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Carrefour - small rant

1238

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 19:57

So aside from the fact that shopping at Carrefour consistently makes me apoplectic, has anyone noticed that for a store that sells many large items, they've recently begun to have only the most miniscule, cheap bags that won't hold anything?

Is it for money saving? Because I really don't appreciate having to carry 30 small bags and a few large items by hand through the mall!

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98

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 10:19

Ok, I'm clearly the only one who finds it annoying. Crawling back to hole ... No, you are not....I agree! Always re-use the supermarket plastic bags as much as possible, especially for garbage, do the people who saintly carry their own bags buy garbage bags instead? That's something I don't have to do so I guess it all evens out :) The supermarkets may be possibly considering the environment but absolutely they are making money on selling plastic bags. The store that really annoys me over this so-called environmental policy is The One, spending a couple of hundred dirhams on items and then being charged one dirham extra for the bag..just greed..if they were so concerned about saving the planet blah blah then they wouldn't be getting cheap stuff made in mass produced factories in China and then carting it half way across the world ;) And the Ikea paper bags! So irritating, can't be reused for anything really and always rip before you get home..... I use the IKEA paper bags for recycling my paper products ;)

alohasunshine33036

7

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 09:28

Guinness, I think that you are a rockstar for managing to take four kids with you to C4. If I even take one of mine, it adds 100AED to the bill in extra junk and a box of panadol for mommy. And you are right, it's completely impractical to at all times carry enough bags to cover every shopping scenario. But, I figure that it's not unreasonable for me to carry 3 or 4 big bags. The reusable bags hold a lot of weight and can easily carry the same items packed in several "store bags" / more if they double bag. Then, if I need to supplement with store bags so be it.

Sticky Wicket36659

1511

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 08:48

Fine, reusable bags, but when I go to Carrefour, I never know how much stuff I'm going to come out with. I've got four kids (two babies!) so when we make our big trek to Carrefour to stock up on nappies etc, we end up with *tons* of things. I'd have to bring an entire suitcase of those reusable bags! Don't you write a list? Take a maid with you? ;)

1238

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 08:25

Fine, reusable bags, but when I go to Carrefour, I never know how much stuff I'm going to come out with. I've got four kids (two babies!) so when we make our big trek to Carrefour to stock up on nappies etc, we end up with *tons* of things. I'd have to bring an entire suitcase of those reusable bags!

alohasunshine33036

7

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 08:20

Even the stores in China charge for plastic bags in the stores (lived there for two years). That's when I started using my own bags and now prefer it! Here's some food for thought regarding the biodegradable bags sold in the stores and the great plastic bag debate: http://www.reuseit.com/learn-more/myth-busting/what-about-biodegradable-bags http://www.reuseit.com/learn-more <em>edited by alohasunshine on 05/04/2011</em>

2322

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 07:59

and the big re usable bags from C4 are for life. they will replace them free of charge you know. As well as geant giving you a re bate, they also replace when the big bags reach the end of their usable life. Huge amounts of countries charge for bags, and so they should. yep, if you do get the plastic bags I am sure most of us re use as bin liners etc, but thats one re use and it doesnt bio degrade any quicker. Its not rocket science people.

Lady Bubbles29805

712

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 06:11

I use reusable bags as much as I can. I do forget sometimes so we use those plastic bags as binliners. I also buy a packet of biodegradeable bin liners (from C4) for when we run out of plastic bags. They usualy last me about 4 months. I never buy black bin liners. I hate those thin bags from C4 as they split and then they are not much use for the bin anyway. The reusable bags fit much more in and are easier to carry.

scarlett7821676

158

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 April 2011 - 00:08

I agree with Pomegranate's post I too,reuse the grocery/supermarket bags for trash and I always wonder what others use for trash? Do you buy hose black bin bags..they are plastic too aren't they? And I too think that the ikea guys do more damage to the envt than good by guvin it those paper bags that can't be reused for anything ! Ok, I'm clearly the only one who finds it annoying. Crawling back to hole ... No, you are not....I agree! Always re-use the supermarket plastic bags as much as possible, especially for garbage, do the people who saintly carry their own bags buy garbage bags instead? That's something I don't have to do so I guess it all evens out :) The supermarkets may be possibly considering the environment but absolutely they are making money on selling plastic bags. The store that really annoys me over this so-called environmental policy is The One, spending a couple of hundred dirhams on items and then being charged one dirham extra for the bag..just greed..if they were so concerned about saving the planet blah blah then they wouldn't be getting cheap stuff made in mass produced factories in China and then carting it half way across the world ;) And the Ikea paper bags! So irritating, can't be reused for anything really and always rip before you get home.....

682

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 23:25

Geant offers money back if you return the bags. I often do :) I too dont use bags for anything big (toilet rolls) or anything that already has "handles" (rice bags etc).

101

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 22:50

Just another view - but if something is fairly big I don't use a bag at all - eg water bottles - toilet rolls - vacuum cleaner!! I just trot it out in the trolley and put it in the car. I frequnetly forget my reusable bags and do use the carriers as rubbish bags but it still won't make them degrade any quicker ;)

Sticky Wicket36659

1511

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 22:13

Then we have France where they have no bags! LOL Amazed the french chains here are not following what they do in France.

