Mother’s Day Gift Idea - Joey Totes review and giveaway
Written by valmg on May 2, 2009 – 9:18 pm
Under typical circumstances I go to the grocery store once a week and I always end up with a full cart. I’ve never tried the reusable bags before, I’ve always used plastic bags and reused those at home when possible. At $0.99 - $1.99 or more per bag the cost to get enough reusable bags to hold my typical order wouldn’t be cheap. And then there’s the actual bags. They’re bulky and they’d need a place to be stored and I’d have to remember them when I went shopping. So yeah. It wasn’t until this review that I used a reusable bag.
From the website -
“This is how Joey Totes started: I am sure you have seen those $.99 reusable bags being sold in the grocery. We had many ourselves, but we were constantly leaving them behind as we walked out the door. Chris commented that we needed something that could stash in my purse or that he could easily hold in one hand. The more we thought through the problem, the more things we realized what we needed our bags to do:
- We needed more than one or two bags to carry our stuff, otherwise we went home with more plastic bags.
- We needed a large bag that we could carry on our shoulder and one or two small bags that we could hand carry
- We needed the set of bags to easily stow into one small unit
- I wanted the bags to be washable
- I wanted bags that I wouldn’t feel awkward using in the mall as well as in the grocery
- And we definitely wanted a bag that would last!
Chris and Kate
I received a Joey Totes set for this review - one large and two small totes. The totes are called Joeys and feature the company’s kangaroo emblem. The totes are made of a material called ripstop nylon, a material used for things including weatherproof clothing, hot air balloons and parachutes. It’s deceiving material - it’s thin but it’s really strong. Each of the reusable bags is reinforced with double-folded handles that are strong enough to carry 40 lbs. and will last for years.
I had to make a quick trip to the grocery store. That means I wasn’t buying everything, just some essentials and things for my post-surgical diet. I decided to bring one of the Joey Totes and put it through it’s paces. I bought a little more than I went to the store for, something not previously unheard of around here. Now I always bag my own things because I like it a certain way (cold with cold, etc). For this trip I decided to bag half of my order in plastic and the other half in the Joey tote.
Here’s the half of the order, bagged in plastic. There were six full plastic bags.
Let me give you a better look at what was in those six bags. It consists of a bottle of juice, six cans, some boxes and some lighter items.
FYI - One of the things I hate the most about plastic bags is that I can’t always get them separated on the holder and then they won’t open. Leaving a wasted unused plastic bag. I end up with at least one or two of these each shopping trip. This week it was one.
FYI - The other thing I hate about plastic bags is that they always seem to get holes or rip.
After unbagging the six bags I discovered that four of them couldnt’ be reused due to holes and tears. What a waste.
Here’s the other half of the order. It’s in one large Joey Tote.
Look at what I had in there. The bag was surprisingly strong. I didn’t feel like the bottom of the bag was ripping and all of my items would fall out. That one bag held a five pound bag of potatoes, four bottles of water, some cans, some jars of baby food, some cold stuff and a big box of Ice Pops. And just so you know, there was still plenty of room for more.
Here’s the tote after I emptied it. There’s no waste, making them environmentally and individually responsible. If I shop with just Joey Totes I would save appoximately ten bags a week, which is more than five hundred bags in one year! Another note of interest about Joey Totes. Unlike a plastic or paper bag that you’d need to throw away if something leaks, you can just toss the tote into the washing machine and wash it on gentle if something you’ve bought leaks. How practical!
Here’s a picture of the tote in the pouch. The pouch is sewn into the inside seam so all you have to do is pull it into the pouch. It fits in there easily, with no effort. The totes are versatile, in that you can fit from one to as many as four of them in one pouch. Once in the pouch they take up such little room that they could be put into my purse to be used the next time, making them unforgettable.
After shopping with one Joey Tote I was sold. It’s small enough I can keep it in my purse and use it anywhere. If you shop at a store like Aldi’s or pick up food from Angel Food Ministries then you can see the value of these bags immediately. These could be used for other things as well, like holding flea market or garage sale finds. They’d also be great to take along when traveling. I really like these. I think they’d make a terrific Mother’s Day gift as well as a great housewarming gift.
SPECIAL SAVINGS
For those of you that have the urge to shop right now, the folks at Joey Totes are graciously offering my readers a 10% discount on all purchases made through the end of May. Use code valsviews (case sensitive) when checking out.
GIVEAWAY
The winner will receive a new set (1 big and 2 small) of Joey Totes, value $20.
HOW TO ENTER
Leave a comment on this post telling me what you currently use when you go grocery shopping - paper, plastic or reusable.
BONUS ENTRIES
1 - Subscribe to my RSS feed.
1 - Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name.
1 - Tweet about this giveaway.
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1 - Blog about this giveaway, including a link here.
1 - Place my button on your blog.
1 - Visit HereAndThere.US (my Mom) and leave a comment on any post (except a giveaway post) there. Then return here and leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you read or learned on my Mom’s blog. (That’s two comments you need to leave for this bonus entry, one there and one here.) Unlimited entries for this method of entry.
Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.
THE SMALL PRINT
US addresses only please. This contest will end Saturday 05/09/09 at 11:59 pm est. Only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner will be selected randomly. The winner must contact me within 2 days to confirm they wish to receive the prize. Good luck to everyone!
THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED.
