The Procrastinating Writer

Lately, there seems to be a trend in retail establishments to avoid giving you a bag for your merchandise. On the one hand, I get it. If someone only has one thing, like a candy bar, why waste the bag? On the other hand, though, it seems to have created a contempt for anyone who requests one.

The other day, I went to Best Buy to pick up a few things. Like usual, I had forgone the hand basket, mistakenly thinking not using one would keep me to my original shopping list. By the time I ended up at the checkout counter, though, I had way more items than what I had intended to buy; my arms were creating quite the unstable base for a pyramid of merchandise I was struggling not to drop.

I put the eight or so items—from DVDs to networking cables—on the counter to check out. After paying, I noticed there was a distinct lack of movement to put my purchases in a bag. I looked at the store associate, he looked at me, and then he reluctantly asked, “Oh, would you like a bag for those?”

I glanced outside at the wet snow coming down heavily, down at the small purse I was carrying, and then back at the multiple items on the counter. “Uh, yeah. I would.”

He reluctantly put the items in the bag and handed it to me. There was a slight look of judgement on his face about my decision.

Fucking seriously, dude? What did you expect me to say? “Oh, no, sir. No bag for me. Please, I’d love to gather my $100+ purchases precariously in my arms and then juggle them unsteadily while walking across an icy parking lot on the way to my car. And what sounds like even more fun than that is the exciting struggle that will come at the end of my journey when I try to find the keys in my purse and open the door.”

The same thing happened at another store a few days later. And another. And another. And then Best Buy again. And again. And again. Never once was I purchasing things feasible for one person to carry without a struggle or damage occurring.

What maybe started as a nice effort to reduce waste that I could have appreciated has now turned into a source of irritation at a select group of stores across town. So, this is a notice to all those stores who have started getting stingy with the bags: Screw your green initiative that’s a thinly veiled attempt at saving money. Do I want a bag? Of course I want a bag! Always assume I want a bag. If I don’t, I’ll let you know.

And I’d appreciate it if you’d stop with the judgy looks.