Are Thai Checkout Staff On A Bonus For Plastic Bags?

[Ulu Watu]

I just find it horrifying the amount of plastic bags handed out in the big supermarkets,the Villa Market underneath Siam Paragon probably being the worse culprits.I've literally had five bags forced onto me for 5 items before,the concept of recycling and protecting the enviroment doesn't really seem to be catching on in Thailand,does it?

[kyb789]

I have been collecting my bags and use them again when I go back to the market. I get the strangest looks from the staff. I have a bucket full of them. I wanted to give them back to the store, but my gf told me that the Thais wouldn't want to use them.

[Ulysses G.]

I don't want to have to remember to bring my own bag when I go shopping and I use the bags I get for other purposes when I get home. Kudos to Thailand for not bowing to trendy Western political correctness.

Edited April 6, 2013 by Ulysses G.

[yourauntbob]

Normally we use the plastic bags as our trash bags. In the case were we get too man, which is more often than i would like, i will bring them with me when i go shopping and reuse them. i get strange looks from some and the occasional thumbs up from others. this is not just in supermarkets, its also at markets, in the malls, and just about everywhere else.

[RefinedGentleman]

Getting handed free bags seems a lot better than being forced to pay for the bags (the situation in my neck of the woods).

[ripstanley]

No plastic bags at Makro

[phuturatica]

It's all about the plastic bags and straws iisn't it?

I even get given a straw for big bottles of water in 7Eleven!

But yeah, the concept of recycling and how bad plastic bags are for the environment hasn't quite caught on yet. It's annoying.

[DocN]

It's all about the plastic bags and straws iisn't it?

I even get given a straw for big bottles of water in 7Eleven!

But yeah, the concept of recycling and how bad plastic bags are for the environment hasn't quite caught on yet. It's annoying.

May I?

2 cans of coke, 2 cans of beer, 1 bottle of mouthwash: 5 straws!

[Neeranam]

Whenever I get a small number of items in 7/11, I always say, "mai ow tung" - quite simple really.

When we go for the big monthly shop at Big C or Tesco Lotus, my wife brings her own shopping bags as they are stronger. I've often seen these canvas bags for sale at the said stores.

The concept of recycling and protecting the environment is catching on here. OK, not the checkout staff as they are less educated than many.

Thais are not ignorant - it's just the same as my country was maybe 30-50 years ago. This could be said for most things - drink driving, medical practices, etc. So many foreigners seem to think that when they come here Thailand should be to their country's standards in all areas, which IMHO is ignorant.

[Almera]

It's all about the plastic bags and straws iisn't it?

I even get given a straw for big bottles of water in 7Eleven!

Buy a 2 liter of milk, they give you 3 or 4. Like you're going to be sitting in front of a TV watching a movie all four of ye drinking out of a 2 liter bottle of milk.

There is no hope.

Are Thai Checkout Staff On A Bonus For Plastic Bags

You no Thai, you no unnerstan! You no like you go back home. you no like Thailan, why you stay here huh, why you stay here.

[chickenslegs]

Extra points on your Tesco loyalty card if you bring your own reusable bags.

[Almera]

^ Is that an extra 10b voucher every month?

Guess every little helps.

[Ulu Watu]

It's all about the plastic bags and straws iisn't it?

I even get given a straw for big bottles of water in 7Eleven!

But yeah, the concept of recycling and how bad plastic bags are for the environment hasn't quite caught on yet. It's annoying.

May I?

2 cans of coke, 2 cans of beer, 1 bottle of mouthwash: 5 straws!

I was going to say again at Villa Market,Siam Paragon I've many a time been given a straw for each of the 500ml cans of Krombacher Beer purchased!

I wouldn't mind but I'm a big,strapping lad and look nothing like an Essex girl out for the night in Magaluf,Mallorca!

Edited April 6, 2013 by Ulu Watu

[jombom]

Farang think too mut

[DocN]

I could ad many little stories:

go and buy an ice-cream cone at 7eleven...plastic bag!

Like you are gonna take it home and eat it there!

Buy 4 yogurts, get 4 spoons!

What is the concept here?

You buy yogurt, but maybe you have no spoons at home?

You want to eat them, right away, so...here is a spoon! And not only that: we give you a spoon for every yogurt, in case you are so hungry, you swallow one?!

