Sainsburys going bag free

[Graphista]

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.

Honestly sorry to be harsh but if you can see no solutions? And won't accept any solutions anyone else has offered?

(Can you store folded bags for life on a shelf anywhere else in the house you deem to be clean?)

If you can go to the shops and you have to have food delivered and I agree all shops will be going bag free - what are you going to do? Make some level of compromise with where you can store bags? Or go to the shops somehow? Or no more shopping? Are you having treatment for you OCD?

As an aside you can select an option to reject all substitutions.

Are you having treatment for your OCD? That seems to be the biggest issue of all.

When tesco went bagless I leave 3-4 bags for life near the front door, have the tesco man transfer the stuff from the crates into the bags at the door, then carry the bags for life through to the kitchen. I dont like people coming into my kitchen.

Not ideal, but what are you going to do.

I have just ordered from Sainsburys online, the bag option is still there atm.

Where do you store clean things? Store the bags there maybe? Or sit them flat on top of the washing machine?

Or as long as your DDs shifts are known to her a week/few days in advance then book the deliveries once you know her shifts?

There must be a solution to it

Given recent experiences, I thought Sainsburys were helping the environment by going stock free.

Get a roll of bin liners for your bin. Take them to the front door with you and put the groceries in them. Transfer to kitchen and put away at your own leisure (so you don't have to carry a few heavy bin bags at once). When you're finished you use the bags in your bin as you were going to do :-)

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

Not only couldn't stomach that, they wouldn't hold much and would be difficult to lift as the dimensions are all wrong!

At this point seriously considering asking dd to ask Tesco/morrisons (have stored locally even though morrisons don't deliver) if they'll sell me boxes of carrier bags! Bloody ridiculous! Or else maybe dd will need to buy me a load of bags for life which I will actually only use once and throw away! Will be expensive and INCREASE my plastic usage!

"but I’d be happy with it being delivered in bags for life that you can hand back" me too!

I've just looked on the app and bags for life not even available to buy!!! Wtaf! They really have NOT thought this through!!

"It’s corporate virtue signalling." Totally agree!!

QueenOfKale and Bouffalant - treatment for the OCD - for 13 years! Supposedly! And if anything I'm much worse than I was then as I am now housebound and actually barely leave my bedroom.

Whole other thread really, but currently receiving NO support from Cmht, been left in limbo on meds that aren't working for me but which I cannot stop unsupervised!

"Where do you store clean things?" Cupboards and drawers which are jam packed full already (well certainly when shopping is delivered) plus I would not want the part of the bag that's been on the floor anywhere near my clean places/items.

Top of washing machine already used for storage no space there.

"Or as long as your DDs shifts are known to her a week/few days in advance" nope! Often changed at as little as 12 hours notice.

OP I just read something on Twitter about disabled people being allowed bags still. If you fill in a form they will save some for you each week. Might be worth a look.

I am waiting for them to reply to me about this.

How about canvas bags that you could then wash if the cleanliness is an issue for you?

What about a 4 wheeled shopping bag to bring the groceries from the front door to the kitchen?

I stopped using Tesco for this reason and moved to Sainsbury's deliveries. I also received the email today, not happy at all.

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?!

Paper bags decompose faster but are worse for the environment to make. Cellulose bags are cost prohibitive. All supermarkets will eventually move to bag less; and there's rumours that a lot of stores will be getting less bags to reduce the number used by in store shoppers, too. It is unfortunate combined with a situation like yours, though.

I used to have a kitchen that sounds like yours, I'd keep a few bags for life in the living room cabinet to collect groceries into and then return the bags to the driver for a refund. Would that work for you, if the bags never left your house? Or would washable bags work? M&S sell some nice canvas ones that could be wiped down, or you could get cotton ones that can go in the wash.

I was going to suggest that you email them and tell them your problem. After all they keep boasting about being inclusive.
As for them reducing plastic I was absolutely shocked when I went in Sainsburys the other day, plastic absolutely everywhere.
School uniforms, all in plastic bags, other supermarkets just put it on the counter.
Good luck.

