Have supermarkets gone mad?

[FnG]magnolia;12694908 said:
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?
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Because it's a public forum and I wished to know other people's opinions?

How am I ruining the environment by asking for an extra bag?

We have recycle schemes where I live and I happen to recycle 95% of the household goods that I use.
 
oldbag said:
Because it's a public forum and I wished to know other people's opinions?

How am I ruining the environment by asking for an extra bag?

We have recycle schemes where I live and I happen to recycle 95% of the household goods that I use.
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Well the opinions you will get fall neatly into two precise categories :

(1) OMG, I now have to pay for bags so the retailers must somehow be making super-normal profits from me! I'll take my custom elsewhere without thinking through if this is actually valid, realistic, or even something they can do. I'll conveniently or ignorantly ignore the fact that the retailer can - for WHATEVER REASON IT SO DESIRES - choose to put my weekly shop from £100 up to £200 (given market competition, retention of customers etc)

(2) Ok, it's a "green" thing and I'd hope that if I did think my retailer was going to put the on-cost onto me that I'd have a serious think about shopping elsewhere. Lots of places to shop and I'm the customer, everyone wants my money. I don't want to pay any more than I am so maybe I'll look into it and see who does what.

Those are the only two opinions that matter to either you as a consumer or them as a retailer. If you don't like something then shop somewhere where you do like what they do. It's your money and your choice :)
 
oldbag said:
I was at the checkout of my local supermarket today and was asked by the cashier if I would like any bags, to which I replied, "Yes please, several". She then gave me a look of disgust and complete contempt. Here I was being tried and sentenced, and sent to jail for daring to ask for more than one bag. She then gave me a couple and immediately snatched the last one away (like it was gold dust) when I managed to fill up my other bags to breaking point.

What is going on in this country? Do they believe I am ruining the environment by asking for more than one bag? What did she expect me to do with my shopping, carry it all by hand?

Maybe the Government should concentrate on building nuclear power stations instead of coal stations and look into wasted carbon/energy instead - it may achieve something.
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I'd have went completely nuts about it. I would have got the manager down and inform them of how that person made you feel. Do not let anyone treat you like that as if it was in the street then they would have been told where to go. Seriously, don't let people away with that crap!. Who are they to judge?.

In fact the next time you are in the shop, inform the manager regardless and try to point out the idiot with the attitude. They seriously need to change it.

I'm sorry but the reason for today's turmoil in all areas is self inflicted. The powers that be who control this world have failed and now it's the people that are getting the blame. They could have educated everyone sternly a long time ago on how to be more caring of our planet. They didn't and now because it's all went pete tong it's like we're just being ignorant of the education we should have but never received. Shame on the government and the lack of education to look after our world.
 
I worked at marks and spencer, who I believe were the first to start charging for carrier bags.

All the profits went to an environmental charity, but you'd still get customers complaining that it was disgusting that M&S made profits out of the bags. :/

I'm all for the idea in theory, but my main issue was that what they didn't tell people is that while the money was indeed going to charity, it was actually going to an American charity, and not a British one.
 
[FnG]magnolia;12694987 said:
Well the opinions you will get fall neatly into two precise categories :

(1) OMG, I now have to pay for bags so the retailers must somehow be making super-normal profits from me! I'll take my custom elsewhere without thinking through if this is actually valid, realistic, or even something they can do. I'll conveniently or ignorantly ignore the fact that the retailer can - for WHATEVER REASON IT SO DESIRES - choose to put my weekly shop from £100 up to £200 (given market competition, retention of customers etc)

(2) Ok, it's a "green" thing and I'd hope that if I did think my retailer was going to put the on-cost onto me that I'd have a serious think about shopping elsewhere. Lots of places to shop and I'm the customer, everyone wants my money. I don't want to pay any more than I am so maybe I'll look into it and see who does what.

Those are the only two opinions that matter to either you as a consumer or them as a retailer. If you don't like something then shop somewhere where you do like what they do. It's your money and your choice :)
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Well in that case, I should have asked you directly as you appear to be able to predict everyones responses. :)

And thanks for pointing out that I have choices as I can't obviously work out myself what I should do.
 
