We needed bread and eggs, so I scooted a mile down the road to Publix. When I entered, I saw a display of melons on sale, so I grabbed a hand basket and picked out a likely candidate. Down the dairy aisle, I managed to find a dozen unbroken eggs in the 3rd carton I checked. Next stop was across the store in the bread aisle - a fresh 1# loaf. Finally, enroute to the checkout, I realized that we were also out of ice cream - HORRORS! So I added a half gallon of peanut butter fudge swirl to my basket.
No one was in line at the express checkout, and as I got out my debit card, I told the bagger that plastic was OK. By the time I got my receipt and stowed my card, the bagger was ready to hand me my purchases - four bags worth! Melon in one bag, ice cream in another, bread in a third, eggs in a small paper bag that was then placed in YET ANOTHER plastic bag. Five bags for 4 items?
I don’t get it. Do the baggers get paid according to the number of bags they use? I’m not even going to get into those who would put a gallon milk jug into a bag - as if I could carry that. I’ll not mention those who “double bag” - supposedly for extra strength - but they tie one bag closed then put it in another. Would it have violated the Bagger’s Code to put the carton of eggs in a bag, then put the bread on top? Would the melon have corrupted my ice cream? I think not. This was clearly a 2-bag shopping order. Instead, I have twice as many bags to drag back to the recycling bin.
Yeah, weak rant, but it still steams me. I’ve got bags accumulating at the house. This gets me so angry, I forget to take the extras back to recycle until the stack reaches the ceiling… well, maybe not quite that bad. Maybe no one cares about this but me - that’s no excuse! This issue is all about me! No more overbagging!!!
B) I wondered about this: the theory is [ul]
[li]Fruits and veggies get their own bag. [/li][li]Frozen items get their own bag[/li][li]Bread and crushable stuff (potato chips) get a bag. [/li][li]Cleaning supplies/chemicals get a bag to themselves[/li][/ul]
Thus, by this theory, you shoulda had three bags: The eggs shoulda been in with the bread.
And I’d agree with 3 bags, depending on how big your ice-cream carton was. If it was a pint, I’d say “Toss it in with the melon”. If it’s a gallon or 1/2 Gallon, give it it’s own bag.
And double-bagging is sometimes right: when they toss 6 jars of spaghetti sauce into a bag I want it double-bagged!
Fenris, I agree that double-bagging can be good - as long as I can hold all of the handles. However, when your 6 jars of Ragu are put in one bag, handles tied together, then that bag is put in another, the entire weight of the 6 jars will be borne by the handles of a single bag. The only advantage of doubling in this case would be to contain the mess when the handles fail, allowing gravity to draw your breakables earthward. That’s the kind of doubling that is inane - don’t you agree?
And my melon would have been very happy with my half gallon of ice cream. Trust me - I know.
Oh, and God forbid you ask for a … paper bag… shudder. For a few items, the brown paper bag is perfect, you could have had everything in 1 bag (depending on the melon), forget 2 bags! Just tuck the thing under your arm and you’re good to go.
If I ask a cashier around here for paper, they put the paper bag inside a plastic bag. :smack:
I don’t drive, and there’s a Jewel about a 10-15 minute walk from my house where I often shop. When I’m not buying anything heavy or bulky I usually don’t bother bringing my shopping cart. Often I find myself taking a minute to rearrange my bagged groceries to eliminate superfluous bags and balance the load so I’m not carrying all the heavy items on one side.
I’m going to refrain from saying what first crossed my mind when I read this (I’m sure Rue de Day will be along shortly) and just ask FCM if she’s referring to one of my favorite summertime treats - ice cream served in a cantaloupe bowl. Mmmm-good!
I’m waiting for a day when we have a shopping bag tax or fee like Ireland does
I’ve been to a couple serious discount grocery stores that charged a few cents a bag … makes you very efficient when bagging
But I hate when walking …the handles sort of scrunch up and twist like a thread … it hurts my hands after a while
Does anyone know where the littlke old ladies get this wire pull cart deal ? you pull it like a wheelbarrow … Im looking for one if someone has a clue what im talking about
Oh no - can’t eat ice cream with fruit!! Cantaloupe is fruit, ergo healthy. Healthy must be kept apart from the decadence that is ice cream. It’s some kind of law, I’m sure!
