No, I don't need a bag thanks....

[Thurston Garden]

I am known to pop into the wee co-op in the mornings for milk. Every time, without fail, the milk goes into a carrier bag. "I don't need a bag thanks" I say and I get a scowl from the staff and the milk is handed over, minus the bag.

Now, given the regularity of my bag refusal and that its at about 7:30am and the staff are always the same 2 ladies, you would think they would remember: "Oh no, here comes No Bag Man again" but no. Every time it gets plonked into a bag. Occasionally when I say no bag thanks, the milk and the bag is thrust towards me regardless.

A couple of weeks ago I emailed Co-op Customer Services to make them aware and suggest that staff do not automatically give a bag with every purchase. Lo and behold, nothing but an automated reply. Still waiting for a proper one!

I do acknowledge the Co-op was the first to introduce the biodegradable carrier bag, but aint it reduce, reuse, recycle?

[red]

its stunning how much the shops are still resistant to the idea - particularly non food shopes (our co-op you have to pack your own anyway, so its your choice) but places like smiths - and clothes shopes - i usually end up taking my purchase back out of the bag they put it in and into my own.. and they dont half get scowly about it too!

[Clara]

I often feel like cashiers take it personally, like I´m being holier than thou.

Any suggestions for ways to make "I don´t need a bag thanks" sound less confrontational ?

Brownie points if you can do it in Spanish

Clara x.

[Thurston Garden]

Me me me

Yo me pongo´T necesita una bolsa Gracias

I can imagine that going down well in Dunbar!

[hamster]

Despite all those signs in M&S, I've never actually been asked if I want a bag...

I worked in a farm shop and I was appalled at how many bags we used, especially on a busy summer day. I can't even imagine how many the big supermarkets use! I always asked customers if they wanted a bag on principle, but I can see if you've got a lot of people buying a lot of things you might go on autopilot a bit.

However, I am pleased to report that the other day I told the shop assistant in Sainsbury's that I didn't want one, and he said 'Good on you' and chatted to me for ages!

[Milims]

I was feeling lazy the other day and rather than taking my own, I called at the sarnie shop on my way to the site, for a butty and a cuppa - and was offered a plastic bag to carry it to the car in! I was stunned - but not quite as stunned as the shop keeper when I handed it back with a polite "no thank you"! It really horrifies me how many and how easily bags are handed out.

[Shirley]

Our co-op is pretty good actually.... the check out person generally looks up at me and thinks... oh god it's her again... 'you'll have your own bag then will you??' YAY.

There is a Costcutter up here in Aberdeenshire that has gone all out to encourage their customers to use their own bags... notices up everywhere asking people to save on bags... they also sell a range of locally handmade cloth bags. Why can't more places be proactive like that?

[wulf]

Even in supermarket chains, you are still dealing with individual people. I'm guessing that the two ladies in Thurston's local store are not eco-warriors in their private lives...

Wulf

[ina]

There is a Costcutter up here in Aberdeenshire that has gone all out to encourage their customers to use their own bags

Which one is that?

[Jarmara]

i have at last trained my local spar they no longer give me a bag straight away.

[magnuscanis]

I've once or twice had positive comments from the checkout operators about my bags. The only time I can remember for sure, it happened to be a friend of mine in any case - usually I'm not especially talkative at checkouts.

I can't recall having any negative feedback about them. Most don't seem to notice. In fact, in the supermarkets I go to which provide free bags, they usually just leave a pile on the end of the checkout and leave you to fend for yourself.

A few years ago, Safeway used to offer a penny back for each of your own bags you used. I must admit, I preferred the KwikSave policy of charging a small amount for bags and charging a bit less for the produce - it certainly amounted to a much bigger saving than 2 or 3p (or even 20 or 30p if you were doing a big shop with lots of bags) and was a much better incentive for taking your own bags. Since Safeway was taken over by Morrisons' (or possibly before that) they stopped that policy in any case.

- Magnus

[yugogypsy]

I shop at Thrifty Food's here and I just put my bags on the conveyor belt ahead of my groceries, the bags are used and when everything is packed, they add up how many bags you brought and give 4 cents back on each one.

Lois

[Wormella]

We have a large selection of hessian bags from various people (Mum send them over from Barcelona).

My favourite comment was 'oh, what are you some kind of Guardian reader'. It wasn't a sneer - more like general puzzlement.

[Thomzo]

I went into our new B&Q and got chatting to the checkout operator. She said that they are now told not to offer a carrier bag. If the customer asks they can give a bag but mustn't offer.

Zoe

[ina]

My favourite comment was 'oh, what are you some kind of Guardian reader'. It wasn't a sneer - more like general puzzlement.

Brilliant!

And I fully agree with your signature.