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I ask for neither, they just give me plastic b/c it's cheaper for them.

I don't particularly care which, but the plastic ones make great wastebasket liners.

Of course, the paper bags are far better for making funny masks -- anyone remember the "unknown comic" of Gong Show fame?

I don't ask for plastic, it's just the norm where I shop. One person mentioned Trader Joe's. We don't have them on the east coast. They are in the west only. When we do occasional shopping at our closest military base, (my husband's a retired marine) the baggers will always give you paper unless you specifically say plastic. I hate this because we have an hour drive home and plastic doesn't take up as much space, so we really have to let them know fast, or we'll be stuck with those darn paper bags with no handles.

Both. The plastic used in my supermarket is made from recycled materials and is good for softer items. Paper helps the bags to stand up in the back of the car.

Neither. They assume if I don't ask for either that I want plastic. This is fine with me...I reuse the plastic bags for various purposes--wrapping up poopy diapers before throwing them in the trash, carrying towels, keys, etc. to the pool, carrying my lunch to work, etc. I don't like paper bags because they're hard to carry. I can carry only two at a time unlike with plastic, I can load my arms up on the handles until they're about to snap off (my arms, that is!) and make only two trips in from the car. Plus, paper is bulky to store.

The supermarkets here in Canada only offer plastic.

I bring my own bags.

Most of our Supermarkets sell bags now to put the groceries in, but don't really push them

They still use plastic.

One has introduced biodegradable plastic bags

I like plastic because of the handles on them..You can carry more into the house that way..Paper is just too annoying..I don't have patience for it

I ask for plastic, then use them at home for lining my smaller trash cans (in the bathroom, etc) instead of buying liners. If I get too many, I'll bring them back to the store for my re-bagging my groceries.

They never ask, and always give me plastic. That works out fine for me, because I just reuse the bags for the small trash cans in my house. Reusing is even better than recycling.

Plastic. I "recycle" them 1,000 ways. I use them to line small wastebaskets. i carry odd items around in them. I use them to pick up trash during small clean-ups. I save them for my kids' camping trips, etc., etc.

I heard roaches or other bugs can live in the creases of paper bags. Yuck! Don't want to bring that home from the supoermarket!!