# I had to change my way of food shopping because of the new small bags **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 24, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756 "2016-09-24T19:51:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/1 "2016-09-24T19:51:44Z")
Almost all the markets have these small ass bags to put your food in when you are done. So if you spend $50 in the supermarket you will come outside with 20 small bags because the bags are so small only 3 items can fit inside of them. So I go to the market on Mondays and shop for Mon to Thursday and return on Friday to shop for sat and sun since I don’t have a car. I miss the big brown bags with the handles like the ones at Trader Joes. And it looks like the cashier are trained to put 2 items in one bad instead of 3 or more lol Between the high prices and small ass bags I hate food shopping like I hate cleaning the bathroom ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/2 "2016-09-24T20:16:34Z")
Every supermarket I’ve been to in recent years had large, reusable bags available for a pretty low price. I think the regular ones are like $1. The insulated ones (which I prefer because they zip closed) are more expensive, but I don’t think more than about $6. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/3 "2016-09-24T20:31:22Z")
Why is this observation in The Pit? It barely qualifies for MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/4 "2016-09-24T21:27:50Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Every supermarket I’ve been to in recent years had large, reusable bags available for a pretty low price. I think the regular ones are like $1. The insulated ones (which I prefer because they zip closed) are more expensive, but I don’t think more than about $6. Really. I’ve got a nice collection of shopping bags. Including two insulated ones. They don’t fall apart like paper bags & are much easier to carry than the dinky plastic ones. I ride Metro, too. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/5 "2016-09-24T21:29:47Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > Almost all the markets have these small ass bags to put your food in when you are done. Could be an encouragement to bring your own cloth bags. > [@](#): > > And it looks like the cashier are trained to put 2 items in one bad instead of 3 or more lol Likely trained to put heavier items in fewer bags so they don’t break though. > [@](#): > > Between the high prices and small ass bags I hate food shopping like I hate cleaning the bathroom Well, don’t stick your ass in them then! ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/6 "2016-09-24T21:40:43Z")
You should only shop with as many bags as you can carry. That’s the only way you’re ever going to save any money. ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/7 "2016-09-24T21:47:09Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Could be an encouragement to bring your own cloth bags. > > Likely trained to put heavier items in fewer bags so they don’t break though. > Well, don’t stick your ass in them then! Why not? They’re small ass bags. What else would you put in an ass bag? Maybe he just has too big a butt? OP, they are right. You can get reusable bags anywhere for very little money. They are usually pretty big and easy to carry. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2016, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/8 "2016-09-24T21:53:21Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > Between the high prices and small ass bags I hate food shopping like I hate cleaning the bathroom Just don’t use your credit card, you might spend too much. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/9 "2016-09-25T20:30:54Z")
DADGUMMIT! You can’t tell ME not to stick my ass in th’ grocery bags! I have few enough pleasures in life as it is! ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/10 "2016-09-25T20:34:44Z")
Consider yourself lucky, here in England we have to bag our own asses ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/11 "2016-09-26T16:09:13Z")
I guess that’s why they call them _brown_ bags. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/12 "2016-09-26T16:21:19Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Likely trained to put heavier items in fewer bags so they don’t break though. I may have mentioned this traumatic incident elsewhere, but recently I was at the Giant Predatory Bird supermarket buying a smallish load of stuff. The cashier put several bottles of soda/juice into a single plastic bag, which seemed a bit risky to me but I just made a mental note to lift it carefully when I loaded it into my car later. That wasn’t enough for the guy behind me in line, who chided the cashier for not using more bags. The cashier (a young guy who looked like he was not in love with his job (big surprise there) sullenly subdivided the bottles between a couple of bags. A bit later on he (debatably) overloaded another bag. I didn’t say anything, but the Bagging Samaritan next in line started shaking his head and chuckling in disgust. After a bit, the cashier turned to me and asked if I wanted the stuff in more than one bag (I declined with thanks). More evidence that it is unsafe for me to patronize the supermarket, given the risk of getting into a brawl. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/13 "2016-09-26T19:55:17Z")
Maybe if you had Publix up there instead of the Gian-Iggle you’d know true happiness. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/14 "2016-09-26T20:15:03Z")
In my county you can’t get the small plastic bags at the supermarket anymore. It’s either BYO reusable bag, buy a reusable bag for about two dollars, pay 10 cents for a paper bag, or, in some stores, pay 15 cents for a sturdier plastic bag that’s supposedly reusable. Though if the OP moved to my county I’m sure he’d find something else to complain about. ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/15 "2016-09-26T20:34:36Z")
> [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](#): > > In my county you can’t get the small plastic bags at the supermarket anymore. It’s either BYO reusable bag, buy a reusable bag for about two dollars, pay 10 cents for a paper bag, or, in some stores, pay 15 cents for a sturdier plastic bag that’s supposedly reusable. > > Though if the OP moved to my county I’m sure he’d find something else to complain about. I damm sure would complain if I already have to pay for the food ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/16 "2016-09-26T20:50:52Z")
I just use a wheeled cart, as it makes things easier. Maybe they’re trying to convince you to buy larger reusable bags. (I even bought a waterproof one, for carrying meat bags.) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/17 "2016-09-26T20:52:50Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > I damm sure would complain if I already have to pay for the food It’s like that in more and more cities around the US. Coming to a supermarket near you soon. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/18 "2016-09-26T21:00:01Z")
There’s First World Problems, and there’s First World Problems, and then there’s this shit. ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/19 "2016-09-26T21:07:41Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > There’s First World Problems, and there’s First World Problems, and then there’s this shit. I don’t live close to the market which means I can’t spend $50 because I would be walking down the street with 10 bags ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756/20 "2016-09-26T22:11:39Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > I don’t live close to the market which means I can’t spend $50 because I would be walking down the street with 10 bags Maybe you could buy stuff that’s a lot more expensive by weight, like caviar, saffron, or filet mignon. Then you’d be able to live the American dream of spending more than $50 at the store. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-to-change-my-way-of-food-shopping-because-of-the-new-small-bags/766756.md?page=2)