The Tesco & other non-Morrisons supermarket thread

[bilky asko]

Another poor decision from JS I think.

Agreed. If my maths is right, points are now worth 0.5p? Worse value than Tesco Clubcard. They seem to be focussing on fuel. Coupled with the scrapping of the eco-points for reusing carrier bags, it doesn't give out a particularly good green message does it?

The points are worth the same (it's always been 0.5p per point); you'll just earn less of them.

The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge starts in Scotland on Monday 20th Oct.

I'd wondered why barcodes had appeared on Morrisons recently - what will the system be on self-service tills? Same as M&S with everyone pretending they're not using a bag (or, at the moment, a chargeable one)?

[Pete]

The new Scottish law is a lot more draconian than many of the previous ones. Things like McDonalds paper bags are included and its zero tolerance for the old "oh we'll charge for the bag but do a 5p markdown on a random item" thing. I suspect they'll make a few examples of big stores in the first few months.

[simonipswich]

Another poor decision from JS I think.

Agreed. If my maths is right, points are now worth 0.5p? Worse value than Tesco Clubcard. They seem to be focussing on fuel. Coupled with the scrapping of the eco-points for reusing carrier bags, it doesn't give out a particularly good green message does it?

The points are worth the same (it's always been 0.5p per point); you'll just earn less of them.

The Single Use Carrier Bags Charge starts in Scotland on Monday 20th Oct.

I'd wondered why barcodes had appeared on Morrisons recently - what will the system be on self-service tills? Same as M&S with everyone pretending they're not using a bag (or, at the moment, a chargeable one)?

When I was in Spain two weeks ago, at the AlCampo supermarket at self serve, their bags were on the left of the till where you put your basket so you have to take a bag, scan it and then put in the bagging area. You can take your own bags and do the whole "add a bag" thing. If you go through a normal till and ask for a bag they just scan it and charge you 5 cents.

But the funny thing was, I went into a stationery shop in Spain and bought a plastic A4 wallet and 2 Bic pens and was given a bag for free! The same in C&A as well, no charge.

I take it then that if you went into M&S and bought a shirt for say £20, they will ask you if you would like a bag and charge you 5p?

[bilky asko]

I take it then that if you went into M&S and bought a shirt for say £20, they will ask you if you would like a bag and charge you 5p?

I'm talking about the self-service tills at the M&S food courts - they have an option for a "small bag", which is free (and never there at any of the tills I've been to), and a larger bag at 5p. Most people I've seen opt out of the charge and select the free option.

[Critique]

I take it then that if you went into M&S and bought a shirt for say £20, they will ask you if you would like a bag and charge you 5p?

I'm talking about the self-service tills at the M&S food courts - they have an option for a "small bag", which is free (and never there at any of the tills I've been to), and a larger bag at 5p. Most people I've seen opt out of the charge and select the free option.

Despite having smaller carrier bags, I noticed that the Republic clothes shop here is very sneaky will carrier bags. If someone requests a bag, they immediately advertise their 50p backpack bag thing or their £1 tote bag thing and nothing else, presenting them as the only options. I fell for this trick and ended up paying for some backpack bag I will never use, but the customer next to me asked if they had 'normal bags' and it turns out they do have free ones, but they don't advertise it, which seems a bit sneaky.

[Martin Phillp]

Isn't the current M&S Food 5p charge technically a charity donation, so even if you select the no bag option, it's not theft?

[WillPS]

Isn't the current M&S Food 5p charge technically a charity donation, so even if you select the no bag option, it's not theft?

That's technically complete rubbish. Every penny from the sale of Red Noses (-VAT) goes to Comic Relief (JS pay for them); that doesn't mean that payment for them is optional.

[scottishtv]

Indeed. I'm sure it's up to the company whether or not they donate the proceeds to charity or not. I don't believe it's the customer's right to choose whether to pay it or not.

[rdobbie]

The new Scottish law is a lot more draconian than many of the previous ones. Things like McDonalds paper bags are included

That is bloody ridiculous – it's excessive government interference in a contract between two private parties. Discarded paper bags don't pollute the environment; they melt away within days.

According to this, "boxes and buckets" are exempt from the new regulations, so a trip to the KFC drive-thru is going to remain unchanged, even though I'm sure KFC boxes/buckets have a greater mass than McDonalds paper bags.

[WillPS]

The new Scottish law is a lot more draconian than many of the previous ones. Things like McDonalds paper bags are included

That is bloody ridiculous – it's excessive government interference in a contract between two private parties. Discarded paper bags don't pollute the environment; they melt away within days.

According to this, "boxes and buckets" are exempt from the new regulations, so a trip to the KFC drive-thru is going to remain unchanged, even though I'm sure KFC boxes/buckets have a greater mass than McDonalds paper bags.

You have to pay for McDonalds bags in Wales. Every time I've been there's people who've taken a bag, so fair dos. Ultimately it's only 5p so it's not going to bankrupt anybody and it's a small price to make you think about it.

Boxes are exempted so shops can offer the boxes stock arrives in to customers without a charge.

[Alexia]

Wales has adapted quite well to the plastic bag charge, so much so that it's now against my nature to take one when I go to Paddington. Also they're no longer put out on the self-service tills in many of the shops I go to (if not all) so you have to ask for one.