do you want that in a bag?
 

I am getting to the point where I need to say something about a current meme that seems to have spread virus-like from the supermarkets where it must have originated out to most of the outposts on the contemporary consumer highway.

When faced with the prospect of bagging one of the the most unwieldy items in my cart, the cashier will look at it and say, "Do you want that in a bag?"

The opportunity to have a nice pair of plastic handles (which are standard on the bags) to tote the bulky product is one that any sane person would prefer over lugging the thing(s) under an arm or over a shoulder while attempting to transport handfuls of well-bagged items out to a vehicle - or worse, walking home that way.

It occurs to me that my choice is not what's being catered to here. I believe the actual subtext of the question, "Do you want this in a bag?," is "Do I actually have to wrestle this gallon of milk, couple of six-packs, big box of stuff, heavy clumsy object into one of these difficult to hold open, cheap, thin plastic bags we give away for free with your purchase?"

Am I getting this right? Has this insidious meme found its way into your life? Do you ever choose the "no, I'll just foolishly struggle with this heavy, bulky object until I get to my car" option?

Even worse, are you a cashier who offers customers this silly choice? Or worse yet, is there a store policy that encourages saving dirt-cheap bags and miniscule amounts of time by promulgating this absurdity?

no option for paper???

Oh yeah, that was the 90s' big supermarket meme.
Around here plastic has crushed the paper option like a steamroller squishing daisies...

It's all about those convenient handles, I presume.

some places have the brown bags with handles glued to them.

i like the plastic ones myself because they are smaller to store, and the missing kitty she loved to lick them for some reason or another.

One comedian this past weekend said,"Why do you buy garbage bags, and then put the garbage bags in the grocery bags, only to put the grocery bag into the garbage bag when we get home. WTF?"

ironically when you shop at ikea, gap, old navy, they offer you a bag when you are shopping presumably to buy more stuff. I find that if I only buy what I can carry in my arms it's much much less than a bag or cartful. So when I'm purposefully shopping for a single or few items, I carry them as unweildly as it can be because when it gets difficult, it's time to stop shopping and go check out.

I prefer not to put unweildy items like 12packs of pop or 4 liter milk jugs into bags. I can carry them just fine together without bags, and it helps the environment. So when the attendant offers to put the single items into a bag, I just say no and carry it myself.

I don't really see it as a lazy attendant thing, more of a superfluous kind of thing- if you can only fit one item into a bag, why have the bag at all?

I am part of the environment and it helps me.

It's the handles I want...

In Sweden all paperbags have handles. Most people seems to use plastic though..a nd you pay for bags here and pack your bags yourself :)

thanks for the reminder, have to do the same thing in Iceland. Gonna have to pack some extra plastic bags.

I try to bring my own bags or I use the cardboard boxes I find at the front of the store...

Many stores here make you bag your own and pay for plastic bags... The more expensive stores provide them free.

The interesting development here is the self checkout option. You scan and bag your own groceries and then swipe a debit or credit card and go...

The big things I don't have a problem with. It's when I buy a CD and they put it in a bag. It's the size of a... CD... Why do I need a bag? I have fuckin' thumbs.

When there are items like... a big bag of dog food, or a gallon of milk, or 24 packs of whatever, I prefer not to have them in a bag. The bags become uncomfortable to carry when they're too stuffed or weighted down, and I'd rather carry the large items as they are. The bagger doesn't ask because he doesn't want to pack it; he asks because he doesn't know what YOU prefer. I don't really see why just giving a simple "yes" or "no" is that demanding.

why would anyone want to put a gallon of milk in a bag. they have handles on them that are a lot stronger then the cheap handles on the plastic bags. so when they ask if i want the milk and soda in a bag i say no.

I was going to mention that too. I bought a CD at Best Buy today and the guy tried to put it in a bag that you'd fit a new stereo in. He said "Sorry, I don't have a smaller bag". I replied "Well thank God you have these available!"

The same has happened here. It's very disappointing to me because 1) plastic bags are worse for the environment and 2) they're rediculously less durable.

I agree. The thing about plastic bags is tat they're so cheap! Most of the time, if it's the kind of thing that they're going to ask if I want it in a bag or not, it's the kind of thing that would break the bag if I actually tried to carry it using the handles anyway.

Art, you just made my day. This may not have ben intended to be funny, but it definitely made me laugh :) Reminded me of that scene in Father of the Bride where he's trying to get hot dogs and they only have 4 packs and 12 packs and he wants 6 (or something like that).

AMEN!! I *hate* it when they offer me a bag (or worse yet, just assume I want one) for one object! It's such an utter waste, and then I have to deal with what to do with the stupid bag after I get home. No thanks, I'll carry my one item myself thank you very much.

