I'm a reusable bag two-timer myself, Elizabeth. I regularly take my Giant bags into Safeway, and my SuperFresh bags into Giant. Of course, I usually do the self-checkout thang, so I'm not as concerned about getting the evil eye from the checker.

Even Target sells their own reusables now. There's no self-checkout there, so the biggest problem is that every time I bring my bags in to re-use them, they try to ring them up again. I guess that's one advantage of using one store's bags in a different store. :)

Oh, and thanks for the tips about the farmer's market. Do you know when the one under the JFX at Fallsway opens for the season?

Last year it opened May 6, so I'm guessing it will be May 4 this year. EL

We have a handful of Giant bags and we're happy enough to use them anywhere we might be shopping. Really they should take it as a compliment - "I bought these from the place where I usually shop, but I'm buying from you instead today because I think you're better". That being said, I do feel vaguely uncomfortable if I take it to Safeway or Shoppers, vs. Whole Foods / TJ / MOM where I think they're just happy to see you using a reusable bag.

Not to worry--I have reusable bags from three different stores, and each one accepts the others. The Giant even gives a credit for each bag supplied, without regard to what logo is on the outside.

I haven't yet bought any of those reusable bags 'cause it bugs me to pay money for something with advertising on it. I'm thinking I should get some from different stores, and always make sure I use ones from a store other than where I'm shopping.

I take whatever store's reusable bags to whatever store. I can't imagine that the checkers have any opinion about it whatsoever. Elizabeth! I thought you were a self-confident woman-of-the-world. You're the Queen Mother roll model for this unruly gang aren't you?

I also always carry a cool little fold up bag in my purse. It's great-looking, no ugly logos and weighs next to nothing. I got it online after reading about it in the Post. Go to baggubag.com. They're cheap too. And if you're really worried that some slack-jawed clerk is eyeing you disapprovingly when you show up with a bag from the competition, then this should solve that.

Those register women are really scary. EL

I have a variety of store-branded bags, not because I don't want to use one store's bags at another, but becasue I misjudge how many bags I'd need and soemtimes have to buy an additional one. I have bags from Wegman's Trader Joe's, Giant, Super Fresh, and Whole Foods.
For the market, I usually take my somewhat larger canvas bags with a peace dove on the front.

Note to Fearless Leader: if you get there between 7:00 & 7:30, you don't have to worry about the casareccio running out.

I know that, and that's when I used to go, but now I have a 7:30 a.m. tennis game. EL

Sorry Elizabeth, I didn't mean to say you were a model for a roll.

(Actually I've heard that you are runway sleek.)

Some stores other than food vendors also offer renewable bags, thus avoiding the embarrassment factor. One example is Federal Hill Hardware on Light Street just south of Cross Street Market. They were free, too, at least in the first few months after it opened.

I've been using 'reusable' bags for many years (Comes from living in Europe for so long, it's a habit.) I use the heavy canvas 'Boat Bags' from Lands End. I bought them about 11 years ago when I returned to the U.S. and they have been holding up great.

For many years, I got the funniest looks from the people and employees at just about every grocery store I tried to use them with exception to Trader Joe's and Whole Paycheck.

The only problem I have is when I take them to non-grocery type stores (Like Target.) Loss prevention is always very interested in what ELSE I might have in my bag that perhaps wasn't purchased. :( That's a little annoying...

You're really selling me on getting my can out of bed for the 4 block walk to the Market, especially for that bread! I hope they start baking more loafs because you ratcheted up the competition :D It's starting to sound like the famous Marble Rye Seinfeld issue. You've inspired me to get some of those reusable bags as well. Look at you!

I don't like paying to advertise stores, so I just use the half-hundred bags I have from library conferences. I've also picked up solid cotton bags (many of the store bags seem cheap to me) at dollar stores.

I'm just glad we can use them now. 20 years ago, when I tried to use my own bags, it was like trying to wear chainmail onto an airplane.

we use our Weis Markets bags (originally from central pa, where weis rules the world) when we shop at safeway. i doub they care, or at least no one ever said anything. i guess it helps because we like to pack them ourselves (not a big fan of them placing the dishsoap next to the fresh veggies/deli meats- although that didnt happen yet, i dont want to have a first time).

I use the plastic bags. I find they are better for lugging around all the Styrofoam containers I buy.

The advantage of using Market X in non-Market X stores is the significant reduction in accusations of shop-lifting the bags.

Another point: Look at all the stuff the checker has already seen you buy. And you're worried about using another stores bags?

Robert, I only buy fresh, in-season vegetables, whole wheat bread and organic meats. EL

Lissa's got the right idea by using bags she already has, but I got some branded ones as gifts that fold up small enough to stow in a (reasonably sized) purse. It does make me feel weird, though -- I'm advertising for a store I almost never shop at.

I do use them in other stores anyway ... but I hear SuperFresh won't give you the bag discount (is it 3 or 5 cents per reusable bag?) unless you use one of theirs.

So the cheese curls and Cheeto in your orange stained fingers got there how?