Karen Sugarpants
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Too bad it’s for US only (I’m Canadian) - I stumbled anyway out of the goodness of my heart. These bags look great!
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Marissa
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I try to use reusable bags when I grocery shop, but I only have two of them, so the rest of the food goes into plastic bags. I sure would love to try these Joey Totes!
Karen
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:40 am
I use reusable bags, but they aren’t the kind that fold up like that — great idea!
Peggy Gorman
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:48 am
I use the reuseable bags from the store. These Joey bags are fabulous and I love when I can put more than 5 items in a bag
Thanks
matternu@aol.com
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Peggy Gorman
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:49 am
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May 3rd, 2009 at 9:50 am
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CMC
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I bring reusable bags for grocery shopping!
CMC
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I’m a subscriber!
Danielle
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:58 pm
At the grocery store I usually use both paper and plastic bags because it is the most secure way to carry my groceries.
Alice
May 4th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
At the store, I try really hard to use reusables, but often I forget them and then I use plastic.
Alices last blog post..My Little Fashionista
Jill
May 4th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I use some paper bags yet, but most of the time reusable bags
dreamer
May 4th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I use reusable bags, but on BIG shopping trips I run out of those and get paper because our community only picks up paper recyclables in paper bags.
judy brittle
May 4th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
We currently use the cloth bags with the Meijer logo. No where near as nice as these. Thank you!
judy brittle
May 4th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I’m a subscriber.
judy brittle
May 4th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I follow on Twitter
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judy brittle
May 4th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/kewpiedoll04/status/1699438992
Denise
May 4th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
We currently use paper bags, and sometimes plastic. I’d like to be less dependent on plastic bags, though, and this looks perfect.
Denise
May 4th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I subscribe
Susan @ 2KoP
May 4th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I’m trying to use totes, but most of the time I forget. The Roots and Shoots club at our elementary school made 465 reusable bags out of old t-shirts and sent one home for every child in the school. It was a cool project, an now I keep that bag in my car for trips to the drug store or any single-bag stop.
These joey bags look very cool. I’d love to have some, so thanks for the opportunity to win.
Susan @ 2KoPs last blog post..Fun With Google
Beth
May 4th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
I try to use reusable bags but I often forget them and have to use the plastic ones at the store. The Joey totes would be handy since they fold up easily. Thanks.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
LaVonne
May 5th, 2009 at 11:46 am
I am using reusable store bags right now. If I forget them I just use plastic and recycle them.
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CandG~Jill W
May 5th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
I use reusable bags. I keep them in the car so I won’t forget them…but sometimes end up taking the other car, so this would be great to have so I could keep them in the other car all the time! plus they look like much better quality than my current ones (freebies), thanks!
CandG~Jill W
May 5th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
You are faved in my technorati-I’m idahojill
thanks
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CandG~Jill W
May 5th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
I follow you on twitter-idahojill
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CandG~Jill W
May 5th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
You are faved in my technorati-idahojill
thanks
CandG~Jill W
May 5th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I follow you on twitter-I’m idahojill
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CandG~Jill W
May 5th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I follow you on twitter - I’m idahojill
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CandG~Jill W
May 5th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
2 comments are showing up, one isn’t-sorry if these are duplicates…
I follow you on twitter-I’m idahojill
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CandG~Jill W
May 5th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
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Katrina
May 5th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
right now i am using plastic so I could really use these
oona b
May 5th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I always use cloth bags. I keep them on my driver’s seat so I won’t forget them!
Thanks! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
Regina D
May 5th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
i use reusable bags. my problem with them is my sister overloads them and they break.
Sue
May 5th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I have a couple of reusable bags that I always use, just not enough of them for all of the groceries of a family of six.
smickelson1993(at)yahoo(dot)com
tami
May 5th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
i have cloth bags i take with me but sometimes i forget and use their plastic.
Sabrita
May 5th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
I always use reuseable bags. I keep a supply of them in my car trunk. This Joey tote giveaway is so great. Thank you!
sabrita@juno.com
Selene M.
May 6th, 2009 at 5:27 am
I use reusable as much as I can.
Selene M.
May 6th, 2009 at 5:29 am
I’m a subscriber.
Amber L.
May 7th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I use reusable bags that you buy at the grocery store. They are so bulky though. These look much better.
appetizerforacraftymind(at)yahoo(dot)com
Amber L.
May 7th, 2009 at 11:11 am
I subscribe through email
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sito
May 7th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I use a combination of reusable bags and paper bags that I reuse till they’re totally useless. I don’t have enough reusable bags and am always on the lookout for more.
sito
May 7th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Twitter follower, sito50
sito
May 7th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
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Nicole
May 7th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
I try to remember to bring recyclabe bags, but usually forget and end up using plastic.
rajee
May 8th, 2009 at 9:27 am
I use some paper bags yet, but most of the time reusable bags
rajee
May 8th, 2009 at 9:28 am
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Gina Stratos
May 8th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Depends on the store. Big trips usually involve plastic bags. I bring reusable bags for small trips and to the market.
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Gina Stratos
May 8th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
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Gina Stratos
May 8th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
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Lauren S
May 9th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I use plastic mostly…but I need to get out of this groove!
Jennifer B
May 9th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I usually buy the store’s reusable bags because I carry my groceries in then forget to put back in car or purse
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lee
May 9th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Most of the time I use plastic as not many supermarkets even have paperbags.
Lisa C
May 9th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Right now I’m using paper bags.