I really do think they would make an exception if you emailed them.and explained your situation. Email their complaints team.

Tesco have done it too and though I have no physical disability its causing me a lot of anxiety. I now only order when the dc are about to help.

I use Tesco which has been bagless for some time, but I appreciate I don't have your problems.

Storing bags: flatten them and put under the cushions on your sofa for storage!

Taking the delivery: I have a small table in the sitting room by my kitchen (which is almost, but not quite, as small as yours) My driver holds the crates while I unload onto the table and onto what counter space I have and the draining board, and yes, the top of the cooker. Or put some sheets of newspaper on the floor, or a sheet of plastic and let him put the crates down on those.

My kitchen has no space for a fridge, let alone a freezer, they are both in an outhouse, so my unloading also takes some time, organisation and prep. Yes sometimes a driver gets a bit shirty, but, hell. they are paid to do the job so ignore the sighs and eye rolls and bat on. The issues are partially their own fault when they trek back and forth to the van to carry in a crate with just three small items in it. If they packed them sensibly and used their trolley then their own life would be easier!

When they say 'bagless' they don't actually mean bagless all my frozen food comes in bags and so does any meat and, frequently, veg. The only difference is that they are basically carrier bags but with no handles!! A sop to being eco-friendly!

Try to calm down @Graphista worrying about it won't change anything and you are fuelling your OCD, which can't be pleasant. Take a few deep breaths and tell yourself that you will give it a try.. it is far worse imagining things than experiencing them. Honestly, it's not as bad as it sounds.

Do you want a solution? Because you do have to find one or starve I suppose? I understand you have ocd but if you are catastrophizing to this extent you need to figure out a plan - which realistically is going to be a medical one. Because whilst annoying Sainsbury's whilst the change is annoying and I agree they could
Be doing a lot more is a reasonable position to take. You have said that EVERY solution offered to you is unacceptable.

Washing the canvas bags seems like a good idea? Presumably your clothing is not single use? That seems like the best idea so far. If you don't have room currently to store a few canvas bags you have to make room.

It's a bloody awful idea!

Even from their perspective it means they need to add time onto deliveries for unpacking whether that were the driver doing so or the customers takes a damn sight longer unpacking eg 100 items individually than it does unpacking 10 carrier bags!!

What about using fabric tote bags that you could decant the shopping into? You could then run them through the washing machine. Would that make them clean enough to combat your OCD?

Tesco did this a month ago op and i fucking hate it, not for reasons as complex as yours but just the faff of it, i feel like I'm in a time trial just throwing stuff out of the crate all over the kitchen so the delivery guy isn't hanging around! My hall way is also very narrow so i can only just about get the crates through by reversing with them

Im already dreading the winter deliveries when the poor delivery person is getting soaked while i am faffing on getting it all in, as i don't feel comfortable having strangers in my home...

@queenofkale your responses from the beginning have lacked empathy, understanding and compassion.

If you are unable to post kindly then I would prefer you didn't.

This is causing me considerable distress and being told "I just need to accept that's the way it is and get better" after THIRTEEN YEARS of treatment and TRYING To live a normal life really isn't useful or supportive

Have you spoken to Sainsbury's customer services? Perhaps there's something they could do/make an exception.

I havnt had this email, is it a nationwide thing or store dependent? I ordered this morning for delivery this evening and paid extra for it to be packed in bags, we shall see..

I'm on phone to customer services now. 2nd call as first guy was an arse who wasn't listening and just kept parroting the policy and the reason for it as if I was stupid! Grrrr!

And as is already evident from this thread & a few comments on Twitter too I am not the only customer who will have diffculties with this!

They really don't seem to have thought it through the email doesn't even give a start date so customers who've already ordered and are due to be receiving orders today, tomorrow - are they going to have this sprung on them?!