Sainsbury's Bag for Life day

[Thomzo]

Did anyone see this on the news today:

http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/index.asp? ... NewsID=892

Basically next Friday, Sainsbury's will not give out the normal thin carrier bags but will be giving away their "bags for life" bags instead. The hope is that this will inspire shoppers to reuse the bag.

Erm. I don't wish to rain on their parade but if Jo Shopper can't be bothered to reuse a normal bag or bring their own what makes Sainsbury's think they're going to suddenly become all responsible and remember to use their bag for life, for ever onwards?

I remember when I used to work at Safeways (and this was many years ago) we used to give away free paper bags and charge for the plastic ones. I can remember the uproar in the press that we had the cheek to charge for plastic carrier bags with their logo on. Funny how the world turns.

[Cassiepod]

Thomzo I do agree with you, but if it inspires one or two people per store it might well be worth it...

[Thomzo]

Yes that's true and any publicity is good.

[Milims]

I went into Sainsburys yesterday - with my everlasting shopping bag. I used it as I went round the store, holding the bag by one handle so that it was as open as I could make it, to put my purchases in - not much just some fruit, coffee and milk. I was followed round the store by the security guy. I went to the check out, emptied my bag, was complimented on my use of the bag by the check out assistant, packed my goods, in the aforementioned bag, paid, then packed them into my empty bag. As I made to leave the store I was stopped by the security guard who said that he had followed me (obviously!), had noted what I had put in my bag and had also noted that I had paid for everything that was in it - BUT - next time please could I use a trolley as (to paraphrase) my behaviour was suspicious!!!
When I arrived home I called head office (very nice and twee) cutomer services, who were (apparently) appauled by the security guards behaviour - "did I have a nectar card and did I use the store regularly?"
So much for the bag for life promo - don't think that I'll call there again on my way home from work!!! Maybe its because, as the guy on the deli counter pointed out, I look like a builder (funny that, when I'd just come from a construction site!!), so I guess I could be seen as standing out from the crowd - a green (female) sparky!! lol

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

[Cornelian]

here in Australia I think people are finally getting the no plastic bag rule - most people I see in the supermarkets have their own reusable bags rather than use plastic bags (the state gov in Tasmania is considering a total ban on plastic bags in the state anyway). For years supermarkets used to offer reusable canvas bags, pricing them at about $5 (maybe £2). No one ever bought any.

Then someone in marketing had a brainwave, brought the cost down to 99c and produced the canvas bags in green rather than the previous cream, and within weeks these bags were walking off the shelves and people were using them everywhere.

Now it is more usual to see people using reusable bags than plastic bags (at least in the parts of Victoria and Tasmania where I have lived. I have my little granny trolley which works really well!

[ina]

When I arrived home I called head office (very nice and twee) cutomer services, who were (apparently) appauled by the security guards behaviour

As somebody who's often worked in shops, I must defend the security guard's behaviour. People insisting on using their own shopping bags for collecting goods off the shelves make life very hard for them. Yes, some may, like yourself, be perfectly honorable, but if the baseline assumption is that most people are, there will be some that take advantage of it - and we'll all pay for it. What's wrong with using the baskets or trolleys they provide, and then packing it into your own bag at the checkout? I think the guard had a perfect right to ask what he did, especially as he seems to have been polite about it. He could have stopped you in the shop and demanded he check your bag. I think there may even be a legal definition that what's in your bag, which you brought into the shop, is considered yours, and must therefore be seen as stolen, if you haven't paid for it yet.

There was a time when in Germany (where you always paid for plastic bags, and most people brought their own), signs were up at the entrance of the supermarkets requesting you to leave your shopping bags in the car, or in lockers that were provided for that purpose, if you didn't have a car. That was exactly to avoid the situation you describe. It was also great, because you could leave your bags and other shopping you may have done before in other shops in the locker, and didn't have to worry about proving to staff that that stuff had been paid for somewhere else; plus you didn't have to lugg it about with you...

So please, please, have a bit of consideration for supermarket staff. They work hard, and don't get paid a lot - they don't need hassle from customers, especially when all they do is their job, and do it politely, too.

[wulf]

I find trolleys and baskets to be better shopping containers than bags anyway - much easier to see what you've got for yourself as well as store security.

