Since I was in secondary school, some of my friends and I already started to “reject” the use of plastic bags when we go shopping. Usually if it is a small item, we will just chuck it into our bags, instead of getting another plastic bags. And when we order drinks from the canteen, we will drink it from the cup instead of a straw.
But back then, I was a bit shy to bring my own shopping bag when I go shopping.
And up till this year, I don’t do that. Instead, I will ask the cashier to put as many items as possible into as little bags, or if it is a small item, I will chuck it into my existing bags or handbag.
But thanks to the increasing awareness on environment conservation, more and more supermarket are promoting the use of “shopping bags.” And thus, I have started to bring my own shopping bag when I go shopping as well.
I feel a sense of pride to tell the cashier, “no plastic bags pls. Use this instead.”
I like shopping at Jusco because the cashiers are really well trained. When they see that I have a rolled up shopping bag in my hand, they would politely ask me if I wanted to use that instead. And they would pack the goods neatly in my bag.
At T*sco, I have met cashiers that when I said “no bags,” they leave it to me to pack everything instead of helping me. It is very frustrating as sometimes, before I had even finished packing my goods, they had started to scan the next customer’s items.
But my worst supermarket experience was at G*ant.
I had bought a lot of stuff (unplanned) and only have 1 shopping bag with me.
When the guy wanted to start packing the items, I told him to use my shopping bag instead. And he gave me a STARE and LOOK like I am some weirdo.
Cashier: Huh? Tak mau plastic ah?
Me: No. Guna bag ini.
Cashier: Masuk SEMUA dalam bag. Mana boleh masuk.
Me: Tak cukup baru guna plastic.
Cashier: I letak plastic semua la. U sendiri masuk dalam bag
Me: *lost temper* I said I don’t want to use plastic bag. Use THIS BAG and only if not enough you use plastic!
Then only he reluctantly packed things into my shopping bag. And did I use any plastic bag in that purchase? Yes – One.
We already have enough garbage on this planet. We don’t need additional help to promote creating more garbage opportunity.
So, are you a shopping bag user?
seems like jusco is really doing well with promoting the use of own shopping bags. they even ask you for the bag if they see u have it. sometimes i bring my own bags, but then i forgot to give to the cashier and ended up using their bags. if i remember then i will use it.
i think if i remember correctly, when i was at tesco, i also have to bag my own items even though i am using their plastic bags. no groceries baggers there.
Shooi: The Tesco i go to have bagging services. Sometimes they even have an additional staff just to do bagging
Hahah..ya..I am. But I’m very notty. Coz the cloth shopping bags here are soo nice wor… diff colours for diff seasons. This Xmas all nice red and green. I keep buying them! I got so many now!!!!
AARRRRGGHHH!!!! But it’s good la.. I rarely use plastics now.
Shooi: When i see those pretty shopping bags, i am so tempted to get some. But i very kiamsiap la. So far, i have only bought 1 from Jusco – coz can collect points with it, and i do my groceries there almost every week. THe rest i have are those free ones – so very boring designs.
Cashier at G*ant is hopeless. Once, they made mistake in my bill, i bought 7 tins of formula milk and he punched in 8 tins, when i checked the bill and inform the casher, he FORCE me to take additional tin of formula milk and i REFUSE, the cashier scolded me and i went to complain at the customer service!
while the cashiers in KL are more green conscious (probably because there’s many more here who carries bags for being green) I still get stared down when I carry a tiffin to ta pau soupy noodles for the kids. Not from the hawker, the passer by-s.
Unfortunately i still do. But only cos I need them to throw my kitchen waste later. If you have no plastic bags at home, how do you buang your kitchen waste and other rubbish har?
Yes, in Netherlands we need to bring our own shopping bag too!
To ATP..if you came to OUG…that would be considered NORMAL! Every Aunty I know carries a tiffin for ta-pow! Uber cool!
One time, I told the cashier to put all my barang into the trolley. I forgot to bring the bag. It was in Tesco. I loaded the stuff into my car. I have a box in the boot all the time.
ya, i am a shopping bag user..as we have to pay for plastic bag here…haha..
shame to said, i got some shopping bags at home, but i hardly use, because i always shop last minute to buy groceries. I think i should make a habit to keep it in the car, so when i want to go for grocery shopping i can just take out the bag. Now when i go “ta pow” food, i will bring my own tupperware.