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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:
jay55 · 25/09/2019 17:47

I wish you were in an area for Amazon fresh, they deliver in sturdy paper bags with handles. It isn't the cheapest or most reliable for having the same good every time but the bags are brilliant.

I really hope you can find a solution. I don't have ocd and I hate packet foods being loose in the crates. I wish they lined them at least.

HelenaDove · 25/09/2019 17:51

MN on housing. "You are being ridiculous saying your flat is that small."

"Why are you hoarding Its not your property and the landlord/HA are right to evict you for this"

ProhibitedRodent · 25/09/2019 18:20

"make clear to them that this is appalling treatment of their customers"

By stopping giving out plastic bags which are destroying the environment and killing marine life and which you could easily replace at a cost of about 40p and the help of the delivery person - which they've already offered to do...?

Hmm

OP come on......

Again, I'm severely disabled myself before the word 'disablist' gets trotted out again

ProhibitedRodent · 25/09/2019 18:24

I'm sorry but you simply CANNOT claim disability discrimination because they have started bagless deliveries!!
Besides, disability discrimination is only evident if no reasonable adjustments were offered/made. They have offered to carry all of your groceries into your kitchen and given that they del

ProhibitedRodent · 25/09/2019 18:26

.... that they deliver the groceries in their own plastic boxes which they take away, they will undoubtedly unpack the groceries for you in order to take their crates away. Which not only solves your problem, but also saves you unpacking the bags!

Yet you're still finding ways to say that this is not acceptable?!?!

Itsnotahickey · 25/09/2019 19:12

"Yet you're still finding ways to say that this is not acceptable?!?!"

Well, if their adjustments aren't reasonable in terms of taking into account OP's disabling OCD and related contamination fears, they aren't acceptable, are they?

Graphista · 25/09/2019 19:51

"I dont know if any one has suggested getting paper bags to unload your shopping into, they could then be recycled and new ones used each time." I would except here in NOT so sunny west of Scotland the groceries are highly likely to be quite wet! So they'll make the bags wet, which could easily lead to them disintegrating and my shopping ending up all over the floor, possibly even damaged.

Bit outing but I cannot go in my living room at all (long story which is DEFINITELY outing and probably far too boring for you guys anyway).

I've asked dd (she's off today) to get me a couple crates and some bags for life from local stores, I'm trying to think where to put them AFTER 1st use and struggling somewhat. I can see me having to do a major reorganisation of bedroom.

"I know you said you couldn't split the shop but I have to due to my disabilities, I have a delivery pass and orders of over £40 are included in tbe price." Several reasons why not. It would mean having TWO very tiring and difficult days dealing with shopping, and I don't always spend enough that splitting in this way would be viable.

I really don't have anyone except my dd that "gets" what I can and can't cope with.

"It’s frustrating when people suggest going into the supermarket as an alternative. If that was possible I’m sure people wouldn’t have a need for online deliveries." Exactly!

SaveKevin - I might get dd to pick me up some of them! Thank you!

OP posts:
Graphista · 25/09/2019 19:51

ElQuintoConyo - thank you I'm sure your friend REALLY appreciates the support and understanding

Itsnotahickey (and others making similar points) - I get what you mean but honestly just reading your post made me anxious! I wish I could do that kind of acceptance right now. I can do it to a degree when I'm more well than now but really bad at the moment

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

"Would them helping you to the kitchen help or would that trigger your OCD more?" Not only problematic with the OCD there plain isn't the room in the kitchen! Me OR dd can barely fit in the kitchen WITHOUT a large crate of shopping, NO WAY a stocky delivery guy WITH crate could even get through the door!

"Is there a local supermarket that will deliver to you?" No! Fairly rural here, nearest town is really quite small I think population under 10,000? Maybe even under 5000?

Listsandbudgets wall mounting not an option sorry, lots of reasons 1 I rent 2 I'm dreadful at DIY! 3 weird layout means I can't think of a wall space! (Even the kitchen door can't open fully because of the cupboards!

"My Sainsburys delivery today arrived in bags. I asked the driver and he hadn’t been told about it"
That's bloody shocking that even the staff most affected haven't been told?!?

"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?"
Already been told no to that option, considering returning to Tesco even though I had (other) problems with them last time I used them.

