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.

Yes, your shopping hasn't come from a sterile environment, it's been sitting on the floor of warehouses, handled by people in the store with grotty hands numerous times, etc. I know OCD isn't logical, but you're going through all this anguish for stuff that's already 'dirty'. The crates are no more dirty than anywhere else they've been, and probably less so in some cases.

get a crate (or gardening bucket with handle) to leave at the front door. and let the delivery driver unpack into that.

Tesco and Asda already do this so the options are limited.

Groceries are not sterile. So what if the drivers huff and puff at the time you take you unload the shopping. If they do that phone the store and complain if they do.

Itsnotahickey I like your thinking. It's true

A crate or a used bag for life isn't making the groceries any more unclean than they already are. If OP can do what you've done and come to terms with that fact, it might at least reduce some of the stress and anxiety about her shop.

OP Sorry to hear that this is causing you lots of stress. Drivers can, and should, be patient. I'm off work, pregnant and in pain with reduced mobility at the moment. The Sainsbury's driver offered to carry everything into my kitchen for me or would help put it into my smaller bags at the door. I actually moved to Sainsbury's because their drivers are better and more helpful on the whole. If anyone huffs and puffs then you contact the shop and complain. Would them helping you to the kitchen help or would that trigger your OCD more?

I am so stealing Itsnotahickey's approach to this!!

That's an excellent way of viewing it.

Is there a local supermarket that will deliver to you? Supermarkets that cater for Indians / Pakistani / Turkish people often do for a small charge or for a minimum order. You just need to ask.

OP it must feel very frustrating for you. I'm able bodied with a reasonable sized kitchen and it would drive me mad too having all the items loose.

Would you consider wall mounting [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/simplehuman-Wall-Mount-Carrier-Dispenser/dp/B007ZF638G/ref=lp_3313526031_1_8?s=kitchen&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1569417972&sr=1-8 something like this] in the hallway and storing bags in it for when the delivery comes?

I do hope you can find a solution.

My Sainsburys delivery today arrived in bags. I asked the driver and he hadn’t been told about it and agreed it was a pain to take the bags away.

OP I get my deliveries from Tesco and they allow you to keep the crates and then swap next time.

Ask customer services if you can do this. Or change to Tesco?

Frustrates me now Tesco have started the bagless thing. I like having it in bags, pick up, swing round, put on floor, repeat 10 times. Now I pick each item up, maybe 2 or 3, carry it to the table put down repeat 80 times...

except I don't... With a big family and a dog, I now just get a delivery 2 or 3 times a week, (as many deliveries as you like with delivery saver) no one can get slots a day or 2 before any more because everyone is cheesed off and getting less shopping delivered at a time, just more often.

This costs them a lot of money. All because they are short sighted and virtue signalling, whilst not listening to what their paying customers are actually asking for.

I feel for your particular circumstance but those saying too much hard work.

Well how much harder will it be walking to get water
Fuel rations
Food shortages
Flooding
Extreme heatwaves

Because that’s what your asking for if you don’t take this situation seriously.

Well done Sainsbury’s I say.

Just moves the pollution elsewhere... more trips by vans, more vans needed, more drivers needed as it takes longer, more refrigeration time as it takes longer, more plastic crates made, more washing of crates, more buying of bin-bags, more buying of dog poop bags... virtue signalling.

You’re being ridiculous by saying you have nowhere at all in your flat to store three bags for life. That’s just a lie.

This.

I really do think you're exaggerating many things and I say that as a severely disabled person myself. You're putting barriers up at every single suggestion. Even Sainsbury's offer of unloading the shopping in the kitchen for you - this isn't good enough apparently. Well what the hell else can they do? Bring bags back JUST for you? I find it hard to believe that you're capable of carrying multiple plastic bags full of food to the kitchen before unloading but are not able to put a few items at a time into each of your own bags before doing so - with, I'm sure, the help of the delivery person who I'm certain will help you load the bags for life. They're inhuman if they don't (and in 14 years of using shopping deliveries I've NEVER not had an offer of help!)

If things really are THAT bad for you, then I strongly suggest looking at supported living or at the very least, having a Carer to help with things like this

I do have sympathy for your situation but exaggerating for dramatic effect is frankly irritating and disingenuous.

I have today received a call back from the exec office person I spoke to yesterday.

I think that response is best summarised as

"Nope! Sorry not sorry" which I find incredibly disappointing, dismissive and frankly unkind!

VoleClock - thank you so much for your kind post - you so very clearly "get it" virtual hug most welcome (not touched anyone in real life for almost 3 years because of stupid ocd and yes I find that utterly heartbreaking too).

DobbyTheHouseElk - I am SO sorry this policy is going to affect you too, it's completely unacceptable! PLEASE contact Sainsburys and TELL them the difficulties this WILL cause you. The only way they will consider making a change is if they know a significant number of customers are negatively affected (and therefore likely to be saying so to others, thus losing them current and potential future custom from both you and those you know/communicate with).

I'm not sure the best way to communicate, I spoke with exec office via the head office number published online yesterday. I have just now spoken with the equality advisory service who were shocked at how poorly sainsbury handled my complaint/enquiry and have told me they ARE acting unlawfully under disability discrimination laws by:

Not planning alternative arrangements/reasonable adjustments for disabled customers

Not being willing to implement any

Not giving a reason why they wouldn't do so.

I've been directed to a template letter on their website which I will look at and consider writing/sending - but quite honestly I'm nervous about doing so, afraid of how Sainsburys will react, but also want to make clear to them that this is appalling treatment of their customers.

Seems odd to me that they send out an email yesterday, but today the driver hadn’t heard of it at all. You think they’d let the staff know at least.

I would have said yabu but I received a bagless Tesco delivery yesterday (Tesco have been bagless since the summer) and several items were drenched like the flour. Why on earth they don't use lidded stackable crates is beyond me.

Morrisons still using bags but not everyone has a Morrisons nearby. Theres also amazon pantry for heavier stuff but think you need to have amazon prime to use it.

I always thought the whole point of grocery deliveries is not having bags

I always thought the point of grocery deliveries was for convenience.

The point is not having to drive (or walk there) and transport it back home.

but why do you need bags if you don't need them to carry your shopping home?
genuine question.
same for people who drive to the shops. btw. why do you need carrier bags if your car does the carrying? why not use crates or boxes instead?

I would either
a) buy those Wilko type bags suggested by pp or
b) find a way to fold bags for life that seems ok ?upright in a shoebox Marie kondo style or
c) get one giant Ikea type bag

And you need to find somewhere to store them by the door - can you get a small shelf/cubby put up on the wall in the hall?

These are all fairly close to the old system and keep you in control

@Graphista, I came on to ask if the DDA legislation could be used to persuade these organisations to make reasonable adjustments for cases such as yours.

Hope you get a resolution, I feel for you.

@redchocolatebutton I think you are deliberately misunderstanding the situation here. Take a look at the OP and have a think about it.

The plastic bags are a red herring. It could be a paper bag or cloth. The fact remains the same.

What do you want Sainsbury's to do?

When you complain it helps to be clear about what you expect to happen, and our this clearly in writing.