Serving Seattle, North King County, and the Eastside
Frequently Asked Questions
How does it work?
How much does it cost?
What stores can you shop at for me?
What covid-19 precautions are you taking?
Can you really handle my dietary restrictions/allergies/picky kids?
How does it work?
Click on the Order page, and if you're a new client, click on the link for Dumpling. You can make a list either within Dumpling, or through AnyList, Google Keep, or via text or email. When the time comes, I will text you when I arrive at the store to shop your list, and keep in communication with you if I need to replace anything. I'll let you know when I get to checkout, and when I'm on my way. Then I'll leave your groceries at your door. Until further notice, all deliveries are no-contact, to keep us all safer.
How much does it cost?
Cost of groceries + shopping and delivery fee + gratuity.
If you book my services through this website, using Square, there is a shopping and delivery fee of 15%, and a minimum tip of 15%. Nothing more.
If you book my services through Dumpling, there is also a platform fee, paid to Dumpling, of 5%.
To compare to the big companies, the cost is close, but the service is worth it! If you use the big companies, you're getting an average grocery mark-up of 19-22%, plus various service and other fees, plus a tip that you're not sure is actually all going to your shopper. But with It's In The Bag!, you get the actual cost of groceries, including any coupons, sales, and discounts. Your bill is completely transparent. You know how much your groceries actually cost (you get the real receipt!) how much goes to my business expenses (Shopping and Delivery fee), and how much goes to me (gratuity).
What stores can you shop at for me?
I can stop for you at almost any store, including Trader Joe's and Costco! If you don't see the store you want listed, simply select "Pick a Store" and let me know which you would like. Until the pandemic is over, I am not shopping at Grocery Outlet, or a few independent stores that I have deemed unsafe due to poor social distancing and sanitation.
What COVID-19 precautions are you taking?
My precautions start at the beginning of my week, with a covid test. I'm part of a study on essential workers, so I get tested once a week.
I wear a mask whenever I'm outside of my own house and car. I've been doing this since the beginning, and depending on the current COVID levels, I use either a cloth mask, a cloth mask over a surgical mask, or a K95 mask. As of this writing (Dec 7), I'm using a K95 mask.
I wipe down the cart with disinfecting wipes, and sanitize my hands before I enter the store.
I also sanitize my hands between departments, and I use gloves in the produce section (which has a secondary benefit of making it possible to open produce bags - a task nearly impossible if you've been sanitizing your hands repeatedly with alcohol-based wipes!)
I use self checkout when possible, and stand as far from the cashier as is reasonable when I can't use self checkout. That protects them and me.
As an additional precaution, I only go to one or two stores of each chain (one in Seattle, one on the Eastside). That limits the number of unique contacts between me and the store employees, which, as above, protects them and me. If all our grocery store workers get sick, we're all in trouble!
Can you really handle my dietary restrictions/allergies/picky kids?
Try me! If I don't know enough about it, I'll do some research first! I know that for some food allergies, you have to read the ingredients on literally every flavor of every thing. I'm allergic to corn, which goes by many different names, so I'm already used to reading every label. I take pride in being able to make sure everyone's needs are taken care of. I once cooked a Thanksgiving for 30 people, including a variety of food allergies and conditions like celiac. We had people allergic to: corn, wheat, soy, onion, garlic, dairy, eggs, chocolate, shellfish, peanuts, and tomatoes. Everyone had gravy (I made 3!), mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey, ham, and at least 1 more side dish and a dessert that were safe for them!
I am also familiar with special diets, including veg*n, low FODMAPS, low sodium/fat, diabetic, keto, and paleo diets.
After half a dozen (or so) kids, including one who spent 3 years in feeding therapy, I'm VERY well versed in shopping for picky kids. Sometimes only that one yogurt, in that one flavor, will do, and you don't have to explain or justify that to me!