Great Carrier Bag Heist

[richw]

I have about 10 bags for life in the boot of my car, I tend to shop at Lidl, who have always charged so I am well trained in remembering my own bags, or Tesco and use their scan as you shop which you bag everything as you go, so again best to bring your own bags.
I also have a large plastic crate in the boot of my car, which I use a lot as well, especially at Lidl.

I notice in Lidl very few Brits get the hang of continental check outs.
Put everything back in the trolley loose, and bag at your car or the bagging shelf along the window

 

[Bletchleyite]

I notice in Lidl very few Brits get the hang of continental check outs.
Put everything back in the trolley loose, and bag at your car or the bagging shelf along the window

But *not* if you're using a basket. Reportedly you'll annoy them if you try to take the basket from the checkout, which is irritatingly inconsistent if you're quite big and hefty and therefore will get a lot of shopping in a basket.

Neil

 

[martinsh]

But *not* if you're using a basket. Reportedly you'll annoy them if you try to take the basket from the checkout,

Neil

Saw somebody do this today, and it looked weird.

[ I ALWAYS repack into trolley if using one - that's how I was brought up. "Do you need any help packing" "No, I've got over 30 years experience !" ]

 

[burneside]

I couldn't help noticing in burger king outside Cardiff central, they have a piece of paper saying how much they raised by charging 5p for a paper bag... Most of the money raised was eaten up by 'compliance and admin costs'.

Nice little money maker, just claim the money as admin fees.

Still doesn't stop trains having empty bags left on.

From what I have read of the proposed legislation for England, bags without handles will be non-chargeable, which covers most of the bags given away in the fast food outlets. It will be interesting to see if they pull a fast one and charge anyway.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

The deadline approaches fast.

How did the government / DEFRA contrive to make the process so complex? If I put my fresh meat and fish in one bag, it remains free, if I add another non fresh item I have to pay 5p.

If the shop I am in employs 250 or more people (across its entire business) I have to pay, fewer than that and they can charge but don't have to. Why? A plastic bag is a plastic bag, causing whatever environmental damage, regardless of the size of retailer I get it from.

However, the good news. Today in my local Tesco, the flimsy floppy useless rip if you even look at it carrier bags have been replaced by thicker and stronger bags. I don't mind (as much) paying for a bag which I can realistically get several uses out of.

Stock up on free bags now!

 

[DaleCooper]

I don't mind (as much) paying for a bag which I can realistically get several uses out of.

If you spend 10p on a "bag for life" then you have a bag for life, if it rips or wears out just get a free replacement, I've been doing it for years and I always carry one folded in my back pocket so I never need a bag from a shop even though I'm offered one every time.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

If you spend 10p on a "bag for life" then you have a bag for life, if it rips or wears out just get a free replacement, I've been doing it for years and I always carry one folded in my back pocket so I never need a bag from a shop even though I'm offered one every time.

And my bag for life split open (along the welded seam) as I walked through a pub. Spilling my shopping all over the floor, itself nice hard Lakeland slate which easily smashed my bottled beer :cry:. I got a replacement bag for life but not free replacement groceries!

Once bitten, twice shy.

Many bags, few items in each. Then I have spare bags if (when) one tears on my walk home. The flimsy etc ones seem designed to last just long enough to survive the transfer from trolley to car boot, then from car boot to home.

 

[Geezertronic]

We use the used bags for clearing away the dog crap during walks (apart from the Tesco flimsy ones) I don't mind spending 5p to get my shopping home if it helps to let the dog spend a penny or two in the park

 

[richw]

Tesco have improved their quality of their 5p bags. They are using them for free in my local store already. Much thicker than their free predecessors,

 

[Yew]

Excellent, so now I have to pay to advertise for large corporations...

 

[Mojo]

I've really been stocking up on carrier bags recently; haven't used a bag for life (except at shops that already charge, such as Lidl/Aldi and M&S) in months now.

 

[Trog]

Just a thought but if they charge for the bags presumably they have to be fit for purpose and of merchantable quality. So if one splits before you get home are the supermarket liable for any losses caused by their faulty product?

 

[me123]

I've really been stocking up on carrier bags recently; haven't used a bag for life (except at shops that already charge, such as Lidl/Aldi and M&S) in months now.

We've had the charge in Scotland for a while now. I'm used to carrying a bag with me or considering an alternative if I don't have one (i.e. not using a bag or using my rucksack). I haven't bought a "normal" carrier bag for months now - the few times I need to buy one I just buy a proper heavy duty bag - it's much more likely to be reused.

