The reason Costco doesn’t offer shopping bags for customers
When it comes to shopping at Costco, there are a wide range of benefits we can mention. Aside from boasting highly discounted food items in bulk, being a member of Costco almost feels like a right of passage. Sure, you could stroll into any general grocery store like the rest of society, or you could be a part of something bigger, tagging along with nearly 119 million cardholding members that make up the wholesale giant's 845 stores throughout the world (via Costco).
Costco needs to remain the leading edge if it wants to maintain its expanding membership and popularity. With that comes a great deal of accountability for maintaining affordable rates and educating staff to uphold the company's optimistic and effective attitudes. The business must also make direct expense reductions where necessary. If you've ever visited Costco and observed that there aren't any bags there, you might be curious as to why. There is a valid explanation for this:
Why doesn’t Costco offer shopping bags for customers at the checkout counter?
Source: Eat this, Not that
According to the Costco website, the wholesale firm doesn’t provide shopping bags in the store. Therefore, you have to prepare to bring your own shopping bag if you’re going to Costco to do your grocery shopping. It seems a little odd considering that its members are purchasing a wide range of items that must be carried not only outside the store but also inside houses to the kitchen. So what's going on?
In an attempt to cut down on prices as low as possible, Costco doesn't offer shopping bags at checkout. Even though it may be frustrating, Costco does not offer shopping bags at the checkout. This choice is (in principle) made to benefit customers. Although Costco reports about $223 billion in annual revenue, external pricing restrictions continue to have an impact. Costco believes that by forgoing shopping bags, it can lower operating expenses and, in turn, product prices. According to its website, "not only do shopping bags contribute to waste, they would also result in higher operating costs – and, ultimately, higher product pricing."
In addition, it appears that you will also be responsible for bagging your own food. Reader's Digest claims that by requiring customers to bag their own goods, Costco continues to raise operating costs. Unlike in the past, when a consumer checked out at Costco, they were responsible for taking the time to bag their own items. Just be sure to bring your own bags or, if you forget, take a few of the big produce boxes they provide.
Other states and cities stop using bags
If you're a current Costco member, and you're feeling somewhat salty about the new no-bag policy at your local store, you're actually joining many other Americans who are facing the same sudden change outside of Costco. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) reports that single-use plastic bags are totally prohibited in eight states. Therefore, residents in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Vermont who like to go grocery shopping and prepare their own meals at home must also bring their own bags (or purchase reusable ones) to use at their local supermarkets. You won't even find single-use plastic bags at Walmart or Target because this ban is state-wide and not just at Costco.
Additionally, the cities of Boston, Chicago, Boulder, D.C., and Seattle enacted city-wide bans on plastic bags, getting ahead of the curve before it becomes a state-wide ban (via NCSL).
Of course, this is where the problem starts. If customers forget their baggage at home, they cannot be abandoned in these states. If clients forget their own bags at home, grocery stores in these eight states will still sell reusable bags or paper bags as Costco doesn't provide any bags for customers to use. Apologize Costco customers, but please remember to keep your stack of bags in your car so you won't forget them the next time you go grocery shopping.
Source: Daily Meal
TLPPACKAGING FOR SHOPPING BAGS
