Thursday, July 24, 2008

Shopping Bag Etiquette

This is semi-food related, we have to "make groceries" to cook them. Since "Going Green" is the big buzz word these days I was wondering if any of you have purchased re-usable shopping bags from your area grocery stores. You have probably seen these 'green' re-usable shopping bags and each store has their own bag with their logo on it.

My question is this - Is it acceptable grocery shopping etiquette to use any re-usable shopping bag regardless of the logo, or do you have to use the correct bag per store? Should I be more worried about not using plastic bags or having that particular store's bags?

This is silly, but I am sure I am not the only one with that question. I really think the whole idea is to reuse shopping bags, not to promote a store. Last time I checked there were no shopping bag police.

I'd like to read your thoughts!

11 comments:

Prudy said...

What an interesting question. I don't know the answer, but it gives me pause for thought.

Greg C said...

I have been wondering the same thing. If it is acceptable, I know where I can get some really inexpensive ones. I have also though been wondering if it would be acceptable to resell them without trying to make a profit. When we are at the farmers market we really upset some people by putting stuff in plastic bags. Even though they are recycled bags people don't like it. I thought it would be nice to hand out green bags for one dollar. What do you think?

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Greg, I think it's a great idea. I've noticed at the grocery stores here, the bags are $3.99, but if you have the store's "value card", you can purchase the bag for $0.99

The down side to the bags and I guess I should have posted this, but I usualy forget my bags in the car. :(

Lori said...

I think some of the stores are even selling the re-usable ones with their own labels on them. I've seen that in a few stores. I use the plastic ones as garbage bags so I keep taking them. I guess I should stop doing that.

Megan said...

I'm doing good just having a bag so I dont care the logo!

Paula said...

I love those bags! Oregon is a pretty green state, so no one thinks twice about using bags with another store's logo on them! I've even seen shoppers bring them to Costco!

Lanny said...

We have two major grocery stores very close to my house. Their bags are .99 each. I bought two from one store, and I intended to buy two from the other store. The second store is always out of them though. I've been tempted to use the ones from store #1 just to annoy them enough at store #2 to keep them in stock.

Some stores sell generic bags. They say stuff like GO GREEN, but they don't have any one store's logo. They are also larger than the .99 ones you can get at the store. I always mean to pick up a few, but I keep forgetting.

Greg C--Personally, I like the plastic bags at the farmers market (yeah, I know, not very pc) because lots of times the produce still has a good amount of dirt. I would happily fork over a dollar for a bag though.

Anonymous said...

The French are a bit ahead on this one. It's been several years now that you are expected to arrive with your own shopping bags. You can buy them and the ones they sell are so solid, I use them for all sorts of thigs! Only about a dollar and a half a piece. Shopping Bag Etiquette - I love that! Makes me want to tag the word etiquette onto all sorts of things.

Anonymous said...

Personally I use my logo bags where ever I am. I really don't think the (mostly teenage)clerks care much one way or the other. Besides I'm saving their store money by bringing my own bags, so I'm not that worried about if they are offended about the logo. Also, I have several string bags that do not have a logo that I got at the nature store. Those are great too. You are doing a wonderful thing by using the environmentally friendly bags, so I say don't worry about the logos!

Aggie said...

I love these reusable bags! I don't care about the logo, I take mine everywhere...they are really good for Cotsco trips...my husband even used ours to exchange mother's/father's day gifts this year (a bit extreme...laziness...didn't have gift bags around!)

I tend to forget mine in the car..but I've assigned my 3 year old bag duty - I have him hold the bags during the ride so when I take him out of his carseat they are there with him!

misskp said...

I have purchased and used the black fabric bags I bought at WalMart for 1.00 each at every other store I shop at. The walmart logo is not even on the bags. They are roomy and hold so much more and are much sturdier than plastic. No one has asked me any questions or given me any "strange" looks.