BS: Why don't they...

Subject: Why don't they...
From: Bert
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 01:54 PM

I was leaving the grocery store yesterday and the bag broke before I reached my car. The thought occurred to me. Why don't they make grocery bags from the same stuff they use for shrink wrap? You'd only ever need one of the buggers it would be bloody indestructable;-)

Your turn.

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:01 PM

Or....we could all remember to take our canvas shopping bags or baskets along each time.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: Jim Krause
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:02 PM

Bravo, kat.
Jim

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:07 PM

Well, I don't always remember, either, Jim. It's getting better out here, though. 8 years later and they no longer stare at me as if I am nuts when I say I don't need a bag OR when I hand them my canvas bags. (The grocery store even gives me a few cents credit for each one I bring and use!) It was easier to remember them when I lived back East and walked to a lot of shopping places.

Sorry, Bertdarlin', didn't mean to sound terse. I was pointing that finger more at m'self than anyone else.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:07 PM

I actually use all those plastic bags I bring home, unless I need paper for something, when I request paper bags. Reuse Now! Recycle Later!

But that is a real question: why AREN'T more things made out of the tougher plastics? Is it a pure price thing?

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: Allan C.
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:08 PM

Don't be silly, Bert. That would make far too much sense. Besides, if everyone reused the tougher bags, the manufacturers of the other ones could not continue to aid and abet the pollution of the beauty of the countryside with millions of the current plastic wonders. Just think of how many of those you have seen blowing in the wind or snagged in a tree somewhere. At least the good old paper sacks decomposed after a short while.

We have the technology to create easily degradable polymer-based containers, and in fact use them in certain applications. I don't know why they couldn't be used instead of those that are currently found in shops and stores.

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: Bert
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:13 PM

Oh dear, talk about thread creep, this was supposed to generate jokes. You guys are ALL way too serious go away and read THIS thread and start the day again properly.

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: Morticia
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:16 PM

Because if they made them out of shrink wrap, you'd never find the beginning of the next bag, it would tear before you got if off the roll and it would refuse to open......is that better, Bert?

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: Bert
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:22 PM

That's right Mortymeluv, I'd completely forgotten that.

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: SharonA
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:23 PM

Because all the groceries would be stuck together forever (makes 'em kinda hard to put away, unless you run one of those CD openers along the edge of the frozen-dinner box).

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: late 'n short 2
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 02:58 PM

I once bought a box of plastic trash bags which the clerk put in a paper bag--a store requirement, so he said. When I got home I took the box out of the paper bag, removed one of the plastic trash bags from the cardboard box, put the trash bag in the trash can and put the paper bag in the plastic trash bag. Is there a message in there somewhere?

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: mousethief
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 03:04 PM

Because you could never open the bag to put anything in. You'd hold the bag in your left hand open up the mouth with your right, then let go with your right hand to grab the can of soup and shove it in, and quicker than you can say Jack Robinson, it would crumple back down on itself from static electricity. After a few tries of this, you'd just put the can of soup, against the plastic near the top and hope to shove it down into the bag. But the opposite sides of the bag would at that very moment decide to weld themselves to one another in an indissoluble embrace. So your can would roll off the top of the bag and back onto the counter, and thence onto the floor.

At which point you'd decide to just throw the bag away and make do with a paper one. But no amount of flicking or flinging could induce it to leave your hand, to which it has now become stuck fast due to more of that magic static electricity. So you pull at it with your right hand, and voila! it lets loose of your left hand and now clings to your right hand and up your arm.

Now you panic. This thing is alive! You fling your arm wildly in hopes of getting the thing to let go, and it moves somehow from your arm to your chest, where it remains fixed no matter how much tugging or imploring you employ.

When you get home, you take your shirt off and the bag is still stuck to it. Eventually you throw the shirt away.

THAT is why they don't make grocery bags out of cling wrap.

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: Benjamin
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 03:29 PM

That's happened to me as well Bert. I never thought much about canvas bags, but I've never seen one of those break. I should try it sometime!

