• FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    3 days ago

    That’s not just a… normal thing to do?

    It’s expensive to buy grocery bag bags… And they are super inconvenient to carry on the bus or train or while walking.

    • LibertyLizard
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      3 days ago

      Most people don’t in the US, no. In my city there isn’t really functional transit so that’s not really a thing.

        • LibertyLizard
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          3 days ago

          It’s only a few cents here. But I don’t know because I don’t do it.

          • FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            3 days ago

            Hmmmm. So what happens to the bags after people buy things with them I’m not sure I understand. Why don’t they just stay in the car for next time?

            • Umbrias@beehaw.org
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              2 days ago

              the us largely does not charge for bags directly, they are a consumable that is part of the store’s customer overhead. At cost each bag is around 3 cents, and probably holds 15 to 50 dollars of merchandise that is being sold at around 2% net profit generally.

              people often keep the bags and use them for other stuff, like trash bags or plastic linings or makeshift gloves. not everyone does. it’s wasteful, yes, though on net carbon impact it’s probably lower than plastic reusable bags and many plant fabric ones given a plastic industry exists anyway.

            • Clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works
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              3 days ago

              Grocery bags are disposable plastic. In my state they cost a few cents each as of a couple of years ago. Reusable bags are common, but it’s also common to forget them and need to buy disposable bags. Most people reuse them as e.g. trash bags for bathrooms.

          • MuffinHeeler@aussie.zone
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            2 days ago

            They dropped plastic bags where I’m from. 25c per paper bag. $2.50 for a bag for cold stuff. It does add up, then what do you do with that stuff, they can’t be bin liners

  • Perry@lemy.lol
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    3 days ago

    People don’t bring their own bags for shopping? Is this common worldwide or is this meme US oriented?

  • Jo Miran@lemmy.ml
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    3 days ago

    ProTip: Keep a bag of bags in your car. When you go to a store with carts, skip the bagging and just put your items back in your cart. You can bag them at your car in peace with no rush. The cashier will appreciate you, the bagger will appreciate you, and the other folk in line will appreciate you.

  • TheTechnician27@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Honestly, byob feels a lot nicer too. If you’re bagging your own groceries, you’re not faffing about with a new bag every 3–6 items, you’re not concerning yourself with double-bagging, and it just goes by a bit faster. If you have a couple insulated bags, you’re not as worried about routing your trip to get the refrigerated and frozen stuff last (although this might still happen if you get dairy milk and meat, idk). If you’re taking the groceries home in your car, you have a lot fewer bags to worry about and don’t have to check to make sure you have all them and nothing’s rolled out. And carrying them in is easier because you can physically fit more groceries into a trip. Small things, but they do add up to a nicer experience I think.

  • lettruthout@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I bought a used shopping basket at a thrift store - you know, the type with handles that stores often offer for free use. I stays in my car trunk. If I only need a few items it comes into the store with me. Useful in the store, after checkout, then into the house. Cashiers think it’s funny that I have my own.

  • neo2478@sh.itjust.works
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    3 days ago

    Bringing your own bag and scanning as you go is magic! Packing as you pick things up makes shopping so much faster!