reuseable shopping bags.....

Ooh ooh ooh Mr KotterI have a quest-ione? Why do stores supply "environmentally friendly" reuseable cloth shopping bags for a minimal cost, and then get snotty when you want to actually use the things?

A few months ago, I saw an endcap at the registers at WM of black shopping bags. I thought Ok, I'll get a few, as my supply of plastic bags is enough to supply a Family Dollar store for a month's worth of first-of-the-month shoppers. I used them that day, the cashier was a little taken aback, but had no problem loading the bags up as full as she could get them--I have teenage boys who like to eat, remember. Then I promptly forgot to take them in every trip after that.

Well this week at my store we got in a big box of even bigger bags in our stores' signature color. So I bought a couple and used them for that day's purchases. Yesterday when I left work I was stocking up on what I could buy there, ended up with a buggy full of food, so I parked my cart at the service desk and ran out to get all my bags out of the car. Filled them up and bought another to finish the deal.

So last night I took the boys to call their dad and do the grocery shopping as usual. I had no problem using the bags at Foodfair, although the bagger looked mighty confused until he figured the method for my madness in how I was packing them. Even Kroger was cool, although I was not using their cloth bags, they didn't say a word--just "how would you like these packed?"

Then I go to WM to finish up. I told the greeter that I was bringing my own bags in--no problem. I hit the cold medicine section since Shellie and I seem determined to get sick this weekend. Then straight to groceries---not even a side trip to fabrics, believe it or not---got what I needed and then some, and headed for the checkout. On a Friday evening I got right to the cashier without waiting---amazing for the time of evening, and the fact that,gasp, snow was in the forecast. As I started to load the belt up I told the cashier that I had my own bags, and she just gave me that look that said "So?" She said "What?" So I repeated that I had brought my own bags to use, and she kid of huffed a little, so I told the boys to load the items onto the belt so I could start loading the bags. The cashier's buddy from the next register over started to bag and just as I was explaining that I had my own to use, the cashier snapped, "SHE has her OWN bags."

Ok, apparently I mortally sinned, by using the very bags they sold to be used for that purpose.

Hmmmm....

Guess next time I won't use their cloth bags.

I'll use the ones I got from my store----bigger than theirs, and also their competitor---at least in our home office's minds----and I'll use theirs at the other stores.

I'm not a tree hugger by any means. I don't see the need to waste what we have though. And to top it all off---using the bags saves money---it' s that many more plastic bags they do not have to order, thereby saving money of supplies---a very controllable bottom line item. Trust me, I look at my controllable profit report each month, and besides payroll, supplies is one of the easiest items to control---just watch your usage of supplies. Don't put a greeting card in a bag too big for it---put it in a card size bag. Don't use 15 small bags when one large one will do the job--unless the customer wants it that way, of course--some cannot lift heavier bags.

Now I'm am going back to bed, I think. I have benadrylled both me and Shellie

Cough, hack, gasp for air. Yep just how I wanted to spend my 3day weekend.......