Safeway Changing Policy on Reusable Bags!

[Holding Pattern]

Mods, if there is a better place for this, please move...

For a long time now, Safeway grocery store has given a .05 credit for each reusable bag you brought with you. So each trip we would save about a quarter by taking our own bags and not using paper or plastic - and at that, bag boy usually makes like it is an inconvenience to use ours...

Today we picked up groceries and Safeway has stopped with the reusable bag credit. Why? According to the Manager who was also our cashier... they are going to mostly reusable bags and charging for the other.

No, I am not against charging .05 for each bag used from the store but dropping the credit in advance in anticipation of a policy change is raw.

Just my little rant... I like knowing I was saving .25 by taking my own. I could see it on the bill, lol.

[frugalfranny]

I have a Safeway real close to me....broke down and got their stupid card just so I could buy Satsumas in the fall....but never knew they had this bag policy......will have to check it out.

I SELDOM shop there.....the people are rude, prices high, for the most part (the rare exception happens..the 1st week of Satsumas in the fall)) their produce is STUPIDLY PRICED, won't buy their meat...horrible stuff, and their cooler doesn't seem very darn cool so won't buy their milk either!

A couple of our thrift shops have even gone to a 'bag policy'.....they give you 25 cents credit if you DON'T use a bag......or bring your own.

[Jamauk]

there is a bill being proposed where I live (frugal fanny, have you heard about this?) where charging .20 per plastic bag would be mandatory. I don't think it will pass.

[dcompton]

I'm of mixed minds about this. I like reusable bags, and know the plastic bags are an environmental evil, but they make really useful garbage bags. If they start charging for them though, I'll just have to buy other bags for the garbage. In the apartment complex garbage/trash has to be bagged.

The problem with charging for plastic bags -- there would definitely be an incentive for the store to use as many of them as possible when bagging your purchases. So we would have to keep an eye on both the items as they are being scanned AND how it is all going into bags? Shopping -- less and less fun every day!

[mauimagic]

Will have to check on this here. FF What are Satsumas?

Our Safeway has the reputation of being the highest grossing Safeway in the US - don't know if it still is, but it is raking in the $$$s.

Need to make sure that we always bring our bags.

We do use the plastic bags for diapers at our preschool - need to do another round up for backstock before plastic runs out.

Mahalo for the info. I'll post what I find out next week.

[Judi Dial]

A local cloth bag company and the farm stand where I work got together last year. YOu buy the bag from us (they aren't cheap, $20 or $30!) and thereafter you can fill it w/produce and get 10% off your total. I bought the small bag as I knew I'd pay for it in one year. I should buy a large bag this year, it'd take me two years to pay for it, almost, but after that, I'm in the green!

Judi

[Holding Pattern]

I'm of mixed minds about this. I like reusable bags, and know the plastic bags are an environmental evil, but they make really useful garbage bags. If they start charging for them though, I'll just have to buy other bags for the garbage. In the apartment complex garbage/trash has to be bagged.

The problem with charging for plastic bags -- there would definitely be an incentive for the store to use as many of them as possible when bagging your purchases. So we would have to keep an eye on both the items as they are being scanned AND how it is all going into bags? Shopping -- less and less fun every day!

Although we take our own, we've been known to use one or two of theirs and reuse them for kitty litter bags.

[KeithBC]

The way we remember to take our reusable bags is to keep them in the car. Once we have unloaded our groceries, we hang the bags on the doorknob of the front door. Whoever goes out to the car next takes them and puts them in the trunk. That way there is no excuse for not having them with us when we shop.

[beks37]

I don't have a Safeway in my area, but I'll have to check with other grocery stores in my area to see if they may have this policy. I think charging for using plastic bags would make it more acceptable to use reusable cloth bags.

[MomToTwoBoys]

I'd honestly be in favor of them removing all of the plastic bags all together. You can't go halfway on something if you're touting that you're going to be more environmentally friendly, imho.

Superstore here started charging $.05 per bag, but I never ever leave the house without a cloth bag. That's less waste generated on all levels and they're very durable bags.

Safeway here doesn't charge for bags at all and I haven't seen them offer any credits on returning bags. I do, however, see recycle bins all around the outside of Safeway to help people be more environmentally conscious.

[Teresa T]

I know we like getting the 5 cents a bag credit and that little amount can add up over time. I must say though I starting bringing my own bags when I noticed I had a drawer stuffed full of plastic bags. I took them to the thrift shop but still. It bothered me. I take my own bags for grocery and other shopping for the simple little joy it gives me.

I understand the garbage bag draw. I'm single and use even an empty chip bag or cookie bag for garbage. My kitchen garbage basket is bathroom size. I know that would not work for a larger household.

[Surilda]

This thread was interesting.

Is requesting paper bags still an option there?

The regular grocery stores here (not Wal-mart),
ask if plastic is ok. If I said no, they would use
paper bags.

No way would I pay for plastic bags. I would
go to Dollar General and get a couple more of
those small crates they carry and put the crates
in the cart and fill those with my items and take
them home that way too.

I keep a couple in the truck to put pop and water
in.