Unclear on the concept
Young woman working at the Roots store: Would you like a recyclable bag?
Me: No, thanks. I already have a bag.
YWWATRS: But it's recyclable.
Me: Well, I think no bag is better than a recyclable bag.
YWWATRS: Are you sure? It's nice. It's a recyclable bag!
Me: [blank stare]
19 comments:
Reminds me of the time I was a Pharmaprix and they were giving away those huge blue and red re-useable bags (retail value 99 cents) when you made a purchase of $10.00 or more. I didn't want one. I have plenty of bags. The clerk started putting my purchases in the "free" bag although I had my own bag with me, ready to go. I explained I didn't want it. Her reply: "But, madame! It's FREE!"
I often get that look at the bookstore when I have to convince the clerk that I really don't need a bag to carry my book and/or magazine. Or the time at W@l-M@rt when I used the self check and just piled the school supplies on the sensor and then dumped them bagless into my cart. I had to convince the helpful clerk that I didn't need a bag since they I was going to dump them into the milk crate in the back of my truck and then sort them directly into my kids' backpacks at home so the bag would just be a waste. I could see her eyes glaze over and imagined her reciting "the customer is always right, the customer..." in her head. :)
But it's recyclable!
Wow. She was totally missing the point.
Thank you. I needed a laugh today :)
CarlaF-in Atlanta
Perhaps if you had explained the rather complex notion of recycling the bag you already had...
No. She still wouldn't have gotten it. You just can't buy common sense.
I think perhaps you should mention gently to the manager that she/he needs to educate his cashiers a bit better!
One concept at a time, one at a time. At least, she has progressed from "Would you like fries with that?"
8 years ago in France I also had to fight with cashiers not to put things in bags since I brought my own. One store owner told me that I had to have a bag or I would be accused of stealing ! He put the things (2) in the bag, I went to the end of the counter took them out, put them in my bag and left his bag.
Today in that same store - no more bags.
The only downside is that those bags made great garbage bags so now I have to buy them.
I am always at the grocery store or other shop telling people I will use the bag I'm already wearing around my body (love my messenger style gym bag).
Some of them get it, but not usually before I start taking things out of the bag they put them in and into my own bag.
In fact, I had nearly that exact same experience at a Roots store last week. To be honest, I find their "recyclable" bag to be less useful than the old plastic ones which can be put to a lot of different (and destructive) uses before I get rid of them. And "recyclable" is the wrong word - I didn't see any indication of its recyclable-ness on it - the word should be "reusable."
Silly silly!
Sigh. I thought that the younger generation was going to save the older generation from our wasteful ways... you know, 'cause they're all educated about the three R's in school. I guess it didn't stick.
a few years back, I was visiting the "Salon des métiers d'arts" with a friend when we came upon a kiosk of fashion accesories made of recycled fur. My friend Elisa shivered and said that she couldn't stand it, it just made her sick to think it came from an animal.
The salesperson, albeit well intended, appeared surprised by this reaction (which seemed to indicate she was just there for the show and not the actual artist/artisan, for someone who has her own fur recycling business must have had to deal with that before...)...
but anyway, I digress...
So, the sales clerk, almost insulted upon hearing my friend shudder at the sight of fur, pitches in quite loudly: but miss, it's recycled... it's not cruel, it used to be a coat...
my friend to reply: and before that, it used to be a rabbit.
lol!
Marie-Michèle
I think I know her! In fact, I am sure I know her. She brought meatloaf to our monthly vegan potluck.
Worst was at a craft store, can't remember which one... they had bagged my single clean (ie non-food) purchase. I took it out of the bag and put in it my backpack, and indicated that they could use it for the next customer. (I believe that I had even indicated ahead of time that I did not require a bag....) They simply threw the plastic bag in the garbage! SIGH.
See, this is why you're the *Brainy* lady!
Yes, the clerk was being flatheaded. However, retail jobs tend to do that to a girl. That and the fact that she probably was under pressure to get a positive response to the bag. It validates the PR campaign. Seriously. The "response" to the bag will be measured.
"Because Reusing and Reducing are so much more efficient than Recycling!"
Randomly found this blogpost via googlereader. ;)
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