Asda ripping us off with carrier bags?

flower7

Its a bit of a rant really but OH stopped into Asda after work tonight to get a few bits and the lady on the counter announced he could not have a carrier bag he would have to pay 70p each for a 'reusable' green plastic bag. At which point he said
-Forget it thats far too expensive especially for a bag that might only last for three uses. (he was jokey when he said this and the cashier laughed)

-If they didn't have all this extra packaging around this food I wouldn't need so many bags. (cashier agreed and said I see it all the time)

-Where was the warning in store this was going to happen? I would have brought some plastic bags with me. (She had no idea until she got into work)

-Don't they make enough money out of us on food, everything I have bought today has gone up by at least 20p (cashier pointed out price increases in the first place)

-We reuse our bags for wrapping our food in so we can fit it in the freezer because there is too much cardboard being used.

-It's not as if they are even doing it for the environment this is just a marketing con. (Cashier started this veer in the conversation she thinks it is a way for them to make more money not to aid the environment)

At this point the very nice cashier said sorry sir and I agree with you and we do have normal plastic bags under the counter to give to people to use if they make a fuss

OH is not very happy if there had been any warning or a promotion in store for free bags first or even buy a decent canvas bag for 70p he wouldn't have been so angry.

Our shopping bill is going through the roof and now we have to buy bags and extra plastic food bags to put freezer food in. OH is a lorry owner driver and he hasn't even seen a pay increase to cover soaring prices of diesel from his contractors because they have not been given it by the shops yet, even though that is some of the shops excuses for price rises. Apparently they are in negotiations!

jeannieblue

At my Asda, the first two green bags were free and then I paid 5p per bag - or I could have the free ones.

I chose the green bags - and they told me that if they broke - they would replace them for free.

My biggest problem has been in remembering to take them with me each time but I now am in a routine and am quite happy. The bags are strong and you can get more in them.

Its annoying that prices are rising - I've not had a pay rise in over two years and it really hurts.

flower7

At our Asda they weren't offering free green bags or the offer of 5p per bag I think that was my OH's main problem. We have bought bags to use for shopping but he did not have them with him because he just popped in to get some bits on the way home.

Does anyone else know what their local asda policy is, as they seem to be different from shop to shop.

uktim29

I think you'll find the Government has told them all Supermarkets have to do something about carrier bags or it will make it compulsory for them to charge for all carrier bags (not 1p or something stupid either).

Thats not Asda's fault really is it!

Come to think of it, other brands packaging isn't their fault either!

You'll also find Supermarket food can't get much cheaper than it is. This has been covered umpteen times in this part of the forum.

Just an edit as this has annoyed me, typical consumer not having a clue what they're on about.

flower7 wrote: »

-Forget it thats far too expensive especially for a bag that might only last for three uses. What is he going to put in it, Bricks?
-If you didn't have all this extra packaging around this food I wouldn't need so many bags. They don't make the food, their own brands tend to have the bare minimum.
-Where was the warning in store this was going to happen? I would have brought some plastic bags with me. I knew, it was on the news!
-Don't you make enough money out of us on food, everything I have bought today has gone up by at least 20p Rubbish, blatantly made up. They only have a 3.4% net profit margin anyway. You can't run a business much more efficiently then that.
-We reuse our bags for wrapping our food in so we can fit it in the freezer because there is too much cardboard being used. See my second point.
-It's not as if you are even doing it for the environment this is just a marketing con. Rubbish again, it's the Government. Why do people just make things up?

Now if you don't like my response I'll ask you, Why then is it fine for your other half to speak to someone like that? Even more so because he hasn't a clue about what he's talking about!

C_Ronaldo

Are these green bags stronger than normal carrier bags, how are asda ripping us off for the bags, theyre not making us buy them,

tomstickland

Carrier bags are a rubbish way of carrying food shopping home. I use cardboard boxes.

HC_2

The millions of carrier bags that shops have to buy, and give away free, eat into their gross profit. Perhaps by charging for reusable ones, they will be able to hold prices a little longer.

It's a good thing that the big stores are discouraging us from using them, isn't it? I never use them unless I absolutely have to.

If you don't want to buy reusable bags, apply for a John Lewis credit card, register for Quick Scan at Waitrose and they give you several strong cloth bags free of charge, even if you never shop there. I don't even use clear plastic bags for fruit and veg. Even if I leave my bags in the boot by mistake, I just load the trolley and pack when I get back to the car.

I appreciate it must have been annoying, but long-term it'll be worth it, to stop using these 'disposable' bags.

zoelouise88

i dont know about asda as not been there for a while but my local corner shop are charging for carrier bags now but they use old ones that people have given them (tesco ones etc) although they put the money from the bags into the charity boxes so i think this is a good idea as the money is going to a good cause but i wouldnt pay for the ones from tesco or asda unless they were the bags for life as the other ones always end up spliting

i do think they should have gave some kind of notice before hand

MrsE_2

Get yourself some hessian (I got some Tesco & M&S ones - cheap & strong) or cloth bags.

I personally think supermarkets should charge for all bags (its the only way people (& me) will remember to bring them with them.

Of course they should have some cheapies for impulse shoppers.

flower7

First I was a bit unclear and reading it back I understand uktim29 points - the cashier was agreeing with my OH when he was saying these things to her he wasn't having a go at her but store policy and she said it had been a nightmare for her because they just sprung it on them that they were doing this today and not from June 1st as advertised. He sympathised completely with her.

-I meant the green plastic bags looked poor quality for 70p and having to pay that for every bag but with no other choices.

- We do buy own brands and it still does not fit in the freezer and some still have lots of extra packaging or I wouldn't have to bag it. Not true of all products but quite a few.

We will buy some decent bags and I already have some in the house but 70p a bag when you haven't got a lot of cash on you is a bit too much on their first day of trialing this idea.

-As for the prices I'm not digging all my receipts out now but for one example eight days ago Adsa Gateau £1-50 tonight £1.99 and it was the cashier who pointed that out to him and said I don't know how they can justify it.

Volvic

This topic reminded me of a rude customer I served today..the conversation went a little like this:

Man: These carrier bags are f****** useless!
Me: *Smiles* I'm not sure if you're aware of this or not, but as of June 1st, Asda will be charging for the carrier bags
Man: Aye and business will drop drastically..I stopped shopping at Kwik Save when they started charging for their bags and I'll have no problem stopping shopping here either!

It angers me that people are this egotistical. People actually want to stop shopping because they might have to pay 40p for a handful of bags...! They don't seem to realise it IS about deterring people from using so many bags, and their brains all go on the defense and decide that it's just the store making money. Corner shops have been charging 5-10p for years for bags that are about as much use as a spoonful of ash.

Re the green plastic bags..these are called Bag For Life for a reason. If they tear, or become no longer useable, take them to the store and they will replace it. It's not a waste of money, you invest 5p and get each one thereafter for free. The comment about getting 3 uses out of a BFL is total BS, many customers comment on how long they've had their BFL and not had to trade it in. I think your OH has seriously missunderstood the price for the "plastic green bags". While Asda policies differ from store to store, the prices of the environmentally friendly bags are the same throughout the country. The material bags are £2, and the green BFL's are 5p. The black tickled pink bags which no longer run were 70p.