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Paying for carrier bags.

(307 Posts)
hildajenniJ Wed 05-Aug-15 15:57:14

In October, all the shops in England will be charging for plastic carriers. They already charge for them in Scotland. I have started making shopping bags.
Here is one I have just finished crocheting. My DD took another home with her and my DGD also nabbed one. I think I might go into production, they seem popular.

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 09-Oct-15 09:33:08

And the assistants have to pass on the "earache" to their managers, and likewise to the top people.

Are you one who meekly pays the 5p thereby defeating the object of the exercise?

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 09-Oct-15 09:31:13

Oh, of course I didn't blame the shop, or the assistant. I said I realise it's the government not the stores themselves! I'm not stupid! But I reiterate - the shops readily went from paper bags to plastic, so they need to come up with the simple answer now.

annodomini Fri 09-Oct-15 09:29:04

It's no good blaming the shops, jingl because the bags charge is statutory as you well know and I am sure the sales assistants are now fed up with the earache they are getting from customers like you when there is nothing on earth they can do about it. Give them a break.

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 09-Oct-15 09:15:32

OMG! I can feel a trip to Greggs coming on. To check that out! They can't be allowed to get away with that. Ring Trading Standards gb?

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 09-Oct-15 09:13:59

And I gave the assistant in Marks and Sparks that same little lecture when I was in there. Very politely and pleasantly, but it needs saying. smile

loopylou Fri 09-Oct-15 09:13:23

That's illegal gillybob, they're definitely profiteering from it angry
That didn't take them long to cotton on!

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 09-Oct-15 09:12:43

Iam64 I totally agree about plastic bags being horrible things, for the environment and for wildlife. All I am asking is that clothes shops - such as M and S and JL - have the decency to offer some kind of paper wrapping for clothing and suchlike. At the very least it would show some respect for their customers. The stores are getting off too lightly in all this. They are the ones who were happy to introduce plastic bags.

Paying for bags is ridiculous. Doing that is making a mockery of the whole thing! hmm

gillybob Fri 09-Oct-15 08:35:00

I have a feeling that some small shops (and some not so small) are going to use this new law to cash in. Yesterday DH bought a sandwich from a well known bakery Gregg's and he was given a tiny flimsy bag (without asking if he wanted it) the girl behind the counter said she had to charge him 5p for the bag "it's the law you know" DH just paid for it. Now I'm pretty sure that those kinds of tiny bags are exempt (please correct me if I'm wrong) and if Gregg's are charging for them are they just pocketing the money? DH's sandwich was £1.50 (he is a creature of habit) so he knows he was charged the 5p.

Nelliemoser Fri 09-Oct-15 08:28:39

The supermarket strong ones are good.
If you want one just for clothes shopping and have a sewing machine buy some cheap firm fabric and you could easily run up three simple bags in a day.
Near us we have a shop that sells fabric remnants of just about every kind by weight. I bought a huge piece for about £4 and made a bag to carry my "backfriend" when I go out. I then used more of the fabric to run up a bag for the vacuum cleaner tools and still have some left.

Iam64 Fri 09-Oct-15 08:09:10

I'm amazed at the grumbles about paying for plastic bags. They're just bad for the environment on so many levels, surely we can all sort ourselves out and either pay the 5p if we want our clothes in a bag or take a nice, clean cloth bag when we go clothes shopping.
The damage plastic bags cause to animals and sea life is horrendous.

bikergran Fri 09-Oct-15 07:45:53

trinity Im sure if you google there will now be 1,000s patterns and ideas of ideas of how to make bags smile good luck..may have a go myself.

bikergran Fri 09-Oct-15 07:43:15

Why not have ago at making your own bags for fun.smile crochet, knit, patchwork, old jeans etc ....I have even seen a bag made out of plastic carrier bags somewhere.In the local £1 shop they sell good strong nylon bags all folded up in a little pouch with a prestud, all colours (they cost a £1 of course) smile

loopylou Fri 09-Oct-15 06:57:35

I have to say I'm finding it highly irritating when buying clothes, if I'm spending a large amount of money I do object to having to pay out.

Yes, I know it's the law and some countries have been doing it for ages etc. etc. before I get shot down

I too am going to buy much more online harrigran, it arrives or I collect from a nearby store, nicely bagged WilmaKnickersfit!

WilmaKnickersfit Fri 09-Oct-15 00:37:09

I order a lot of stuff online to be collected in store and these things are usually already bagged up when they arrive at the shop. I wonder if that will still happen?

harrigran Fri 09-Oct-15 00:03:55

I have been clothes shopping today and even though I bought several expensive bras I was invited just to stick them in with my other shopping. I then went off and bought a rather nice cardigan and again was invited to stick it in with my other shopping. Finally I went to Boots where I bought a large gift set of face creams, I was ready I did have a cotton shopping bag large enough to take the box. By the time I met up with DH I was determined that I would no longer shop on the high street and future purchases will be ordered online.

Trinity Thu 08-Oct-15 12:37:25

anyone got a pattern for crochet or knitted bags?

jayse Thu 08-Oct-15 11:52:33

I admire people who are adept enough to make their own bags. I'm not sure that this 5p per bag will stop people using them if they haven't stopped already, what is another 40 or 50p on a big weekly shop, although I have been told that at least one supermarket has made it's plastic bags smaller and I don't begrudge the money if it's going to charity.
However I normally use my own bags as they don't cost a lot for the plain large strong bags from the supermarkets and they last for ages. I give Christmas presents in attractive reusable bags where appropriate and I also buy bags as souvenirs from places I've visited (this has become a bit of a standing joke with my family as everywhere I go I pick up a cotton or jute bag and a pencil!)

Alea Wed 07-Oct-15 12:07:29

That was exactly my experience with Ocado, Carigransnet. I also trawled the house for bags including other retailers and returned 27 to the driver!

WilmaKnickersfit Wed 07-Oct-15 11:49:32

Driver said quite a few customers were ready for a no bag delivery, but his round was taking longer. He said ASDA charges 40p for a carrier bag delivery.

WilmaKnickersfit Wed 07-Oct-15 11:46:53

Just has an ASDA delivery and was ready with my big IKEA blue bag. Only meat came in a plastic carrier bag and a garlic bulb was in one of the thin plastic bags you see in the fruit and vegetable section. Order was sorted into frozen, chilled and everything else, making it easy to take into the kitchen in stages. Easy peasy. smile

Riverwalk Wed 07-Oct-15 11:36:37

They are being re-cycled jings that's why we are reimbursed for returns - if you don't return them then the charge stands, so they are charging.

I think that's right! grin

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 07-Oct-15 11:32:00

I suppose they must be matching the amount, and giving it to charity. Or they're not really charging for them are they! confused

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 07-Oct-15 11:30:21

My driver asked me how many bags were in my bag (iyswim). I said, "Ooh! Six or seven I think". He said. "Ten then". I said "ok". shock

(I got 50p back)

CariGransnet (GNHQ) Wed 07-Oct-15 11:26:24

Ocado don't offer bagless delivery and do charge for the bags. We and others took issue with this on the basis that often their bags hold just one thing. But now they are offering refunds on all bags returned which I think is entirely reasonable

rosequartz Wed 07-Oct-15 10:43:48

I think you can choose a bagless delivery, it comes in crates and you have to unpack it quickly! I think the meat and fish come in plastic bags.
Most supermarkets have a recycling bin for plastic bags I think.