too good to go food waste app - anyone else use it?

[TheGenealogist]

Huge fan of this app - friend told me about it over lockdown and after I'd had my first "magic bag" I was hooked! The basic idea is that you pay for a lucky bag of food from a local retailer which would otherwise have gone in the bin. Picked up a bag from a M&S petrol station shop last night, cost me £4, got two large packs of salmon, two panini wraps, two packs of sandwiches, a side salad, a bag of mixed veg, and a pack of melon. Greggs also do bags which the kids enjoy - most of the bags we've had from there have a couple of the bakes, sausage rolls, cakes, pastries.

Yes it's all short-dated, yellow sticker stuff but lots can be frozen. Or eaten the next day. Definitely worth looking at if you're flexible about what you eat. Lots of restaurants do it too, although pick up times can be much later in the evening.

Any other fans???

That’s no good!

Tbh the last time for dd and me we both felt the staff in store made us feel awful. Dd came out in tears as they were making comments to the other customers.

It is a great idea to save waste but the attitude at some stores leaves a lot to be desired.

So our Morrison's bag contained:
4 croissants
2 pizza twists
6 apples
Cherry tomatoes
Lettuce
3 lemon doughnuts
Carrot sticks

So not loads and probably not quite £10 worth, but we used it all apart from the tomatoes as none of us like them (I meant to give them to my Mum but forgot!) and I think there's one doughnut left that will need to go in the bin.

The worst part was that we had to wait ages- they don't seem to have the bags ready beforehand, they just go round and fill a bag when someone goes in and asks for theirs. OH said he always has to wait but this one was a particularly long wait!

@Bythemillpond

Tbh the last time for dd and me we both felt the staff in store made us feel awful. Dd came out in tears as they were making comments to the other customers.

It is a great idea to save waste but the attitude at some stores leaves a lot to be desired.

Was that in Costa? How horrible. You are Don’t them a favour (snapping up food they would otherwise bin or give away). Maybe the staff got shirty because they would have had them for freebies?

Not just Costa. The attitude I got from the assistant and manager the other day in another place was equally not nice.

Costa cancelled her order when she left the shop empty handed. I don’t even think she could leave a review.

My sister used to work at a Costa and she and the rest of the staff always took home loads of freebies at the end of the shift. I guess that has dried up now corporate has joined too good to go and people at some of the branches must be pretty unhappy about it. It's no excuse for treating people poorly though.

I've never had a Costa bag but have had bags from 4 different places now and have always been treated absolutely fine when picking up.

My Dobbies bag yesterday had:

Beef and pork lasagna
Beef chilli
Egg pasta
Duck rolls
Garlic flatbread
Bake at home rolls

It was a bargain but I gave most of it to my mum as we don't eat meat. She was delighted and put it all in the freezer.

I downloaded it but most things seem to be in the city centre where it's not convenient to drive and park. Local costa, greggs, M&S etc don't seem to do it. Great for students who live centrally though.

*Not just Costa. The attitude I got from the assistant and manager the other day in another place was equally not nice.

Costa cancelled her order when she left the shop empty handed. I don’t even think she could leave a review.*

I’d definitely contact Too Good To Go customer service and Costa customer service, name and shame the branch. It’s not acceptable to be rude to customers, which is what you are. You’ve paid for a product, and the fact that it’s discounted doesn’t give them the right to belittle you. If that branch doesn’t have any extra food at the end of the day they don’t have to participate, but they can’t abuse customers in front of the rest of the store!

I've only ever managed to bag one bag.
Everywhere is always sold out when I look.
Is there a knack to ensuring I get a look in?

@pinatastick

So our Morrison's bag contained: 4 croissants 2 pizza twists 6 apples Cherry tomatoes Lettuce 3 lemon doughnuts Carrot sticks

So not loads and probably not quite £10 worth, but we used it all apart from the tomatoes as none of us like them (I meant to give them to my Mum but forgot!) and I think there's one doughnut left that will need to go in the bin.

Put the doughnut in the microwave for a few seconds to revive it!

@MorriseysGladioli

I've only ever managed to bag one bag. Everywhere is always sold out when I look. Is there a knack to ensuring I get a look in?

You've just got to check it regularly - it really is hit and miss.

Thanks.
I thought I had set it up wrong or something.

I think a lot of places release their things at certain times. Look at the sold out times and you can probably work it out

Ah yes, now you mention it, I have noticed a lot must have sold out at around 6pm ish.
I'll have a look from about 5, so I'm ready to pounce!

@MorriseysGladioli look at the collection times, they usually release the new bags about 15-30 minutes after the last collection time.

Oh thanks.
That's really helpful, too.

I've got a Starbucks and greggs one reserved for tonight! See if Starbucks cancel again

I always wonder how they know in advance how much they'll have left the next day?!

I always wonder how they know in advance how much they'll have left the next day?!

They don’t - hence the variation in bag sizes and sometimes the last-minute cancellations.

Demand for particular products in restaurants, cafes and supermarkets is a bit of a dark art. Even organisations that are streamlined to the max - McDonald’s etc - still get it wrong sometimes.

It gives you the original value of the bag though. What do they'd I if they don't have anywhere near the value of products. Say it stated you're getting £12 worth of produce for £3, what if they only have £5 worth? Is it just a chance you take?

What do they'd I if they don't have anywhere near the value of products. Say it stated you're getting £12 worth of produce for £3, what if they only have £5 worth? Is it just a chance you take?

Sometimes they do (and then as a punter you can complain to Too Good to Go); sometimes they cancel the bag altogether.

Starbucks has just cancelled! Good job I bought the greggs one

2 ring donuts
4 jam donuts
Belgian bun
Choc donut
Some form of bake
Tikka sandwich
Ham and cheese baguette

Greggs, £2.59

I've been feverishly checking all afternoon.
All sold out in my area.