I’m really annoyed by Hy-Vee, Hefty bags, and mostly, myself. A couple of days ago I was in the express checkout line (12 items or less) at Hy-Vee, buying cherries, grapes, lemons, and blueberries. The checker said “You have $20 worth of produce, and so you are entitled to 20 free boxes of these bags.” She waved her hand at a grocery cart beside her, filled with boxes of Hefty plastic bags.
You know I hate plastic and never take my groceries in plastic bags. But it’s garden season, and I freeze lots of tomatoes, green beans, etc. So I thought, well, okay, I can use those.
She rang up all my purchases, and then she had to ring up each of the 20 boxes. Then she had to ring up a coupon for each of the boxes. Therefore, instead of 12 items, I had 52. I apologized to the man behind me in line, who was waiting patiently with his quart of milk,
As the checker toiled away at the cash register, I noticed a) that there was a pallet of cartons of plastic bag boxes behind her, and b) that these weren’t plastic bags I could use to freeze vegetables. They’re that kind of bag you’re supposed to keep produce in, to keep it fresh longer.
I recently read an article that said that these bags don’t keep produce any fresher than washing it and wrapping it in a dishtowel.
I didn’t have the presence of mind to stop the checker partway through her endeavors (or maybe I was just chicken, yeah, that’s it) to tell her to forget it. I have absolutely no use for 240 plastic bags (12 per box) that can’t be used in the freezer.
Any ideas what I can do with them? I thought about giving them to Just Food, the people who coordinate the food pantries in town, as well as the distribution of Plant a Row for the Hungry vegetables. I might do that, but really, they’re useless! Just more non-biodegradable detritus for the landfill. Why, oh why, did I take them?
Oh yeah, and she put the boxes in plastic bags too. I'm reeling.
Amazing! That’s a lot of bags. I would have been irritated too!
I’m still scratching my head over the offer of these bags, which sound useless. Is that why the store was trying to get rid of them?
How annoying!
Oh, man. That’s a whole lot of bags. Twenty boxes?!? Sheesh. Sounds like you got trapped in supermarket hell.
If you double-bagged your freezer stuff, would that work? asked the lady from Philadelphia.
That was the store’s dirty trick for the day.
PICKET THE PLACE. Drive by, shouting. Or write a letter to the editor. Or write to the president of high v or its chairman of the board. I re-use plastic bags from cereals, etc. for peculiar things. One use: summer sandals for the thrift shop went into a rice cake cylindrical bag.
I still think there is an artist somewhere in Lawrence who could weave them into something usable.
I gave them to Just Food. Even if they don’t use them for produce, they can use them for small items to hand out.
I commented some time back, and have jusst looked at it again, with the same indignation and frustration. But it’s time to let it go and move on. Arrgh!
May we have a new post now? This was a good one, but I’d like to hear what’s on your mind these days. I know it’s interesting stuff.