What's a Good Replacement Bag, to Replace The Woolies "Bag for Good"?

Russ on 14/04/2023 - 01:08

Almost all of my "Bag for Good" bags have died, mostly from tears and seams coming apart. I'm not impressed with the replacement bags that Woolies offer.

So now I want to purchase ten or so bags of similar size and design to the "Bag for Good", with a rigid "floor", but I want bags that are stronger and last longer.

I see lots of bags for sale on eBay, but I have no way to judge how sturdy they are before purchasing. I see some claim to be made from canvas, which would be excellent if true, but I've also had thin cotton items (shorts) that were described as "canvas".

Has anyone got any recommendations? I'm particularly after something made of natural fibres, as the bags sit in the sun on the back seat of my car most of the time. I've had almost-unused "Bag for Good" bags tear easily, just from the sun exposure.

As I'm in Brisbane, bags available from stores in Brisbane are most desirable, or delivered from eBay or Amazon. I'm willing to pay up to $5 per bag if they're really durable.

Thanks in advance!

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • USER DC on 14/04/2023 - 01:28
    +1

    I still have mine, and its still in pretty good condition, (probably because I dont shop bags full of stuff that often).

    But yeah woolies clearly mislead customers IMO with them.

    Otherwise have a look at massive IKEA bags, or Costco bigger bag (blue ish on inside).

    Why cannot you put your bags in the boot instead to protect damage from sun ??

    • cookie2 on 14/04/2023 - 06:57

      I would assume it not that they CAN'T put them somewhere else. OP just prefers to put them in the backseat and provides that info to help others provide suitable suggestions.
      The big ikea bags are awesome imo but not natural fibres. I'd still probably get a few of those instead of something natural that'll break down or get damaged faster.

      • Russ on 16/04/2023 - 22:14
        +1

        instead of something natural that'll break down or get damaged faster.

        Natural fibres typically come from plants which evolution has made resistant to sunlight. Look at how long wood lasts, for example, when it's kept dry. Or even when it's not, plenty of 50-year-old bush shacks are still standing.

        All plastics degrade in sunlight, but the rate of degradation can be slowed by using fillers that block sunlight, such as the use of carbon black in black irrigation pipe.

        Bags typically don't have a warranty longer than one year, so synthetic bags aren't going to use fillers or higher-quality plastics that let them last much longer than that.

        I have cotton bed sheets over a decade old that regularly spend significant time in direct sunlight, hanging on the washing line. Cotton, linen and wool are known for lasting longer in the clothing industry too.

        That's why I want a bag made from natural fibres.

    • Aleigh123 on 14/04/2023 - 09:17
      +3

      Yeah. I worked at Woolworths at the time. Not long before they stopped supplying them to the store, they reduced the price to get them to sell. Then my manager told me at some point that we're not getting them in stock anymore.

      So I had the job of explaining to customers that the bag they bought a few weeks ago and is now damaged cannot be replaced.

      • USER DC on 14/04/2023 - 13:42
        +2

        I feel ya man, its nothing that you or any other worker did wrong, rather top level management who make us low level workers suffer all the way through while paying us like near minimum wage

    • Russ on 16/04/2023 - 22:01
      +1

      Why cannot you put your bags in the boot instead to protect damage from sun ?

      I found that if they weren't visible, I'd always forget to take them into the shops with me. And also I'm lazy, going to the boot, unlocking the boot (my 1999-model car doesn't have central locking nor remote locking), getting the bags out, and re-locking the boot seems like unnecessary work if I can just start with better-quality bags.

  • Gunnar on 14/04/2023 - 05:09
    +1

    Not one with the rigid floor but the bags I love are the Woolies roll up bags which are 99 cents. They fold away easily and are very durable

  • Wiadro on 14/04/2023 - 06:39
    +1

    Woolies has released these aboriginal design bags, I haven’t seen them instore yet but I think they are fabric bags like the old green bags, I will pick up a bunch when I go in this week if they are there

    https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/shopping/woolworths-announces…

    • Boioioioi on 14/04/2023 - 08:01

      They look like plastic bags, just like the ones they replaced the bag for good with :/

    • Sammy2000 on 14/04/2023 - 08:28

      The shapes on the middle one look phallic.

  • deafspot on 14/04/2023 - 06:42
    +2

    Check out best for less. Their $1.20 purple bags are very similar to woolies' - just purple.

  • iamherenow on 14/04/2023 - 07:05
    +2

    The $1 purple/blue ones from aldi. strong and last.

  • ihbh on 14/04/2023 - 08:26
    +4

    I use cotton, canvas bags - I got them for free from various people, places (e.g. Marketplace). After a few uses I throw them in the washing machine. Will also biodeg quicker when they rip and I need to dispose.

    • Russ on 16/04/2023 - 22:21

      I'm a bit rougher with bags, so canvas (of the thickness that tents are made from) would be ideal, if I can find some.

      Too many of the things described as "canvas" are just cotton, not even as strong as the cloth in denim jeans. That's why I'm wary of eBay and Amazon claims, I'd like to inspect before I buy.

      I'm going to inspect the jute bags sold by Coles and Woolies this week, but I may have to add my own rigid bottom, perhaps made of 6mm plywood.

  • techno2000 on 14/04/2023 - 09:08

    The green bags from Reject Shop are great. $1

  • RotundPolarBear on 14/04/2023 - 10:47
    +1

    Coles jute bags.

    • Russ on 16/04/2023 - 22:21

      Thanks! I'm going to inspect the jute bags sold by Coles and Woolies this week, but I may have to add my own rigid bottom, perhaps made of 6mm plywood.

