Since the first time the green bag was introduced at SM’s supermarket (hypermarket), we have been looking forward to have it. The initial reason was shallow. We just thought that owning one will be egoistically rewarding because it’s something new. After checking out the requirement to acquiring the “environment friendly” bag, we realized that we have to force ourselves on buying these exclusively displayed uniliver products regardless of needing it or not. The purchase amount minimum for the uniliver product was not that high, maybe about 1/5 (20%) of our weekly grocery budget. However, I can’t seem to intertwine their product offerings with what we need or want in our routines. So there we are, looking at the promo every week for the next 4-5 weeks when their stocks became unavailable.
it passed as if we never really wanted to have a green bag anyway. however, just this weekend, SM had another promo concerning the green bag. get at least 500 pesos worth of yellow tag items using a citibank credit card and you get a free greenbag. So this brought back the feeling that owning a green bag was indeed our destiny. So i personally picked yellow tagged products, spent a little time on the yellow-tag area and hola, got all the pre-packed bulk offerings of goods and reaching the amount was a snap.
I was so excited and without delay headed towards the “other credit cards counter” to get the receipt for my purchase. after which, i rolled my cart containing my grocery stuff and claimed our long time wish to own the green bag. I presented the receipt to the promo lady pointing out my more than 500 yellow tag items and noting the use of the citibank card. then she said, “you should have an SM Advantage Card“… then my world collapsed! The advantage card was never mentioned on online (citibanks) notices (none that i know of). If it was mentioned, you just need the number which i have but failed to bring the card.
that green bag is for sale for P35.00 and here I am, trying to be stupid just to get 1 (one) free bag and buying all these junk stuff just to save the world by having a reusable container. I cannot believe that if I have that one free green bag, SM would save at least 2 plastic bags per week, and it seems that the technicalities made everything defy that same goal. Well, what is 2 plastic bags a week compared to their income anyway.
So I resolved that starting that day, I’d rather have my 2 plastic bags plus about 5 more that could not be accomodated by my “Dream (green) bag” every week and use this as alternative garbage bag. Maybe, channeling everything through greenpeace is a lot easier through their auto-debit scheme.