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Sainsburys going bag free

331 replies

Graphista · 24/09/2019 14:34

Just received email from Sainsburys saying they're going bagless with deliveries.

I GET that this is supposed to be a "good thing" for the environment (though quite honestly I notice they're doing fuck all about individual packaging which I suspect would make a bigger difference!) BUT for me this HUGELY problematic.

I have OCD and so for me my groceries being in bags just feels a lot more hygienic. Than scrabbling about loose in crates that from what I can see are rarely cleaned!

In addition I live in the west of Scotland - it rains here pretty much most of the time! Already when it's wet weather the grocery bags are sometimes soaked but at least the individual products are dry!

I'm also physically disabled which means I already have to take 2-3 hours to "prep" to receive delivery of groceries (stretching exercises, bath, time for painkillers to kick in).

And there's more...

My flat is TINY the kitchen particularly so! It's a HALF galley so only one person can fit in there at a time (and even that's at a push! Dd and I have had to learn how to move in this kitchen so we don't constantly bump ourselves on cupboard edges etc).

With my disability I can just about manage carrying 2 carrier bags into kitchen at a time and placing on the floor when delivery comes. Drivers already get impatient with me!

I have sod all counter space (0.75m X 0.75m) to place items on, a few are normally placed on the cooker too but because of the hob shape only certain items fit. The ocd means I cannot put stuff on the floor absolutely NO WAY I could do that!

Fridge stuff takes careful management as small fridge and to fit everything in on fridge day is like setting up a Jenga game without a box!

IF I were to insist driver simply had to wait while I put everything away properly, well that normally takes me 60/90 mins!!

I have NOWHERE I can store crates (even collapsed) or bags for life

What the hell am I supposed to do?!

This is causing me GREAT anxiety so PLEASE be mindful of that in replies I would appreciate that.

OP posts:
tootiredtospeak · 24/09/2019 14:38

It all seems very stressful for you. Do you have a carer could this be one of their tasks or could they go out and do a shop for you then they could bring it back in bags. It is standard BTW Tesco already do it that said if you emailed the company under the circumstances they may make an exception.

MarshaBradyo · 24/09/2019 14:39

Do you have any other supermarket options that deliver?

Meandyouandyouandme · 24/09/2019 14:44

How much do you spend? Only asking, because if you have a delivery pass you could get two smaller deliveries at £40 each rather than one at £80, obviously you may only get one at £40 so this maybe completely useless!

Csleeptime · 24/09/2019 14:48

Switch supermarkets, or would you let them into your flat and then you can unload straight onto your worktops without going backwards and forwards

Metriti · 24/09/2019 14:49

I know you said you had nowhere to keep lots of bags for life. But could you put some large IKEA bags hanging up in a cupboard of similar? Get them to decant the food into the IKEA bags then you can do the bag to fridge/cupboard when they've gone. I have mine wedged in next to my coats!

vjg13 · 24/09/2019 14:54

I had the same email. I always reuse the bags or give them back to the driver. I think it will put me off future Sainsbury's deliveries. It sounds too much like hard work, unpacking the boxes at the door!

theemmadilemma · 24/09/2019 14:55

A bag for life or even a couple take up no room at all. You always fold them back down and they're barely a 1cm thick, they tuck away anywhere. You could put a hook on the back of the front door to hang them on ready to put the shopping straight into and then once all done carry them through.

I have to large dogs and this is what I do at the front door.

ShirleyPhallus · 24/09/2019 14:57

I think there are delivery services that would be able to assist you with this. Alternatively, can you keep some large IKEA bags that the driver could help you decant the groceries in to?

It seems very stressful for you but a very positive step forward as so much plastic is wasted

SoupDragon · 24/09/2019 14:59

If you have nowhere to store bags for life, where do you store the bags from the delivery?

I've only once had a bagless delivery and I lined up my bags in the hall and the driver and I unloaded the crates into them.

