HST pushes plastic bag charge to $0.06

[modano9]

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/pushes+surcharge+plastic+bags/3268810/story.html

At least one retailer (SDM) has come forward and said that they will not charge the extra $0.01

[lioncar]

You're the poster child of RFD. Lamenting over an additional penny due to HST.

[Frankie3s]

You're the poster child of RFD. Lamenting over an additional penny due to HST.

Pennies soon becomes dollars. That's how fees always start out, small and then one day they're into $$$.

[LisaB]

The plastic bag was subject to GST/PST before HST came into effect. Read the Toronto by-law.

http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/packaging_reduction/pdf/faq.pdf

And the govt of Ontario made sure stores knew how to charge tax on the bag:

http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/taxtips/rst/06.html

[Mr. Robo]

We shouldn't be charged .05 a bag anyways.

[easterclause]

We shouldn't be charged .05 a bag anyways.

Things change. You'll get used to it. If you don't, your kids will. Or their kids.

Progress. :D

[jamesfitzgibbon]

Things change. You'll get used to it. If you don't, your kids will. Or their kids.

Progress. :D

it's not progress when the money does not go anywhere except to the retailer.

[easterclause]

it's not progress when the money does not go anywhere except to the retailer.


I'm sure the discussion played itself out in that other thread, I probably have nothing new to add.

[Tyop]

it's not progress when the money does not go anywhere except to the retailer.

I don't understand why people like you complain about the cost of a plastic bag, it's a LAW. If you don't like it, don't buy a plastic bag.

[Akitakara]

I don't understand why people like you complain about the cost of a plastic bag, it's a LAW. If you don't like it, don't buy a plastic bag.

It's only a LAW in Toronto :lol:

[Jon Lai]

We shouldn't be charged .05 a bag anyways.

You're right, we should be charged at least 25c a bag, if not a dollar. Because at 5c, people are still consuming them.

[Lucky Ducky]

It's not a LAW, it's a rip-off!

I won't buy plastic bags, use produce bags for anything yucky and carry the groceries out in their damned buggies.

Leave the buggy by the car. :D

[Kris81]

I find it highly amusing when people complain about:

a) paying for grocery bags
b) the cost of them going up less than a penny.


It's so much easier to just get those reusable bags & keep them in your trunk. What's wrong with you people, seriously.

[yhc]

What's wrong with you people, seriously.

ulcers.

[Blackmajik]

It's only a LAW in Toronto :lol:

Unfortunately the law has gotten many companies operating outside of Toronto greedy and have been charging for it or planning to.

[Vladimir]

really? say you needed 10 bags... that still is only 60 cents...
I mean I can see bitching about stuff, but this?
Honestly, I wish they charged 25 cents a bag
If you gonna ***** that much how about plastic bags how about you buy the reusable bags... or better yet go make a garden and grow your own food.

I bought 1 bin and 3 reusable bags, the odd time it isn't enough.. oh well Ill pay the 10 (or now 12) cents for an extra 2 bags. Whats 12 cents when you spend over $100 on groceries?

[Blackmajik]

really? say you needed 10 bags... that still is only 60 cents...
I mean I can see bitching about stuff, but this?
Honestly, I wish they charged 25 cents a bag
If you gonna ***** that much how about plastic bags how about you buy the reusable bags... or better yet go make a garden and grow your own food.

I bought 1 bin and 3 reusable bags, the odd time it isn't enough.. oh well Ill pay the 10 (or now 12) cents for an extra 2 bags. Whats 12 cents when you spend over $100 on groceries?

Well if you really think about it, it isn't a lot of money in the short run considering people will always calculate and see how much money they can save in 10 years time. Also, I do understand where people are coming from and do expect bags to be part of the sale considering the fact that products have gone up in price due to inflation alongside the dreaded ecofees on top of HST makes the shopping experience a lot more dreadful these days. Now having said all that, I don't mind paying for the odd bag here or there but I just don't like it when a company doesn't offer incentives when not purchasing/bringing your own bags. This is definitely a very tricky debate considering both sides have good valid arguments but at the end of the day - good things don't last forever.

