I am a cashier at a grocery store in the Baltimore metro area. I usually ask people if they want big shit in bags because - and here's the absolutely
crazy part - old people and people extremely anal about their crap YELL at me - that's right, I said yell - if I do or do not put their shit in bags the right way.
That is all.
edit:
Oh, here is a list of things I ask if they want in a bag-
gallon containers of milk, smaller bags of cat/dog food/litter. any type of soda - even the cases (some guy i know will snatch the case off the counter in an extremely angry way and slam it into a bag if i don't put it in one in the first place).
So, in other words I guess, it's because of you, the irate customer, that I ask people the inane question of "Do you want this in a bag"?
Sorry to disappoint