Large Department Store Refuses to Give Free Bag

[tgw]

16 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

You did make the suggestion that purchases of goods where alot of money is spent should receive free plastic bags , its stands to reason that people who spend alot of money are richer than those who don't spend that amount of money . So people who spend a lot of money should get free plastic bags and those who dont spend alot of money would need to pay for bags  

it's not a question of "should", it's a question of customer profitability.

a store should do its best to retain customers that are big spenders. not really rocket science.

suprise surprise, in the business world, customers are not treated equally.

next ...

[Mac Mickmanus]

2 minutes ago, tgw said:

it's not a question of "should", it's a question of customer profitability.

a store should do its best to retain customers that are big spenders. not really rocket science.

suprise surprise, in the business world, customers are not treated equally.

next ...

Where should the threshold be ?

How much would you be required to spend to get free plastic bags ?

Also, people who want free plastic bags are not usually the kind of customers that shops really want 

[cdemundo]

2 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

We are supposed to be trying to cut down on waste and the use of plastic bags is bad for the environment , you really should not be using new free plastic bags from shops , you should be taking your own bags .

   Surprising that you made such a big fuss over a 4 baht bag , but in future you should take your own bags when going shopping 

"Surprising that you made such a big fuss over a 4 baht bag , but in future you should take your own bags when going shopping"

 

Seems like OP should have no complaint.

Didn't like the store policy so went elsewhere.

You really stuck it to them over 4 baht.

But I suppose it isn't the 4 baht, it's probably "the principle of the thing".

[bbko]

2 hours ago, Banana7 said:

Paid for it and asked for a free bag to carry the purchase. Cashier refused and the manager refused, so I got a refund

That will show them.....who says some farangs are wrapped too tight for normal interactions....555.

 

Farangs getting bent out of shape over something so trivial just shows how shallow and bitter many are.

Edited April 22, 2022 by bbko

[tgw]

25 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Where should the threshold be ?

How much would you be required to spend to get free plastic bags ?

Also, people who want free plastic bags are not usually the kind of customers that shops really want 

there shouldn't be a threshold.

it's up to the store.

customers spends big, gets a bag right away, customer spends small, but comes every other day, store presents him a reusable bag after 10 visits ... it's about marketing, not about rules.

 

and about the last thing, you are wrong. I have seen plenty of customers going back to a specific venue to spend thousands just to get a little "free" trinket. just because it made them feel good. it's marketing.

customers tend to go back to shops where they feel welcome and taken care of.

Edited April 22, 2022 by tgw

[Jingthing]

The point of this story is that the customer behaved VERY ODDLY.

Almost all customers that need a bag if told a bag is 4 baht just pay the 4 baht regardless of purchase.

A good business is flexible enough to make a rare adjustment for the occasional eccentric customer if it is in the interest of the business to do so.

This business lost out because they couldn't / wouldn't bend at all.

STUPID. 

 

Not really the same thing, but years ago a certain store had bags that I really liked. I was given one with a purchase before and had used it maybe 50 times on the streets, giving this store FREE ADVERTISING. But it wore out. So I went in and asked them if I could purchase a bag. I was ready to pay 50 baht. The clerk was indignant -- NO BAG FOR YOU! (So no free advertising for them.) 

I've had a negative feeling towards that store ever since.

Also STUPID of that store.

A teeny tiny bit of flexibility -- would it kill them?

Edited April 22, 2022 by Jingthing

[Mac Mickmanus]

32 minutes ago, bbko said:

That will show them.....who says some farangs are wrapped too tight for normal interactions....555.

 

Farangs getting bent out of shape over something so trivial just shows how shallow and bitter many are.

And completely unconcerned about the annoyance and inconvenience to others .

Having to cancel an order, do all the paper work and then put the goods back on the shelf , get the till roll sorted out and its must be a rather unpleasant situation to deal with , all because a person spending the equivalent of  two weeks of your wages on boooze, didn't want to pay four Baht for a bag

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

And completely unconcerned about the annoyance and inconvenience to others .

Having to cancel an order, do all the paper work and then put the goods back on the shelf , get the till roll sorted out and its must be a rather unpleasant situation to deal with , all because a person spending the equivalent of  two weeks of your wages on boooze, didn't want to pay four Baht for a bag

Odd and eccentric customer behavior easily avoided by the store by giving him the freakin' bag!
STUPID store.

[Mac Mickmanus]

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Odd and eccentric customer behavior easily avoided by the store by giving him the freakin' bag!
STUPID store.

Free single use bags are banned in Thailands major  stores

The store would have got prosecuted if it broke the law by giving single use shopping bags away 

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Free single use bags are banned in Thailands major  stores

The store would have got prosecuted if it broke the law by giving single use shopping bags away 

I've often been offered free bags by major stores without even asking. I think that policy changed at least temporarily because of the pandemic. 

 

Also the manager could have paid the 4 baht out of his own pocket. Not for all customers. For this one odd bird one time to shut him up. 