Of course, you can always say "No thank you!"...but a country with some environmental understanding, would ask YOU, if you need a bag!

[Almera]

go and buy an ice-cream cone at 7eleven...plastic bag!

Actually the one time I only got one plastic bag was when I once bought a hot chicken pie and a cornetto ice-cream, and the idiot squeezed the two of them together into one of the little bags they give.

There is no hope.

[Amusements]

No plastic bags at Makro

Yes... and I always 'always bloody well forget to take my own plastic bag. I always end up having to pay 20baht, for a hulking great big red plastic bag. Just right for my 3 small items to flap about wildly on my bike.

[Almera]

^ I got caught by makro once. Had to buy a few books from the stall outside in order to get a bag to put the full chicken into.

[Tywais]

Noticed a sign at Rimping in Chiang Mai that they will subtract .50 Baht if you do not require a bag or bring your own.

[Almera]

0.5 baht.

I'm going there right now with a large pillow case.

[Tywais]

0.5 baht.

I'm going there right now with a large pillow case.

It's the thought that counts.

[Fgis]

Tesco Lotus now has incentive with points if you bring you own bags.

[Jingthing]

You should see my plastic bag collection at home. You never know when you might need one to put some more plastic bags into. Thank you, Thailand! It's truly paradise for plastic bag hoarding!

Edited April 6, 2013 by Jingthing

[rubberduck]

I don't want to have to remember to bring my own bag when I go shopping and I use the bags I get for other purposes when I get home. Kudos to Thailand for not bowing to trendy Western political correctness.

This has nothing to do with western political correctness just with personal responsibility regarding the environment. Don't become as simple minded as the culture you are surrounded with. Edited April 6, 2013 by rubberduck

[rubberduck]

No plastic bags at Makro

Cuz Makro is Dutch and they know.

Edited April 6, 2013 by rubberduck

[Ulysses G.]

This has nothing to do with western political correctness just with personal responsibility regarding the environment.

Edited April 7, 2013 by Ulysses G.

[scorecard]

Whenever I get a small number of items in 7/11, I always say, "mai ow tung" - quite simple really.

When we go for the big monthly shop at Big C or Tesco Lotus, my wife brings her own shopping bags as they are stronger. I've often seen these canvas bags for sale at the said stores.

The concept of recycling and protecting the environment is catching on here. OK, not the checkout staff as they are less educated than many.

Thais are not ignorant - it's just the same as my country was maybe 30-50 years ago. This could be said for most things - drink driving, medical practices, etc. So many foreigners seem to think that when they come here Thailand should be to their country's standards in all areas, which IMHO is ignorant.

Agree, well said.

I believe there is another point in the Thai context (and other countries too).

People like to display that they have the funds to shop, and multiple bags somehow cunjures by an image of lots of purchases. All part of status building which is very important to Thais.

I'm not suggesting all of this is right or wrong, just local culture.

My Thai family are well aware of the environment and the damage caused by plastic bags. So much so that my Thai daughter-in-law made a number of medium and large light canvas bags which she takes everywhere she shops.

My 8 year old granddaughter can give you a lecture on damage to the environment / recycling / plastic bags etc (but this all came from several of her farang teachers at school, and the kids all made 5 light canvas bags with their names printed on them. And it's rubbed off nicely on the Thai home room teacher whos' always in the room - she too made her own canvas bags.)

Granddaughter also now pushes her mother and father to be more serious about buying non-recylable packages.

[NoshowJones]

Getting handed free bags seems a lot better than being forced to pay for the bags (the situation in my neck of the woods).

I take it, it's the UK, and the stores are Lidl etc. I forget the names of the other ones.

[NoshowJones]

It's all about the plastic bags and straws iisn't it?

I even get given a straw for big bottles of water in 7Eleven!

But yeah, the concept of recycling and how bad plastic bags are for the environment hasn't quite caught on yet. It's annoying.

In my local Tesco express, I can't even get spoons for my yogurt, I have to go round the corner to 7-11.

[youngXpat]

Is it fair to say there is maybe an addiction to plastic bag here?

Everywhere I go, 7 or the market, the need to give every product, even the smallest of items it's own bag is amazing. I have to save them all up then give up for recycling!