It's just a bag!!!

[goose]

Okay...

I'm not going to say where this happened or who it was. I didn't even get their names.

But on TWO different incidents, I know of stores employees having a major stick up their asses about giving out plastic bags to guests.

This guy came up to me while I was giving a break to a vendor, and asked me if I had a bag. I told him no, but the such and such store should be able to give him a bag. He goes over there and asks the lady for a bag. He comes back a minute later with no bag. The CM told him she can only give out bags for purchases. He told her that they had just bought over a hundred dollars worth of stuff at her store less than 10 minutes ago. The CM then asks him if she can see the stuff he bought.

At this point, the guy's wife walks over and demands a bag. The CM tells her she's only supposed to give it out for purchases. The lady tells her she doesn't appreciate being treated that way after buying a bunch of things from her store. The CM grudgingly gives her a bag...

I had something very similar happen today.

So...what is the deal with these stores people? I am a reasonable cast member and I completely understand that you can't give away certain items because you have to keep your inventory intact.

But a plastic bag? What the hell? Are you really that short on plastic bags? On a Wednesday in January??? Give me a break!

Are stores CM's being told by management to be so stingy with plastic bags? Or do some of these CM's just have a major attitude problem?

Well, it kind of pissed me off. I don't like it when CM's are rude to guests for no good reason. It only pisses off the guests and makes them angry at the rest of us good cast members (or halfway decent cast members).

What do you guys think of this? It's not that big of a deal, but it still pissed me off.

[Randy B]

I can see both sides of this. the plastic bags do cost something and if enough are given out with no offsetting purchase it could be concidered an unnecissary expense. And at times, such as a sudden rain storm, lots of people will want a free, extra-large bag to act as a rain poncho and thus hurt sales of the ponchos. And if a particular location is running short on bags and are trying to make the supply hold out until more can be brought from the warehouse, or trying to make the supply hold out until the imminient end of the day so an "after closing inventory" will have less to count. Any of these reasons could be a valid reason to resist giving out free bags.

But, on the other hand I have had times that I have made lots of small purchases and am having a hard time carrying several dozen small bags. A single larger bag that could contain the entire collection of purchases would greatly ease the carrying of my purchases. And I may be more agreeable to further shoppin if I am not having to juggle so many packages. And even tho Disney uses fairly heavy guage plastic it can happen that a bag can develop a tear and need replacing or reenforcing. In these cases a simple free bag can go a long way towards good customer relations.

In my opinion the shop CM who remained adamant against giving out a bag was wrong. I can understand resisting the request but if the guest sticks to their request, a bag handed over (with a wink and a nod to give the impression that you are giving them a special "deal") can go a long way toward customer satisfaction.

JMHO

Randy

[edua87]

One reason we dont give out bags at least at DW is due to shoplifting. Personally I dont mind giving one out as long as i see whats going in the bag. be it to carry a number of smaller bags or to keep everything together. We have had incidents in epcot where guests have shoplifted, yet had bags for everything.

[mechurchlady]

In my case I am a bag abuser and often at the end of the day my bags are a mess. It is people following policy. I would have bought something with my atm card then when done handed back the item with out the bag and asked for a refund.

[Whazzup]

I recently made some purchases at the local Disney Store and they put everything into a huge bag. I mentioned that I was having a party with Disney prizes, and could I please get a couple of smaller bags thrown in and the CM said sure. When I got home I found she had included a large handful of both small and medium sized bags.
Of course, it might have to do with the fact that the store is closing for 3 months to relocate into a new building, or maybe they don't inventory their bags like they do merchandise, but I thought it was very generous of the CM to provide enough bags that I could put each prize into its own Disney bag.

[Princess Susi]

We have asked for extra bags before and never had as problem getting one. We had lots of little ones and wanted to collate everything into one big one for easier transport. Never had a CM deny us a bag yet and we have done this several times. And they have always been very gracious and smiling when they give them to us.

Of course it may be the way we deal with them. We treat them with respect and usually leave them laughing. We like to have fun with the CMs. Last trip, it was one of the CM's birthday in The World Of Disney and Ralphie and I started a very loud version of Happy Birthday and had everyone in the vicinity singing to her. She turned 10 stages of red, but thanked us and laughed. We gave here a big ole hug too. But that is just our usual way of talking with and interacting with CMs everywhere, not just stores. So maybe it has to do with the way they are being asked as well. Never had a problem getting an extra bag! :)
sues

[CMGUY89]

The problem angles into loss prevention. We had the same problem when I worked at Banana Republic. The problem is that legally we can not look into their bags unless we have very strong evidence that they are stealing. If we were to give someone an extra bag they could very easily take something out in a bag. So we have a certain responsibility to responsible guests to try to keep the prices down by reducing our loss of product. So it has a purpose...

[TalkingHands]

The problem angles into loss prevention. We had the same problem when I worked at Banana Republic. The problem is that legally we can not look into their bags unless we have very strong evidence that they are stealing. If we were to give someone an extra bag they could very easily take something out in a bag. So we have a certain responsibility to responsible guests to try to keep the prices down by reducing our loss of product. So it has a purpose...

Actually I have never had a problem getting a bag when I explained why I needed it. I have asked several times for a bag to cover my PWC controller because it has started to rain and to replace would cost me several thousand dollars. CMs are always glad to give me one. Guess maybe it is how you ask and what you want it for.

[Theme Park Where]

I think loss prevention is a necessary thing, but it can't interfere with guest service. Bags are a part of guest service. If people are stealing items and putting them into bags, you don't have enough staff wandering in the store to prevent that. THAT is loss prevention. My feeling was always that the bag has your company logo on it, and sending it home with a customer is creating free advertising. If someone goes home, and takes their lunch to work in a Disney bag, they may inspire someone at the office to ask about the trip and decide that THEY want to go to Disney too. I work part time at a book store in the mall and I freely give out the bags. If someone decides to put all their purchases in my store's bag, my store is the only one getting advertised as people walk around. And you can't steal so easily from my store if I'm wandering around saying hello to you and asking if you need help. You know I'm watching you that way.

[Rob562]

I kinda ran into this on my last trip. I was in WDW during the "MouseFest" weekend, but only participated in one event, and mostly because it was organized by a friend of mine. After the event, there was a grab-bag of goodies for the participants, mostly stuff procured from Company D or the big "SALSA" CM clearance sale. Because there were a lot less people attending than had been planned, I ended up with at least half a dozen little trinkets. On my way through Liberty Square I stopped into one of the stores and asked for a bag to put the stuff in. She gave me an odd look, so I quickly gave her a shortened version of the story and she gave me a bag but again with an odd glance. I still think she thought I was trying to shoplift stuff....

Of course if asked to show the stuff, I didn't have a receipt and some things even still had old price tags on them... Though none were still for sale in the parks, and none were from her store. (Heck, one of them was a Contemporary Resort luggage tag. You'd have to wonder just where in the park I'd gotten THAT one) ;)

-Rob