Wulf

[Thomzo]

I went into Sainsburys yesterday - with my everlasting shopping bag. I used it as I went round the store, holding the bag by one handle so that it was as open as I could make it, to put my purchases in -

Why??? The baskets are totally reusable so why not just use one like everyone else?

Zoe

[Milims]

I also have often worked in shops and other service industries and am well aware of the hard work, long hours and low rate of pay, and I have total respect for anyone who does. I do think that perhaps I didn't put my point accross quiet well enough. I have valid reason for using my shopping bag. When I pop into a shop after work its usually for several fairly bulky items, a large milk, cereal, fruit etc which would require two hand baskets and necessitate lots of picking up and putting down. I'd rather not use a trolley as life taught me to be a hoarder. My ex-husbands financial behaviour meant that there was frequently no money to buy groceries so I learned to stock up on bargains just in case. So I'm trying to retrain my shopping behaviour by using a bag which has enough space only for what I need. My point about the security guard was that a) he stopped me inside the store (one can only be accused of shop lifting outside the store or at least making a clear attempt to leave without paying for goods) and b) he stated that I had been observed paying for ALL my goods and had essentially done nothing wrong. So why, if I had done nothing wrong, take the time to stop me and tell me so and make me feel most uncomfortable in the process, after all when someone is stopped by a security guard the usual assumtion by on lookers is one guilt.

[ina]

My point about the security guard was that a) he stopped me inside the store (one can only be accused of shop lifting outside the store or at least making a clear attempt to leave without paying for goods) and b) he stated that I had been observed paying for ALL my goods and had essentially done nothing wrong. So why, if I had done nothing wrong, take the time to stop me and tell me so and make me feel most uncomfortable in the process, after all when someone is stopped by a security guard the usual assumtion by on lookers is one guilt.

I can understand your personal reasons for using your own bag, however:

The fact that he stopped you inside the store and told you that he knew you'd paid for your goods made clear he wasn't accusing you of anything. Had he followed you out of the shop, that could have been interpreted as something different. He only politely requested you to be more considerate of the shop staff next time, which I think is his perfect right to do.

[Thomzo]

I'd rather not use a trolley

Ok - I can understand this one. I usually walk to our local co-op so use a hand basket on the basis that if I can lift it then I can carry it home. I know what you mean about the bulky items as well. They don't tend to sit in a hand basket too well and I end up having to balance the basket across my stomach while I carry it.

Aha - a reason not to go on a diet

Zoe

[Cornelian]

I have to confess to being one of those people who always use their own bag or trolley to put their stuff in. Lots of people do it here in Australia - shop staff seem very accepting of it. I think it is law here that you can't be stopped until after you have left a store, so maybe they just keep an eagle eye on us instore. LOL We do have all our bags checked at checkout though.

Supermarket etiquette varies amazingly about the world. I remember the last time I was in London and I went to Sainsburies and I lurked about the checkout for ages and ages watching how they did things before having the courage to go through and I still stuffed up.

California supermarket etiquette is even worse though. *shudder* I even had my American husband with me then to guide me through and I nonetheless made a complete fool of myself.

[the.fee.fairy]

I had the same shopping in a chinese supermarket - there, you only have to look remotely interested in something, and they're there to get the right size and everything!

Then, you get given a receipt, and you go to a till for each section, for example: you can't buy shoes and a pencil together because they come from separate sections. So, you go to the shoe section, choose your pair, the assistant takes them, boxes them and puts them in a bag. You then go to the checkout, pay for the shoes, get another receipt, which you then give to the assisstant who served you, who gives you your shoes.

Then, you go to the stationary section and do it all over again for a pencil!

On the way out, security checks your little bundle of receipts (assuming you've bought in a few different sections) and your bags, and you're free to go!

If you're western, times the assistant by 6, all wanting to help, and all interested in what the westerner is going to buy!
Then try explaining deodorant...

[Thomzo]

Ha, Fee
Yes, I remember that. And then add in haggling as well.

Buying a pencil and a pair of shoes took nearly all day!

Zoe

[ina]

We do have all our bags checked at checkout though.

That would probably cause a major outrage here! Intrusion into privacy! Unacceptable!