Is anyone else angry about the mandatory paper-bag charge? (San Francisco: 2013, university)

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by Charles22

I've learned to carry a variety of shopping bags in my car but I always end up carrying too many of them into the store in case I fill up my cart.

Slightly off topic...

I went into a store yesterday in Oakland... it still had a sign on the door that said no outside bags or backpacks allowed...

So, I guess one would have no choice but to buy a bag or shop elsewhere.

Seems a shame that a person, like this mom and pop corner market can be prohibited by law from giving something they own away... what has the world come to?

OK...I'm ready for the replies

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by packer43064

I'm not sure what kind of plastic bag you have been used to....these plastic bags take hundred of year to fully decompose. A cardboard type bag will be gone in months to a year at tops. Slight difference rookie.

jeffredo was talking about paper bags, not plastic bags.

[wooliemonster]

Yes, and they're putting wires in your brain to enforce the ban. They might even be transmitting as we speak.

[runofftola35]

"Also, I never really understood where thinking that you're owed a couple of free plastic bags to begin with? It's actually been a FREE courtesy all these years. How many times I've been given a double bagged single can of tomatoes at Safeway..... So wasteful."

I hate to play master of the obvious and school you on basic business 101 which is usually taught around the 7th grade, but contrary to your assertion it has not been a "FREE courtesy all these years." The cost of the bag and all other overhead is calculated into the products you buy at the store. That is basic business 101 to make a profit. Therefore, when charges like this go into effect the retailer is not only recovering the cost of the bag but making a a profit on the bag in the amount of the mandatory charge. This is something the environmental and government do gooders simply don't understand because according to them capitalism is "evil". In their ignorance, they have just created a new way of profiting for capitalist and entrepreneurs who own these businesses and are laughing themselves to the bank.

If you have a waste problem by double bagging products unnecessarily that is not society's problem and should not have to pay an extra charge for your waste. But this is something you more than likely feel entitled to have society pay. I won't blame you for that one since that has probably been handed down to by generation.

[Phil306]

Originally Posted by bigdumbgod

+1

Ideology has a way of overcoming rational thought on this issue. It's yet another "ME" thing, above any and all other concerns.
Think, adapt, evolve, and just bring a few bags to the store. It'll make the trips to the dentist easier, since it's apparently worse than pulling friggin' teeth for some people. First world problems.

Sure. How about you supply all the bags for everyone? Take it out of your pocket, go to the local supermarkets, GIVE it to them, and say: The next thousand people who come in here, I just paid for their bags. You won't, of course, you want "the common good" as long as someone else pays for it.

Me? I refuse to recycle, I throw away my plastic bags in the regular garbage, and I drive a gas guzzling SUV. I'm sick of you granola eating hippies telling me what I can and cannot do. I'm leaving the LARGEST carbon footprint I can.

[jeffredo]

Originally Posted by packer43064

I'm not sure what kind of plastic bag you have been used to....these plastic bags take hundred of year to fully decompose. A cardboard type bag will be gone in months to a year at tops. Slight difference rookie.

Please reread my post... s-l-o-w-l-y.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by Phil306

Sure. How about you supply all the bags for everyone? Take it out of your pocket, go to the local supermarkets, GIVE it to them, and say: The next thousand people who come in here, I just paid for their bags. You won't, of course, you want "the common good" as long as someone else pays for it.

Me? I refuse to recycle, I throw away my plastic bags in the regular garbage, and I drive a gas guzzling SUV. I'm sick of you granola eating hippies telling me what I can and cannot do. I'm leaving the LARGEST carbon footprint I can.

mod cut would it put that many people into the welfare lines if they have to buy a couple of $1.00 canvas bags for their groceries?

[packer43064]

Originally Posted by Phil306

Sure. How about you supply all the bags for everyone? Take it out of your pocket, go to the local supermarkets, GIVE it to them, and say: The next thousand people who come in here, I just paid for their bags. You won't, of course, you want "the common good" as long as someone else pays for it.

Me? I refuse to recycle, I throw away my plastic bags in the regular garbage, and I drive a gas guzzling SUV. I'm sick of you granola eating hippies telling me what I can and cannot do. I'm leaving the LARGEST carbon footprint I can.

Is it that hard to bring in a bag or two? Give me a break. Drive your SUV, just don't be an idiot over bring in a bag for groceries or just pony up the extra $1.

[Ultrarunner]

Hard no... might be inconvenient.

Now, if you are taking public transportation and plan to pick up a few things on the way home from work it would be even more so.

I think this bag thing is just a prelude to more of the same.

It's only been a few weeks and I have yet to bring or buy a bag... it's kind of like going to Costco where you are on your own... it was one of the reasons I seldom went to Costco because my neighborhood markets provided much better service...

I worked as a bagger years ago... it was a great entry level job for someone in school...

[Craziaskowboi]

A more practical solution to reducing waste is to have the damn baggers put more than just two items in a bag. I always instruct them on which items to put in which bags, and I end up using anywhere from one to three fewer bags than I otherwise would, even when I have the soft drink bottles double-bagged. (For the record, you can fit three two-liter soft drink bottles in one plastic bag.)