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Original poster

Queues in shops are longer than they used to be?

38 replies

merediththethird · 04/02/2025 19:39

I feel like queues are longer nowadays since online shopping due to fewer staff manning tills but I’m not sure whether I’m misremembering.

Boring question inspired by an argument today in our local Poundland between a customer and manager. Customer was telling a staff member off for not putting more staff on the tills. It feels to me that long queues are more standard now than in the past but perhaps not!

So: ‘queues in shops are longer than they used to be’

No they’re not longer - YABU

Yes they’re longer - YANBU

OP posts:
Danikm151 · 04/02/2025 20:12

It’s so frustrating.
local lidl has 6 tills and 6 tiny self checkouts.
I rarely see the manned tills open and if they are it’s at behest with a queue winding round

Snugglemonkey · 04/02/2025 20:12

This is why people abandon baskets/trolleys/wee piles of stuff.

Heidi2018 · 04/02/2025 20:10

merediththethird · 04/02/2025 20:10

Our local Boots is exactly the same! I have abandoned my purchases so many times at Boots! I almost always go to Superdrug over the road now who are a bit better.

I’m so intrigued as to why though. What’s the point in having a physical store and seemingly not wanting people to buy anything.

Show quote history

I think getting staff has become a problem. People don't want to work.

Original poster
merediththethird · 04/02/2025 20:10

ADifferentSong · 04/02/2025 20:02

At our local Boots there is often just one person there who has to re-stock the shelves, manage the till and fetch the click & collect packages. I doubt she gets paid 3 people’s wages.

Edited

Our local Boots is exactly the same! I have abandoned my purchases so many times at Boots! I almost always go to Superdrug over the road now who are a bit better.

I’m so intrigued as to why though. What’s the point in having a physical store and seemingly not wanting people to buy anything.

OP posts:
Original poster
merediththethird · 04/02/2025 20:07

myotherusernamesarebetter · 04/02/2025 20:02

“Customer was telling a staff member off for not putting more staff on the tills”

As if it’s their fault. When I worked in retail this was so irritating - we had no bloody say!

I agree she was directing her anger at the wrong person and you’ll be pleased to hear so did the entire (lengthy!) queue. She got a right telling off from various members of the public who were sticking up for the staff member which I thought was really sweet.

OP posts:
ADifferentSong · 04/02/2025 20:02

At our local Boots there is often just one person there who has to re-stock the shelves, manage the till and fetch the click & collect packages. I doubt she gets paid 3 people’s wages.

TheWayTheLightFalls · 04/02/2025 20:02

My local (big) Sainsbury's has removed a lot of the checkouts, for self-checkouts. Which inevitably go wrong and need a member of staff. But there's one member of staff for 20+ self-checkouts. At busier times there are queues right back through the store.

myotherusernamesarebetter · 04/02/2025 20:02

“Customer was telling a staff member off for not putting more staff on the tills”

As if it’s their fault. When I worked in retail this was so irritating - we had no bloody say!

I'llBuyThatForADollar · 04/02/2025 20:00

Stay away from Zara! It's horrendous in there.

Heidi2018 · 04/02/2025 19:59

My local Tesco has 6 manned tills, 3 scan as you shop checkouts and a self checkout area. There is usually 1 staff on a manned till, 1 at the shop as you go checkouts and one manning the self checkouts. Ridiculous.

TomatoSandwiches · 04/02/2025 19:55

Yes they are longer and there seems to be no sense of urgency or worry from higher ups that people are having to put up with it.

We are being trained.

PrioritisePleasure24 · 04/02/2025 19:52

I have friends that work for a clothing retail company and there’s so few of them on the floor now it’s ridiculous! The staff don’t like it either….

Original poster
merediththethird · 04/02/2025 19:50

Thanks for the votes! Seems people agree queues are longer nowadays! Good to know as I was wondering whether I/we were just becoming less patient and more intolerant.

OP posts: