990: Plastic Bags

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Plastic Bags

Title text: The high I feel when I actually remember to bring my reusable bags to the store--and take them inside rather than leaving them in the parked car--can last for days.

Explanation

This comic is a commentary on how grocery stores try to give you as many plastic bags as possible (and in the end frame, it appears they double bag the reusable bag, which shouldn't really need its own bag at all, let alone two.)

For whatever reason, the stores love to give you as many plastic or paper bags as possible, but if you bring your reusable bags, they try to pack all your stuff into as few bags as possible so that they can save the store 5 cents because they only give you credit for the "bags you used". Even though you brought 4 bags and the bagger stuffed all your things into 3 bags that are impossible to lift. But, hey, if it saves 5 cents for the company, it is worth annoying your customers that have to walk through the city with 3 awkwardly heavy bags!

Transcript

Fun Fact: Stores have a competition to see who can spread your items across the most plastic shopping bags

Bag Packer: Here you go!

[5 items placed in a single bag; heaviest item placed at the bottom]

Shopper: Thanks!

Bag Packer: Here you go!

[Same items; heaviest item now placed in separate bag]

Shopper: Oh, that's easier to carry.

Bag Packer: Here you go!

[Heavy item is now double bagged]

Shopper: Double-bagging the big stuff makes sense...

Bag Packer: Here you go!

[the other 4 items are now split into 2 separate bags]

Shopper: That's a bit wasteful...

Bag Packer: Here you go!

[The 2 separate bags are now double bagged]

Shopper: You just put five items in six bags.

Bag Packer: Here you go!

[Every item is now in its own, double-bagged bag.]

Shopper: OK! I give up! I'll buy a reusable bag!

Bag Packer: Here you go!

[Reusable bag is double-bagged]

Shopper: Augh!

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Discussion

This time the lesson I learned came mostly from alt-text. The high we can experience from helping the world can last for days indeed, way better and healthier then drugs, want to try it? - e-inspired 98.211.199.84 15:45, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

You make it sound like it's an either/or choice. 69.207.73.11 08:02, 26 April 2013 (UTC)