Although I don’t find myself shopping at Price Rite on a regular basis, I must say that the place appeals to me because of its bagging policy – a policy that I would like to see more of at other shopping centers. Price Rite charges customers ten cents per plastic bag, and they don’t even bag the groceries. That means that more and more shoppers are wearing backpacks and carrying their own satchels into the store – a policy that never would have flown at predecessors that would require customers to check their bags. The market’s bags are also reusable, so don’t be surprised to see people walking into the market with Price Rite bags already in hand.
I also like the fact that Price Rite makes people do some work for their groceries. When a customer checks out, he or she unloads the shopping cart onto the conveyor belt. Then, the products are scanned, then placed back into an awaiting cart at the end of the checkout counter. From there the customer takes the cart (and his or her bags) over to a long counter where the self-bagging is performed before exiting the market. Not only are these types of policies good for the environment, they are good for our person. I’ve always felt that if people are capable of bagging their own groceries, then why should someone else be expected to perform the function?
What really amazes me about these types of changes in our daily regimens is just how easy it is to get accustomed to the routines. If you want to change people’s mindsets, then change the policies. Shoppers see other people bringing their own bags and bagging, and guess what happens? “If that person can do it, then so can I…” We can apply these simple types of measures to so many aspects of our lives. When I offer to bag my own groceries at other markets, the cashiers sometimes look at me like I have a bird on my head (I just heard that expression for the first time). If I were to ask a cashier at Price Rite to bag my groceries for me I would probably get slapped upside the head. Good for Price Rite. Let’s see how long it takes the rest of the markets to catch on.