[modano9]

You're the poster child of RFD. Lamenting over an additional penny due to HST.

Thanks! Actually I got it from Russell Peters:D


It's so much easier to just get those reusable bags & keep them in your trunk. What's wrong with you people, seriously.

Reusable bags can harvest bacteria: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/05/20/clothbags.html
How many people actually wash their bags? Think about it (raw meat, etc...).

[inferno_gn]

Hi there,

I read that article, theya re bitching about the bag tax with the HST is like taxing on another tax. Blah, Quebec, we been doing that for years, the PST is charge on top of the GST and when it goes up by 1% our PST, it will not be just 1%, it's actually more because it tax on a tax.

Ju Leon...

[mabba18]

It's sad how peeved people get over this, claiming that stores are ripping people off. Nobody is forcing people to buy bags. If you don't want to pay, then get your own bags.



Thanks! Actually I got it from Russell Peters:D



Reusable bags can harvest bacteria: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/05/20/clothbags.html
How many people actually wash their bags? Think about it (raw meat, etc...).


Ha, did you read the article? "Plastics industry warns...", unbiased info there I bet. Personally, I wash my cloth bags all the time.

[zoro69]

I find it highly amusing when people complain about:

a) paying for grocery bags
b) the cost of them going up less than a penny.


It's so much easier to just get those reusable bags & keep them in your trunk. What's wrong with you people, seriously.

People who are actually doing something significantly "green" when they shop don't have a trunk...

[jamesfitzgibbon]

people who are actually doing something significantly "green" when they shop don't have a trunk...

+1

[Akitakara]

Meh. Most of us are complaining about the fee merely because it's an inconvenience.


It also makes us seem "cheap" having to worry about the cost of even the most basic things in shopping such as plastic bags. Also, if you don't have a reusable bag, but don't wish to purchase a bag (enviro reasons, or don't want to pay for it) it seems "cheap" as well to carry lots of things around, espcially clothes at The Bay.

Also, it seems like a ripoff since the quality of the bags generally has decreased after this added the bag fee

[Alex89]

people who are actually doing something significantly "green" when they shop don't have a trunk...
+2

[Alex89]

Also, it seems like a ripoff since the quality of the bags generally has decreased after this added the bag fee

Agreed. Many times those bags wouldn't last me the few blocks I walk home. At the rate they degrade I'm sure they won't harm the environment, so why the fee?

[Bastich]

I think it's sad how many people defend the bag fee/tax and attack its critics, yet you never hear them endorsing bank service charges.
:cool:

[Happy13178]

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/pushes+surcharge+plastic+bags/3268810/story.html

At least one retailer (SDM) has come forward and said that they will not charge the extra $0.01

I'm not surprised SDM declined to charge. They've had some bad press lately with their points devaluation and the debacle with the pharmacists. They needed to look good on something.

[ferkel]

A lot of people only shop at stores that DON'T charge the nickel plastic bag fee... Going grocery shopping and needing 10 bags.. its adds up. Toronto is not the place to do business.

[easterclause]

I think it's sad how many people defend the bag fee/tax and attack its critics, yet you never hear them endorsing bank service charges.
:cool:

"Bag fee", that's the strangest euphemism I've heard yet for what is otherwise known as "paying for merchandise".

[pshch]

I don't understand why people like you complain about the cost of a plastic bag, it's a LAW. If you don't like it, don't buy a plastic bag.

So you are trying to tell me I cannot complain about a bad law?

[mabba18]

People who are actually doing something significantly "green" when they shop don't have a trunk...

I do perfectly fine on the bus carrying a couple of reusable bags.

If you cannot carry the empty bags to the store, how do you manage to carry the FULL bags back from the store?

[crazyrabbits]

Pennies soon becomes dollars. That's how fees always start out, small and then one day they're into $$$.

Right now, the difference is negligible. Let's say, on average, that you pay for four plastic bags a week for groceries. You'll pay a couple extra dollars a year for bag fees.

It's not that bad.

