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.

@lljkk Unfortuntely not all illnesses are curable, and lot of people don't beat cancer, they die.

I'm sure after having OCD for 13 years, the op has probably tried a lot of treatments and none has had any long term effect. Sadly not everyone gets "better". They just manage to cope with the life they have.

carers.org/article/personal-assistants

I suppose Maybe OP will say that she's coping really well compared to what her illness would like her to be doing instead.

It's not a separate entity.

BumblingBovine - I still appreciate your post as at least you acknowledge my difficulties.

"Sorry you have such a difficult time with your OCD, wouldn't wish it on anyone."

Thank you, no neither would I not even on Boris Johnson! It's a horrific condition and I HATE it.

Lijkk - you're kinda on right track BUT even as part of treatment such changes are managed in a VERY planned and controlled, safe way with lots of notice and preparation. Sufferers of ocd aren't expected to make difficult, distressing changes with a weeks notice! OCD is NOT curable, there are treatments that are SOMEWHAT effective but it's generally accepted it's at least partly a genetic condition. Certainly I've had it to a certain extent all my life. I've always hated being in dirty clothes for example I mean even a tiny Mark. As life went on traumas triggered flare ups and I got worse until having a full breakdown 13 years ago which led to formal diagnosis. I've since been on several medications, had cbt (supposedly - whole other thread) 3 times, have tried other therapies and treatments to no avail. I've had periods where I've been more well than I am now but they have been relatively short lived, triggers eventually drag me back down again. Trying to "push through" "ignore the thoughts" etc have actually led to me being more unwell than when I acknowledge and manage the things I find difficult. BELIEVE ME if it were simply a case of "fighting" it I'd have won! I've been through a LOT in my life and I'm still here somehow but just like a physical illness (like cancer - which btw I also hate the "fighting" analogy as what does that make those who can't "beat" it - losers?! I've lost people to cancer, they were among the strongest most determined most positive people I've known - makes not one jot of difference if it's a cancer for which there's no cure or has already spread loads before getting diagnosed) sheer willpower does not a cure make! If I WASN'T fighting, if I were to give in completely to how it makes me feel? I would never leave my room! I'd never leave my bed and I really mean NEVER. Because even standing up out of bed involves moving in specified ways, opening the door (where I touch the handle and how) let alone stepping out of the room and DOING stuff!

I'm also noticing that aside from the emails (and how many people check emails regularly now? I was checking because I knew I was expecting an important one about something else but generally I barely use email now) they've been very quiet about this policy change, there's nothing on their Facebook page, the only comments on Twitter are in response to other customers queries - mainly other unhappy customers I might add. The email was sent midday-Ish today it will be interesting to see customer response as the news spreads, I suspect a lot of customers won't even know until they get their first order on or after 1st October. (Which btw there was NO date of when this was starting in the email either!).

I can well see an explosion of posts happening on sm then.

That’s a good idea ELM. Pay someone else to do the shop and they can use carrier bags.

@longtimelurkerhelen actually it can feel like it is in some ways. I can totally understand why in the past mental illness was viewed as a "possession" and those suffering agreed! Not just because of the social and scientific knowledge being different then but because that's how it can feel!

If I COULD cut out the part of my brain that makes me ill I bloody would! I can totally appreciate why people in the past were willing to undergo the most barbaric "treatments" in hopes of a cure.

I can feel quite desperate most of the time.

Even sleep provides no relief because I "dream in ocd" if in a dream I have to eat, dress, undress, open a door...

I do it exactly as I would in real life with all the rituals involved.

Look on Task Rabbit OP. They have loads of options for personal assistants, unpacking deliveries etc. They are all approved via the site and show reviews from previous users. You can hire them for as little as an hour a week

They're all planning to go bag less so switching is pointless.

Wow

Nothing locally in terms of someone to hire, not sure I want to go down that route necessarily as not sure if I could afford it. Plus there'd still be limitations on what I'd let them do.

I think either

dd shopping 3-4 times a week

SOMEHOW tolerate the new system (fuck knows how!) but buy own carrier bags to use and delivery driver will just have to wait, because even just doing this will probably at least double how long deliveries take! I simply couldn't quickly transfer from crate to bag to kitchen! God this is annoying! Surely they can see it's much QUICKER if nothing else for customers to be able to unpack crates a carrier bag rather than however many items you can pick up at once at a time! This is insane!

SOMEHOW find/create a space for OWN crates (which I wouldn't be able to lift!), larger bags or trolley to use to transfer from Sainsburys crates.

I can easily see this meaning getting my shopping delivered and put away now will take about 6 hours! Because even IF I get crates:bags I think the only way I can fit them anywhere is by using them as storage of other items the rest of the week, emptying of those items so I can use them for Sainsburys shop, sort Sainsburys, refill with stored items...

What location are you in? I have to say, posters are really trying to help you and you don’t seem to like any of the options

Could you put the bags in a bag? Then you could store the bags in a useful cubby hole but not use the 'outside/dirty bag' only the inside bags which have not touched any dirty areas themselves?

