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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be really sick of supermarkets treating paying customers like scum

416 replies

OptimismvsRealism · 25/07/2024 14:34

Sainsbury's traps you in the self service pen of shame until you scan your receipt like a good little girl

Tesco won't take the security tags off your wine until you've not only paid but they've examined your receipt in detail to make sure your wine is paid for - sort of a performance so you remember your place

Waitrose makes a bit song and dance about doing the rescan of self scanning shops (I don't do self scanning because why would I sign up for this extra work?)

Just in Lidl and my wine set off the security alarm even though I've had the tags taken off and the security guard chased me out the door to try to get me to show him inside my bags (er no fuck off pal)

Aldi staff try to look in your shopping bags as you queue

Does anywhere NOT get a kick out of treating their profit drivers like filth any more?

I will probably just have to live off UHPs from the local Greggs at this rate

OP posts:
OptimismvsRealism · 25/07/2024 14:40

vodkaredbullgirl · 25/07/2024 14:38

M & S

Yes Marks is great tbf

OP posts:
SunQueen24 · 25/07/2024 14:40

OptimismvsRealism · 25/07/2024 14:40

None of these measures stop theft. They just make the shopping experience shit for people who were planning to buy stuff.

Of course they stop theft!

Werweisswohin · 25/07/2024 14:40

Don't blame the shop staff who are trying to prevent thefts, blame the thieves!

OptimismvsRealism · 25/07/2024 14:40

Needmorelego · 25/07/2024 14:38

Well unfortunately so much is stolen from supermarkets they either have to do this or they will have to put up their prices.
Want to pay £10 for a loaf of bread? I doubt it.
You would not believe how much retailers lose in theft.

Edited

None of these measures stop theft. They just make the shopping experience shit for people who were planning to buy stuff.

OP posts:
Summerhillsquare · 25/07/2024 14:40

You're not wrong. The enshitiffication of everything, power is retained centrally while responsibility is devolved to the individual.

SunQueen24 · 25/07/2024 14:39

Supermarkets are struggling to maintain their margins and many UK supermarkets are now only propped up by their international chains where they’re performing better.

Theft is a huge source of leakage and with the COL it’s also becoming even more prevalent.

So, yes, I think YABU, it’s a reaction to the increase in theft and a desire to be profitable as a business.

S0livagant · 25/07/2024 14:39

Shop in small local shops as much as you can. The supermarkets don't deserve our custom.

SummerSnowstorm · 25/07/2024 14:39

OptimismvsRealism · 25/07/2024 14:37

Treating paying customers like dirt with measures that won't in any way prevent actual theft is indeed treating us all like scum.

Of course all those things hugely reduce theft. Imagine how much more would be stolen without any attempts to reduce it. Shoplifting has spiralled in recent years.

vodkaredbullgirl · 25/07/2024 14:38

M & S

Needmorelego · 25/07/2024 14:38

Well unfortunately so much is stolen from supermarkets they either have to do this or they will have to put up their prices.
Want to pay £10 for a loaf of bread? I doubt it.
You would not believe how much retailers lose in theft.

OptimismvsRealism · 25/07/2024 14:37

vodkaredbullgirl · 25/07/2024 14:36

Online shopping

Agreed but where can I go that isn't giving my money to these places through another route?

OP posts:
BuzzKiller · 25/07/2024 14:37

I get all the reasons why they have to do it, but yes as someone who despite being low income has never and would never steal anything in my life, I do feel pissed off with the extreme measures; for some reason especially Sainsbury’s receipt scanning!

OptimismvsRealism · 25/07/2024 14:37

S1lverCandle · 25/07/2024 14:36

How is trying to prevent theft treating customers like scum?

Treating paying customers like dirt with measures that won't in any way prevent actual theft is indeed treating us all like scum.

OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 25/07/2024 14:36

Online shopping

S1lverCandle · 25/07/2024 14:36

How is trying to prevent theft treating customers like scum?

janeintheframe · 25/07/2024 14:36

Bit extreme op.