[enricor]

has anyone every tried to return a bag? ...we are charged, it's on our receipt, so, we should be able to return it.

i.e. you carry your groceries out to the car, and the bag stretches, tears, or has a hole in it, so you return the bag and ask for a refund.

if this is really about the environment, and not about the $$ they should be happy to take it back.

[redgrandam]

has anyone every tried to return a bag? ...we are charged, it's on our receipt, so, we should be able to return it.

i.e. you carry your groceries out to the car, and the bag stretches, tears, or has a hole in it, so you return the bag and ask for a refund.

if this is really about the environment, and not about the $$ they should be happy to take it back.

Unless they have bags listed as 'final sale only', then yes you should be able to. Likely if it's defective they will just hand you a new one, I don't see that as being an issue. But if you get a bag at a store, to carry one item (say clothing) and you return that item, I would be taking the bag back likely with it.

That being said, I don't even take a bag for one item, whether I pay for it or not.

Also that being said, I've purchased lots of reusable ones, but I've gotten more than enough free ones by now that I really wouldn't have had to purchase very many if any at all. I think I have almost 10 freebies.

[angekfire]

I do perfectly fine on the bus carrying a couple of reusable bags.

If you cannot carry the empty bags to the store, how do you manage to carry the FULL bags back from the store?

Maybe I don't bring reusable bags with me everywhere I go. Maybe I get to work and realize I need to do groceries later. I'm not going to go home to get my bags then go shopping, I will go on the way. And now I have to pay if I don't plan ahead to the end of the day.

[redgrandam]

I do perfectly fine on the bus carrying a couple of reusable bags.

If you cannot carry the empty bags to the store, how do you manage to carry the FULL bags back from the store?

The funny thing is, there are lots of people that won't get reusable ones, so they end up buying the ones at the store. They get about 8 of them packed full, trying to carry them on the bus, and ofcourse they are all ripping and falling apart etc. You can get way more in a reusable one, and they don't rip so easily. They could probably have gotten almost everything in 4 reusable ones, but I guess it's better to do it the other way :) lol

[mabba18]

Maybe I don't bring reusable bags with me everywhere I go. Maybe I get to work and realize I need to do groceries later. I'm not going to go home to get my bags then go shopping, I will go on the way. And now I have to pay if I don't plan ahead to the end of the day.

You still don't "have to pay". You're deciding that the time and effort of carrying bags (or getting them) isn't worth saving the 5¢. It's always your choice to buy bags, use own, or use none at all.

If buying bags bothers a person so much, then they should put the effort into having bags with them if there's any possibility of doing some shopping.

It takes zero effort to carry a folded bag around, and if a person cannot manage that tiny bit of foresight, then they certainly shouldn't be complaining about paying.


The funny thing is, there are lots of people that won't get reusable ones, so they end up buying the ones at the store. They get about 8 of them packed full, trying to carry them on the bus, and ofcourse they are all ripping and falling apart etc. You can get way more in a reusable one, and they don't rip so easily. They could probably have gotten almost everything in 4 reusable ones, but I guess it's better to do it the other way :) lol

+1

Reusable bags are bigger, and much more comfortable to carry. I just don't understand why it's so impossibly for some people to plunk down the $1 for a good reusable bag or get one of the myriad of free ones from somewhere.

[Mr FAT Head]

Shopping without a trunk isn't necessarily more "green". You'll need to make several trips, forcing you to consume more of the items you bought... forcing you to make even more trips, etc :razz:

Think of all the green things you could have done in that time! :)

[Bastich]

"Bag fee", that's the strangest euphemism I've heard yet for what is otherwise known as "paying for merchandise".

Not really. From the City of Toronto FAQ:
http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/packaging_reduction/pdf/faq.pdf


What bags do I have to charge a fee for?
Retailers will be required to charge a minimum of 5 cents for each plastic retail shopping bag that customers take. A plastic retail shopping bag is a bag made of plastic film, designed to carry customer purchases from a retail business establishment.

The way I see it, if the government forces retailers to charge for something that they were previously absorbing as the cost of doing business, that's a fee. I wouldn't consider it merchandise unless it's returnable for refund.