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: Bert
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 06:49 PM

I think I'll try a canvas bag as well Benjamin, but let's not tell kat *TEE HEE*

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: artbrooks
Date: 05 Dec 01 - 07:44 PM

I find plastic grocery store bags very useful for emptying cat shit and solidified "scoopable" cat litter into.

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: SharonA
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 09:03 AM

Me too, art! Ya gotta check 'em for holes first, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: Micca
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 10:42 AM

Bert, if they did the handles would tear off, rule one with shrinkk wrap.. It ALWAYS tares where you do not want it to!!!
Speaking of canvas bags, have any of the Canadian contingent seen this absolute Gem of an idea my X2B Ma in law got me it looks like an old fashioned canvas shopping bag but is divided in side into quarters and takes( very safely) 4 Bottles of Wine!!!!!!! perfect, no clanking, no risk of breaking!! brilliant, and the perfect gift!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 12:46 PM

I personnally like the plastic bags that have the option of tearing/breaking at inopportune moments. I weeded out a bunch of my kids when they were young by using them as nap enhancers. The two strongest and meanest (also the only two survivors) would not be able to hold their breath for nearly as long now without this early child hood training.

We tried the canvas bags but they ended up causing a nasty rash on the little one's necks and cost us even more money having to buy rash cream.

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: Mbo
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 12:54 PM

Canvas bags may be good for quick trips, but when you have an average of 25 bags per shopping trip, hauling 25 canvas bags would be idiotic.

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: mousethief
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 01:06 PM

Or at the very least, idiosyncratic.

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: kendall
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 03:40 PM

So, shop more often and take canvas bags.

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: SINSULL
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 04:06 PM

Same subject - different complaint. Department stores no longer use paper shopping bags - too expensive. Buy something heavy (like a quilt) and the plastic handle cuts into my hand. The one store that offered paper must have gotten them as seconds. Two blocks away from the store, the handles pulled out. Stuff like this makes me sound like my grandmother - "Remember the good old days when paper shopping bags worked?"

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: MMario
Date: 06 Dec 01 - 04:19 PM

Can you tell me why they will double bag a single rollon deoderant (sealed in shrink wrap) and then put 18 cans of vegetables and soup into a single bag?

Then there is the supervisor who routinely puts a 3 liter bottle of soda into a bag sideways - so the cap presses against the seam (splits every time) - when I have shown her repeatedly that if she stands them upright the bags will hold 2 three liter bottles without splitting.

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 07 Dec 01 - 06:34 AM

Laskarina Holidays, a company we often travel to Greece with, give customers a cloth bag for shopping to reduce the amount of plastic waste (as on some islands waste is stored in dry river beds to be washed to sea by the winter rains and plastic bags snag fish and turtles and disfigure beaches). Greek shop keepers still put stuff in plastic bags inside your cloth bag! We recycle these to line those little bins you get in Greek loos (don't ask!)but the cloth ones are ideal for shopping at home to avoid supermarket bags and we've accumulated quite a collection, though Herself prefers them inside out to avoid displaying the advertising. (Neither of us likes being a walking billboard, I'm the opposite of a label freak, I cut 'em off or won't buy clothes items with visible manufacturers'logos!)
RtS (It must be Friday, I'm replying to a thread on shopping bags on a music website -just for you, bert!)

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: Kaleea
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 04:26 AM

Good answer, Mousethief! It's all about $$$$$$$!!!! When I lived in the Twin Cities (ahhh, I miss those Twins), Minnesota being a very green state, the big chains offered sturdy cardboard boxes with handles for us to haul our groceries. I used to take the boxes back every time. I especially enjoyed taking the boxes with the big logo for store A when I was shopping at store B. They also sold cloth bags for light shopping days. I still keep boxes in my trunk for carrying those flimsy plastic bags of groceries upstairs to my apartment. I double bag every time, too. Think that's taught "them" a lesson yet? NOT!

Subject: RE: BS: Why don't they...
From: GUEST,Souter
Date: 08 Dec 01 - 06:35 AM

Every time I buy bread or potato chips, the cashier will put in the bag with the heavy cans. And then looks at me like I'm crazy for wanting my groceries to be intact when I get home. You can't eat crushed potato chips!