That I was a little annoyed when the lady in Spar didn't tell me I had to pay for carrier bags before I bought my shopping on a card and left me stranded with two armfuls of heavy items!

[cockneydad]

I'm a being unreasonable ?

I went to out local spar for essentials (milk, pop, wine, tin of beans etc) and paid on a credit card. I was half expecting the lady to ask 'would you like a bag'... but no, she just stood there and stared, so I asked 'can I have a bag please'. She replies: 'they cost now, 3p each' (in a less than friendly tone).

I would have thought that she should have asked if I would like to have bought a couple of bags (which I wouldn't have minded doing) BEFORE I pay on a card because I'm out of cash (and therefore using a credit card).

I ended up carrying everything to the car in my two arms and had to pretty much juggle it all as I unlocked car.

Normally I'm not a petty person, but this really 'gave me the 'ump' !

Surely this is the norm nowadays?
I expect to have to provide my own bags at every shop now.

YABU

everyone should have a bag in their car for shopping. It isn't a new thing that shops charge for them.

It wasn't having to buy the bag - I should have had one - it was her not asking whether I needed one was what annoyed me.....

never been charged for a bag in our town

And I don't have a car to keep a bag in

..and it has never been like that before.... I normally take bags to do shopping

They should ask first if they charge - in M&S they say "do you want a bag? It's 5p!" before they start scanning. It's no more work for them but lets you make an actual decision first. And a Spar being a convenience store, I would assume bags were free. I mean, the groceries cost more because you're paying for the convenience, surely?

errm not sure ..I take my bags to do a big shop..but never if I just pop to the co op for milk and stuff ..I hate it if I forget to take them when I do a big shop ..I feel like a criminal asking for carrier bags

She should have asked you, personally if she's going to be so small minded to not give you a bag when she should have asked you if you wanted one in the 1st place then I would have asked for a porter to assist me to the car. or I would have borowed a basket or asked for a 3p bag and paid for it on my card, or asked for the manager....

There were lots of options if it really peed you off....

Would she not let you pay for the bags by card?

don't let it spoil your day

YANBU

I would have presented my card for the 3p bag.

She should have asked you before you paid. WH Smith do the same thing - they wait until you have concluded transaction and then look at you blankly and say bags are 5p. Grrrr.

They should have a sign.

YABU, you only had to get it from the shop to the car! I can juggle that and a three year old. You could have made a couple of trips if you found it that hard.

Also, you didn't have a measly 3p? She didn't ask if you needed a bag before you paid, you didn't see fit to carry at least 10p emergency cash, she wouldn't give you a free bag, you didn't bother to take a bag with you in the car to your local spar (so local you had to drive). Faults on all sides here methinks.

Sorry but at not having 3p! Are you always so efficient at getting rid of your change?

They probably should ask if you need one, though, although here in Ireland we have had to pay for bags for years, 22 cent a bag, and I do notice that I hardly ever get asked if I need one now.

Well Nightshoe - I had a 2 litre bottle of pop, a bottle of wine, a 4 pint bottle of milk and a half litre bottle of low fat, low joy milkshake - the shop was packed with people and I had no cash with me (was wearing cleaning/decorating clothes). I didn't have my wriggly 6 month old with me, but I did have my rather poorly spine that has been fused and is at present very sore- hence the car! Nevermind, I was probably a little unreasonable (but I maintain I wasn't totally unreasonable!).

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DavidHappyDad clearly thinks you should top yourself now, OP, rather than generate any additional carbon dioxide by breathing in and out.

You are still not being unreasonable.

Hey David - I do get the gist, having a PhD in environmental chemistry.... a sore back (hence car) and only having two arms - I just wished she would have said something before I paid for it (having forgotten the hemp shopping bags I use every bleedin time I go to a supermarket - which I would do on foot more often if they were closer).

Bah.

YANBU, i've never had to pay for a bag at my local sainsburys and unlike most of you efficient and organised people, i'm an airhead who regularly leaves her bags for life at home

Sue me!

Mmmwaah, shiney. Is there are Shiney thread somewhere? Can't see it in active convos? Or have you filled one up already without me? I am poor at this.

You should have just given her your card again for the 6p bag transaction. Then the checkout assistant would have thought 'hmm, that was slightly annoying and cost my employers 50p. Next time I will ask the customer if she needs a bag before putting through the card transaction'.