To be fed up with hidden bags !

[Piamia7]

Trying to shop anywhere, for example, Tesco...

I'm in the trolley self check outs since there's only one main till open and have to bloody search everywhere for a bag!

I've been in Sainsbury's today at the self-checkout and the same thing. Can't ask someone for help as they're busy for ages.

Primark last week, the bags were hidden far away at the end of the self-checkouts. Why are shops doing this?

Yup, see also the self-checkout assistant is nowhere to be seen when you need assistance, but magically appears to swoop upon your basket the second you remove the final item to scan - then sneaks a peek into your bag while they're there.
Babes, the machine starts shouting at me if I even as much as BREATHE on the bag shelf, there's no way I've been able to smuggle in any extra shopping 🤦🏻‍♀️

And god forbid you want to buy cigarettes or a vape after teatime, when they've closed down the cigarette kiosk and don't want you to buy from the cigarette lock box they provide TO BUY CIGARETTES FROM!

^ This, and what @kittensinthekitchen said (good name btw)

I'm getting fed up of the supermarkets - ASDA and Morrisons in particular. If I'm at the self-checkout I'm hardly going to have nicked something then waited for them to approve my alcohol purchases.

Oh, yes, and it's the 'looking in my bag' bit as well ... next time I might put a dead cat in there or something (only joking btw).

I'm going to try some other supermarkets - Sainsbury's and Lidl, they are a bit further for me to travel, but if it means less of being treated like a criminal...

In my case they start off in my car / handbag. Then they get used and I forget to put them back in there, so then I don’t have bags when I go shopping and have to buy them.

I see it as an ADHD tax

It's nearly 10 years since the charge for bags was introduced surely that's long enough for you to have developed a system for always having a bag with you. There are plenty of durable, folding bags which take up little space.

I bought 5 envirosax 10 years ago and they are still going strong.

https://www.envirosax.com/

Your Primark is self checkout?!

Self checkout Primark is fantastic.
Soooooooooooooo much quicker.

I use the Smartshop scanner, and every so often it triggers a bag check to make sure I haven't nicked anything.

It's fine - I've never nicked anything. I don't take it personally and get all butthurt over it.

It's not only scrotes who shoplift, you know - it's quite a popular thrill with the middle classes.

You're not treated like a criminal, we are treated like potential criminals, because we all are!

I mean, you could try having your people call in advance of your shopping trip so the store knows how important and honest you are - you could try that.

Don't expect Sainsbury's to be any better - neighbour was treated like a criminal for hunting for bags when there was no assistant. He put in a written complaint and they didn't even answer.

I have never been stopped for a bag check.

Haven't been in one for about 2 years, and back then the bags were easily accessible and there were less self-checkouts. I'm not hoarding bags I don't use for 2 years, I usually like to use them for going round the house and putting stuff in to declutter then chucking. Am I not allowed to want to buy bags?

Yeah, Ipswich. I checked out on the top floor which is all self checkout so unsure if they have tills downstairs. You have to scan your receipt to get out. It's alright but I find, the same with Tesco, that there's not really enough space on the area you put your stuff after you've scanned it.

Your comment makes no sense. There's a charge for bags, yes, I've always been happy to pay pennies for a plastic bag. They never said they'd be hidden!

You can buy bags 🤷
You just ask a staff member.

Primark self checkout where?

Take your own bags , it’s not that difficult. We’ve been doing it for years.

Loads of branches in Central/South London.
I assume eventually all will get them (unless it's a trial).
They are fantastic if you are just buying a few items. So much quicker than getting stuck behind someone buying £400s worth of clothes.
I find the scanning and bagging space quite roomy. You do sometimes get a random check but other than that it's "beep, bag, pay, scan receipt to exit, done. All in about 2 minutes. Fantastic.
(obviously if you're buy 400 quids worth it will take longer - but please.....go to the regular checkout for that 😂)

Yanbu, I hate this too. When bought in it was meant to reduce plastic waste, but you will still get charged for recyclable paper bags and compostable plastic bags, it's just a way to increase retailers profit margins and inconvenience for customers.
If you buy clothing/underwear etc you should be given a bag to protect the new items or if they don't want to do that they should at least be wrapped in tissue paper and definitely should have easy access to bags at self checkouts, often they are the only check outs open.

@Piamia7 the whole reason many stores no longer have them where customers can just grab them is because so many people just simply haven't been paying for them.
Blame the cheapskates and thieves. Not the shops.

This is really easily solved.
Take your own bags.

My primark is all self checkout. There are a couple of tills but that's more for returns than buying. Its great, as a pp said, as its roomy but they now charge for paper bags. Scan to get out and job done. My M&S is also mainly self checkout but they also have manned tills which don't have people at as there is a shop assistant sending everyone into the self checkout. Slightly annoying when they are stood there doing nothing and you get barked at to self checkout!

But that's the point OP, no-one wants you to spend pennies on plastic bags! Did you miss my earlier post?:
"... It's all part of "nudge" tactics to train us into doing the right thing - in this case, going to the shops with your own reusable bag(s) to reduce plastic waste ..."

No sympathy if you are shopping in Primark. Objecting to having to ask for a bag yet happy to have clothes made in a sweatshop and contribute to climate change.

I am with the shops on this. The police won't deal with thieves in shops (which is what a shoplifter is) and so they have to take such inconvenient measures.

The whole point was for everyone to reuse bags, not just buy new ones every time they went shopping. If 10 years isn't enough time to get you to change your habits they I guess you're choosing the annoyance of them being difficult to find.

YANBU OP.

I'm laughing at the people aghast at how not everyone has a bag on them at all times. I live in a city centre and don't have a car so we don't do a big weekly shop but will pick up bits now and then. I don't use a handbag, I usually go out with just my phone in my pocket. If I going out specifically to go to a supermarket then I'll take bags, but otherwise I'm not carrying bags around everyday, just in case.

30p charge is ridiculous though, 50p even in Waitrose. Supermarkets are make millions.

Not always

I know for a fact that the paper bags in Greggs which cost 10p-all of that goes to the Greggs Foundation which helps run breakfast clubs for vulnerable kids amongst other things 🤷🏼‍♀️

Personally I always have a fold up back. In fact I got one reduced to a quid in Primark that fits easily in any bag.

I get if you go out without the intention of shopping it's easy to forget but if you always have one in your bag you won't forget it...