Taking your own bags to the grocery store

COOLTRIKERCHICK

as i could not find anything on their website i phoned customer service, and she said she did not know... and that someone would phone me back with the info.....she also said that someone else had phoned with the same question......no return phone call yet, but she did say it would either be tonight or tomorrow.....so if they phone i will report back here straight away......as this could be one of those quiet..schemes....that isnt pushed or publicised, but when green issues are raised.... this is their answere to the amount of plastic carrier bags in landfils etc....

Chell

GardenMillie wrote:

I always take a M & S black fabric bag, don't think I've had extra points as yet but I will certainly ask the next time I'm in.

I shop at Asda but have the same M&S bag. Its more stylish than the Asda bright green ones:p

aimme13

re-used my carrier bags (as i always do) in tescos tonight, nothing in my store either.......please anyone who hears back from customer services can you post back so i know for next week
thanks

canuckone

I used this offer at my local Tesco Extra in Twickenham, Middlesex. The Check-out Clerk made me aware of it, and there was a sticker at the check-out telling customers about it.

Those of you calling customer services: let them know this has been publicised and honoured in at least one store - and if it has been done in one, then why not across the company?

Regarding taking my own bags, I don't feel embarrassed (any more!). I've had people stare too - but take heart - us bag carriers are helping our planet! Besides, I don't stare at or judge shoppers who use 12 or more bags that are going to end up in a landfill. We are all different and have different circumstances. If I had a family, I probably couldn't fit my weekly shop in the bags that fit on my bicycle! I think these questions point to a bigger issue - do money saving exercises make some of us feel embarrassed or stared at?

Lucie_2

Whilst we were in France earlier this year I noticed that all the shops have stopped giving away carrier bags & you have to take your own. I got a very nice Decathlon one which I now use for shopping. I often take a coolbag along too, especially if I'm not going straight home from the supermarket.
We used to use the Safeway self scan thingy years ago & had their green boxes for groceries, which was a great idea. They're now under the spare bed full of junk!

Churchmouse

Yes, when we were in Dublin last year, it was take your own or pay for bags. In Marks and Sparks I paid for what I'm sure were inferior quality bags!! Not that I disagree with the principle, we were holiday makers so hadn't got bags for our sandwiches and fruit salads!

Chell

I think more places should make you pay for bags, it would certainly reduce the amount that people use. I often refuse bags as I always have a buggy with me, items can be put straight into the shopping tray but SA look at you mad if you tell them not to give you a bag.

O/T but last week in Butlins we bought some cookies and were given two paper plates. My Dad told the women just to put them on one plate. The SA told us she wasn't allowed as one of the cookies contained nuts. Surely the fact that we had been made aware already about the nut content then we could have been allowed just one palte.

lofty_cherrytree

I always take bags, but you have to be quick or you find the checkout person packing things up for you as you unload the trolley. They tend to get annoyed if you point out you have your own.

My sister lives in Italy where you have to buy bags. A lot of stores have promotions where they give you cloth bags (with their advertising on naturally) They just get used to taking bags out with them, it is a question of habit.

Churchmouse

Going a tad off topic i know, but why is it only grocery bags that are seen as the problem?

As I said, last year in Dublin was my first encounter with this. All shops seemed to have gone over to paper carriers for clothes, books and the like. I loved this as I love paper bags ( Yes I am that weird!!:D ) However I still found that on buying one bra in M&S they wanted to give me a large paper carrier. Really strange looks when I said it could go in with some other purchase from a different store!

I know paper recycles, if you bother but then so do the plastic carriers these days. I understand Ireland's point is they don't get them as litter like they used to, and I have to say there was very little evidence of abandoned plastic bags. Just think we should be encouraging careful use and reuse of all bags to preserve the environment as much as possible.

sandhabibi

Just rang tesco's and even the main c/s know nothing about this and said it is probably a one off store promotion! I stated a few stores that I know are doing it and they are going to call me back about it later.