Just spoken to Tesco they TOO make NO concessions for customers with disability though say drivers are "very helpful" and ONE difference is that customers CAN buy bags for life from them as part of online shop (this is NOT possible with Sainsburys!) so I may end up switching to Tesco, hoping their issues from before are now resolved and ordering bags for life each week (at an estimated cost of at least £5.50 PLUS their delivery fees are higher!) BUT even with Tesco even if you order bags for life as part of your order, the order STILL arrives unbagged and you have to locate the bags you've bought and then faff transferring groceries to bags etc.

The Tesco call handler was refreshingly honest and admitted they've had a LOT of complaints about this policy and HAVE lost custom as a result.

"I like having it in bags, pick up, swing round, put on floor, repeat 10 times." Exactly!!

"Now I pick each item up, maybe 2 or 3, carry it to the table put down repeat 80 times..." Precisely - therefore multiplying the time taken to travel from door to kitchen 8 times, multiply THAT by however many MILLIONS of deliveries and that HAS to have a cost impact on the business!!

"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." Totally and utterly agree - absolute prime example of cutting off nose to spite face!

"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."

surely a far greater cost to the environment overall?!

OP posts:
Graphista · 25/09/2019 19:53

"I really do think you're exaggerating many things" I'm REALLY NOT!! If ANYTHING I'm understating how difficult and stressful this is for me.

And I REALLY DO NOT APPRECIATE BEING CALLED A FUCKING LIAR!!

So if that is the sum of your contribution take your disablist ignorant attitude elsewhere please!

OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 25/09/2019 20:03

@Graphista

If you look at the Sainsburys FB page, there are a few complaints there. Talking of the rain getting bags of flour wet and soggy etc.

I can’t see this working, unless something changes. No one is going to be paying for wet, unusable groceries. So more food waste, pollution from extra lorries.

They will have to come up with an alternative otherwise this will be the end of online groceries. I’d wager the people who use online the most are the ones who can’t access an actual supermarket.

Lumene · 25/09/2019 20:05

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!

Same here.

cheesemumma · 25/09/2019 20:06

Just go into the shop and do your shopping with your own bags.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 25/09/2019 20:07

FFS, some people can’t go to the supermarket. RTFT.

HelenaDove · 25/09/2019 20:11

If posters click on the Twitter link i put upthread its a Boots customer who lost his lunch through the bottom of one of their paper bags.

Graphista · 25/09/2019 20:14

"You're putting barriers up at every single suggestion" no I'M not MY CONDITION is!

"Even Sainsbury's offer of unloading the shopping in the kitchen for you - this isn't good enough apparently." Where EXACTLY are they supposed to unload a weeks shopping for 2 adults including toiletries, cleaning products (of which I get through a LOT because I HAVE OCD) etc TO when the ONLY free counter is 0.75m X 0.75m???

"Well what the hell else can they do? Bring bags back JUST for you?" No NOT just an issue for me but for MANY customers.

They COULD have:

1 STARTED by giving a reasonable amount of notice - more than a bloody week!! And made sure customers knew by disseminating the information widely and NOT just on a SINGLE Email that doesn't even tell you the date it takes effect! There's NOTHING on their website, app or ANY of their social media with the specific aim of notifying customers.

Giving customers a reasonable amount of time to make preparations and buy items that can help. My dd tried to find crates locally today - sold out! She's going to try again tomorrow after work which is very kind of her but lengthens HER day which will cause HER tiredness and pain.

2 considered the ramifications for undoubtedly their MANY disabled and elderly customers. Put alternative options in place for such customers which could be:

i paper or biodegradable bags

ii allowing drivers additional time for deliveries to accommodate disabled and elderly customers

iii make available to buy as part of an online shop reusable bags - they're not even doing that!

iv institute a system whereby they leave the (preferably lidded) crates to be collected at the next delivery

But NO, they don't care about the effect this will have on customers.

"I find it hard to believe [I AM NOT A FUCKING LIAR!] 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" it's because my physical limitations mean that bending and stretching repeatedly causes:

Pain - not just at the time but for days after and that's WITH pain relief, warm baths and physio exercises!
Nerve reactions including my legs not Fucking working!
Paralysis

At the moment the drivers hand me 2 bags at a time, warn me if heavy, and I can stay upright at least until depositing the bags in the kitchen (though to be honest they're half dropped!) meaning I only have to bend once per approx 20 items. With this new system I could well be needing to bend at least 3 times more!

