Taking deposits for delivered bulk/ log bags

[hawk eye]

Just looking at delivering bulk bags to customers next season instead of loose loads and wondered whether it would be best to either:

 

1. Drop the bag off on customers driveway and take no deposit (price bag into overall cost to customer)

2. Drop bag off and take (£5 approx) deposit for the bag

 

What are other people experiences and preferences?

[Andy Collins]

I think most of the ballast companies around here now have non-returnable bags for deliveries, so I'd probably recommend the same. I suspect they gave up trying to get their bags back some time ago!

[monkeybusiness]

I wondered if it was a LOLER issue with bulk bags - ie not worth getting them inspected so that's why they are now seen as disposable within the building industry. The same issues obviously apply to our industry too - if the bags are going to be lifted then LOLER applies. How's that for a can of worms...

[difflock]

If the bags costs say £6.50, charge £7.50 with £3.00/£4.00 payback (not sure how much) on return in good condition.

Be cheaper than buying more bags and might as well be seen as being "renewable" in their re-use.

Surely thats a Win-win?

Bugger Monkey business, well spotted:001_rolleyes:

, one could always re-use on ones site for static storage though therby always issuing fresh bags:001_tt2:

[windfall]

Personally I would include the bag price in the overall cost of the product, I started out trying to get deposits for the bag but dont bother now. I now just say "ill get the bag next time i deliver or if you are stacking them drop me a text when its empty and ill collect it when i am passing". I operate in a small catchment area though.

 

Most customers are keen to return the bag to me, specially as most now know they get a box of firelighters or net of kindling in return for the vented bag back.

[Pedroski]

I wondered if it was a LOLER issue with bulk bags - ie not worth getting them inspected so that's why they are now seen as disposable within the building industry. The same issues obviously apply to our industry too - if the bags are going to be lifted then LOLER applies. How's that for a can of worms...

 

I'm not sure if it's a LOLER issue with buiders merchants - I think the main issue is the fact that the bulk bags generally get ripped when ballast, sand etc, is being shovelled out of them, making them pretty worthless.

[Rob D]

If you're doing the fully vented log bags then take a £5-00 deposit. I've done this for 2 years - but I do know a shop the customer can then drop the bag off 9-5 to get their deposits back....

[windfall]

Good idea that rob

[Rob D]

The first 30 bags i dropped and asked people to drop back you can guess how many I got..... yep 0%!

 

Now it works out at 85% which is not bad and I expect a few of these will get changed over next year.

[rovers90]

"I wondered if it was a LOLER issue with bulk bags - ie not worth getting them inspected so that's why they are now seen as disposable within the building industry. The same issues obviously apply to our industry too - if the bags are going to be lifted then LOLER applies. How's that for a can of worms..."

 

Could well be an issue like this. I have just been given a load of small dumpy bags by a mate who does some work in his mates engineering business. They get metal products delivered in these bags, about 500x400x500 with top flaps, but the company they buy off will not accept them back as they say once used they cannot be safely reused. Even though they are the small ones they are still rated to carry 1000kgs but they are ideal for putting waste in when I am gardening and still be able to lift by myself in to the back of the pick up.