"Cheryl" > wrote in message
eb.com...
> On 1/30/2013 12:42 AM, Julie Bove wrote:
>
>> The whole back of my van is loaded with bags and stuff. We're very green
>> here so the stores are all urging us to use reusable bags. I used to buy
>> them for every store but I am phasing those out in lieu of the more
>> expensive thick plastic ones that last longer and can be washed more
>> easily.
>> Most of the cloth ones just fall apart when you wash them. But I do have
>> a
>> nice Target bag made of a thick fabric that washes well.
>
> Do you use the proper bags for each store you shop in? ie, you don't use
> a Piggly Wiggly bag when you go to Costco?

Originally I did try to match the bag to the store. But I soon realized
that didn't matter at all. I pretty much only use the Costco bags for
Costco if I use them at all, and I don't even take them into the store. The
bags I have are *huge*. So big that when filled we sometimes can't lift
them. Of course it depends on what we put in there. Normally when shopping
at Costco I have frozen or refrigerated stuff and we are not going straight
home so I have to put it in insulated bags. In fact unless it is the dead
of winter, it is such a long drive from our house that I need the insulated
bags even if I am going straight home.

I do try to use the Target bags when at Target because some of their
employees aren't the brightest people and other bags only tend to confuse
them. Even with their bags I often still have to remind them to give me the
bag discount and a few times I've even had to show them how to ring it up.
I've been sorely tempted in such cases to tell them that I am also entitled
to get my order for half price or something. *snicker* No, I wouldn't do
that but it just floors me to see that they take my word for things and
never bother to call someone to see what the protocol is!

I don't always use the Winco bags. The set of those that I bought is not
what I thought it would be. It was on clearance. It contained two rather
large bags (bigger than your standard bag but smaller than Costco) and one
Costco sized bag. That huge bag really isn't much good to us and sometimes
even the other bags just don't work well unless they are filled with really
light stuff like paper goods. Plus you have to bag your own stuff in there.
And sometimes it just seems like it is quicker to use their bags than to
fuss with the ones you bring in. So if it is raining really hard, sometimes
we will just use their bags because we don't want to get soaked, fishing the
other bags out of the back of the van.

I also try to use their bags at Dollar Tree, the Dollar/party store and
Value Village because if I bring in any other bags they aren't always sure
that I brought them in because they do sell such bags.

And I have learned that at Walmart, any bags that I bring in will only
confuse them. Not that I go there often. I don't really like that store.
So if I do go there, I just get the plastic bags even though I do own one or
two of theirs.

But at any other grocery store I go to, or even the drugstore, I just grab
whatever bag is handy. They never seem to care if the bag has a name on it
or what kind of bag it is. I will however grab "their" bag if I have one
and if I see it readily available. Unless of course it is raining hard and
then anything will do.

I do have to remember to bring a bag always when I shop in Edmonds because
they have banned the plastic shopping bags. They highly encourage you to
bring your own bags there but they will give you a paper one if you forget,
or simply just want the paper one.

Not sure how it's all going to play out in Seattle. They're going to be
banning the plastic ones too but not sure if that has started or not. There
has been talk of some stores charging for paper ones.