Pack’nSave or Pack’nSlave?

Pack’nSave
Nationwide
NEW ZEALAND

Dear Mr Save,

Three months ago, I attended one of your many grocery stores in dire need of everything. You see, we now live in Dannevirke which is where your fake posh cousin (who never gives you the time of day but copies your lead when it suits by making people buy and pack their own bags) is the only grocery store on offer (aka New World). But I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.

Since relocating to Dannevirke, I have tried to tie my grocery shops into any trips we have to Hawke’s Bay or Palmerston North. Justification: To avoid having to re-mortgage our house by shopping at the local store.

On this day in question, Lottie and I were excited to restock three weeks’ worth of groceries and allocated an hour accordingly. It was important that we went through every row and didn’t miss a sale because failure to do so would defeat the whole purpose of prioritising budgeting over convenience.

The initial step of the shop (choosing the items and taking them to the checkout) was fine. It deserves no more kudos than that and I am not in a position to expect anything more. Beggars can’t be choosers. Despite the trolley jams in the unhealthiest aisles behind those sporting none other than your very own fashion line DG & S (Dressing Gowns and Slippers), I managed to load the trolley up with so many products that I almost lost Lottie who, because she was wearing forest green, became camouflaged by the lettuce and broccoli backdrop.

As the last item was being scanned, I was asked by the friendly checkout chick whether I had brought my own bags. Of course, I hadn’t. The hundreds of them I had collected were still at home in the draw because this happens every time. EVERY SINGLE TIME. This is not the purpose of my rant though.

I was then offered two options: Buy the hessian bags (which unlike New World are not designed by Trelise Cooper and simply showcase your branding which, no offence, is nothing to write home about) for $1 or the brown paper bags for $0.50. The 50c difference seemed critical, particularly given the quantity of food and remembering the whole purpose was to save. Also, I was already envisaging looking as though I was at a French market carrying my brown paper bags full of fresh produce and baguettes. I chose the bag option and purchased five.

New World’s Number One’s.

By the time I got the trolley to the car, Lottie had already ripped one so I was down to four. Trusting my French counterparts, I stuffed all I could in each bag. There weren’t enough to house all groceries but you are not to blame for that. I confidently then put my arms around the middle of two bags like they do in the French movies and began the transition towards the open car door. I only got half a metre before the entire contents of both bags fell through their bottoms onto the concrete pavement beneath.

While thankfully nothing smashed, it was a roller derby of jars and bottles which, when paired with moving vehicles in the busiest car park, makes for a very dangerous sport. Lottie was of course umpiring from her trolley perch and blew her cry whistle regularly. After rectifying the public hazard situation, I put each grocery item into the car one by one. Lottie by this point was well and truly blowing her whistle for full time and I had many looks from bypasses as to my parenting. If only they knew.

You pride yourself on your customers packing and saving. I sure did pack myself (every single item) and saved $2.50 on bags but that did not outweigh the extra stress, passive public ridicule (which for the record is the worst type) and 40 minutes of extra packing/unpacking (taking into account having to get every singular item into the house at conclusion).

May I recommend investing in bags with handles and bases that are not seemingly held together by the lick of a tongue or not selling that type at all? Following that incident, I shopped at Countdown.

Countdown’s Sensible, Secure, Saves on Time paper bag.

After being assured by the checkout chick in green that their bags with handles would stand the test of time (more than a few seconds), I purchased them and managed to successfully transport the groceries from the shop to the house. Unless you sort this issue, I will be counting down my time until each next shop with your green rival.

Regards,

One disgruntled ex shopper.