Unfortunately YOU need to work out a solution here because the supermarkets will all go this way sooner or later. I hope you work it out

@Graphista I know what you mean, I think it is a self image thing, where you think, THIS IS NOT ME! and it does feel "other" sometimes.

I have anxiety and depression and would honestly rather have any other physical condition at least there might be some hope of a cure. I have heard many other people living with depression say the same. In my darker moments a labotamy sounds like nirvana.

I think all we can do is try to find joy where we can and try to get on with it.

Unless you have had it yourself, you cannot possibly imagine how awful it is living with these debiltating conditions, so I try to forgive the ignorance (but it is hard sometimes).

Do you think the plastic bags from amazon would be any good?

BUT yabu about Boris Johnson and maybe Ian Duncan Smith too.

”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”

My Tesco delivery driver told me that the ‘trial’ they ran was tiny and only for about 2 weeks in an area where people typically only ordered light volumes of shopping.

Apparently ASDA offer reusable biodegradable bags for delivery (at a charge) but when I emailed Tesco about this they just dismissed it as ‘not viable’ without any proper explanation.

I’m all for recycling, saving the environment, looking for alternatives, charging for bags etc. But I think that supermarkets should offer customers the CHOICE of how they get their shopping delivered and not just impose a blanket rule that causes some customers real problems.

If you buy carrier bags from amazon then you won’t have the problem of storage. When they are new and used they will hardly take up any space as they are so thin. Could probably keep in a carrier bag in a drawer.

After they have been used to transport your food they can then be used to line your bins, store rubbish/recycling in, or put straight out with the recycling.

And please don't think I was being flippant, i do understand - I was diagnosed with OCD a number of years ago but have been fortunate that after several years and multiple types of treatments I can now manage mine (mostly, mine is not germ related but obsession is being blamed for something and compulsion manifests I'm checking behaviours - plugs, locks etc, I am still not beyond driving halfway to work and then turning round to check I've locked the front door) Sending big hugs

I think you need to separate out your (justifiable) anger that this very difficult change for you is being imposed on you, and go from there on things you can and cannot change.

You probably CANNOT change the open crates situation. Unless customer services have a miraculous rethink - but I wouldn’t be hopeful.

So, of the things you might change:

1. bags for life. Understand once they’ve been on the floor they’re not clean to be folded. Would a barrier between the floor and the bags help - a mat or towel that is only for this purpose, that can be put in the washing machine. (See also cotton tote bags). Or would that become just another unclean part of the floor?

2. buy bags from amazon etc and store a box somewhere.

3. no bags but a foldable trolley, or even better a foldable table or several to put up in the hall on shopping day that the driver can pile directly on to. Something like these wall tables?
   www.ikea.com/gb/en/cat/wall-mounted-tables-25206/

4. someone to accompany DD shopping so DD can pack to your satisfaction but able-bodied person is available to heft & carry & drive.

Can I just ask... what us the problem with folding the bags for life! I ‘get’ not wanting the dirty bits to touch the clean bits, but the way they fold they don’t. Then I place two bottoms together, and next a top so that the dirty bits only touch dirty bits. I’m not understanding what you think is unclean about hiw I do it?! (I mean the orange and yellow sturdy bags for life)

Oh FFS didn't we get this about Tesco only a few weeks ago? Get a grip - there are bigger things in life to worry about!

Graphista your flat sounds very much like mine

In our hallway you cant turn round and there is only room for one person to walk (single file) Ditto the galley kitchen. Cant have two people in there at the same time. Because you cant turn around. Its a fucking stupid design. Also social housing flat but one bedroom. Open the oven door in the kitchen and no one can stand at the kitchen sink . Been here 25 years. Still here cos.......................................no sprogs.

A lot of shops have now switched to paper bags. And not just supermarkets. Paper bags are fine..................until it rains. Then they fall apart.

I reckon we will start to see a few complaints once people start their Christmas shopping if presents get soaking wet or ruined.

www.pigsback.com/en-ie/offer/422445

Maybe a foldable shopping trolley on wheels might be good. You could hang it on a hook on the back of your from door.

I'm not sure if you can wash them, maybe you could fashion a liner and wash that, I'm thinking velcro and an old bed sheet.

chocolatesaltyballs You really need to contact the police you know

As there is obviously someone in your home who has forced you to click on this thread

I wonder if Sainsbury’s have thought about people in your position. This will clearly be a problem for others too.

I should think they are likely to do a turnaround on this policy for those who are negatively affected, such as disabled or elderly customers.

OP, I get that you have physical and mental health issues, and a tiny flat. But people have suggested loads of good ideas and you've dismissed them all.
You're going to have to do some lateral thinking and be a bit creative over finding a solution to this "problem" - maybe just try out some suggestions before you dismiss them so quickly.

Or start going to the shop, or get/pay someone to do your shopping for you. There are probably lots of volunteer organisations who could help with this.