Paying for plastic bags!

SarahLee said:
TBH supermarkets aren't really a problem.
You know when you're going grocery shopping and you make sure that you take re-usable bags with you.

Where it gets a bit of a PITA is those impulse purchases as you're wandering around town etc.
I mean it's not as if you go out with your pockets stuffed full of spare carrier bags just in case you might decide you want to buy something. :LOL:
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+1. But we don't always plan when we're going grocery shopping, and I tend to do a lot of impulse shopping (in person or online).

Alan Clogwyn said:
It's hilarious watching people juggle 3 bottles of wine , apples, a pizza, 2 mars bars and a croissant because they won't pay for a bag.
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I saw something similar yesterday whilst waiting at the self-service check out till.

Today, I went to a local supermarket to buy lunch. Immediately noticed the barcode on the bags by the self-service check out, so being the good lad that I am, I scanned the bag before placing any items inside. Got to the end of the touchscreen, and declared no bags. One of the supervisors came rushing up telling me that I have to pay for a bag. Had to point out that I'd already scanned it and therefore it was on the bill.
 
and you can't afford 5p for a bag for your impulse purchase ? if money is that tight you need to cut down on the impusles
 
Mikesphotaes said:
I think this thread must be a contender for the " so what " award.

It's a whole 5p, even a Scotsman doesn't get excited over that!
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I think we may have talked about less worthless poop over the years, but please do start a more valuable thread if you want too ;)

PS
You have just reminded me, I have something more important to do :)
 
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Mikesphotaes said:
I think this thread must be a contender for the " so what " award.

It's a whole 5p, even a Scotsman doesn't get excited over that!
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Oh by the way, it cost much more than five pence. It is a serious issue that does damage to the planet and wild life. Some people do care ..
 
And nobody remembers that in fact you had to buy carrier bags years ago, they were far stronger and could actually be used a few time?
And then the various supermarkets, one by one started offering free bags to their customers ;)
And then they got thinner, and poked holes in them in case kids were stupid enough to put them over their heads...


And who else remember they used to stack the empty product boxes at the ends of the till?
They were happy for you to take them and load your shopping in.
Much better than the grotty old bags ;)

Ah the good old days :D
 
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Cobra said:
And nobody remembers that in fact you had to buy carrier bags years ago, they were far stronger and could actually be used a few time?
And then the various supermarkets, one by one started offering free bags to their customers ;)
And then they got thinner, and poked holes in them in case kids were stupid enough to put them over their heads...


And who else remember they used to stack the empty product boxes at the ends of the till?
They were happy for you to take them and load your shopping in.
Much better than the grotty old bags ;)

Ah the good old days :D
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Sainsburys yesterday, I noticed tgat their 5p carriers are now the stronger ones as they used to be. No more flimsy ones. :-)
 
jonbeeza said:
True, but how many thieves will now slip out holding just one item? They wont need to stick it up their jumper now :)
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I don't think it will make a blind bit of difference. It's not like they couldn't get hold of beans previously to put their stolen wares in.
 
Pbyrne100 said:
The bottom line is it works and there will be significantly less waste plastic as a result
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A very good and important point!

jonbeeza said:
I tend to pop into the frozen food shop, pick one item up then pop into shop next door for one item or two. Was in the shop before for one item only, and most others like myself did not use a bag. Be a bit awkward walking into another shop holding one item now, wonder how long it will be, before someone gets accused of theft? It will happen :rolleyes:

Maybe expensive items will have to have a sold sticker on..
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Like the tape Woolies used to stick on larger items. (BTW, best to get the frozen stuff last so it has less time to defrost [unless it's ice cream, in which case the extra few minutes will make it perfect scooping and eating consistency!])

jonbeeza said:
It would be fun using a pound shop bag, to bag John Lewis goods, the manager would probably buy their own bag for you :D
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Many of our reusable bags are Lidl or Aldi - they seem to be among the best around.

Cobra said:
And nobody remembers that in fact you had to buy carrier bags years ago, they were far stronger and could actually be used a few time?
And then the various supermarkets, one by one started offering free bags to their customers ;)
And then they got thinner, and poked holes in them in case kids were stupid enough to put them over their heads...


And who else remember they used to stack the empty product boxes at the ends of the till?
They were happy for you to take them and load your shopping in.
Much better than the grotty old bags ;)

Ah the good old days :D
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Yup, I have a feeling we might still have an old Sainsbury's one somewhere.
Our local Sainsbury's still does leave boxes out. Mainly wine cases (6) but also some fruit/veg trays.
 
viv1969 said:
Sainsburys yesterday, I noticed tgat their 5p carriers are now the stronger ones as they used to be. No more flimsy ones. :)
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Yup, a dodge so they don't have to give the money to charity, the scoundrels.
 
