5p bag charge - your views

robin58

Spendless wrote: »

Having changed to doing my shopping at Aldi at some point last year, when the carrier bag charge came in I didn't stockpile them in the preceding weeks as I already owned a lot. Not long afterwards they all seemed to 'die' at the same time. Recently I sorted out a cupboard and was surprised to find I'd got a stack again. I can count of one hand the number of times I've bought a bag since October last year, so couldn't understand it. Then I realised my teenagers were buying the bags when they went up to the shops, still more fool them if that's what they spend their pocket money on.

Proof if ever needed, plastic bags do breed ! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

rabjoshu

5p is too low a charge. It should be 20p to discourage plastic bag use - which is the point of the tax.
In Ireland it started at 15c which automatically changed shopper's habits overnight and has now risen to 22c per bag because complacency set in.

Nick_C

22 cents is still too cheap. Anyone who asks for a single use carrier bag should have their hands chopped off. Then they might learn. It's for their own good after all.

robin58

Nick_C wrote: »

22 cents is still too cheap. Anyone who asks for a single use carrier bag should have their hands chopped off. Then they might learn. It's for their own good after all.

Only trouble with doing that will be the cost on the NHS as the little darlings go to get their free replacement hands.:D

Kim_13

It's surprising how many cashiers still ask if you want a bag like nothing happened, though the odd one asks if you want a 5p bag. The bags should be put out of sight and customers should have to ask if they want one. You don't get asked if you want cigarettes when you go to the counter.

In the current setup it's probably more helpful in raising VAT than it is in truly helping the environment. Many people will shrug off 5p. Having to ask for the bag might make them feel awkward so that they don't bother. The bag for life could still be displayed as normal.

glider3560

Has anyone noticed more customers in so called "cheaper" stores like Iceland and Poundland seem to buy bags, than in the traditional supermarkets?

robin58

glider3560 wrote: »

Has anyone noticed more customers in so called "cheaper" stores like Iceland and Poundland seem to buy bags, than in the traditional supermarkets?

No to be honest, I seem to see it the other way round in my town.

Seen more bags bought in front of my eyes in my local Sainsbury's than anywhere else.

Most of the people who shop in my Poundlands ( all 3 of them in one high street! ) usually bring there own unless it's the students from the University in the town.

Norman_Castle

If everythings a pound in Poundland, why are the bags 5p?

Kim_13

robin58 wrote: »

No to be honest, I seem to see it the other way round in my town.

Seen more bags bought in front of my eyes in my local Sainsbury's than anywhere else.

Most of the people who shop in my Poundlands ( all 3 of them in one high street! ) usually bring there own unless it's the students from the University in the town.

I too have seen rather a lot of bags being brought in Sainsbury's. Perhaps they don't mind as much when the bag is effectively a bag for life and for smaller item(s) a handier size than the traditional ones. Alarmingly I was in a queue for the self-checkouts once and all three of the staff in it bought bags! Talk about a bad example. Part of me wondered if the management miss the free advertising and were telling them to do it.

It doesn't surprise me when younger people buy bags, as they are generally less organised.

System

Kim_13 wrote: »

It's surprising how many cashiers still ask if you want a bag like nothing happened, though the odd one asks if you want a 5p bag. The bags should be put out of sight and customers should have to ask if they want one. You don't get asked if you want cigarettes when you go to the counter.

In the current setup it's probably more helpful in raising VAT than it is in truly helping the environment. Many people will shrug off 5p. Having to ask for the bag might make them feel awkward so that they don't bother. The bag for life could still be displayed as normal.

The more observant cashier should say 'would you like any more bags?' As if they see customers with bags, they may not have enough for their shopping.