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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be really annoyed with Sainsburys?

184 replies

wonderstuff · 03/12/2022 15:09

They sent me a tea towel in the post today. I didn’t ask them too. I neither need or want it. It’s cotton, made in China and is hand wash only. I went on twitter to enquire as to the ethical sourcing of it and whether I could return it to store and they wanted photos? How many tea towel mail shots are they sending that they need a photo? I try to shop ethically and only buy what I need, this got me so cross today!

OP posts:
BatshitandBonkers · 03/12/2022 15:15

I understand you asking questions about it but I would drop it into a charity collection bag rather than attempt to return it to store because:

a) the store won’t be able to return it to the supplier so it would likely end up in the bin
b) I couldn’t be bothered to queue at customer service in December.

I imagine they need a photo because they will have had numerous designs which may have been sourced from different suppliers so, to fully answer your questions about sustainability, they need the details.

Original poster
wonderstuff · 03/12/2022 15:18

Fair enough, my issue really is what were they thinking in sending these out in the first place? I doubt it’s much use to a charity shop either.

OP posts:
MsDianaBarry · 03/12/2022 15:23

We also got a tea towel and some vouchers to encourage you to buy their Finest range - really was a waste of time and effort - tiny tea towel - a bit silly if it says hand-wash (haven't checked) - they must be expecting it to shrink or fade.

dolor · 03/12/2022 15:39

Hahahaha

RoachTheHorse · 03/12/2022 15:44

Where's my tea towel 🤣

Mummapenguin20 · 03/12/2022 15:50

Well now I want one 😛

Boooooot · 03/12/2022 15:52

I’m a loyal sainsburys shopper. Where’s my fucking tea towel!!

donttellmehesalive · 03/12/2022 15:53

I can't really understand why this would make someone cross. It would become a shoe cleaning rag for me but couldn't you just recycle it as a textile if you are very offended.

MsDianaBarry · 03/12/2022 15:56

Also not nearly as bad as the advent calendar that you sometimes get from the postcode lottery.

Original poster
wonderstuff · 03/12/2022 15:57

Clearly I’m in a minority. I try so hard to minimise my impact and waste. Even if I recycle it that’s still an unnecessary waste of resources, I wonder how many they sent out and the environmental impact of it all.

OP posts:
NoWordForFluffy · 03/12/2022 15:58

Boooooot · 03/12/2022 15:52

I’m a loyal sainsburys shopper. Where’s my fucking tea towel!!

This! 🤔🤣🙁

YellowTreeHouse · 03/12/2022 15:59

Wow. If you “hate waste” so much that a free tea towel is angering you you’d hate the fact that I don’t recycle.

Threadkillacilla · 03/12/2022 15:59

Is there such a thing as enough tea towels?

girlmom21 · 03/12/2022 16:01

YellowTreeHouse · 03/12/2022 15:59

Wow. If you “hate waste” so much that a free tea towel is angering you you’d hate the fact that I don’t recycle.

Why would you not?

DFI000 · 03/12/2022 16:02

Ahh I would love to receive a free tea towel in the post!

I see what you mean about waste though. I went to the tip today and it makes me so sad seeing how much is thrown away (in a purely hypocritical manner as I too was throwing stuff away)

YellowTreeHouse · 03/12/2022 16:02

girlmom21 · 03/12/2022 16:01

Why would you not?

Show quote history

Why would I? Confused I’m not sorting through my rubbish. It’s easier and more hygienic to just put it all in one bin.

NoWordForFluffy · 03/12/2022 16:03

YellowTreeHouse · 03/12/2022 15:59

Wow. If you “hate waste” so much that a free tea towel is angering you you’d hate the fact that I don’t recycle.

Yeah. That's weird.

crussont · 03/12/2022 16:04

I want a teA towel

Original poster
wonderstuff · 03/12/2022 16:04

YellowTreeHouse · 03/12/2022 15:59

Wow. If you “hate waste” so much that a free tea towel is angering you you’d hate the fact that I don’t recycle.

I think recycling, while important, gives a false sense of sustainability. What’s better is generating less waste to start with.

OP posts:
crussont · 03/12/2022 16:04

Use it as gift wrap?

Stomacharmeleon · 03/12/2022 16:05

@YellowTreeHouse yes it's such hard work putting paper in a red bag (slow clap)
Hopefully they will start fining lazy people like you....

PeekAtYou · 03/12/2022 16:06

Don't you have local school fairs, homeless charities, shoebox appeals etc collecting this sort of thing ?

Nagado · 03/12/2022 16:08

We spend a bloody fortune in Sainsbury’s, I’m quite put out that we haven’t been sent a tea towel.

Although who wants tea towels that can’t go on a hot wash?!

Athenen0ctua · 03/12/2022 16:10

Tea towels are an essential item. If yours aren't likely to need replacing any time soon then I'd donate it to a local community foodbank or similar. If it's new it will be of use to someone. It's already in existence so the most ethical thing to do is make sure it is used. Complain if you like but I wouldn't send it back, that would be a further waste of resources.

naemates · 03/12/2022 16:15

I'm with you OP for I am also currently annoyed at a tea towel! My mum gave me it plus an oven glove as a completely unnecessary random gift, obviously out of her random gifting drawer and she KNOWS I've been painstakingly decluttering for months. It's ugly, she wouldn't use it and I'm so annoyed she's passed on the problem!

Also, yes, read the room Sainsburys - socks or gloves would have worked better