ST4 said:
It reminds me of a phrase "its as much use as an Aberdonians wallet". That means no use at all...
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There used to be loose plastic carrier bags littering the car par at my nearest Asda. However, since the 5p charge was brought in about a year ago the loose carriers have become as scarce as an Aberdonian on a flag day.
 
and it will work in yorkshire , where they are like scots but without the generosity...
 
Llamaman said:
Yup, a dodge so they don't have to give the money to charity, the scoundrels.
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Not sure.
It's now their standard carrier bag.
It's non replaceable. ..not a BFL :-)
 
viv1969 said:
Not sure.
It's now their standard carrier bag.
It's non replaceable. ..not a BFL :)
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Yes, not a BFL, but crucially also not a single-use bag. Thus, not subject to the new law so they're not obliged to pass on the proceeds to charity.
 
Llamaman said:
Thus, not subject to the new law so they're not obliged to pass on the proceeds to charity.
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Well they do have several million ££ of lost profit to make up this year ;)
 
The trick is, if you don't have bags with you, and you don't want to pay for shopping, and you've got your car, use a trolley to take it all to the car :)

If I know I'm doing a smallish shop, I take a bag for life with me, and fill that up whole I'm shopping, that way, I know everything will fit and I won't have to buy more bags! Otherwise, it's only 5p anyway.
 
Llamaman said:
Yes, not a BFL, but crucially also not a single-use bag. Thus, not subject to the new law so they're not obliged to pass on the proceeds to charity.
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I'm puzzled though.
The crappy bags in other supermarkets aren't labelled as single use...neither are these.
Apart from the plastic used, what's the difference?
Surely to be not classed as single use, wouldn't they have to be sold as not single use, which they're not?
 
viv1969 said:
I'm puzzled though.
The crappy bags in other supermarkets aren't labelled as single use...neither are these.
Apart from the plastic used, what's the difference?
Surely to be not classed as single use, wouldn't they have to be sold as not single use, which they're not?
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It's actually defined by law. Thickness of <0.7mm or something like that.
 
Llamaman said:
It's actually defined by law. Thickness of <0.7mm or something like that.
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Blimey!
Now there's a job....random carrier bag inspector.
:lol:
 
edz said:
The trick is, if you don't have bags with you, and you don't want to pay for shopping, and you've got your car, use a trolley to take it all to the car :)

If I know I'm doing a smallish shop, I take a bag for life with me, and fill that up whole I'm shopping, that way, I know everything will fit and I won't have to buy more bags! Otherwise, it's only 5p anyway.
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We usually have two or three jute bags in the car for ad-hoc shopping but for a full shop we have fold flat collapsible plastic boxes, three of which just fit across in the boot. We take the trolley to the car, separate into fridge/freezer, lightweight stuff and the third for heavy items and then just carry the full boxes into the kitchen when we get home. Dead easy and works for us anyway.
 
viv1969 said:
Blimey!
Now there's a job....random carrier bag inspector.
:LOL:
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Hey us boys knew about that job for a long time :). Cough cough
 
you can get bags that fold up small to keep in a car glovebox - or handbag for the ladies - i'm always buggered if i can fold them back up after use 1 though
 
Cobra said:
And nobody remembers that in fact you had to buy carrier bags years ago, they were far stronger and could actually be used a few time?
And then the various supermarkets, one by one started offering free bags to their customers ;)
And then they got thinner, and poked holes in them in case kids were stupid enough to put them over their heads...


And who else remember they used to stack the empty product boxes at the ends of the till?
They were happy for you to take them and load your shopping in.
Much better than the grotty old bags ;)

Ah the good old days :D
Click to expand...

Some plonker tripped up the steps to the car park with his box full of shoping and of course sued the shop. That was the end of boxes for us.
 
Incidentally where does the English law differentiate between produce bag and carrier bag?
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
Some plonker tripped up the steps to the car park with his box full of shoping and of course sued the shop. That was the end of boxes for us.
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FFS!
How the hell do these Darwin award candidates get away with this type of thing ? :(

Alan Clogwyn said:
Incidentally where does the English law differentiate between produce bag and carrier bag?
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As I understand it, fresh meat and veg, qualifies for a freebee
 
Haven't read the whole thread but we've had the 5p charge for years in Wales it's a non issue we just keep the reusable ones in the car
If it helps even slightly the problem of plastic contaminating the oceans and harming wildlife it must be a good thing
When I shop I on own I do keep forgetting to take the reusable bags out of the car with me tho and have to buy more bags at the till:D
The missus always seems to remember :D:D
 
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