I attempted no less than 10 times to use Kroger’s comment section of their website to inform them of an idea I had, but the website kept giving me an error message that my comments included an invalid character. I retyped and double checked it dozens of times.
So, I thought I would post it here and see what happens. Here is my unsuccessfully sent comment:
I worked for Krogers during college, and I have a suggestion.
First, I find the ads run over the store’s loudspeakers asking ME to save money and help the environment by buying your eco-friendly bags absurd. Stores push plastic bags over the more eco-friendly paper bags. But paper bags cost the store more and slow down check out times…so baggers do not ask me if I want paper or plastic…they assume plastic bags are preferred, and thereby, help improve the company bottom line by pushing the cheaper plastic bags.
When I worked for Krogers, managers said groceries stores usually only get a penny profit for every dollar of revenue. So the idea that customers should drop $20 bucks on cloth bags in hopes of some very small trickle down savings in their overall grocery bill doesn’t make financial sense.
I have a solution. What about stores giving the cloth bags away to customers?
Customers spending $X a month in groceries could recieve a free cloth bag. If this was promoted vigorously, it would reduce Krogers need for plastic bags indefinitely (saving the company money) while encouraging customers to make their big grocery trips to Kroger stores.
If the free bag was offered via a coupon, Krogers would again save money because of coupons that go unused (i.e. you get their business but they don’t get the bag). This could be easily tracked with the Kroger Plus card, as is done with gas discounts. Kroger plus users already get customized coupons via the mail. This could even be done on a trial basis (hopefully at the stores I shop in Clarksville, TN). It could also be just a 6 months promotion to see how it went.
Thank you.
Take action
COL Readers – Think this is a good idea, please help me by doing the following:
- Next time you are in a grocery store, ask for store manager and tell him about this article.
- Email the article to grocery store websites.
- Complete a customer comment card stating this idea.
- If you know grocery store employees, tell them about this article.
Those are some good points. Although I am not your target audience I work with others in the industry and I can say your idea has been looked at by many and tried by some.
That said the reason Supermarkets have not taken up this option on a large scale is that reusable bags have some hidden trade-offs in theft and liability costs.
-Theft–Reusable bags have increased most stores’ shrink rates as many unethical shoppers have started to simply place high-end meats and other premiums in their bags and walked out of the store without paying. For years plastic bags showing the stores logo were a theft deterrent. Much like stickers placed on bulk items, the plastic bag itself identified items that were checked and paid for or not.
-Liability–Most shoppers simply don’t wash reusable bags increasing chances of illness from cross-contamination, not only to themselves but increasing exposure to other customers and our employees when the bags rest on counters, also many people put items in the bag and then back on the shelf so if the bag previously used to hold leaking raw meat or as a diaper bag others could bear the cost of irresponsible hygiene.
Here is a link to a Health Canada advisory on reusable bags and cross-contamination. Although based on a study conducted by the plastic bag industry it does give us concern.
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/kitchen-cuisine/reusable-bags-sacs-reutilisable-eng.php
The frivolous law suits this could raise alone make our use of plastic bags almost necessary to keep prices from rising.
Although some stores like IKEA and Whole Foods have removed plastic bags encourage reusable bag use they have approached a limited customer base with these moves.
The one to watch right now is Wal-Mart which is testing three stores in California with a reusable only policy after January 1st. At the same time they are supposed to begin selling a $0.15/ reusable bag. With that price point and increased distribution of reusable bags it is likely they will become single use disposable bags themselves.
In the mean time most companies are likely to continue to help support and educate consumers that they can recycle plastic bags at most supermarkets (I believe Kroger already does this, but don’t quote me) as the hidden trade-offs of reusable could be bigger than its benefits due to cost, health and possibly for the environment if these new heavier bag simply become free or very cheap and in turn disposable or only used a couple of times.
Scott – While I worked at Kroger, we had a problem with folks using the paper ads to hide things they were stealing. I can see where bags would be an additional theft potential.
As far as cleanliness, I had not thought about people NOT washing them – thats digusting. I assumed washing them would be a given.
I emailed Krogers a link to the article – I will post any responses I get.
Thanks for you input.