Interestingly, Sainsbury's up here have stopped selling the flimsy bags, with the 5p bag being reusable. Sadly, the other supermarkets have not followed suit. Sadly, Tesco's bags were still flimsy and rubbish last time I saw them, but perhaps charging nationwide will prompt them to bring out stronger carriers.
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Excellent, so now I have to pay to advertise for large corporations...

You don't have to buy a bag from them, you know. Nothing to stop you using an unbranded bag for your shopping

 

[ooo]

I personally think this should be rolled out to all shops rather than just large businesses for it to make a big affect

 

[Trog]

Excellent, so now I have to pay to advertise for large corporations...

Just turn the bag inside out if it worries you.

 

[jon0844]

You're paying for a bag from that company, but otherwise buy a bag from someone else. Simple, if rather pointless and totally unnecessary!

 

[richw]

Interestingly, Sainsbury's up here have stopped selling the flimsy bags, with the 5p bag being reusable. Sadly, the other supermarkets have not followed suit. Sadly, Tesco's bags were still flimsy and rubbish last time I saw them, but perhaps charging nationwide will prompt them to bring out stronger carriers.

my local Tesco (Cornwall) appear to have ran out of flimsy bags and are using their new stock early. Their new bags are a lot thicker and stronger- I carried 3 2l bottles of drink in it no problem.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You're paying for a bag from that company, but otherwise buy a bag from someone else. Simple, if rather pointless and totally unnecessary!

I've my reusable bags with a collection of companies, I pick one up if I like the design.

 

[jon0844]

I see a bag as a bag. I have no shame walking into Aldi with a Waitrose bag or vice versa. All I care about is that it's strong enough to care whatever goes in it.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see a bag as a bag. I have no shame walking into Aldi with a Waitrose bag or vice versa. All I care about is that it's strong enough to care whatever goes in it.

We have some wide-gusseted laminate-lined hessian bags which just show the phrase..."Support your local library". We bought six of these some years ago somewhere in West Sussex for the meagre sum of £3.00 in total and they are very strong bags with triple-stitched handle anchors and very comfortable hessian handles.

 

[Butts]

When the charge is imposed in England the resulting impact on whoever supplies the said product will be astronomical - England must account for ten times as many carrier bags as the rest of the UK combined.

Wonder who does actually provide them, and how many jobs will be lost ?

 

[Bletchleyite]

When the charge is imposed in England the resulting impact on whoever supplies the said product will be astronomical - England must account for ten times as many carrier bags as the rest of the UK combined.

Wonder who does actually provide them, and how many jobs will be lost ?

I would expect the process to be highly automated, so probably surprisingly few.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

When the charge is imposed in England the resulting impact on whoever supplies the said product will be astronomical - England must account for ten times as many carrier bags as the rest of the UK combined.

Wonder who does actually provide them, and how many jobs will be lost ?

A well known food and retail chain in England has been charging a Shilling, for some time now certainly in the food section, if you were charged 2 Shillings or a Florin that does seem expensive.

 

[jon0844]

I would expect the process to be highly automated, so probably surprisingly few.

You mean they're not hand made?

 

[burneside]

Excellent, so now I have to pay to advertise for large corporations...

I've bulk-bought plain white bags from Amazon, cheaper than paying to advertise the supermarkets.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've bulk-bought plain white bags from Amazon, cheaper than paying to advertise the supermarkets.

Or perhaps better to use a washable canvas bag or a rucksack or similar?

I wish the delivery services would start allowing us to keep hold of the crates against a deposit to allow unloading at leisure. Would also speed up their operations. Perhaps they could use a more manageable size of crate like the old Safeway Greenboxes.

 

[burneside]

Or perhaps better to use a washable canvas bag or a rucksack or similar?

I wish the delivery services would start allowing us to keep hold of the crates against a deposit to allow unloading at leisure. Would also speed up their operations. Perhaps they could use a more manageable size of crate like the old Safeway Greenboxes.

I use a large hessian bag for the weekly shop, but for the small stuff during the week while I am at work then the plastic bags are much more convenient to keep in a pocket. I won't be reducing the number of bags I use on a weekday.

 

[Geezertronic]

I've bulk-bought plain white bags from Amazon, cheaper than paying to advertise the supermarkets.

Even including the delivery charge?

 

[alxndr]

How are they planning to implement the charge at self service check outs?

 

[Bletchleyite]

How are they planning to implement the charge at self service check outs?

At shops with self-service checkouts where they charge currently, you're asked to say how many you took.

Here's an interesting point - does anyone else object to the idea that the fee must be donated to a charity? I do support charity, but I am very strongly of the view that I will choose which ones, in my own time, with no pressure nor influence from others. I would rather the money went to paying for the bags, as presently, as Aldi etc are always quick to point out as they have always charged, that money goes on the price of goods.

 

[burneside]

Even including the delivery charge?

There's no delivery charge.