Charging for carry bags against consumerism: Commission

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 20

Charging for paper carry bags is totally against consumerism, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission observed while dismissing an appeal filed by the Lifestyle store against the orders of the District Consumer Redressal Forum to provide free carry bags to all customers forthwith and to pay Rs 13,000 as compensation and costs to complainant Pankaj Chandgothia and the Consumer Legal Aid Account.

The Lifestyle store had filed an appeal challenging the order passed in a complaint filed by Chandgothia alleging unfair trade practice on the part of retailers in charging for shopping carry bags from customers.

Chandgothia contended that Lifestyle and other shops like it were obliged to provide carry bags free of cost to carry the purchased items to their customers as the latter could not be expected to carry the items in their hands.

Lifestyle has several stores across the country and, in the above manner, made a lot of money; thus, the act of the opposite party of forcing gullible consumers to pay additionally for paper bags surely amounts to deficiency in service and its indulgence in unfair trade practice.

 The order, issued by Rajesh K Arya, member, reads: “Since the mandate for retailers to charge for plastic carry bags has been omitted in March 2018, its contention that it can charge for paper carry bags is totally against law and has no legs to stand on.”

The order further states: “With all concern, we must say that charging for paper carry bags is totally against consumerism. A person who buys some articles/products from the shop like the appellant/opposite party is expected to be provided with free carry bags to carry those articles up to his car or destination or he/she should be allowed to bring his/her own carry bag inside the shop premises.”

  “The carry bags, which are sold by the appellant, bear its logo on both sides and the customer who is buying the same is, in fact, publicising the brand of the appellant and thereby becomes a brand ambassador. On the other hand, charging for the said paper carry bag by the appellant amounts to unfair trade practice,” observed the forum.