>  RH> > I'm not sure what NC Ruth meant about bagging counter.
> 
>  RH> I've never had a Costco close enough to use.
> 
> We were talking about Aldi in the same message--they're the ones 
with a
> counter just beyond the registers where you can stuff your 
purchases
> into a bag you've brought or a box you've grabbed from the bin at 
the
> store. At Costco the cashiers put your purchases back into the 
buggy
> after scanning them; it's then up to you if you want to take them 
out
> "as is" (most people do) or put them in an available box. We were 
at the
> Raleigh Costco the other day and did the former with our purchases.
> 

Here in CT they've taxed plastic bags out of existence, mostly.  The 
state started charging a dime on each one used, and stores just 
stopped using to avoid the headache. Grocery stores have switched to 
paper, only they charge the same as the tax - ten cents - for each 
one. Most folks bring reusables, but I've put everything back into 
the buggy and taken it out that way at least once.