Selfsufficientish.com

Milims wrote:I'd rather not use a trolley...

I prefer to avoid using a trolley too.

Partly it's to try and overcome my hoarding instincts but largely because I generally avoid taking the car when I go shopping and I've occasionally found when I have used a trolley that I end up getting more stuff than I can easily carry home. If I stick to a basket I know I'll be able to carry my bags home, even if they are quite heavy.

Unfortunately my two otherwise favourite supermarkets, Aldi and Lidl (both of which have, to my mind, a more interesting and often slightly cheaper range of goods than the others round here) make a policy of not providing hand baskets. Rather than using a trolley when I go there, I usually just pile up my shopping in my arms and try desperately not to drop it all, unless I happen to be able to find a spare box lying around on one of the shelves which I can use as a makeshift basket. It's never crossed my mind to use my own shopping bags to put stuff in before I reach the checkout (in those two shops you have to pay for carrier bags, so I always take my own bags - I usually try to in other shops as well, and if I forget I save the carrier bags and reuse them as bin liners etc.).

- Magnus

Lidl's here now have a few small trolleys as well - there's always a rush for them, because I think a lot of people find the others too big! And have you thought of getting yourself one of those folding plastic baskets - they have actually sold them in the past a couple of times? That way it's easier to carry, it's open, so no problems at the checkout, and you can use it to carry the stuff home, too.

Milims wrote: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!!!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

Sorry, going off-topic: And what do tell those shoppers who eat food they have not paid for?? If ever?

How do I tell my son that taking something without paying for it (unless given as a gift) is theft if he sees all these people eating food they haven't paid for? Or worse, giving it to children to stop them brawling?

When I worked on the tills at my local supermarket, I was very used to parents putting empty sweet and crisp packets on the checkout. One day a woman put an eaten apple core on my checkout. I think she hoped I wouldn't charge her as I wouldn't be able to weigh it.

Instead I smiled sweetly and summoned on of the runners to go and get another apple so that I could weigh it and made her wait while he got it. I think she was suitable embarrased by holding every one else up, especially as it was the express till and I had a huge queue.

Zoe

Thomzo - that was very cool!! And just what she deserved!! If my kids are - or even if I am - hungry or thirsty as we shop I make sure the packaging is kept and presented at the till so that it can be paid for. Tasting before you buy is a NO NO, unless its offered that is. To me it doesn't matter where it comes from, if you take it without asking its theft!! OK so foraging is kind of different - thats public domain - but I wouldn't scrump apples!!

Thomzo wrote: I think she was suitable embarrased by holding every one else up, especially as it was the express till and I had a huge queue.

Zoe

Brilliant! Thanks!