Cinnamon Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 First of all,let me say that I am all for having to pay for carrier bags & I wish more shops charged for them,including the one I work for. But there seems to be a double standards problem at my M&S, not sure if this is the same nationwide. I went in & bought something from the clothes section & was offered a FREE carrier bag, which I refused as I had a lovely hand made fabric bag with me. Then I went to the food bit,bought far too much as you do, & went to pay. Having used my recycled bag & the 2 others I had on me already,I had to pay for a carrier. Now,if I had accepted the FREE bag for the clothing,I could have used my own bag for the food Not fair - if one department charges,they all bloomin' well should! Naturally the assistant would have none of it,so I paid my few pennies for the bag & left with a very sour taste in my mouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 The whole carrrier bag thing winds me up. We wouldn't need to use so many if things weren't packed in huge amounts of needless packaging by the shops. I make a stand by not putting my fruit and veg in plastic bags. It means that all of my fruit and veg go onto the belt individually. It is petty I know (sorry if you work on a supermarket checkout) but if they want us to reduce using bags and packaging, it should apply to everything. The clothes bags in M& S are weird. I end up putting my other shopping in with them so it defeats the object really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 My local M&S is exactly the same and I completely agree - why should I be able to get a free bag in one department and have to pay in another? I wish clothes shops would provide the paper bags (as they do in Ireland) so they could at least go straight in the recycling bin and that supermarkets would charge for their bags. It's not the big deal that people think it is - when do you ever see people in Aldi and Lidl complain that they have had to bring bags with them? (I have never yet seen anyone pay for bags there). Oh yes, and I agree about the packaging CM. I recently bought some ink cartridges for my printer. After I had wrestled with the outer (sealed) plastic packaging, I removed the cardboard insert. Inside the insert was the cartridge, wrapped in a plastic sleeve. I wrestled the sleeve off and then found that the cartridge was packaged in MORE cardboard inside! Oh and then there was a little plastic tag thing over the end of the cartridge itself. Totally ridiculous and unnecessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Maybe as clothing is of a higher value than food the shop see giving away the carrier bag as an acceptable cost Personally I would expect a free carrier bag for clothes which need to be kept clean for transport but not for food so I think they have it right but thats only my view Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 24, 2010 Author Share Posted August 24, 2010 The way I see it is yes,clothing may be more expensive,but bottles of wine are heavier,& therefore you have more need of a bag. Come to think of it, M&S food isn't cheap so may well be more expensive than a T shirt,for example I would like to see plastic paying for bags as standard,although I think the paper bag idea is excellent....I do recycle any free or paid for plastic bags I get,but paper decomposes quicker & has a less detrimental environmental effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 I have no problem paying for a bag, as usually take my own. Other countries have charged for years and a few pence more than we pay here. I agree though CInnamon, M&S should be consistent. CM, I use **these** for fruit and veg now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 24, 2010 Author Share Posted August 24, 2010 I use my wonderful green mesh bags that came in my Trolley Dolly for fruit & veg. It REALLY confuses the checkout staff in Tesco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Ooh I'm going to have to get some of those Onya bags, Christian I already have an Onya shopping bag which I love. I can get a surprising amount in it and it takes a huge weight. Those fruit and veg bags look brill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Wow Christian, those Onya bags look great. I'm definitely going to get some of them. I hate all those little plastic bags and avoid them whenever possible. I always take my own bags to M and S (I find those black ones that fold up into their own attached little pouch are the best (they are about £3 I think at the M and S checkout) they hold loads and because they fold up small I remember to take them with me- mostly!). I entirely agree about the clothes bags too. I understand clothes need to be kept clean, but surely they could move to something in paper like so many other shops offer. I guess it's a cost thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Those bags do look good for veg, I thinks I'll get some too. I have one of those long cloth open ended carrier bag holder things that I keep in the boot of my car full of bags so that I always have some available. It is very true what you say about Lidl too, most people use boxes or take their own bags. I rarely see anyone buy one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 I think Christian may have started a new Omlet Must Have thread..what colour are you going for Chucky Mama..I chose purple! