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Re-using carrier bags at shops : Your experiences ?

35 replies

frecklyspeckly · 06/03/2008 21:45

I am just wondering really. I have been trying to re-use bags as much as possible but it's rather hard. At my supermarket I find they throw the shopping down the belt so fast it actually all piles up and the assistant/ other shoppers glare at me pitifully / impatiently as i flap around with my tatty ole bags. Seems to take much longer than peeling new plastic ones off the holder. (Which I try not to do) . Makes me feel like I am bringing the whole shop to a standstill! Plus they hardly ever add green clubcardpoint unless I ask for them. Yesterday lady came out of her cubicle to add up how many bags I had re - used, in case i was telling porkies. There were clearly six.I had told her that, but oh no, she stood and glared at them like I had asked her to work out a trickly long division question!!! Plus whilst I was frantically trying to pack she had wrapped a lot of things like fish into more smaller plastic. Fish, in plastic, then in a plastic bag, then into my re-usable bags!! got me mad and i wondered if anyone else doesnt feel very helped out by the supermarkets when they try and re - use bags?

OP posts:
Minum · 07/03/2008 18:22

No problems here using my own carriers/cotton bags - I went into M&S on the day of the bag-charge announcement and told the cashier I was shopping there to show my appreciation for the stance they are taking. She was really pleased, and we had a long chat about bags etc.

Our local Waitrose are completely OK about bringing your own bags, a lot of customers do. I have definately noticed less of a tendency to have bags pushed at you in the last few months.

northernrefugee39 · 07/03/2008 19:12

I know it's expensive etc, but the people on the tills at Marks are always soooo nice!
Does anyone work there?
Are they trained in nicey niciness?

lennygrrl · 07/03/2008 19:22

Message withdrawn

hifi · 07/03/2008 19:34

has anyone swapped their bags for life? mine are still on the go after a year but are looking manky, do i just ask if i swap for new?

marmadukescarlet · 07/03/2008 23:53

I have! I think some milk leaked in one and I hadn't noticed, just folded it up so when I next used it the wiff was revolting.

My regular checkout chick (there are only about 3 I go to with the DCs, DD likes to help with the scanning) at my local Waitrose, whipped it away and gave me a new one.

spamm · 08/03/2008 00:07

My local Tesco is quite good about reusing bags, or maybe I just have the hide of a Rhino and do not worry about holding people up while I get my bags open and sorted. I usually go in with a ragtag mix of bags from all over the place - but I always make sure I get my green points.

But I am getting better - I now return my organic box for reuse, and I shop online and request no plastic bags. For the first time in years, I think we might not have many left in the house, so it is time to buy proper reusable bags.

grannyslippers · 08/03/2008 00:42

It helps to build up a collection of really decent big "bags for life" - the woven plastic type ones with webbing handles. They are quicker to pack into. I have about 8 from different shops including a couple of insulated ones, no qualms about whether they are from the same supermarket as shopping in.

Honest it doesn't hurt to say "can you slow down" or "can you wait a moment" to the operator, much better than glaring.

I don't think small carriers are fit for any reuse except bin bags and cat litter!

Elf · 08/03/2008 08:29

When I 'm in a supermarket with the DCs I ALWAYS ask for a packer and they do it all for me.

Elf · 08/03/2008 08:30

Using my material bags I hasten to add.

dylsmum1998 · 08/03/2008 17:16

i never have a prob with my re-usuable bag i have an assortment of different cloth ones from different shops. i have my shopping packed into at the market, farmers market in the farm shop or asda. lol i do get strange looks when buying clothes etc but i dont care i just smile and say how i hate plastic. i keep some on the car and some in the flatso wherever i am i can have them handy.
i did get comments where i used to live think i was regarded as slightly mental, but they got used to me and my strange ways lol.
did get tld in one fruit shop we do have bags so you can put the veg in those rather than seperate. i just replied unfortunately they are plastic so i don't want to use them. anyway the carrots are quite friendly with potatoes, they dont mind being together lol

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