How hard is it to say "I don't need a bag for that"? I do so nearly every time I shop. I have been carrying how my groceries and other things in a Timbuk2 bag since the 90s, long before it was "green" to do so. If they put an item in a bag, simply take it our and hand back the bag. No place to "stage" your groceries? Put you bag on the floor and load each individual item after it is rung up.