Shop Talk

By lazy les

June 30, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this

Check out Trader Joe’s bags.

By Worker Bee

June 30, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this

Iw as using my Trader Joe’s bags at Publix before the started selling their green bags for $1.49

By I do it

June 30, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this

I have been recycling plastic grocery bags forever. I try to carry some extra plastic grocery bags in my car for re-use. The only problem is I forget to bring them in with me. Plus, if you don’t remember to ask at the very beginning to use your own bag, they’ll just start putting your purchases in regular bags as they’re used to doing. So the ball’s in the shopper’s court to make sure your own bag is used and you’ve gotta be quick. And be nice - I was at Target and brought my own bag in with me and told the cashier very politely I would like to use my own bag. She smiled and said she appreciated my being so polite because some shoppers were very rude and demanding about it. In general, however, until it’s mandatory just a minority of us will do it, just like with anything else.

By I do it

June 30, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this

I have been recycling plastic grocery bags forever. I try to carry some extra plastic grocery bags in my car for re-use. The only problem is I forget to bring them in with me. Plus, if you don’t remember to ask at the very beginning to use your own bag, they’ll just start putting your purchases in regular bags as they’re used to doing. So the ball’s in the shopper’s court to make sure your own bag is used and you’ve gotta be quick. And be nice - I was at Target and brought my own bag in with me and told the cashier very politely I would like to use my own bag. She smiled and said she appreciated my being so polite because some shoppers were very rude and demanding about it. In general, however, until it’s mandatory just a minority of us will do it, just like with anything else.

By Maria

June 30, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this

My husband and I have been using canvas shopping bags for a while now. I hated wasting so much plastic, and it was such a pain to have the mound of bags grow in our laundry room. No more! We have an arsenal of about eight canvas tote bags — we each keep a few in our cars, and several are kept by the front door in the house. Besides being eco-friendly, they’re much sturdier and easier to carry than plastic or paper bags.

I agree with “I do it” that it’s important to be polite when using your own bags at stores. I’ve encountered a number of cashiers and baggers who have never seen anyone with their own bags before. I always explain it pretty clearly — “Can you pack everything in these canvas bags, please?” — but sometimes the bagger will try to bag everything in plastic bags and then put those bags in the canvas totes. Eh? And these are baggers and cashiers who speak English perfectly well. Anyway, if more people start using their own bags at the store, there won’t be so many bewildered baggers out there.

By Hmmm....

July 1, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this

Actually we need to do it like they do it Europe, you want a plastic bag from the store, you PAY for it! That gets you using collapsible totes and canvas bags VERY quickly! But then over there you put a token in to get a shopping cart and only get it back when you return the cart to it’s proper spot…what a concept!!

By ATLFashionista

July 2, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this

Has anyone tried to use their bags at Walmart????????