"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" they ARE but as I'm 47 I don't yet qualify for supported living (you have to be 50 where I live regardless of health as places are VERY limited) my GP and I have been TRYING to access additional support from various agencies for nearly SIX MONTHS I'm on a couple of waiting lists but quite honestly the system is severely broken and people like me are very much falling through the cracks!

Because I'm not (yet) in a wheelchair or otherwise more incapacitated than I already am I miss out on qualifying for a lot of help. I completely understand there are people worse off than me that need the support more urgently BUT because of the cuts those of us not (yet!) at that stage are being left to flounder!

"I do have sympathy for your situation but exaggerating for dramatic effect is frankly irritating and disingenuous." ODFOD there's not one HINT of anything approaching sympathy in that entire post!!!!! YOU are the one being disingenuous

OP posts:
Babypug · 25/09/2019 20:19

You want them to leave lidded crates and collect at the next delivery ... you are refusing to store bags. Are you ok?

raisinseverywhere · 25/09/2019 20:46

I had my bagless Tesco delivery today and my shower gel lid had come a little open so everything from that crate was sticky and covered in shower gel. At less it’s clean I suppose. But if it was in carrier bags then the spillage would have been contained.

Graphista · 25/09/2019 20:46

ProhibitedRodent -

"I'm sorry but you simply CANNOT claim disability discrimination because they have started bagless deliveries!!
Besides, disability discrimination is only evident if no reasonable adjustments were offered/made."

The equality advisory service DISAGREES with you! I had a thorough conversation with them today and they (the EXPERTS) have advised me that they ARE acting illegally.

They didn't need to go completely bagless to get rid of plastic, there ARE alternatives which I have outlined now several times and pps have added their own suggestions.

NO reasonable adjustments WERE offered, the driver CANNOT unload into the kitchen as there simply isn't the space. Even IF I didn't have the issue with the floor re OCD having the items loose on the floor like that would present an obvious trip hazard and likely result in damaged goods.

NEITHER was an explanation given as to WHY no reasonable adjustments are being offered which is not something I was conscious off but which the equality advisory service asked me and when I correctly informed them that no they had not explained why they have taken this stance, the EAS advised me this too was illegal.

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 25/09/2019 20:52

With the Tesco option are you considering buying bags for life each time or just once and reusing?

Really is a shame you don’t have Ocado

redchocolatebutton · 25/09/2019 20:52

can your dd do the shopping for you or deal with the delivery?

Graphista · 25/09/2019 21:16

"If you look at the Sainsburys FB page, there are a few complaints there. Talking of the rain getting bags of flour wet and soggy etc." I can't find those posts are they on the official Facebook page?

Although have found this:

"The Driver will only enter your property at your request. They are also provided with overshoes to protect your flooring from dirt or damp from their shoes. The Driver will take whatever time is necessary to assist you with your delivery."

Sooooo tempted to put that to the test but wouldn't put a driver in a shitty position!

"I can’t see this working, unless something changes. No one is going to be paying for wet, unusable groceries. So more food waste, pollution from extra lorries.

They will have to come up with an alternative otherwise this will be the end of online groceries. I’d wager the people who use online the most are the ones who can’t access an actual supermarket." I totally agree.

The conversation I had with Tesco, it sounds like it's not working for them! Call handler said loads of feedback been given on the matter and she felt it likely there would be a change in the near future.

"I had my bagless Tesco delivery today and my shower gel lid had come a little open so everything from that crate was sticky and covered in shower gel. At less it’s clean I suppose. But if it was in carrier bags then the spillage would have been contained."
One customer on social media their shopping arrived covered in another customers toilet cleaner! It's not just a cleanliness/OCD issue - it's a health and safety one! What if that customer were to feed a child something affected by such a spillage?

OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 25/09/2019 21:18

@Graphista

Yes, on the official page. Go to the bar that says posts, click visitor posts. They are there. Hidden away, but present.

Graphista · 25/09/2019 21:18

With the Tesco option are you considering buying bags for life each time or just once and reusing?

Honestly? Each time unless I was able to use and reuse in a way I can manage with the OCD.

But even if I don't reuse them my dd would, she often needs to use waterproof bags for work stuff, and when they were almost "done" I'd use them as bin bags.

OP posts:
Graphista · 25/09/2019 21:19

Yes, on the official page. Go to the bar that says posts, click visitor posts. They are there. Hidden away, but present.

Yea I'm having trouble accessing that section

OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 25/09/2019 21:20

Can you see the bar that says posts? If you click it gives you the option for visitor posts, click that.

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