This doesn't solve your issues with dirty crates of course.

MrsMump · 24/09/2019 15:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

winterwardrobe · 24/09/2019 15:07

Can your DD take the delivery. You do have somewhere to store bags for life, they fold down to nothing, will slide down the side of an appliance or something similar. Asda and Tesco are already bagless here.

Give it a go, I'm sure it won't be as bad as you're imagining

ProhibitedRodent · 24/09/2019 15:07

Sounds like you need to move house! Surely the council could help...if your kitchen is that small for you both then you must be overcrowded?

hedgehoglurker · 24/09/2019 15:08

I decant at the door into a hard plastic laundry basket - do you already have something like this that you can use?
Also, perhaps use a cloth with antibacterial spray to wipe things off before putting away.

Itsallpetetong · 24/09/2019 15:24

Have a sheet down on the floor, put the shopping on that then put it away at your leisure and then wash the sheet? I stick mine on the floor but we don’t wear shoes in the house so I’m not bothered by it being on the floor, it must be a worry for you.

They definitely won’t wait 60/90 mins for you to put your shopping away, they have about 5 mins per drop off.

Graphista · 24/09/2019 15:28

"It all seems very stressful for you." IT IS! Thanks for acknowledging that I'm actually near in tears over this! I'm housebound and RELY on deliveries!

"Do you have a carer could this be one of their tasks" don't have a carer (I wish! Currently have zero support at all due to local Nhs cock ups!) but actually even if I did it would STILL be a palava as I have very specific ways I put my shopping away. Partly due to the ocd but partly because the limited space I have means I HAVE to in order to fit everything in!

"Do you have any other supermarket options that deliver?" Where I live only a few deliver, Tesco Asda and Sainsburys. I tried Tesco and Asda and had LOADS of issues with ridiculous and numerous subs, double charges etc (I'm on a tight budget I cannot manage double charges and having to wait up to 3 weeks for it to be refunded!)

"How much do you spend?" 2 deliveries not an option, I find it hard enough managing one! It's an exhausting day for me and leaves me buggered for next few days.

"or would you let them into your flat and then you can unload straight onto your worktops" already pointed out CANNOT unload straight onto worktops as only have ONE sized 0.75m X 0.75m - not even one crate worth would fit on it!

"I know you said you had nowhere to keep lots of bags for life" I really don't! If you're stood at the cooker if you step back rather than side ways you bump into the cupboards and knock the toaster and kettle on the HALF width counter there that the toaster and kettle BARELY fit onto! If I were to hang bags onto cupboards/door handles they would cause trips and accidents (in the kitchen while handling hot pans and sharp knives!) I TRIED having one of those bag storage things for the carrier bags but not matter where I put it, it caused problems.

DEFINITELY no room for ikea bags! Not even collapsed!

Ocd means I am limited in where I can store bags and quite honestly once they've been folded I don't trust them any more, because I don't know if the bit that has been on the floor has touched a "clean" bit.

"If you have nowhere to store bags for life, where do you store the bags from the delivery?" I re-use them as bin bags for my small bins so they are stored on the floor under a cupboard next to the kitchen bin. I could NOT store other bags here and re-use them for new clean groceries (I'm also now going to have to buy bin bags for the small bins so arguably not really using less plastic AND I'd only be using these ONCE)

"Could you get the delivery for when your dd is home so she can help?" She is also disabled and struggles with lifting heavy items and bending and stretching. She also works shifts and these often are changed last minute and so could not plan around her.

"will slide down the side of an appliance or something similar"
With the OCD these areas to me are "dirty" I would not use bags stored there EVER again for "clean" jobs.

"Sounds like you need to move house! Surely the council could help...if your kitchen is that small for you both then you must be overcrowded?" I'm already in social housing, ALL the kitchens are this size in 2 bed properties here. DEFINITELY designed by a bloody man!!

"I decant at the door into a hard plastic laundry basket - do you already have something like this that you can use?"