Okay, here's a slight segue, but market-related. I picked up a few things at one of the groceries I've been patronizing for decades. I know many of the checkers by name and I choose my line carefully. A new manager chirped, "We can take you over here!" and she pulled my cart out of the line--and toward one of those self-serve checkout lines, which I refuse to use. I did an about face. Has this happened to anyone else?

We can take you over here!" and she pulled my cart out of the line--and toward one of those self-serve checkout lines, which I refuse to use. I did an about face. Has this happened to anyone else?

I've never had someone pull the cart. I probably wouldn't have responded like the voice of reason.

At Whole Foods, I've had a manager bring me over to the self-serve lane and scan the items for me. This alleviates my primary concern, that self-serve lines are helping to get rid of employees.

At the Canton Safeway (which just got self-serve lanes a few weeks ago), I've been asked if I want to try the self-serve lanes, but got no objection when I declined.

I know this is late but check out Baggu. They are available on Amazon and basically they are resuable bags that tuck into their own pockets and fit easily into a purses and you can always have one ready to go best of all they have no identifiable markers on them so that way you can go BRANDLESS into the grocery store and not feel sheepish about the other bags. Also I find the other bags too damn big to haul around with me in the store these are so damn convenient. And come in many pretty colors.

The only time my basket had been taken directly to a line was at Eddie's, but none of their line are self-service.

At many places I have been directed to a shorter line but not grabbed and taken there. Generaly, I figure it's my choice which line I get in but I don't mind a suggestion to move to another line, as long as it is a suggestion.

Did you ever notice how many times you can look at something and not see any typos and then find several of them once the item is no longer under your control?

You can e-mail me and have me fix them if you really care, but I don't want to edit anything unless I'm asked. What I do want is not to have anyone start to feel self-conscious about typos or misspellings because I don't want anything that discourages commenting. I think you're comfortable enough to take some teasing, but someone else reading it might be put off. I've had several people tell me or e-mail me that they would like to comment but are a little shy about it. EL

When the Giant installed the self-serve lines one of the checkers told me that her hours had been cut back at the same time, so I do believe that using them costs jobs. This past week the manager said that Lorna would "do it all" for me, but I still refused to go near the dang machine. I also hate the automated voice. One friend told me she plays dumb and talks back to the machine, loudly.

And now Ikea only has the self-serve check out lines. And no option of a real person checking you out. and you don't find out that there are not bags until you have finished checking out. It's very frustrating to try and do it yourself.

I usually shop Safeway, and on the rare occasion when a checker comments on my Giant bags, I just ask, "Would you rather see me in Safeway with a Giant bag, or in Giant with a Safeway bag"? That usually takes care of it.

This is the best idea yet. EL

That's a great comeback, Dottie. I've filed it away in my brain for future use, providing I can retrieve it when needed.

And here's another reason not to use the self-check lines (at least at Canton Safeway): if you try to use your own bags, the scale often locks the whole register up: "unexpected item in bagging area," but if you remove your unexpected bag and just stuff your items right into it after ringing them up, the register won't scan your next item because you haven't put it in the bagging area. If any of you witnessed someone having a melt-down in the self-check line, that was me!

Long live human checkers!

I bring my own bags (collected from various conferences, meetings, and giveaways) much to the dismay of my grocery stores. At Giant I can count on getting a nasty look from the checkers (because apparently my resusable canvas bag just completely screws up their whole operation, or so they tell me), and at Safeway I get a lecture in politics from the quarter ton of fun in a mullet checking me out. Exactly what I want at 10am on a Sunday morning. Luckily my farmers market gets me neither scenario.

I think it's more a matter of getting used to new ways of doing things. I have never been subjected to nasty looks because of the collection of bags I bring along (or else I'm developing a tough skin from posting here ...)

See, I tend to prefer the self-serve checkouts because they don't give me any attitude. They don't mind if I use my own bags, they don't talk on their cell phones while ringing up groceries, and they don't get confused if I try to give $12 for a $7 purchase ("you gave me too much, take these ones back"). Maybe it's my particular area, but I've grown weary of the lack of customer service in my local stores. Give me self-service any day.

The vendors at the farmers market are always happy to see my super large size canvas bag.

I actually had a Giant cashier comment on how nice the Trader Joe's bags are.

I don't mind self check-outs for a few things, but for my weekly shopping trip, I prefer a live person. The self-checks will only let you scan a set amount of items and lock up for bagging. Its a hassle.

Funny; at Trader Joe's my canvas bags are always welcomed. As to the big-box stores...as much as it pains me, I think I'll have to start using the self-checkout. I was always one who didn't want to go down that route, but now I'm seeing the light. Sign of the times I guess.

My wife bought three of the Baggu bags a while back and they are great. Easy to fit in a pocket, they hold way more than a plastic grocery store bag, and since they're thick and sturdy they don't cut into your fingers when you stuff them full of heavy things.

We've gotten interest and positive comments about them in stores from Whole Foods to Shoppers.