And, LurkMeister, either I’m slipping or you’re just weird - I don’t see anything particularly suggestive about a melon and ice cream. Naturally, as soon as I hit “Submit”, it’ll come to me and I’ll have to hide in shame… :o
I suspect that I’m known as the incredibly AR woman at the local HEB because I insist that:
A minimal amount of plastic is sacrificed for my groceries.
All bags must be tied.
Cold things go with cold and dry goods nestle merrily next to each other.
However, I separate all items as I put them on the belt, I assist in bagging, and I pre-write my check to ensure that my little quirks don’t hold up the line. As I’m half an hour from the nearest store and all bags go into the back a truck, I don’t think I’m being especially obsessive.
I always bring tote bags. With big NDP logos emblazoned on them, no less, to make it clear exactly what kind of granola nutcase they’ll have to deal with.
What is it with Publix anyway? We have the same problem at the store we go to. I remember watching, in equal parts amused and horrified, as the bagger double-bagged fully half of our groceries, and the single bags had one or two items in them. The bags aren’t quite that flimsy, thank you, you can put, gosh, 3 or 4 things in there and they’ll hold up just fine.
I always bring a canvas tote bag for my shopping. Some baggers get confused by this, and try to put things in plastic before they put them in the tote bag. I have to tell them to remove the plastic bags and just drop everything into the canvas bag, exactly the way it arrived at the checkout counter.
They will often stare at me, unclear on the concept that everything in the bag won’t spontaneously combust upon being placed next to each other without a protective sheath of plastic between them. I often have to repeat myself “No plastic bags! Just drop everything in the canvas bag.” Eventually they get the concept.
I was at Target the other day, buying 2 small items. I’ve been carrying a canvas tote shoulder bag lately as a pocketbook–nice and roomy. Anyway, I told the cashier at Target that I didn’t need a bag. She gave me the classic “whatchoo talkin’ 'bout, Willis?” look and tried to bag my items anyway. I said “Really, I don’t need a bag.” She looked like she was in utter disbelief that I could carry items out of the store without the protective coating of a bag. I showed her my tote bag and said, “I have a bag.” She then allowed me to have my items bagless and shook her head in disbelief or dismay (not sure which) as I tossed the items in my bag and walked out.
I never use a bag. (What, never? Hardly ever) Most of the time, I get odd looks from the cashier, and I just say, “Oh, my car makes a good bag.” Or “Save the planet, reduce, reuse, recycle, you know.” Or “Well, I’d say, save a tree, but, well, I don’t know, save a fish?” for plastic bags. As long as you make the concept familiar to them, they nod and smile.
Ice cream on fruit…hmmm…my just have to discuss that idea with the bf
FairyChatMom first let me say that I am amazed a woman your age can still get around out and about on her own. (I gotta get in at least one). Second, it only took three tries to find a dozen unbroken eggs? That’s gotta be a record. Third, the melon and ice cream thing, sure if it’s just a lil’ ol’ canteloupe or honeydew, they’d be just fine with the ice cream. However, a big ol’ watermelon would crush the poor ice cream. So, ya, see there are exceptions.
Green Bean you rogue you! Yesterday I was in Food Kitty (my pet name for Food Lion Foodstore) and bought a loaf of bread and an 8 ounce package of cheese. I told the bagger I didn’t need a bag and he got all confused. “Sir, are you SURE you don’t want a bag?” Guess what? Somehow I managed to carry both items in my hands all the way to my truck, unlock the door and get in without dropping em. Agile ol’ coot I am!
It was only two days ago that I said to my Jewel bagger, “I really don’t need a separate bag for each item.” I mean, come ON. If you’re going to put only one or two items in a bag, why bother? If I buy 15 items, I think 8 bags is excessive. Besides which, it’s not like they bagged my 12-pack of soda, my bleach, my cat litter and my gallon of milk - nope, those items all got to roll around in my car. And if, heaven forbid, I ask for paper bags, not only do I get the put-upon face from the baggers, they then get revenge by putting all my canned goods into one bag. Really, I love having one ninety-pound bag full of cans, and then a separate bag for my bottle of Windex. :rolleyes:
OK, swampbear, you’ve made the age-related crack for the last time. This means WAR!! I tried to be nice, tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, tried not to hold it against you because you’re one of them [sub]Georgians[/sub] but apparently you’re not worthy of such civilities. You, sir, are a poopyhead. Plus you’re a stupidhead - NOBODY puts a watermelon in a bag - sheesh.
So, consider yourself at the top of my poopyhead/stupidhead list until such time as I feel magnanimous enough to forgive you. So there.