If the pattern holds, we'll soon be handed a hunk of raw meat at the butcher counter, and asked if we want it wrapped for 5 cents.
:cool:

[Monsieurmaggot]

Toronto is not the place to do business.

Then there's the $60 automobile ownership fee, the surcharge for buying a new house in Toronto. I don't think you pay it if you already live there. You pay to move into Toronto. Did I miss anything else?

The property taxation is so out of whack. Some long-time residents in Forest Hill pay half the property tax of someone who's just moving in.

They're just now putting in water meters in that neighbourhood too. Until now, those wealthy residents paid a FLAT FEE for water. I hear that for a fee, some installers bypass the water meters for you so only minimal amount of usage is registered.

Yup, quite a place to live...

[Xeerochild]

has anyone every tried to return a bag? ...we are charged, it's on our receipt, so, we should be able to return it.

i.e. you carry your groceries out to the car, and the bag stretches, tears, or has a hole in it, so you return the bag and ask for a refund.

if this is really about the environment, and not about the $$ they should be happy to take it back.

Lol, this is one of the funniest posts I've ever read on RFD. I'm actually laughing out loud after reading this.

"I'd like to return this plastic bag as I am unsatisfied with it."

[modano9]

has anyone every tried to return a bag? ...we are charged, it's on our receipt, so, we should be able to return it.

i.e. you carry your groceries out to the car, and the bag stretches, tears, or has a hole in it, so you return the bag and ask for a refund.

if this is really about the environment, and not about the $$ they should be happy to take it back.

You raise an interesting point...if you buy one item from a store and pay a bag fee, if you decide to return the item in the same bag should you not be entitled to a refund for the bag also?

IME, some stores do credit the bag fee and others don't.

[Kris81]

People who are actually doing something significantly "green" when they shop don't have a trunk...


Who said anything about doing anything significantly green? I've got so many of those reusable bags that i've gotten for free from various places, that it's an easy solution for people who don't want to spend the big 6 cents to buy one

[Sprite_TM]

plastic bag charges are a rip-off. anyways, carrying re-usable bags in the trunk actually decrease fuel economy and the car consumes more gas and in the end, hurts the environment which defeats the purpose of bringing your own bag. plastic bags are just additional profit for the company.

i've read in a BMW magazine that every gram of weight counts, i think it was an issue on how far can 5 L of gas travel in a BMW 5 series. Of course, the winner refused to even carry a pen in the car because it will hurt fuel economy. yah, you may be laughing that a gram doesn't make a difference but it does in the long run.

[cyder]

plastic bag charges are a rip-off. anyways, carrying re-usable bags in the trunk actually decrease fuel economy and the car consumes more gas and in the end, hurts the environment which defeats the purpose of bringing your own bag. plastic bags are just additional profit for the company.

i've read in a BMW magazine that every gram of weight counts, i think it was an issue on how far can 5 L of gas travel in a BMW 5 series. Of course, the winner refused to even carry a pen in the car because it will hurt fuel economy. yah, you may be laughing that a gram doesn't make a difference but it does in the long run.theoretically yes, practically no. And I am sure you are not concerned, if you were you would be driving in a car without floor mats/ac/minimal flid levels etc, and possibly taking the bus more often b/c it'd be cheaper then using your own gas to get there.

[flashy_mcflash]

It should be $10/bag

[ferkel]

taxes have gone out of control.
Thats a 20% tax on a .5 cent bag.

Add in Drive Clean program (tax)
Eco Fee (tax)
$60 car license Toronto (tax)
Land transfer fee (tax)
HST
Health Care Tax

The underground economy is booming... wonder why?

[angekfire]

I'm waiting for major retailers to start charging you if you want a receipt. "It's 10 cents for the receipt unless you bring your own paper and ink"

[dec12]

I'm waiting for major retailers to start charging you if you want a receipt. "It's 10 cents for the receipt unless you bring your own paper and ink"

You better patented it first. When Comrade Miller implemented this idea, you'll get a cut of it, ala the Arts group and the bill board tax, er fee.