Have supermarkets gone mad?

oldbag · 14 Oct 2008 at 19:59

[FnG]magnolia;12694618 said:
What did you do with the several bags your local supermarket gave you the last time you shopped there? Not starting an argument, just curious.

I used them as bin bags, and to take clothes to charity shops, etc. But they break easily.

Lopéz · 14 Oct 2008 at 19:59

[FnG]magnolia;12694618 said:
What did you do with the several bags your local supermarket gave you the last time you shopped there? Not starting an argument, just curious.

Don't know about him, but I use them for taking my lunch to work. They soon split though, especially if you carry anything remotely sharp in them. Like a banana

oldbag · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:00

[FnG]magnolia;12694621 said:
That is opinion not fact.

Yeah, so?

SB118 · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:01

My local shop don't like it when i point out i've already paid for my bags in the profit on the food i've just bought, it's not like they were "free" before is it.

Freeman · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:01

At least they're attempting to do something. Better than nothing.

[FnG]magnolia · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:02

oldbag said:
Yeah, so?

You're wrong. I didn't want to be so blunt.

Energize · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:03

Freeman said:
At least they're attempting to do something. Better than nothing.

Ironically the extra profit the shareholders get will probably result in more being spent on polluting products anyway.

[FnG]magnolia · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:03

oldbag said:
I used them as bin bags, and to take clothes to charity shops, etc. But they break easily.

Whoops, missed this post. Fair play and yes they do, unfortunately. They're not margin stabilisers nor profit makers, though.

oldbag · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:05

[FnG]magnolia;12694660 said:
You're wrong. I didn't want to be so blunt.

I am? So, currently when you get a plastic bag for 'free', do you think it really is free? Do you think whoever supplies them the bags gives it to them for free, and they don't pass the cost on by factoring it in with the price of goods?

JBuk · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:06

[FnG]magnolia;12694621 said:
That is opinion not fact.

where else does the cash generated from bag sales go?

[FnG]magnolia · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:20

oldbag said:
I am? So, currently when you get a plastic bag for 'free', do you think it really is free? Do you think whoever supplies them the bags gives it to them for free, and they don't pass the cost on by factoring it in with the price of goods?

In terms of the price you pay for the good, the bag is free, yes. The acquisition cost of any product between a supplier and a retailer ignores - in the main - any such additions such as bags, time-cost to provide the till, utility costs, staff costs etc.

The retailer may then factor some or indeed all of those costs in before deciding on the CPP (customer price point) but this will be retailer-specific.

If your main concern is that the removal of free bags somehow spells open season for the retailers to shoot the customer then you should probably worry about something else. There are much easier ways for retailers to make money rather than mess around with bag costs.

Doonhamer · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:21

I love the fact shops charge for a plastic bag. I dont care why they do but I hate plastic, after ten years working in a factory producing plastic goods I see how much is pumped out and really notice it all dumped everywhere.

5/10 pence per bag is nothing compared to the other costs associated with shopping if you need the bag, it is though enough to stop some people taking a bag when there is not need. Win Win in my eyes.

alexakasloth · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:26

Sinque said:
Plastic bags take thousands and thousands of years to degrade, so in reality they are your bags for life.

The free ones break easily though.

IcE-ColD · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:26

JIM_BOB7813 said:
Yeh it's stupid, some places even charge 5p per bag. I hate the way it's PC to reuse bags, and the supermarkets love it, but they probably waste so much food because it goes out of date, and over package stuff, and generally don't really care. But don't worry, we're telling our customers to ration plastic bags.

I work at tesco and you wouldn't believe the amount of food they throw away every day. The bakery department is the worse of the lot. They make too much stuff and kilograms of your favourite doghnuts, cakes and bread are thrown in the skip each day. I regulary fill up 2 full cages of just waste bread and throw it all out. I;ve often thought why they can't give it to farmers who can feed it to their pigs.

oldbag · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:32

[FnG]magnolia;12694795 said:
In terms of the price you pay for the good, the bag is free, yes. The acquisition cost of any product between a supplier and a retailer ignores - in the main - any such additions such as bags, time-cost to provide the till, utility costs, staff costs etc.

The retailer may then factor some or indeed all of those costs in before deciding on the CPP (customer price point) but this will be retailer-specific.

If your main concern is that the removal of free bags somehow spells open season for the retailers to shoot the customer then you should probably worry about something else. There are much easier ways for retailers to make money rather than mess around with bag costs.

So you are telling me that supermarkets do not factor in operating costs (including providing bags) when setting prices for the items they sell?

Well, I'm sure they factor most things in, plus a mark-up. Why go through all the effort of the business if you don't want to make a healthy profit?

Actually, it's not my main concern. My main concerns were stated in my OP.

I broke the quoting order, but I am sure you get my drift.

[FnG]magnolia · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:32

IcE-ColD said:
I work at tesco and you wouldn't believe the amount of food they throw away every day. The bakery department is the worse of the lot. They make too much stuff and kilograms of your favourite doghnuts, cakes and bread are thrown in the skip each day. I regulary fill up 2 full cages of just waste bread and throw it all out. I;ve often thought why they can't give it to farmers who can feed it to their pigs.

Legally not allowed to

Nor are they allowed to give it to a charity

OpenToSuggestions · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:34

[FnG]magnolia;12694888 said:
Legally not allowed to Nor are they allowed to give it to a charity

It is also a sackable offense to eat damaged goods - like crisps that you have just seen the bag burst. They HAVE to be chucked in the compactor.

Sankari · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:34

Just ban them.

Simple.

[FnG]magnolia · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:35

oldbag said:
Actually, it's not my main concern. My main concerns were stated in my OP.

In that case, yes you are ruining the environment and they're trying to do something, albeit a little, to help it. if you didn't like the look the checkout member gave you then speak to someone in the store. Why on earth are you raising this here of all places?

syke · 14 Oct 2008 at 20:37

Yeah, we were packing our shopping away (4 peoples worth) and bottles of beer etc, and she was giving us one bag at a time :/.