The big bag row!

[StarsAreFixed]

Right, in Ireland we have a plastic bag levy. The normal white-ish plastic bags are 22cent. This has been the case since 2005. Plastic bags are scanned. Most people opt to bring their own sturdier bags with them- these are about 50cent. My store, renowned for it's cheapskate-ishness in the face of rising profits has refused to pay Revenue (government tax department responsible) for the bags ordered. It argues that not all bags received had the levy applied- ie. they were used in store, wastage, breakage etc. So they have a point but guess what happens in the meantime- there are NO plastic bags at the checkouts and they're fast running out of the bigger bags that customers are very crabby abou buying. Also- here's the good part- grocery do not have the paper bags used in the drapery departments. (These are free). Cue: OUTRAGE. Lots of peple come up to our checkouts demanding paper bags and unless you want someone to flip at you, you give them one.

But..dun dun dun, this was always going to backlash on us. From Monday, ALL paper bags must be scanned. It will show up as 0.00 and is for 'stock ordering purposes'..(Read: new cheapskate policy which lands staff with explaining a shitty customer policy to irate customers). But people are absolutely used to plastic bags being scanned..and paper bags not being scanned. Going to create a lot of angry people before you can explain, UGHHHHHH. Also fun for people shopping on our floor having had a similar experience in the grocery. Double bonus fun for having to deny all the people who come up looking for bags that have broken/bags for groceries. I HATE NEW POLICIES.

And..breathe.

[fireheart]

Welcome to my world.

In my state in Australia, there is an outright BAN on the plastic bags. Meaning that there are four types of bags that can be used: the thicker "boutique bags" (a lot of places now sell these VERY cheaply and they're huge to boot), paper bags (common with some places, small businesses and places that have an environmental theme to them), thin produce bags (we get this frequently wit meat, I have no problem with it and encourage it), certain biodegradable bags that meet a particular standard (sold at some retail outlets, however they break easily) and the standard reusable bags-commonly known as "green bags" are OK.

Only tips I can give you to deal with it are:

-Don't force bags onto customers. Offer them "I can do this, this or this". People forgetting their bags is EXTREMELY common.
-If your store has a bag recycling service, promote it.
-Try to also encourage the cheaper options for customers, especially if the cheaper options can hold quite a lot.


People in my state are also idiots when it comes to a new law-several of them grumbled about why we couldn't have a bag levy. Yet, they were the ones who were buying up several of the bags anyway! If we had a levy, they'd still be out of pocket regardless. I worked out that 1 of the compliant bags we sell, is the equivalent of 2-3 regular plastic bags.