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 Like Christian I dont mind paying for a bag if I need one - but I usually have a stash of them in the boot of the car along with a wine carrier also and a couple of nice cloth bags made by an omleteer which I love to keep in the car for my local shopping. I bought and brought a huge tesco shopper back from ireland years ago and its really good to keep my groceries in in the trolley. I think ireland is the way to go for no free bags and their recycling is much better than ours and they pay for the refuse they put out and recycle loads more than we do. They even have to pay to dispose of stuff via a dumping ground. I actually like their paper bags too they are much nicer than our plastic ones and most shops have them. I have bought many a bag in lidl and aldi! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 24, 2010 Share Posted August 24, 2010 I think Christian may have started a new Omlet Must Have thread..what colour are you going for Chucky Mama..I chose purple! It's the purple for me too I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Ohhh purple I must have a look, shh don't tell OH Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Ohhh purple I must have a look, shh don't tell OH Chrissie I wonder what colour you are going to choose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 We've been paying for plastic carrier bags in Ireland for two years now. They cost 33cent or 27pence, the result is a whole lot less litter...... We use the The Big Green. canvas bags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I don't mind paying for a carrier bag on the odd occasion that I pop into a shop and I haven't got a spare bag in the car or in my rucksack. However it is double standards that are the problem. Today I nipped into the Spar shop after my exercise class to buy some sugar for jam-making. I didn't have a spare carrier bag as I'd already used the two I was carrying to pick blackberries and bring other veg home from the allotment. So I had to get one from the shop - for which I was charged - fair enough. However they insisted on putting the apples into another plastic carrier bag (free) before putting them into the one that I had paid for. I didn't want the second bag, and told them so, but they said that fruit must be bagged If they really want to reduce use of carrier bags, then not putting fruit in bags if the customer doesn't want it would be a good start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Off topic... CM, I use **these** for fruit and veg now. They have some really neat items in that shop Christian. I'm trying to resist....but failing..... On topic... I've had something similar happen to me in M&S and, although I do agree with charging for carriers, I wonder whether a bag should be free if you spend over £x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I use my wonderful green mesh bags that came in my Trolley Dolly for fruit & veg. It REALLY confuses the checkout staff in Tesco They really confuse the checkout staff in Asda as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 25, 2010 Author Share Posted August 25, 2010 It annoys me,as my job is a checkout girl at Waitrose,when people use or take bags that they don't need. Last night I packed up a ladies shopping,just a few light items in one bag,& had a small bag of salad left over,which I was going to put in last,so it didn't get squashed. She insisted on a whole new bag,& a full sized one at that,for this item It annoys me to when people use the fruit & veg bags for things like onions & bananas,which really don't need to be bagged. And then there are the ones who insist on double bagging their carrier,even though ours are actually pretty strong........ That said,I do happen to sell a lot of bags for life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 If I pick up apples, bananas, onions, courgettes, leeks, oranges (anything really that I can peel or wash before eating) then I don't put it in a plastic bag, there's no need as I don't buy that many but the checkout staff sometimes get quite narky that they have to round up the fruit and veg before they can weigh it. Someone tried to start a campaign a while ago to persuade everyone to leave "unnecessary packaging" at the shop they bought the item from - I think that's a good idea, if everyone did it, maybe manufacturers would think twice about putting food in a plastic tray, inside a plastic bag then putting that in a box? If only I could remember to take my bags with me everytime I go shopping!!!!!!!!?????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I think Christian may have started a new Omlet Must Have thread.. Sorry! One tip - if you turn the bags inside out, the label is on the outside, perfect for sticking the weight label to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 If I pick up apples, bananas, onions, courgettes, leeks, oranges (anything really that I can peel or wash before eating) then I don't put it in a plastic bag, there's no need as I don't buy that many but the checkout staff sometimes get quite narky that they have to round up the fruit and veg before they can weigh it. That's exactly what I do. Don't some countries allow you to leave you excessive packaging behind at the supermarket for them to dispose of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I resent extra packaging too CM, and use a few Onya products including the weigh bags, which I take to the local farmers' markets when I buy any fruit and veg. The few things that I do buy from a supermarket come from Ocado and I give the bags straight back to them for recycling. I must have re-usable bags everywhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 The Onya bags look great and a slightly cheaper here http://www.thegreenstoreonline.co.uk/default.aspx/Page/193/Category/40/SubCategory/64 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