I have a VERY small plastic crate I use for laundry that I would NOT use for anything else, it is stored on a very specific clean place outside the kitchen. It would not hold more than half a crates worth anyway and I usually get 4 crates worth delivered.

"Also, perhaps use a cloth with antibacterial spray to wipe things off before putting away." I already go through around a dozen cans of disinfectant a week. This is not cheap and only works so far in making me feel things are "clean".

"Have a sheet down on the floor, put the shopping on that then put it away at your leisure and then wash the sheet?" Even if I used a new sheet each time I wouldn't touch those groceries again. It just doesn't feel enough of a barrier between groceries and floor. I only ever put dirty things on the floor.

Quite honestly I'm seriously pissed off! I understand the need to stop using plastic BUT why can they not move to biodegradable cellulose bags or paper ones?!

OP posts:
Graphista · 24/09/2019 15:31

As it stands looking like I will have to COMPLETELY reorganise my bedroom to fit OPEN crates I buy or bags for life in (empty they'll just be taking up space or even if I store stuff in them I shall have to empty them every week to free them up JUST to sort the shopping!!

OP posts:
PatricksRum · 24/09/2019 15:36

Totally agree OP.

Have you tried Morisson's or Ocado?

Graphista · 24/09/2019 15:38

Patrick they don't deliver to my postcode!

OP posts:
HairyFloppins · 24/09/2019 15:40

I swapped from Tesco to Sainsbury because of the bag thing. I am disabled and really struggle otherwise.

I know why they are doing and I get that. I wish there was an option for paper bag or giving them back I would happily do that. I'm not sure where to go from here.

Do Morrisons still deliver with bags does anyone know?

Graphista · 24/09/2019 15:41

It's a complete pita! Plus are they still offering bags to in store shoppers? Because if so I'm even more pissed off!!

OP posts:
paddlingwhenIshouldbeworking · 24/09/2019 15:44

It probably won't be long before all supermarkets will do the same so I would start thinking about some of the long term solutions.

Keeping a few bags and loading into those to unpack at leisure might be easiest. Our bags for life have a peg of their own so they don't take up any drawer or floor space.

MsYamada · 24/09/2019 15:45

How about a roll of medium bin liners. You could decant shopping into them then use them as bin bags after.

IncrediblySadToo · 24/09/2019 15:45

I’m really sorry you are struggling so much with this 🌷

I shop with Tesco, when they sent the letter out I wasn’t really bothered about it, but I’ve had 3 deliveries since then and I HATE it

My kitchen is bigger than yours, but it’s still small. They deliver to the back door, which is into the kitchen, but they don’t want to stand in the kitchen while I unload, they want to go back to the van to get other crates. Then you have 101 loose items rolling around in crates (which I agree are less than clean)

I wish there was another option. Apparently Tesco did a trial run with large paper bags but there was too much of an issue with them splitting AND environmentally they’re not much better.

I agree about reusing the supermarket bags and now having to buy bags for bins etc - it’s madness.

Does anyone know what was wrong with the biodegradable Tesco bags or what would be wrong with the Waitrose compost able bags (but bigger of course!!) ???

I know it wouldn’t solve your issue, but I’d be happy with it being delivered in bags for life that you can hand back

I feel really sorry for you though. I’m pretty fussy about where things go (not in the floor!) and don’t have much space but you’re in a much worse situation and are disabled. I hope you can get some support (in general) and can work something out with your shopping. (Ocado are still currently delivering in bags and have a free delivery trial in my area)

HugTrees · 24/09/2019 15:46

Tesco’s have already moved to bagels deliveries. I liked their veg coming in the paper bags

AgeLikeWine · 24/09/2019 15:49

It’s corporate virtue signalling.

If supermarkets were serious about environmentalism they would be seriously tackling waste, single-use plastic packaging and air- freighted produce. They have no intention of doing so, but they still want to be seen to be doing something.