She actually read the sign or kind of...

[TruthHurts]

Our county is banning plastic bags in a few weeks. At our registers we have a sign listing the date it starts and stating that we will charge 10 cents for paper bags. Seems pretty straightforward or so one would think.

I bag this ladies groceries in plastic bags and hand them over to her. She checks her receipt, smiles and then sing songs "Busted." I give her a puzzled look and ask her what she means. "You didn't charge me the ten cents for the bag like the sign says." She tapped the sign for emphasis. "You could get in trouble for that."

I smiled at her and politely said "The sign says that we will be banning plastic bags in a couple of weeks. We will be charging the ten cents for paper bags after that. She quickly lost her smug demeanor and left without saying another word.

The situation wouldn't have been so annoying if she hadn't acted so smug about it.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Isn't it funny how just a vocal tone can change a statement from politely inquisitive to total bitchmeister?

[Slave to the Phone]

What a nice lady. NOT!

But at least she almost read the sign. Maybe there is hope after all.

[Not Lillith]

Ahahahahaha....

I only laugh because I can't count the number of times I've been cussed at for charging people for paper bags.


Though, I guess, all things considred, it isn't that bad...I've just made the habit of adding,

"would you like a bag today? It's only 5Cents"

and most people will do a disgusted snort and walk away. For the others I don't even bother explaining it any more other than to say "it's the law" and I push a flyer at them... It's so not worth the time to explain any of it to them. (It's only been advertised to death for a solid year)

[Bright_Star]

What a nice lady. NOT!

But at least she almost read the sign. Maybe there is hope after all.

They read a part of the sign they think will be advantageous to them. Then when they're called on their mis-reading of said sign, that's when they act like they're all offended.

[fireheart]

Greetings from someone else who's state (not country) banned plastic bags!

The following alternatives were allowed: the thin-ass produce bags (the ones you wrap your fruit and veg in), compostable bags that meet a certain standard (which I haven't been seeing a lot of), paper bags, canvas/ "green" bags and the thick-ass plastic ones that most places are adopting as a viable alternative (which can be reused about 4-5 times). Bags that were marked biodegradable, degradable or similar were banned.

The amount of suck I received during that time was ANNOYING. The best way we dealt with it was to joke about it. For example, one week before the ban came into effect, I asked my manager if he'd ordered the riot gear to prepare for the ban. The response? "Not yet"

[bhskittykatt]

Our ban has gone fairly well here. I kept an eye out for suck when it went into affect. I haven't seen any, and the cashiers I've talked to said that most people have been pretty good about it. I'm just waiting for the holidays, though...

[BowserKoopa1]

Ok wait.... You're saying she wanted to get an attitude and act the way she did because you didn't charge her more money? This lady must be fucked in the head. You'd think she'd be happy not to be charged more, but hey, who the hell can figure customers?

[EricKei]

BK1: I imagine she was trying to make TruthHurts afraid of losing the job -- people like that tend to think they have waaay more power than they do...

[mhkohne]

We do not have a plastic bag ban, but we do have a local Bottom Dollar store that doesn't give out bags. First time I went there I was completely surprised at being charged for bags, but hey, it's what they do, so you'll hear no complaints from me. I wish they'd put the bag rack closer to the till, but whatever.

[shopgirl15]

Plastic bags aren't banned in my state, they just charge 5 cents. But of course when I worked at a chocolate store that didn't stop people from whining.

Most common complaints:

1) "Nanny state government!"

2) "Its Obama's fault!"

3) I'm going shopping in (neighboring state) from now on!"

Number 3 was the weirdest to me. Granted, we're not too far from the state line, but its going to cost way more than 5 cents in gas to get there.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Most common complaints:

1) "Nanny state government!"

God you have to love this. Seriously. It's just the same as people who cry about socialism and fascism when they have no idea what the terms mean.
I always bring reusable bags unless it's one of those "crap I forgot I need THIS" and it's a stop on the way home. It does boggle my mind that they get so worked up over 5 freaking cents when they can just bring their own freaking bags.

[fish3k1]

Gah, in Wales we've legally had to charge for plastic bags since October 2011. It's only 5p per bag, and there are signs at all the checkouts stating that this is in line with new legislation brought in on 01/10/11 (yes, I'm aware that looks strange to the US members of the forum :P )

Anyway, this still didn't stop a co-worker getting abused by some crotchety old man because they told him they would have to charge for a bag.

SC: But you could just give me one! Don't be so difficult!
CW: I'm sorry sir, but I can't, it's illegal.
SC: Don't be so ridiculous, it's not illegal.
CW: Actually, -
SC: IT'S NOT ILLEGAL! *storms off*

Next customer in line, to CW but loud enough for SC to hear: I guess it's your fault that it's against the law then?

[Juggler]

What I've never understood is why stores don't use the boxes that the merchandise comes in to pack customers' purchases. The only one I know of that does is Costco.

[EricKei]

Juggler -- I have seen big warehouse stores do that often. For anywhere else, you need to either ask ahead of time (and hope someone remembers), as stocking is often done at night or early in the morning, or just go there on a stock day at a time when you know they're stocking the shelves.