Forum Topic

Tesco Carrier Bags

Yes, I know we shouldnt use them and should have bags for life in the car but have you noticed that when  you forget your bags and have to reply on the Tesco free ones that they are absolutely rubbish? Just a few items cause them to rip at the base or handles. Well, guess Im not the only one as this was featured on Watchdog last night. Seems the bags are now 20% thinner than 2004 and the weakest of all the major supermarkets. So, instead of reducing the number of free bags they give away, customers were using twice as many to double bag heavy items. But good news..from this week  Tesco are introducing a new, stronger bag. Result.

David Archer ● 5839d18 Comments

My son did some shopping at a Tesco local. The bag they gave him was one of the type you have if you have bought a sandwich. When my son asked for something bigger he was offered a 9p carrier. Is this the thin end of the wedge

Jean Gilmore ● 5838d

On the other hand, it's a real incentive to remember your own bags.

Sara Nathan ● 5838d

All supermarkets should just stop providing plastic bags - as they do in France.  The cost saving would be considerable and force customers to remember to take along their own re-usable bag(s).

Dee Cook ● 5838d

They should all charge for them as Marks do.

Susan Kelly ● 5838d

They make them so thin and fragile that they know people wont use them and bring their own.

David Archer ● 5838d

I always have strong bags in the car. But they are never with me when I get to the checkout!  (Actually, it's now months since I did a 'proper shop', and I do have a little fold-up bag in my shoulder bag).

Becky Bell ● 5837d

I wish I kept a diary because I did a quick personal survey several years ago at the large Tescos at Osterley. (It used used to be the worst for trolleys piled high with stripy blue carrier bags (despite Tescos wonderful inspirational advertisement with Alan Titchmarsh)).  As I deliberately walked from the furthest check-out to the exit I did a quick count of how many checkouts had people who had made an effort and were using at least one alternative bag.  Depressingly just me.  I did another one more recently and the result was staggeringly and satisfyingly different.It was more difficult several years ago to find alternative bags at a reasonable price (other than ones advertising a supermarket) and you hardly ever saw people using their own bags.  The tide has changed.  We've moved on and there are now lots of choices making it easier to find a system that works for you.  My favourite is a World Wildlife Fund over the shoulder one which I sometimes carry my handbag in and then take out when I shop and need the extra space.There are always a couple of other large bags kept in the car for bigger shopping trips.I have a wonderful string bag which is brilliant for carrying light and bulky things like loo rolls and cornflakes and other large boxes (eg two boxes of wooden hangers the other day).It is a great freedom.  Life with less plastic is fantastic!

Philippa Bond ● 5837d

totally agree Philippa.I have two Waitrose Bags For Life in my rucksack at all times. Shopping comes out, bags get folded and are put back in the rucksack immediately. One of the ladies at Chiswick Waitrose is astonnished at my bags as they are the Christmas issue - she keeps trying to exchange them for newer ones (free of charge) but I'm quite proud of them - a tad smug even ;). I treat them as a badge of honour lol

Ian Greenwood ● 5836d

Aren't the bags 'for life' and not just for Christmas?

Becky Bell ● 5836d

For a car shop I use big square-based plastic bags that stand up like a box. I bought them in Habitat for £2 each about fifteen years ago. They've been used for all kinds of things from moving to surfing, as well as supermarkets, and a couple of them are in use for the art class materials now. Real value for money!

Becky Bell ● 5836d

not sure if you were being serious there Becky. I think the bag for life thing is that they replace them for you free of charge when they eventually give up on you which they inevitably do. I stand to be corrected though.

Ian Greenwood ● 5836d

It's a play on "A dog is for life and not just for Christmas" or my personal favourite "A Baby is for life and not just for Christmas".  It's funny how they can be so anxious to exchange your bags for you when they are still perfectly serviceable isn't? Those Bags for Life are very good for keeping rolled up in the bottom of another bag.

Philippa Bond ● 5835d

I understood the reference, Philippa. I just didn't know if it was intended seriously. I was in Waitrose this evening and got last year's Christmas themed bag out (again) and the lady didn't attempt to swap it for a new one this time as she now knows better ;). I told her I'm aiming to keep it until next Christmas

Ian Greenwood ● 5835d

Of course there are some shops who love to hand out bags....

David Archer ● 5834d

I have been using one bag (one of the more longlasting ones where I paid 5p or something similar) I got from ASDAs a good few years ago and it broke last weekend. I got a new longlasting one from Morrisons and they were charging the earth. That's no way to encourage people to do the right thing

Gary Malcolm ● 5834d

Waitrose charge 10p for their bags for life, M&S 9p. Worth paying the extra 1p, I think, as I find Waitrose's much sturdier.

Susan Kelly ● 5833d

If the large supermakets are serious about 'saving the planet' they should stop supplying bags as they do in France.  But of course, it is a cheap way of advertising.

Dee Cook ● 5833d

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1580844/Banksy-backs-ban-on-plastic-bags.html

Philippa Bond ● 5815d