J.D said:
...I'm sorry but the reason for today's turmoil in all areas is self inflicted. The powers that be who control this world have failed and now it's the people that are getting the blame. They could have educated everyone sternly a long time ago on how to be more caring of our planet. They didn't and now because it's all went pete tong it's like we're just being ignorant of the education we should have but never received. Shame on the government and the lack of education to look after our world.
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That has to be one of the worst excuses for not being 'environmentally conscious' (sorry, annoying buzzword) I've heard in a while.

Can anyone argue against using less resources?

If you take the environmental aspect out of this, that's what it comes down to; and I fail to see how using less can be bad.
 
I hate it when they give you one bag a time until its filled... :mad: I like to have 4 or so bags ready to spread heavy items across and pack them better
 
I work at a coop and we dont charge for bags and so people really do abuse the privilege. I cant stand seeing people taking a bag because they've bought one bottle of coke. I'm not an environmentalist normally, not overally concerned by global warming etc, but plastic bags do get me - the damage they do cannot be denied, they're so unnecessary
 
4.3p of the bag price at lakeland goes to the woodland trust and the other 0.7 goes to the taxman...
 
J.D said:
I'd have went completely nuts about it. I would have got the manager down and inform them of how that person made you feel. Do not let anyone treat you like that as if it was in the street then they would have been told where to go. Seriously, don't let people away with that crap!. Who are they to judge?.

In fact the next time you are in the shop, inform the manager regardless and try to point out the idiot with the attitude. They seriously need to change it.

I'm sorry but the reason for today's turmoil in all areas is self inflicted. The powers that be who control this world have failed and now it's the people that are getting the blame. They could have educated everyone sternly a long time ago on how to be more caring of our planet. They didn't and now because it's all went pete tong it's like we're just being ignorant of the education we should have but never received. Shame on the government and the lack of education to look after our world.
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What would or could the Manager have done about the Corporate Policy of his Organisation? Nothing. This is not store specific.

The "idiot" is actually following company procedure. Not his choice.
 
thecremeegg said:
I work at a coop and we dont charge for bags and so people really do abuse the privilege. I cant stand seeing people taking a bag because they've bought one bottle of coke. I'm not an environmentalist normally, not overally concerned by global warming etc, but plastic bags do get me - the damage they do cannot be denied, they're so unnecessary
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I agree.

Just to add some numbers to this:

I get my lunch from sainsburys most days I'm at work. I've been there 2 years, so let's say I could potentially have visited 400 times over those 2 years. As I re-use the bags for as long as possible I've actually only used 4 bags. That's quite a reduction I'm sure you'll agree, and I'm just 1 person in a country of millions.
 
I was in the bakers in town today buying a few steak and kidney pies, which I wasn't planning on trooping round with me in their individual bags, so when the woman behind the counter asked if I'd like a carrier bag for them I duly accepted, only for ONE PENCE to be demanded of me. One ******* pence! Jesus wept!

What on earth is that one pence for? Is one pence going to change anything at all? Is one pence going to put put people off buying bags anyway? No. Is the money raised from this scheme going to save the world from the evil plastic bags? Is it ******.

Plain and sheer profiteering. They should wear masks and striped jumpers the lot of them.
 
chino said:
I agree.

Just to add some numbers to this:

I get my lunch from sainsburys most days I'm at work. I've been there 2 years, so let's say I could potentially have visited 400 times over those 2 years. As I re-use the bags for as long as possible I've actually only used 4 bags. That's quite a reduction I'm sure you'll agree, and I'm just 1 person in a country of millions.
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Exactly, well done you :) The sheer volumes of plastic bags that I see by the side of the road and in fields etc makes me angry, really gets me. Whats wrong with paper bags, they at least biodegrade
 
Sinque said:
Plastic bags take thousands and thousands of years to degrade, so in reality they are your bags for life.
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We went shopping at our local coop at the weekend, after getting home we noticed the plastic bag had a message on it that read something like

'This bag will start to degrade from the minute you start to use it, it will be completely bio-degraded within 3 years'

Why cant all supermarkets use these bags?

Rich
 
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