Re-usable shopping bag questions..........

[WV_mom_of2]

These are probably stupid questions but here goes anyway LOL.....

I've been thinking of buying some re-usable shopping bags for a while now but haven't had the money. I like the idea of not having all those plastic bags all over my house and I know it's better for the enviroment. Today my kids came home from my mom's and dd started unpacking. My mom volunteers in a thrift store and sends us all kinds of goodies LOL. Dd unpacked 5 large canvas type bags that mom said the thrift store was going to throw away! Three are black and say XM radio, one says Jockey and one is from a hospital. They are very large and I think would make great shopping bags. Now my questions.........

What does Walmart do when you walk into the store with them? Do you have to open them and show them to the greeter and get a tag for each of them?

How do the cashiers usually act when you have them? Are they happy about them or act like it puts them out or something?

If you use them do you offer to bag your own groceries or just hand them to the cashier and let her take care of it?

I want to use them but I have never seen anyone use them in my area and knowing our Walmart workers it will probably cause a big stink LOL. I will use them anyway but would just like to know what to expect.

[zakity]

We just walk in with ours. We have them all flattened though.

[blitzen]

The first few times I brought them to my local Target, I got weird looks. I even had one cashier who wouldn't bag my stuff. I don't know what that was all about. But now it is no big deal. Maybe after awhile, you'll be known as the lady who brings her own bags I wouldn't worry too much about what people say. It's their problem, not yours!

I honestly can't believe more people don't bring their own bags. I wish more stores would charge for them. Nothing drives me crazier than watching a cashier bag 6 items and use 8 bags (not kidding!) What a waste...

[The Muse]

I don't shop at Walmart so I don't know how it works there, but I can answer your other questions...

I have had a few cashiers make positive comments about them. I haven't had a negative response to the bags themselves, more confusion than anything else. Like sometimes they'll put frozen stuff in a plastic bag, then put it in the canvas bag, which kind of defeats the purpose. My canvas bags are from PETA so I've gotten a rude comment or two about that, but I don't think XM Radio, Jockey, or hospitals are offensive to anyone, so you should be fine

I always bag my own stuff unless there's a bagger at the checkout. If there is a bagger, I just hand my bags to them and say, "would you please use these" or whatever.

The stores here credit you between $.05 and $.10 per bag if you bring your own.

[GM97]

I don't usually go to Walmart for personal reasons, but the last time I was there and I told the cashier I have my own bags, she handed me the things that I purchased after scanning them. Sometimes, I still let them use plastic bags coz I used them as trash bags for bathrooms and smaller rooms. I wish stores will give discounts to consumers who bring their own bags.

[kimmy4433]

I bring my own bags (some are just canvas bags from about 10 years ago, one says recycle, and another is from Aldi's) no one has ever said anything to me. Some of our stores give a .05 to .10 cent per bag used credit. Most of the time the bagger or cashier will see the bags in my cart and ask for them.

I don't think you will have a problem.

[frugalnana]

I don't use mine at Walmart unless I know I'm buying allot of stuff. But the other stores, Aldi's, Save A lot, Krogers and Riesbecks don't look at you funny and the baggers are really nice about it. I have a few of the canvas bags from where I used to work and use them. Different names.

[dcompton]

Our Walmart has started selling their own. They have the Walmart name on them and say: "Paper or Plastic? Neither." If they're doing it themselves, it should be ok.

I've picked up a number bags at Kroger and Walgreens. They aren't heavy duty to last forever, but are study enough to be quite serviceable. I like that they are shaped like paper grocery bags with the flat bottom - an insert in those. Things don't fall out and roll to the unreachable back corners of the trunk like they sometimes do in plastic.

[One Frugal Mom]

I have a wide assortment of ones from different stores. I am also thinking of making a few myself with some of my fabric stash. I need alot of them, because I still have a bad habit of not taking them with me or putting them back in the trunk of the car.

I have too many times gotten to the store and THEN realising I forgot them!

[momishem]

That's my problem! I always get to the checkout and say"dang, I forgot my bags in the car!" Someday I will get with it. On those few ocasions I have remembered, I haven't had any problems at all!

[POOTERSMOMMY]

Mine have all come free from garage sales. They all say something different. I have used at Wal-Mart, Kroger, Aldi, Save-a-lot, you name it. Nobody ever has a problem. Marsh gives .05 each credit on your bill.
I just fold up, and carry them in - I have my last name written in marker on each one.
Once I unload at home, they go back in the car.

[pip]

I haven't had any problems using my bags, either. My main, personal problem is remembering to bring them into the store, even though I do keep them in the trunk of my car!

[Missy]

I have never had problems at all taking mine into wally. I have 2 green commissary bags, 4 black walmart bags, 1 brown mountain Mamma;s bag and 1 pink hibiscuis bag. and i take a basket too. for smushables (eggs, bread, etc). they have never had a problem with any of it. And I was taking the basket and some HM bags in since before wally was selling their bags. never had a problem.

[cheapskate 49]

I use the canvas ones,free store giveaways so they've all got different names on them.I have been using them for years and I used to get some wierd looks,one time a cashier at walmart told me I wasn't allowed to use them????now I get extra points at the one store so that's a bonus.I usually bag my own items I swear some of the cashiers don't know how to "work" canvas bags.I leave them in the trunk so they are always handy

[cheriede]

I have one huge cloth bag and I stuff all my other bags in there. I've walked around in Walmart several times and I've never had anyone say anything to me. I always tell the cashier that I will put things in my cloth bags and they usually hand the items over to me. I prefer to put my groceries in the bag anyway. Sometimes I do get the feeling that it's an inconvenince to them, but nothing is ever said.