People spotted carrying supermarket basket out of store: Is it to avoid paying for plastic bags?
A man was spotted at Westgate shopping mall on Sept 22 using a FairPrice basket trolley to carry his personal belongings.
This is the latest in a string of incidents suggesting a resurgence of shoppers taking supermarket property for their own use.
Stomper Anonymous, who shared the sighting, said: "I was surprised to see a man wheeling around a FairPrice basket trolley for his own things. The nearest one is actually at Jem, the mall next door."
This is not the first such incident.
On Sept 13, Stomper Zainal also saw a woman leaving Jurong Point with a FairPrice Xtra basket.
"I was curious why more people are bringing supermarket property home when the items don't belong to them," he said. "It seems like more people dare to do it just because they don't want to pay for a plastic bag."
The issue sparked online discussion after Stomper Thia shared an earlier incident of a man carrying a Giant supermarket basket in Jurong West, which was posted on Stomp's Facebook and Instagram.
Some netizens gave him the benefit of the doubt: "He will return it after loading the items at home."
Another wrote: "Perhaps he has already received permission from the store and will be back in X minutes. Why are there so many heated messages taken out of context?"
Others responded more neutrally, with one remarking: "Wait till you see the whole grocery cart being pushed home!"
But many were quick to criticise such actions.
"Basket! How can he do that!" exclaimed one, while another said: "Low-class people will always behave in a low-class manner."
Is it a coincidence all three incidents took place in the Jurong area?
When approached by Stomp, shoppers also shared mixed views.
Cindy, 54, said: "It's very inconsiderate. There's no reason to bring baskets out of the store, and it just makes life harder for workers."
Some younger shoppers suggested convenience could be a factor.
Henderson, 19, a polytechnic student, said: "Some people don't see an issue with it. They find it easier to carry things and don't think about how other shoppers won't have enough baskets."
Others raised concerns about the impact on supermarkets.
Jo, 26, said: "If shoppers keep taking baskets, supermarkets have to keep replacing them, which adds unnecessary cost. It also looks bad when these posts go viral online."
The problem is not new. FairPrice previously revealed in 2020 that a typical store loses around 50 baskets every month, showing that while the behaviour is not widespread, it is persistent.
These repeated incidents show that supermarket baskets being taken outside stores are not isolated cases, and netizens remain divided on whether it's harmless convenience or outright inconsiderate behaviour.
Stomp has reached out to FairPrice and Giant for comment.