Having worked as a bagger, I can tell you that they use this to simply save money on bags.

Plastic is ALWAYS default. Milk doesn't go in a bag unless requested. Don't ask for a preference. Only use paper if requested.

Over here supermarkets and shops in general are required by law to charge a 15c government levy on plastic bags. It's an environmental thing.

It worked, as now most people use re-usable cloth bags.

That's a great idea.

I've heard that question. Usually though I've heard it when I have something that's already got handles. Like a gallon of milk or the kitty litter jug. Then handles on the plastic bags compress into a thin line when you have something heavy like milk or kitty litter in them and the line cuts into your hand. If the object already has a formed handle it's not as uncomfortable to carry.

Always plastic in colorado unless you ask otherwise or go to Costco. At Costco you receive used product cardboard shipping boxes.

when i order an evil mcdonald's hamburger.. I'm going to EAT it now.. I don't need a bag.

OK, I'll admit it.
I want absolutely everything in a nice plastic bag with handles.
I save the bags. I use 'em for everything from taking the dogs for walks (ahem) and double wrapping everything when camping or travelling. I'm so much of a bag dude that I feel best when I have my bags in a bag and my bagged items bagged inside of....

...you got it - a bag.

For every person who gets upset because they don't automatically put a jug of milk or 6-pack in a bag, there'll be someone who gets upset because they're wasting a bag on something that already has a handle. Asking for your preference - whether you'd like a bag or not - seems like a good way to avoid making assumptions that are going to piss off half your customers. At least they're asking if you'd like a bag instead of just refusing to give you one.

Next time I shop, I'll buy the smallest item I can find and ask for the biggest bag they have....

and send the bag to Art. :)

I dunno....I find gallon milk jugs easier to handle when they're in the plastic bags. I can carry 4 jugs in one hand, that way. Other than that, it doesn't really faze me.

Well exactly. Before we got the fancy/expensive water treatment system installed out here in the hinterlands, we carried all drinking water in. I'd come up to the checkout line with four or more gallon jugs - just as you describe, Bill O'Rights. And I would get the question. I'm not at all convinced that the world is better off with me trying to get four or more gallons of liquid - plus groceries - out the door without bags.

But Hal clued us in, anyway - it sounds like it's a store policy preference. Hey no problem, I'll pay for the bags...how's that?

I usually bag everything, but we only go through half a gallon of milk a week, so it fits snugly into the bag.

Now, you can forget sticking orange juice in a bag, though.

I reuse the bags for kitty poop, so I got one third of the whole recycling thing down.

I do this too. I bought four cloth bags long ago. They usually live in the trunk of my car, where they're convinient in case I decide to go food shopping. Around here, they don't charge explicitly for bags, but I really don't like the idea of having the plastic bags I'll generally use once, then toss. I've tried saving them, but I never remember to reuse or recycle them, so they end up in the trash. Wasteful!

The only problem I have with the cloth bags is when they get kinda grungy. I usually just toss them in the washer. That's about the only thing I think may eventually wear them out.

Oh, and regarding the original question, I generally don't want a bag for things like the 20lb container of kitty litter, but then it's got a nice handle of its own. And they don't usually ask me on smaller things.

I can't stand not getting the heavier, bigger stuff in bags. Specially milk and soda. At our house, we have several people, and will go through 4 gallons of milk a week, without too much of a problem. So, when we go shopping, we naturally have a ton of stuff. When they put it in bags, BAM! the whole damn shopping trip in one very uncomfortable, unwieldy, heavy load. And its totally worth it. Id much rather go through 30 seconds of extreme uncomfort and heavy lifting, than need to make a bunch of separate trips. Especially when each gallon of milk is shaped so that you can only really get one in each hand.

One time a friend and I went to Big 5 so I could buy myself something or other, but I ended up getting nice, dark blue gym bag instead. The girl at the register rung it up and then asked a most unexpected question.
"Would you like a bag?"
I stared at her for a good 3 seconds before bringing my mouth back into function enough to tell her, "It is a bag." Me and my friend were busting guts as soon as we got into the parking lot.

If I don't need a bag, I let them know. Some items, like gallons of milk or cases of canned beverages have a handle that is more comfortable than the bunched up plastic cutting into your hand. I think this question came about when people started asking for items without bags frequently enough that no bag for the above mentioned items became the default.

The meme that drives me crazy is the propogation of, "Can I get a..." in lieu of "May I have a..." or even "Can I have..."

"Can I get a pack of cigarettes?" should be answered by the clerk with, "No, I'll have to get them for you."

Now that would be too smart.

