‘I just worked for free and now I have to pay for a bag?’: NYC woman shops at Zara—she didn’t expect to end up ‘working’ a shift
A New York City woman calls out Zara after going through self-checkout, lamenting that she had to pay for a shopping bag. Many shoppers agree with her in the comments of the now-viral video.
TikToker Jade (@becoming_jade_) stands outside of Zara after purchasing several items of clothing from the popular retailer. She holds up a large brown paper bag with Zara’s logo.
“The audacity of clothing stores that make you check yourself out. I’m scanning s—, taking security tags off. I’m doing everything,” she says in the video with over 286,000 views and 28,000 likes.
Jade continues, “Then they have the audacity to be like, ‘Do you want to pay for this bag?’ I was just clocked in at work! I just worked for free!”
The caption reads, “Let me be a major Karen for a second.”
Why did Zara charge for a bag at self-checkout?
In an email to The Mary Sue, Jade questions the shift towards self-checkout and bag fees at clothing retailers.
“More and more responsibility is being placed on the customer, but the pricing structure doesn’t really reflect that. We’re doing more work and paying more fees in the process,” she writes.
While many shoppers complain about having to pay for the bags that they pack themselves, retailers may be forced to charge for single-use bags to comply with local regulations.
In New York City, where Jade shopped, there’s an outright ban on plastic bags and a mandatory 5-cent fee for paper bags.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the 2020 rule aims to encourage shoppers to bring their own bags to avoid using precious resources and to reduce single-use waste.
Do viewers agree with the TikToker’s point?
In the comments, other shoppers agree that they find it off-putting to be asked to bag their own clothing and remove security tags.
“We’re basically fully employed trying to check out,” one says. Jade replies, “Like girllll, where’s my employee badge?”
“Why do people shop at stores that treat them this way? I really don’t see the appeal. Both Zara and Aritzia are so basic. You can get that sh-t anywhere,” a second questions.
“At this point I should be able to get that staff discount for reallll,” another jokes.
Others say they simply don’t pay for the bags at self-checkout, since workers don’t monitor the register.
“I never pay for the bag. Sometimes I just walk in Zara and get a bag if I need it for something. Nobody bothers to tell me something. I always go to the same store, all the staff knows me. I’m there every other day because I live next to it,” a commenter admits.
“I ALWAYS take a complimentary free bag at self check out,” another viewer says.
However, some say their local Zara stores have caught on.
A viewer writes, “My zara now has the MANAGER at the self checkout checking receipts and handing out bags to those who paid for one. Like is this 25 cent bag coming out of your check?”
Jade tells The Mary Sue that “the comments on it really drove [the point] home” for her.
“A lot of people immediately agreed and expressed similar frustration with this new customer experience we are seeing. I don’t agree that removing customer service while adding more fees should become the new standard in this industry,” she says. “Small moments, like having to check yourself out or paying for a paper bag (government-mandated or not), feel very symbolic of that shift.”
@becoming_jade_ let me be a major Karen for a second #trans #queertiktok #shoppingspree ♬ original sound – becoming_jade
The Mary Sue reached out to Zara via email for further comment.
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