I've had funny looks from cashiers when I've refused a bag when purchasing a single item that could easily be carried. I was also stopped by a security guard after putting legitimately purchased items in my coat pockets. Fortunately I had my receipt to prove my innoscense, but again he was very confused!

Reply

We never have here in California, but my mother-in-law has outside of Chicago. They give her weird looks and sometimes even just toss everything in her bags with no organization at all, almost as a punishment. So strange...

David
http://www.thegoodhuman.com

Reply

Only once did a grocery clerk not want to use my bags. I suppose I could have thrown a fuss, but I opted to bag my own stuff instead. Usually my grocery store doesn't blink an eye and recently they've even started selling their own bags.

Now just the other night at Target the cashier first attempted to scan my bags, then just went ahead and bagged my bags (!) in a plastic Target bag. When she finally understood what they were for she was flummoxed. Didn't I *like* the Target bag? Oh, I must be one of those save-the-environment people, right?
No joke!

Reply

I often end up packing the bags myself. My Chico bags are supposed to fit nicely on the same rack as the plastic bags, but they kinda slide off. I find it easier than the checkout person who is used to packing 3 items per plastic bag. Although I generally have the luxury of shopping with my wife, so while she is busy with the credit card/checkout person, I'm bagging.

-Jason
http://www.screamtobegreen.com

Reply

My local grocery store started selling reusable bags, which you get a $0.05/bag discount.

On a recent trip to Germany, I had to ask for a bag - since their norm is to use only reusable bags. You actually have to pay for a plastic bag there. I bet people would change here if they had to pay out of pocket for plastic instead of getting them for free.

Reply

No one has refused but I get scorn, especially when the bagger is a man. The worst thing is that while I'm busy paying, they're usually busy wrapping up individual items in plastic bags to put IN my bag. Like the pasta doesn't want to touch the salsa...

Reply

I stopped in to Hobby Lobby a couple of weeks ago to buy one small thing. ONE THING.


ME: I don’t need a bag. I can just stick it in my purse.

CLERK: I have to give you one.

ME: No, you don’t.

CLERK: It is company policy. I can’t let you leave the store without a bag.


I was HORRIFIED. I had one item and was less than 10ft from the door. I let her put my item in the bag, then I took my item out without saying anything and walked out the door. I did manage to catch a glimpse of her throwing it away. Ugh.

Anyway, I thought the rest of you might be interested to know about the supposedly new company policy since I’ve shopped there many times in the past without an issue.

Reply

I always get a hard time when I find myself at Wal Mart. They have those spinners with the 12 bags around it and when you mess with their routine, they get pissed.

Reply

I initially got weird looks a few years ago, but they're more open to it now. One thing, I use ChicoBags (www.chicobag.com), which open up to the same size and shape as a plastic shopping bag. So they don't feel like they're adjusting how they pack the bags or anything. In fact, because they see the bags compress into their own little pouch, they think they're really cool and seem more curious about them than annoyed because I brought them.

Reply

I have literally been chased down by Wal Mart greeters when I enter a store with my own reusable bags, usually on a regular basis. One greeter claimed it was a theft issue and she needed to put a pink sticker on it to differentiate from their merchandise. These were bags emblazoned with "IKEA" and "Whole Foods" on them!! So obviously not theirs! I usually get dirty looks from the cashiers as well. They don't understand why I try to cram all of my items in the bags I brought. I have had these issues at 3, count them, 3 different stores. I wonder if its really a big company issue. Kinda makes me less likely to wanna go there.

Reply

When I shop at grocery stores other than Whole Foods, I get confused looks when I say I brought my own bags. Sometimes the bagger bags everything in plastic bags (double bagged, t'boot) and then drops them in the bags I brought.

One cashier teased me for having bags emblazoned with logos from stores other than his, but it was very friendly, and he made sure the bagger bagged our stuff correctly (ie, not in plastic).

Reply