Over in wisconsin big stores called aldi's have sprung up that are based on the same purpose...everything sold is their brand......it' works great and for $50 I can get a full cart of groceries

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 :(

Well.... that was a very... anti-climactic answer :(

Kinda ironic having customers complain about policies they have created, huh?

My point exactly.

With humans, you can't win. (shrug)

I once bought a chainsaw...a CHAINSAW, and the clerk attempted to bag it with this thin plastic bag that was roughly 1/3 the size of my purchase. I think even the mighty ART himself would have passed on that bagging experience.

no way. Art would NEVER want to cheat himself out of a bag. He'd ask for it to be folded neatly and tucked in on the side ;)

exactly , i am always saying no to these little bags they want to put my items in. why waste the plastic ?

as for my groceries, i get enough bags left over from that. there should be some kind of "bring it your bags back and get a discount" program.

The irony lays beneath.

People want convenience.

Monopolies determine which bag will choke.

I didn't think there was anything in the world that could possibly get under your skin Art. But I see what not getting a bag can do to a man!:lol:

So I have probably about 500 plastic bags I've saved over the last year or so and hauled home, they've got your name on them, Art! ;)

heh heh - thanks for the cool responses everyone!

I also want everything in a bag - it's just so much easier to carry everything in the least amount of trips if there are handles on everything. This was especially relevant back in the days of living in a few 2nd story apartments - now at least it's only 15 feet from the car door to the kitchen counter

Sometimes I think grocery baggers have never had to carry anything into their house - but I guess thay have to ask because we're all different.

Here's a related question - why don't the manufacturers of those bulky items (toilet paper; dog food bags, etc. ) make built-in handles for their products? I mean - how much more would it cost them to glue or staple on a vinyl loop big enough to slip your hand in?

uh huh..
but I'd still want it in a bag even if it had handles.
heh heh.

The supermarkets here do just that-bring your own and you get 2c off each bag-not a lot, but, unlike Art, i try to get RID of as many as i can. I have bags filled with bags. We use them for the smaller garbage can in the bathroom and in the cars, but they multiply faster than rabbits, it seems.(no longer being a dogowner cut back severely on the bag-usage) And drive up Interstate 440 into Staten Island sometime-it looks like grocery bag hell with them hanging off bushes, trees and moving like urban tumbleweeds down the sides of the road. If it already comes in a bag or has a handle, I say no thanks and carry as-is.

i remember the plastic bag handles used to really cut into my hands walking back from the supermarket... or even break sometimes... maybe i was buying too much beer :(

i dunno what the answer is ... biodegradeable plastic? maybe robotic trolleys that follow you home and then return to the supermarket? there must be a better way

i appreciate you need em for dog-walking and stuff - paper bags don't cut it I'm guessing :) - but it always disturbs me how quickly my bin fills up with plastic wrappers

Art, I always enjoy your insightful, well worded, thoughtful posts. It truly is a pleasure to read your words.

That quote cracked me up, whether you meant it to be funny or not. Furthermore, I couldn't agree with you more on all of your points, at least regarding the bagging of large, bulky items.

Thanks, wrkime.
Truth be told, this thread is indeed part of my humor project...
:)

When they ask me if I want plastic or paper I just fix a gaze on them and answer cooly, "YES Please."

When I was 17 I bought some Lifesavers at Walmart, and the girl at the checkout asked me if i wanted a bag. So I said YEAH! Give me the biggest bag you got!!

It was big enough to hold about 3 chainsaws

In this neck of the woods, the question "paper or plastic" is often answered with "paper". The locals have discovered that the brown paper store bags are exactly the right size to store newspapers, the whole bundle is recyclable. Drive down the road at trash collection day and you'll see what I mean.

I don't care if I buy a stick of gum, I want the shit double bagged, paper in plastic.

Interesting mxyzptlk. As we live in the same neck of the woods, it must be that I look like a plastic bag afficionado. I assume that taking one look at me instinctively brings up the words, "This dude wants plastic" in the hearts and minds of cashiers. They don't even offer me paper bags at the Farmers' Market. This is all very well and good with me, of course.

Those plastic grocery bags are also my garbage bags. I just can't buy Glad bags to throw in the garbage.

That's what 90% of the Swedes do with them. Migth be why we don't complain about paying for bags (since we use them).

I can honestly say, from working at Walgreens before, that there is an equal amount of people who will glare at you if you bag milk as there are people who will glare at you if you DON'T bag it.

Likewise goes for other single items, especially those with handles.

I've had people pull single items out of the bag, grumbling at me for bagging it, and leaving the bag behind.

People are insane.

Ah yeah - nothing like first hand experience.
I can feel the pain.
I'd probably ask them as well, knowing this.
Thanks!