  • deme on 14/04/2023 - 12:53

    I'm not impressed with the replacement bags that Woolies offer.

    https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/report-a-consume…

  • johninmelb on 14/04/2023 - 14:16
    +4

    The best bags Coles and Woolies ever did were the jute bags years ago. I reckon they will last forever. Regret that I didn't buy more of them as I only have two.

    Edit

    https://www.google.com/search?q=jute+shopping+bags&rlz=1C1CH…

    • [Deactivated] on 14/04/2023 - 15:42
      +7

      They're still available

      • johninmelb on 14/04/2023 - 18:13

        Thank you. I hadn't seen them at my local Woolies. I will go to the bigger store in the next suburb when I am passing that way.

    • Russ on 16/04/2023 - 22:22

      Thanks! I'm going to inspect the jute bags sold by Coles and Woolies this week, but I may have to add my own rigid bottom, perhaps made of 6mm plywood.

  • mrdean on 14/04/2023 - 16:12
    +1

    I have a few cotton shopper bags & totes from blessed earth which I use for all shopping.

    https://blessedearth.com.au/collections/organic-cotton-bags

    Have used them for years, am yet to discard any, but then again I do try to treat them well.

    • Russ on 16/04/2023 - 22:28

      I like cotton, but I'd prefer it as canvas of the thickness used to make tents.

      Blessedearth are a bit too far away for me to go and inspect the bags, but thanks anyway!

      I'm going to check out the Coles and Woolies jute bags that others have suggested.

      • mrdean on 17/04/2023 - 07:30
        +1

        One Planet make a tote from reclaimed or leftover materials in their workshop: https://oneplanet.au/product/shopping-bag/

        I have one, but have never used it. It is very rigid. I like using the cotton ones which can fold down to practically nothing, keeping them in my daypack & using when needed whilst shopping.

        I'd also be wary of leaving that one planet tote in the heat of a car, but no problems with the cotton ones.

        I suppose it would also depend on how you shop. I tend to get bits & pieces here & there, I don't do all my shopping at the one time.

        The jute ones may be best for your needs. I also have one of the jute ones from blessedearth, but like the one planet have never used it for shopping.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/04/2023 - 16:17
    +3

    You won't get much longevity out of any natural fibre bags left out in the sun due to damage from UV rays. Most of the reusable bags are made out of polypropylene which also doesn't have good UV resistance.

    If you plan to keep leaving the bags on the back seat of your car then look for bags made from nylon or polyester which have excellent UV resistance.

    If you're able to store the bags in your car boot then consider the following shopping bags which should be available in-store so you can check them before purchase:

  • altomic on 15/04/2023 - 00:47
    +1

    use a box off the shelf

  • AsukaST on 22/04/2023 - 06:32
    +1

    I like the $1.50 IKEA bag.
    It's big, and it can handle heavy items, up to 25kg. It's very durable.
    https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/frakta-carrier-bag-large-blue-6…
    It's also easy to clean, just wipe it with water an multi purpose cleaner.

    Otherwise, I just ask a staff to give me a box.
    They are everywhere at ALDI or local markets, and sometimes at the front door of Coles.
    Box is great for car boot as items won't spill out like bags.
    And it's easy to recycle, just throw it into the yellow bin.

  • Russ on 23/04/2023 - 11:00
    +1

    Thanks everyone, I bought a "macro organics" jute bag for Woolworths, and I have been taking it to work with me, every day for the last week, as my work bag/lunch bag.

    It does appear to be strong enough, although now that I'm used to having bags with a rigid "floor", I found I wasn't happy with the non-rigid floor of the jute bag. So I took the plastic stiffener from one of my old "bag for good" bags, and put it into the jute bag. The plastic stiffener was slightly too wide, I had to trim it by about 8mm to make it fit, and now I'm happy with the bag.

    • Russ on 24/04/2023 - 00:12

      Edit: I've just heard that the Coles jute bags are supplied with a stiffener in the base, I'll check them out this week!

      • Russ on 26/04/2023 - 22:18
        +1

        Okay, I've bought a Coles jute bag, the one with leafy twigs stencilled on the sides.

        Comparisons:

        • The Coles bag has two "bagging loops" (to hold it upright and open at the self-service checkout), the Woolies bag has only one.

        • The Coles bag has black handles, the Woolies bag has natural-colour handles. So the Woolies bag will more easily show grime.

        • The bags are the same height, but looking from the top, the Coles bag is slightly more a long-thin rectangle, compared to the Woolies bag being slightly more squarish. The Woolies bag definitely has a little more room inside, it fits 2x3l milk AND 2x2l milk, if you wanted to buy 10l of milk. The Coles bag will fit 6l of milk, either as 2x3l or as 3x2l, and have some left-over space, but you can't fit another milk bottle into that space.

        • The stitching on the Woolies bag has noticeably wider spacing, so is more likely to catch on sharp corners and pull out.

        • The Coles bag does come with a plastic stiffener in the bottom, while the Woolies bag is just cloth at the bottom.

        • Coles say "30c from the sale of this bag will be donated to Clean Up Australia". Both bags were $3.00

        Although the Woolies bag is larger, I prefer the Coles bag. I think it will be more durable.

  • thangcuoi on 26/05/2023 - 18:17
    +1

    You're lucky to be offer alternative replacement. I tried to get my broken bags replaced tonight and the staff said no as they can only offer identical replacement.

    Lifetime warranty for the life of the product range.

    • Russ on 26/05/2023 - 23:50

      staff said no as they can only offer identical replacement

      Then as they promised a replacement, and they are breaking that contract, they are required to give you a full refund. You can then put that money towards better bags.

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