“Dear PoPville,
I saw your post the other day that Giant Van Ness had banned bags. Just wanted to write in to note that this ban is also in effect at the Columbia Heights location.
For context:
I’ve been shopping at this Giant for 15+ years and always brought my backpack because it’s the best way to carry heavy loads over large distances. Today, I walked in to grab a few items and was chased down by an employee and told I wasn’t allowed to have a backpack. I promptly left and went to Target to get my groceries.
I can’t be the only one to find this completely absurd. A large percentage of that Giant’s customers don’t drive there and therefore need a way to carry their groceries. I understand this is to deter theft, but at what point do your policies become so draconian that you undermine your entire business? What’s next? Banning pants with pockets?
Another reader writes:
“On Thursday, (5/23,) the H St Giant Food (300 H St NE) instituted a policy banning bags bigger than 14″ x 14″ x 6″. This includes normal-sized backpacks. If you try to bring in a bag that’s too large, you’ll be asked to leave it in the lobby. However, Giant does not provide a secure location to store any bags that may be too large, and says that security is not responsible for watching them.
While this is merely inconvenient for some, it is discriminatory against others, especially those experiencing homelessness. Individuals without a safe place to store items end up carrying their lives on their back. With this new policy, Giant is forcing these individuals to decide whether it’s worth the risk of leaving their life’s possessions unattended for the chance to go in and spend a few dollars on food which they desperately need. I know individuals experiencing homelessness who patronize this Giant, and I am certain that this new policy will effectively ban them from the store.
The store manager did not provide an explanation for the new policy when asked.”