If you've ever found yourself grumbling at the checkout about the price of supermarket bags, you're certainly not alone.

While many have adapted to bringing their shopping bags, others still resort to using these paper bags.

A shopper's recent experience at Coles sparked a fresh wave of frustration among Aussie shoppers.


A shopper was at their local Coles when they forgot to bring their bags.

With a massive haul on their trolley, the customer was forced to buy bags at the checkout.

However, instead of the usual roomy paper bags, they were handed a 'half-sized' version of these bags.

To add insult to injury, shoppers are charged the same price as the full-sized ones.


The shopper took to social media to talk about their experience at a local Coles.

'Half the bag, twice the price! The enshittification continues,' they wrote.

Other shoppers chimed in and shared their disbelief about the paper bags' size.

'What can you even carry with that half-a**** bag? Two carrots?' one quipped.

'That's about it. Funny times when they put three-litre milk and canned food in those,' another shared.

Is Coles trying to pull a fast one on its loyal customers, or is there more to the story?


According to several shoppers, these smaller bags are not meant for in-store use.

'The shorter bags are used for online orders as they fit better in the crate things,' a shopper shared.

'I guess they decided that offering them was better than having no bags available.'

'Yeah it's a bit cheeky they charged the same or in the bigger picture charge in general, but it is also an avoidable cost,' the shopper added.

'Understandably, everyone forgets their bags sometimes, but then it just becomes a convenience fee of sorts.'

'A driver told me when they switched over to the paper from plastic that folding the paper bags over didn't really work, and they couldn't stack the crates properly, so the small bags were the solution,' another shopper shared.


A Coles spokesperson confirmed some of these shoppers' statements.

According to the spokesperson, the incident was a one-off event, and the smaller bags are not intended for sale to in-store customers.

'While the paper bags available in-store remain unchanged, the new Coles Online version fits more easily into packing crates, which will lead to less damage and improved reuse,' the spokesperson explained.

However, despite this statement, many shoppers still felt robbed over the shopping bag's size and price.

'Like the in-store paper bag, the Coles Online version has undergone vigorous independent testing and was found to hold up the same six kilos of groceries safely,' the spokesperson defended.

'All of our paper bags can be reused multiple times and are made from 100 per cent recycled paper that, unlike soft plastic bags, can be recycled kerbside.'


This incident has received a mixed bag of reactions from shoppers online.

As Aussies grapple with rising grocery prices, shrinking product sizes and the ever-present' bag tax' have been some of their concerns.

It's also a timely reminder to always bring your bags when shopping.

Yet, for those times when you forget your bags, it's not unreasonable to expect a fair deal.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, don't be afraid to speak up. Ask to speak to a manager or contact Coles customer service.

Most supermarkets are keen to keep their customers happy and may offer a refund or replacement if you've been short-changed.
Have you had a similar experience at your local supermarket lately? Is it fair to charge the same price for a smaller bag? Do you have any clever tips for remembering your reusable bags every time? Share your thoughts and shopping stories in the comments below.

MORE HERE: Discover the bizarre new 'word of the year' and why everyone is talking about 'Enshittification'!