shop "hey you! yes you in the green top. Stop putting things in your bag you haven't paid for." It's the sort of behaviour that makes me want to upend my bag to dump everything on the floor and walk out.

I didn't - I asked what her problem was and asked if she thought she was providing a "good customer experience" and said perhaps she should try to be polite to repeat customers such as myself. I then emptied my bag of random items on top of things for sale and folded my bag neatly, smiled and left.

@SmudgeButt You are a cretin, you are the type of person that makes my job so much harder be being a prick like that! We have so many people do that&walk out which is why we are told to look out for people filling their own bags, but for you to tip it out and walk out that means someone like me had to go put it all back. And if there were fridge/freezer items we have to write them off which then pushes up the prices for customers.

This week i've been coughed on a lot, hit by baskets/trolleys which left me bruised, leant over while filling the shelves, which is dangerous, what if the people who lean over knock something on my head because they won't say excuse me or wait a few seconds? I'm talked to like i'm stupid!

I didn't - I asked what her problem was and asked if she thought she was providing a "good customer experience" and said perhaps she should try to be polite to repeat customers such as myself. I then emptied my bag of random items on top of things for sale and folded my bag neatly, smiled and left

Wow - what a crap thing to do.

I used to do this because I would go shopping on my motorbike and if I bought anything more than would fit in my bag I'd be in difficulty. Learned this one the hard way having had to ride home with a jacket stuffed full of tins 🫣

Since lockdown I've never used a basket and only twice used a trolley.

Always put the shopping in my bag,unload and pay, then pack again.

Loads of people do this in my big Tesco too.

I do this, mainly because I use a walking stick, can't carry anything else. I see lots of people doing it.

I always do this unless I'm doing a big shop and then I'll use a trolley.

“horrified at your actions” 😂😂 I don’t do what OP describes and it sounds a bit unusual to me - but seriously?!

@IHeartBiscuits

Dont you take everything out if the basket? What's the difference??

@stuck2023 well I usually end up going around with an armful , my bag usually being in my shoulder bag🙄🙄

but I don't hesitate to do it if the shopping bag is handy! I really struggle to carry a basked and get things off the shelf and the baskets are usually really really dirty.

your mothers reaction is ridiculous

Amazed at the number of people who don’t do this because they are worried what people “might think”.

I do it when I’m popping in for a few things. I use a big ikea bag over my shoulder. Easy to put stuff in. Always use a staff checkout. Less faff than an uncomfortable basket.

I do this too. I used to struggle juggling a bag for life, a basket and my handbag whilst getting shopping.

Now I just use a bag for life and have my purse in my coat pocket. Much easier.

Maybe it takes an extra 30 seconds to reload the bag after paying.

No supermarket worker has ever battered an eyelid at me doing this. Surely I'm saving them a job as they don't have to tidy away my basket afterwards.

I did it during the pandemic because I didn’t want to touch the baskets. I remember people staring at me but the shop staff didn’t seem to have an issue with it

But that's exactly what you do with a basket?

I do it all the time.

I'm surprised that so many people are unable to manage a basket. I've never found them particularly heavy or cumbersome, and have always assumed that they're provided because the shop prefers me to use them.

I put my carrier bag in the bottom and use my phone to pay, couldn't be easier really.

It is also easier to scan items as you take them from the basket and put them into your bag as you pay.

I guess it is up to each shop then. If they don't say anything, they presumably don't mind. But I don't think anyone can be surprised or offended if they do.

"But that's exactly what you do with a basket?

I do it all the time."

But if your stuff comes out of the bag it's eventually going home in, don't you have to pile it all up on the side until you've scanned everything and then start putting it all back in.

With a basket, it comes out of the basket and into the bag.

Ultimately I don't really care what anyone else does but am surprised at the number of people claiming it's easier, especially as I've never seen anyone do it in rl. If it was that useful and labour saving you'd think more people would be doing it.

I do find baskets annoying tbh but still wouldn't do this just wish more shops would have the pull.a long baskets as only lidl and Sainsbury's have them near me.

No. She was rude and she was a cretin. I'm always nice to people in shops. Say hello, thank them, treat them with respect because I've done that job myself and know how horrid some customers can be. But if someone is immediately rude to me I don't think I owe them much in return. Certainly not any respect.

Yes, I walk with a stick so using a basket means I don't have a free hand, I usually tell the security guard on the way in.

@ChishiyaBat so it is fine for staff to abuse customers?

I was once told to F off in ASDA, I have never shopped there since.

I don't think saying "hey you! yes you in the green top. Stop putting things in your bag you haven't paid for" is particularly rude, cretinous or abusive.

You assumed that it was ok to put stuff that wasn't yours into your bag, and they caught your attention to tell you that it wasn't.

Your actions next were an over-reaction, probably confirmed her already low opinion of you, and left a job for an unrelated member of staff to sort out. If I saw that I'd assume you were a shoplifter getting angry because you'd been caught out.

Sorry was in response to

"No. She was rude and she was a cretin. I'm always nice to people in shops. Say hello, thank them, treat them with respect because I've done that job myself and know how horrid some customers can be. But if someone is immediately rude to me I don't think I owe them much in return. Certainly not any respect."

I work in a small shop, and people do it all the time, and it's fine. The shop doesn't care.

I do this all the time. Haven't used a basket in years. No one has ever batted an eyelid.

Doesn't it make it harder for shops to prevent shoplifting?

If they say it's ok to put their goods into your bags and just pay take them out to pay before you leave, won't they have to keep track of all of their customers at any one time and what they've put into their own bags?

Whereas now you would look around and see people with baskets who are still browsing and haven't paid yet, maybe even removing things from their basket too as they change their mind about things, you would see people with their own bags and not really know who has something in them or not, or how many items.

With the high profile criticism recently, from retailers, of the police and their approach to shoplifting, it feels like a retrograde step to me.

But again, up to the retailers I guess. If they don't mind, I certainly don't.

Well some do, as already seen on this thread.