Edited April 22, 2022 by Jingthing

[scubascuba3]

This cutting down on bags isn't working anyway, Big C don't give bags now so i have to buy separate bin bags. I go to the market and get given loads of bags literally drowning in them in my condo

Edited April 22, 2022 by scubascuba3

[jacko45k]

The large dept stores have made the decision not to litter the country with plastic bags, I think that fair. Yes they sell cheap reusable ones, were you expecting one of those free for some reason? Sure, it is inconvenient when, damn it, forgot again, and one has to buy yet another cheap reusable one to leave at home or in the car. 

The fault lies with the other stores who still give out free bags.

Your absent mindedness is not the fault of the shop and you are being pedantic.. You put yourself through a bit of inconvenience for the sake of 4 baht. 

[1FinickyOne]

6 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Not rich people per se.

Rare oddballs.

 

how do you write that into company policy? 

 

This is not Mom and Pops place. Pricing cannot be a judgment call - where would it end - an oddball gets a discount but your lovely Auntie does not, but Big Leg Ida over there, she is a complainer, so let's give her a discount?

 

*** Not to mention that rather than spend 4 baht!! the op had to go shopping someplace else.. I don't like shopping that much that I would want to do it over again at another store for 4 baht.. 

[1FinickyOne]

5 hours ago, tgw said:

customers spends big, gets a bag right away,

where do you draw the lines - what if he wants a free t-shirt? 

 

giving away free merchandise cannot be left to a manager or clerk - 

[1FinickyOne]

6 hours ago, tgw said:

customers are not treated equally.

next ...

But that is up to the store - not the customer... 

 

A big store cannot have individual pricing for each customer... or meet their demands for free merchandise... 

[Mac Mickmanus]

5 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I've often been offered free bags by major stores without even asking. I think that policy changed at least temporarily because of the pandemic. 

 

Also the manager could have paid the 4 baht out of his own pocket. Not for all customers. For this one odd bird one time to shut him up. 

Well if hes getting a free bag , then I want a free bag as well .

Why should I have to pay for a bag and he doesnt ?

[rwill]

It's pretty simple.  You bring your own bag with you to keep reusing.  All the stores were supposed to do this.  Many have backslided on it, which is pretty normal in Thailand.

[1FinickyOne]

6 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Not rich people per se.

Rare oddballs.

 

Yes, every store should get a psychological profile of every customer... 

 

These places have lines at the cashier... they really don't like customers who want free merchandise at any price - where would their cashiers and managers draw the lines? What if he wanted free merchandise, of his choosing, every time? 

 

A customer like this slows the lines down and what if everyone did the same? I am sure the store is glad he will not be coming back - 

 

you ever been in retail? 

Edited April 22, 2022 by 1FinickyOne

[Scouse123]

8 hours ago, Banana7 said:

Normally I go out for the day, for a variety of activities, shop after dinner on the way home. I don't want carry around bags for 6 -10 hours. I walk and don't drive a motor vehicle. I don't go out to just shop. Any bag provided is reused. Plastic bags are used as household garbage bags.

I think you need to get out and find a hobby real soon and busy your life up a little.????

[Henryford]

You spent 9,000 and made a fuss over 4 baht !! My God there are some idiots around.

Edited April 23, 2022 by Henryford

[LarrySR]

8 hours ago, 1FinickyOne said:

petty petty petty..

 

champion petty!!

He's probably a climate change denier too.

[chuang]

Petty 4 bahts worth of principles..

[LarrySR]

2 minutes ago, chuang said:

Petty 4 bahts worth of principles..

I bet the Thais got 9,000bt worth of entertainment. They love to watch the dumb farangs go ballistic over some petty nonsense. Wish I was there with a bag of popcorn. 

[LarrySR]

Temper Tantrums range from whining and crying to screaming, kicking, hitting, and breath holding. 

Tantrums may happen when one is tired, hungry, or uncomfortable. They can have a meltdown because they can't get something like a free plastic bag or toy...."I want it, give it to me."

When they discover that they can't have everything they want, they may have a tantrum.

Edited April 23, 2022 by LarrySR

[steve187]

8 hours ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Spending 9000 Baht on alcohol and then not wanting to pay 4 Baht for a bag 

but more than that he wants everyone on here to know. 

[RocketDog]

OP, you asked my thoughts?

 

I think your actions and attitude are childish and self-absorbed.

 

Daily life must be a severe challenge for you. Good that you have alcoholic solace for such undeserved misfortunes.

 

Switch to cannabis and learn to smile more. 

[brianthainess]

9 hours ago, Banana7 said:

3 bottles of booze, totaling 8,000-9,000 baht.

 

9 hours ago, Banana7 said:

they wanted me to buy for 4 baht.

Are you kidding me a non-plastic bag only 4b and your buying booze at 3K a bottle. How much did it cost you to go to another store ?

[metisdead]

An off topic post and a reply has been removed.

[brianthainess]

6 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Odd and eccentric customer behavior easily avoided by the store by giving him the freakin' bag!
STUPID store.

If the bag has a bar code it has to be paid for, simple.

[Iamfalang]

Mid-life crisis, maybe.

 

creating a thread about this?   
 

just buy the bag.   Pick your battles.  Don’t fight everything.

 

now get out there and spend 60k on 12 bottles!!