Have you ever brought your own reusable bag to the grocery store, only to find out that you were still charged for a single-use plastic bag? Well, you’re not alone. This surprising incident recently happened to Callie, a regular shopper at Trader Joe’s in California. She shared her frustration in a viral TikTok video that has already been viewed over 8,000 times.
In the video, Callie shows her receipt from Trader Joe’s, zooming in on two 10-cent bag charges. She explains, “It’s only 10 cents each time, totaling 20 cents. I bought two bottles of wine. That costs me 20 cents. Now, I’m like, negative 40 cents on just dumb [expletive].”
So, what’s the deal with these bag fees? Well, it turns out that California implemented the California Bottle Bill Act, starting in January. This law requires customers to pay a fee for certain beverage containers, including wine bottles. The fee is 5 cents for bottles under 24 ounces and 10 cents for bottles over 24 ounces. It applies to items like wine, distilled spirits, vegetable juice, and fruit juice.
But Callie’s main concern was the bag fee, as she had brought her own bag. She questions, “How many times have they charged me a bag fee?” She shows her reusable Trader Joe’s bag and explains that her items were placed in it. She expresses her frustration, asking, “What is that? And what am I going to do about it?”
This situation raises an important question: How much extra are we all paying? It’s a valid concern. Some viewers speculated that Callie might have been charged two bag fees because Trader Joe’s packed her bottles of wine in their paper bags. However, Callie clarified that her bottles were placed in her own reusable bag, not paper bags provided by the store.
Occurrences like this can erode consumer trust in the stores they shop in. Viewers offered advice, urging others to always review their receipts. One person commented, “People are always posting about hidden add-ons at Walmart too because it doesn’t add up. Lesson learned, I never leave without checking my receipt no matter where I go.”
Callie plans to discuss the incident with a manager, expressing her hopes of receiving a gift card. She also points out, “But imagine how much extra they collect a day doing that?” It’s definitely worth considering.
While this experience was frustrating for Callie, it serves as a reminder for all of us to keep an eye on our receipts and check for any unexpected charges. Mistakes can happen, but being vigilant can help you catch them before leaving the store. If you do come across any issues, don’t hesitate to address them with the store manager or customer service. Resolving the problem right away can often lead to a satisfactory outcome.
So, next time you’re doing your grocery shopping, take an extra minute to review your receipt before you head out the door. It might save you a lot of hassle and ensure that you’re not being charged for something you shouldn’t be.