436

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 22:08

I like what wholefoods do in the states - give you rebate for each bag you bring, I think it was 10c per bag , so on a big shop it could add up to a dollar. Encourages people to take bags, but doesn't **** people off who don't

266

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 21:58

all about maximizing profits though, especially as companies realize (from recession studies) how much money they can actually save/make from such small things. case in point, food chains selling ketchup sachets for dhs 1 each (if you ask for more than one). there was a whole study on this right after the recession when companies were figuring out how to make it through.

3804

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 21:52

I have noticed though that when you get to the checkout, they offer to sell you the bigger reusable bags. I use all my shopping bags for lining bins too, it's a great way to reuse them.

Sticky Wicket36659

1511

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 21:51

More to the point guinness do you pack your own bags??? LOL Seriously it's everyones responsibility to join 2011 and take your own *green* bags when you go shopping, no excuses. If you bother to put your children in a car seat and wear seat belts then make the effort to take your bags to the supermarket.

369

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 21:48

I use my spinney's bags for garbage (rather than purchasing specially made, expensive plastic) and for picking up my dog's poop. But the point is, why sell large-sized items and then have no way for people to get it home? Target always has great, large bags for getting all the things home - and I wouldn't say they are so environmentally unfriendly! Target in Australia charge for plastic bags now. And the ones you pay for are biodegradable, or otherwise known as so flimsy they barely hold together for you to get your stuff home in them.

522

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 21:12

I'm with you guinness - I reuse my plastic bags for garbage bags around the house and don't buy those black one's... Try shopping in Geant where not only do they stock the cr@ppy thin and useless plastic bags - BUT they also charge you for the pleasure!!! And what irks me - the guys that help pack the bags (and yes, I do ask for help cause I am also usually controlling two crazy boys and carrying a baby) assume I want to pay for as few bags as possible and will load them up to the top with multiple gallons of milk/juice/ cans etc to the point where THEY actually struggle to lift them... I'm always asking them to seperate out the drinks, put fewer 6-packs of cans in each bag... :/: Frustrating!

Pomegranate35436

867

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 21:09

Ok, I'm clearly the only one who finds it annoying. Crawling back to hole ... No, you are not....I agree! Always re-use the supermarket plastic bags as much as possible, especially for garbage, do the people who saintly carry their own bags buy garbage bags instead? That's something I don't have to do so I guess it all evens out :) The supermarkets may be possibly considering the environment but absolutely they are making money on selling plastic bags. The store that really annoys me over this so-called environmental policy is The One, spending a couple of hundred dirhams on items and then being charged one dirham extra for the bag..just greed..if they were so concerned about saving the planet blah blah then they wouldn't be getting cheap stuff made in mass produced factories in China and then carting it half way across the world ;) And the Ikea paper bags! So irritating, can't be reused for anything really and always rip before you get home.....

1238

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 21:00

Ok, I'm clearly the only one who finds it annoying. Crawling back to hole ...

263

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 20:59

The reusable bags are quite large and will fit many larger items. If you want better quality bags I would suggest the supermarkets do as in South Africa and charge a small fee for each plastic bag. They would then be able to supply better quality bags. I would also like to think that it would quickly encourage many more people to get the reusable bags.

940

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 20:50

the new bags @ carrefour are biodegradable. I got their large reusable bags and keep them is the car. Trying to help save planet earth.:)

1238

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 20:38

I use my spinney's bags for garbage (rather than purchasing specially made, expensive plastic) and for picking up my dog's poop. But the point is, why sell large-sized items and then have no way for people to get it home? Target always has great, large bags for getting all the things home - and I wouldn't say they are so environmentally unfriendly!

1579

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 20:26

Eh, I hate that excuse. People who are going to use reusable bags are going to, regardless of the bags offered by the store. Do the prices go down if I bring my own bags? Nope. I think its money-saving by the company and its really unfortunate. I agree that the prices do not go down but I disagree that is is only about the cost of the bags. Having thinner and smaller bags is enviromentally friendly as they break down quicker, they are more appropriate for a small number of items and it has been shown to encourage people to consider reuseable bags. You can always shop with your feet and only go to stores where the bags meet your standards but you will pay for the pleasure both monetarily and enviromentally. [i'>I am a enviro bag toating wanna be greenie from way back :)[/i'>

vero possumus37927

876

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 20:07

I fought the 'bring your own bags' thing for ages, but finally caved about a year ago and now keep a stash of those large strong C4 bags in my trunk. ETA I still take the plastic bags from Choithrams, as we use them in the small bins around the house... <em>edited by vero possumus on 04/04/2011</em>

1238

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 20:03

Eh, I hate that excuse. People who are going to use reusable bags are going to, regardless of the bags offered by the store. Do the prices go down if I bring my own bags? Nope. I think its money-saving by the company and its really unfortunate.

1579

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 20:00

It may be to encourage you to bring reuseable bags.

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