To think this is in fact NOT less embarrassing for the laydeez?

[RevoltingPeasant]

I was in my local supermarket last night to buy a pg test (bfn before anyone asks :( ). The space on the shelf where they would normally be was totally empty but you could see that was where they normally were as there were price tags, old display boxes. Sod's law, I thought, but there was a woman stacking shelves near by so I thought I'd confirm that they really had sold out of every kind of pg test.

"Oh no," she said, "we keep them behind the pharmacy counter now." She went over to the counter and mouthed pregnancy test at the pharmacist.

"What?" He said.

" Pregnancy test " she hissed back, pointing to me. I'd come over to the counter now and there was someone now queuing behind me.

"Right, which one do you want?"

Erm I don't know, as I can't see what you have?! He pulled out the supermarket own brand one, which I hadn't been going to buy, but whatever. He then told me I needed to pay for that at the pharmacy counter, not the main tills, but I couldn't pay for my other shopping at the counter.

I asked (politely) why they had out pg tests away and was told "Ah, it's because ladies like you don't want to go through the main tills with these. Some ladies find it embarrassing, so we do it more discreet-like here."

AIBU to,think this is a) not more discreet, b) means you can't browse the different tests, and c) a pain in the fucking arse?

(Yes I know it's a first world problem etc.)

[MrsMcEnroe]

YANBU. But I think the pg tests are behind the counter because they are expensive and, therefore, frequently stolen

[NewtRipley]

It's swings and roundabouts. Their way, you have to actually ask for the thing, and if there's someone near you will hear that and see the transaction anyway.

The other way, it's on the belt, but you could hide it under something until the last moment.

I suppose if you were a very young girl, or didn't want to risk anyone knowing you might be pg, then you'd want it kept discrete! But actually, having to ask someone might be more embarrassing.

So i agree with you.

[NewtRipley]

Ah yes, McEnroe

[KoalaFace]

YANBU that is total bollocks and needlessly annoying.

I don't even understand the logic. When you pick one up off the shelf you don't need to talk to anyone about it!

[TheCrackFox]

They're probably behind the counter because they are relatively expensive and get stolen a lot.

[RevoltingPeasant]

Mrs that actually does make sense but the guy really seemed to believe what he was saying. When I'd paid he wrapped it up in a prescriptions bag and put a sticker over the flap and handed it to me with a little "there now" sort of smile.

Actually I wasn't embarrassed, more just wanted to browse the different ones, but the young man in the queue beside me certainly was

[RevelsRoulette]

Yes, apparently pregnancy tests are one of the most commonly stolen items.

Someone once posted a list. I think it turned out that the very most commonly stolen things were razor blades and cheese and batteries.
Although people will nick anything.
I once bought a pack of vests in tesco. Took them home and discovered that someone had pinched one and resealed the pack. I was cross but then my husband said imagine how desperate someone must be to steal a vest.
But I still feel cross

[Bumbolina]

Reminds me of when I had to get a pregnancy test a couple of years back from Asda - similar scenario but they'd put them at the customer service counter.
When I got there, there was a lady there with two shopping trolleys of stuff blocking the entire counter but before I had a chance to flee the woman serving spotted me and yelled "Can I help you love?' at the top of her voice over the top of the other lady and her two trolleys, panicking, and not very quick thinking I shouted back "I need a pregnancy test". She then proceeded to go through the entire basket of tests at the top of her voice to find out which one I wanted. It was one of the most stupid and embarrassing things ever!!

[Sokmonsta]

Yanbu. I went through a period where I had to compulsively check I wasn't pregnant after my implant was put in. I was mortified one evening when I had to go and ask at the counter as a colleague of mine rounded the end of the aisle - I was on maternity leave. Preciously all I had to do was hide them under other shopping in the basket/trolley and go through self service. Embarrassment avoided. The staff did say it was because they are a 24 hour Tesco and since taking the extended hours they had them shoplifted a lot more.

[bellablot]

Not less discreet in the slightest, a big pain in the proverbial actually, this is obviously a man's idea...

[maddening]

I think it's got more to do with shoplifting-the ones in our local tesco are on the shelves but in a big security box that is unlocked at the main tills - the supermarkets don't give a shiny shite about a lady's discretion.

[stubbornstains]

"Ladies like you...". He's going to get himself biffed on the nose by someone suffering Preggo Rage one of these days .

Last time I had the need, I discovered my local Sainsbos sells its pregnancy tests in huge locked perspex plastic boxes. So off I fucked to Superdrug.

Seriously though, if I was running a supermarket and someone was desperate enough to shoplift an actual pregnancy test, I'd let them. This may, perhaps, be why I'm not running a supermarket

[KatAndKit]

Round my way they have the expensive ones like Clearblue digi in security boxes, like the sort of box they put round cds. Id be annoyed at having to go to the counter and make a separate transaction.

[hiddenhome]

They should sell them in dispensers in the ladies loos.

[eurochick]

I don't see the embarrassment factor myself. It confirms that you have at some point in the last month had sex, like a huge proportion of the adult population. And if you are pregnant it is going to become apparent to all and sundry in a few weeks, so why would there be any embarrassment in buying a test?

[RevoltingPeasant]

Euro I wasn't embarrassed, but I think PPs are no doubt right and it's about stock control. It was just the whole laydeez thing - he was deffo was DH calls a smoothhound!

But seriously I think it would be dreadful for a young girl. I suppose supermarkets don't organise their displays with them in mind, though!

[Tikkamasala]

I think it's definitely due to theft and the embarrassment reason is nonsense. If anyone is worried about embarrassment then clearly the most discrete way is get it of the shelf and go to the self service check out. Having to ask and do a separate transaction clearly draws more attention to it

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Quite aside from the actual issue your posting about,

Did you know that there is little difference between the accuracy of the very expensive ones and the very cheap ones even the 50 for a fiver ones

[SPsDoesntLikeChaffingFishnets]

Its mainly theft. They are in big plastic cases in stores near me

[Catsize]

Pharmacist talking nonsense.
Clearly you could pay for it separately at the pharmacy if that was the only issue.

[SabrinaMulhollandJjones]

When I wanted to test for ds2, they were in big plastic cases at our local t
Tesco Metro. The only person I could find to ask was this chap, who made a big fuss about unlocking it and scanning it through the till for me. I was pregnant and felt strangely self-conscious every time I shopped in there with an ever-expanding bump, and he was on the check-out. Nearly a decade on, I still see him every time I shop in that Tesco.

[fiftyandfab]

reminds me of the time I was caught short with a period in Goa. Had to use makeshift loo roll tampon till pharmacy opened in the morning. Nothing on shelves....tampons were an 'under the counter' product! Had to have conversation with the male pharmacist on the lines of, don't you have anything with an applicator....what's an applicator?...you know, the cardboard/plastic tube....what's the tube for?.....ccan't you just show me all your tampons and I'll select one?...FFS! Men are so fucking dense!

[Twoandtwomakeschaos]

I threw the system once, getting it off the shelf, opening the box and taking it out to go to the cash desk ....... ;D. No one knew quite how that had happened, and I was a bit slow of thought and hadn't appreciated it was a security tag.

[Morloth]

What is embarrassing about buying a pregnancy test? I don't get it.