Can I ask supermarket to leave food on doorstep now it doesn’t come in bags?

[AutisticID]

My supermarket delivery gets delivered in crates that the drivers put on the doorstep whilst I decant into a big shopping bag, however I’m wary currently as recently the drivers haven’t been moving back very far or wearing masks etc. Has anyone got an alternative? If I leave a bag for life outside will they decant into it or will they be annoyed they have to unload the crates? Any suggestions welcome for contactless deliveries please!

Can I say this is one of my favourite bits of the “new normal”? I am thrilled that I know longer have to let a random stranger into my kitchen when it’s dark outside and I’m alone in the house but instead can just lean out the window and ask them to leave it on the doorstep?
I feel so much safer, don’t need to make small talk, and don’t have to stress if I’m in my pyjama bottoms.

I am CEV and have had deliveries since March.
It was easier when supermarkets gave you bags but now that isn't an option even if you pay.
I put outside the large shopping bags I would take to a supermarket plus the odd box if I can find one. The driver puts the crates down and stands back while I decant everything.
Only on one occasion have I had to say "would you mind moving 2 meters away please" and that was a trainee.
They won't mind.
I have learned not to be shy of asking for social distancing or mask wearing.

Also you could write or print a note to hold up to the door if you don't want to open it.

I'M SELF ISOLATING
PLEASE PUT CRATES BY DOOR AND STAND BACK
I WILL UNLOAD SHOPPING
THANKS!

Drivers are busy and every delivery is different. Most helpful thing is to be friendly but quite clear.

I ask them to stand back while I unload the crates and it's fine

An alternative is to put a sign on your door with a generic message - i.e. To all drivers, please stand back after placing your delivery on the doorstep as we are shielding. Thanks (or something similar)

Have you 4 of this type of bag? Just leave them on the doorstep instead of crates.

@FudgeSundae please don’t ever feel you need to let the drivers in your home, especially when you don’t feel safe.

Yes I do have around 4 or 5 of those large bags Premiumbond. I’ll leave them on the doorstep, tick the self isolating box and add instructions to leave shopping in them. Also will put note on the door in case this message doesn’t get through. That way I don’t have to interact! Other than a wave of thanks through the window. I don’t think it will take the drivers any longer to decant the shopping into those bags for me, rather than me doing it myself. It’s just more work for them I guess which they could be cross about!

Some supermarkets do liners for the crates now.

I have a notice in my front door saying I'm shielding so will not be opening the door.

I leave boxes with old liners or bags in and ask them to transfer the shopping. I then thank them and wave from a window, wait until they leave and bring it inside.

I've not opened the door to a delivery since last March.

Asda leave the crates which is great. We just pop them back outside ready the next time.

Totally depends on driver. I ticked the self isolate box but he still stood on my doorstep! I said I'm self isolating please don't get too close and he backed away. This was Sainsburys.

We had a Covid positive result in the house the day our shopping arrived. I told the driver about it and he was more than happy to stand right back and set the crates up for me on the step for me to take my shopping out, (taking care not to touch the crates). He then swapped the empty crate for a full one when I was done with it and stepped back again. He was very thankful that I'd warned him and I kept touching of the crates to a bare minimum.

If a driver is not distancing then I'd be tempted to say the same again.

I'd go with the option of asking them to stand back as I'd rather unpack my own shopping than have the delivery driver handle every single item.

I've never washed down my shopping but I don't really like the idea of them touching every single item right before I unpack it in to my cupboards. At least when I take it out of the crates it's been sat in a refrigerated van for a few hours since anyone touched it.

This is Sainsbury’s right?

The only ones to deliver without bags? You can’t select them anymore.

Yes it is Sainsbury’s.

I understand why bags aren’t good for you the environment etc, but it’s such a pain currently!

We must have had the same driver last night from Sainsbury's. He practically moved in whilst I was grappling with a load of loose potatoes. No mask, no gloves. Some good tips on this thread though.

I use laundry baskets like these out on the step. Ocado put the bags of shopping in, Tesco all the items separately but works very well.

I use click and collect with Sainsbury's which is great. They leave shopping at back of car in crates then go wait in the van and then you decant to car and get in and they remove crates.

I was going to suggest getting big boxes as might be faster too but you could ask if they will decant.

This thread is very eye-opening for me, I've been using Asda deliveries (and occasionally Iceland) for a few years and it would never have occurred to me even pre-pandemic for a delivery driver to actually come into my house, they've never suggested it either (not saying PP are wrong or anything it's just strange to read how different supermarkets operate). I've similarly never had any issue with them standing too close, I've had various drivers and they always just automatically stand a fair distance away politely while I chuck the things from the crates onto the sofa/floor/whatever to put away properly after they go. I either set a crate back by the doorstep to be picked up or hand it back to them when I'm done with each one. Never had any issues at all, I agree just politely ask them to step back a bit while you sort out the shopping if they're too close.

Morrisons are all bagged, they are happy to unload on the doorstep. I think its polite for the drivers not to be exposed to multiple people particularly given the numbers in London at present