Have you noticed a change in supermarket workers customer service?

[pretzele]

I know they are working really hard at the moment but the past couple of times I have been in the supermarket I've been shocked at how rude the staff are being to customers.

Obviously not all of them.

For example I asked someone where an item was as I couldn't find it anywhere. Their reply was ' I don't know' and that was it. This is someone who has worked in this shop for a good few years.

I tried to clean my trolley with the spray and cloth provided and a member of staff shouted at me that it's already been cleaned. I hadn't seen them do it and had already sprayed the handle bar so continued to wipe it so they tutted and shook their head.

This is just to name a few.

I get it that they are all overworked and tired but its bad when people haven't been out for weeks and when they do they get talked to with little respect.

Has anyone else noticed this?

I could imagine b and q staff would be more frustrated when they see people just flippantly popping in for potted plants. We'll need more of this - as long as people can respect social distancing, it's time we started getting back to as much normality as we can. B&Q staff will be lucky to have jobs when this is all over, maybe they should reflect on that, rather than getting judgy about customer's purchases.

When they leave I tell them to have a LOVELY day, and smile. (Underlying message, now fuck off and die cos I don't care). Works for me.

How can anyone agree with this? Have I missed something in @Undercoverworker06 post?

Both my partner and myself work at a retail store, that has for some bizarre reason has decided to stay open!
I haven't been working due to my pregnancy - the amount of agro I've had from that could be an entire thread in itself. However, my partner is absolutely exasperated when he comes home.. customers fighting over and bulk buying HOT TUBS?! He's been shouted at over the price of a TV. He sees countless regulars come in day after day just being more rude and unreasonable that usual.
Their staff are not appreciated and don't get as much as a thank you from the company.. Personally, I think most supermarket/retail workers are getting fed up of not getting the recognition they so deserve. I think I'd be cracking under the pressure if I was still there.. try not to take it personally, we all have our bad days and some people are only cut out to work retail short term

DecadentDeity because you have given permission we can all now go out for non essential shopping? The lock down rules still apply and driving specifically to b and q for potted plants is not daily exercise, food shopping or emergency plumbing. It is that attitude which will cause further extensions of the lock down.

OP, I think undercover is right to tell it how it is- she's letting off steam on here, not at customers in real life! You asked what it was like for people in supermarkets- the staff are people too!

Anyway, I go to two supermarkets nearest to me, Waitrose and Sainsbury's. Obviously it's completely freaky and weird at the moment, but the staff are mostly being lovely, but then I find that they usually are even before the crisis.

There is just one member of staff that I was a bit about, but I'm generally about her at the best of times. She was going on about how I must be the only person with money in the shop, because I'd commented that I was surprised I hadn't had to wait at the till. Yes, it came to about £100, but it was obvious I was shopping for others- three types of milk, three types of bread, three types of tomatoes, three lots of apples, bananas etc etc. There were no luxuries, or alcohol, or party/BBQ foods etc, but I recognise it must be galling to be financially forced into work and put yourself at risk daily.

I hope people that work at b and q or in any shop for that matter don't lose their jobs. What an awful sarcastic comment

Oh, you just want people to agree with you, OP? Well I don't.

You shop there regularly and you seem to 'know' the staff yet you post on here to have a pop at them as if they or anybody else needs that at the moment?

I think you'd be surprised at how loaded 'Have a nice day' can be...

No.

Had ds (7) with me in the co-op a few days ago. He decided that marshmallows were essential shopping and before I could stop him had found himself a member of staff, stood some distance away away (DS is quite keen on rules set by anyone but his parents11) and asked where they were. Very cheerful member of staff told him to wait there and came back with a packet which he proceeded to chuck into my basket still observing requisite distancing!! Luckily he was a good shot :) Had to buy them after that.

That's just an example but in general I've found them cheerful and friendly

@Yesterdayforgotten picking up a couple of pot plants while you visit B&Q for emergency plumbing isn't going to cause bugger all to happen. Shops like B&Q are allowed to open as if they are selling something you are allowed to buy it.

I shop at a large Sainsbury's with occasional tops ups at Waitrose and more frequently at a farm shop.

Sainsbury's has been amazing. Smiley staff, sensible and well-organised precautions, lots of managers in high viz so you can easily ask questions, everything very well managed. I have always shopped there but they really have my loyalty now.

Waitrose fine but less stock than Sbys.

Farm shop staff seemed very brittle and on edge at first. Felt like they were less sure what to do. They have chilled out a bit in the last fortnight. I have noticed they don't have many customers and whilst I will keep shopping there I wonder if some have been put off.

Sbys though - really great.

I hope people that work at b and q or in any shop for that matter don't lose their jobs. What an awful sarcastic comment It wasn't a sarcastic comment, it wasn't a hope or a wish that B&Q would fold - it was a dose of reality - retailers need to sell - that's the purpose of them. The more they sell the safer their jobs are.

I've had no issue with any staff at the 4 supermarkets I've used, but I'm generally pleasant and inoffensive anyway

There had been a change at Morrisons to standing at the end of the checkout this week, a rule clearly designed by a man with long arms which makes it a pain for a short woman to be able to put much of the week's shop on there (and there are reasons why I only use shallow trollies ) I did comment lightheartedly that it was getting more like the Crystal Maze each week, and we had a good natured conversation.

Packing at Aldi is less manic because of the queue control stopping the queues at the tills and frequent till switching.

I'm accepting the queuing outside (sunshine has helped) put my earphones on and roll with it. Less people to battle through in the shop, less queuing at the till, so I'm more chilled out by that stage.

@Undercoverworker06 you’re a star! Great post!

I’m having to shield so unfortunately can’t do my checkout job at the moment, but hearing stories from my colleagues and the way it was just before lockdown had me feeling exactly the same!

@DecadentDeity I was talking about people picking up potted plants who have no emergency plumbing and you said that trips like this were eeded and I was disagreeing

I mentioned emergency plumbing to remind you why b and q is open and not for flippant non essential trips Decadent.

My partner lost his temper when a family came in, mum, dad, with 3 children. He pointed out that only one member of the household could come in to be told they all had to come because dad can’t drive. So he asked why dad or she did not stay in the car or at home with the children so only one comes in. She immediately took this on the defence, complaining how unfair it is, how they have always done the shopping together blah blah and how she would now go to another supermarket. I don’t blame him for then going well be my guest then, Tesco is down the road. He is a very decent man, and well liked staff member but just lost his temper I think. He has also been threatened twice this week by a man who wanted to cut the queue and another who kicked off because the deliveries were gone. Police were also called out twice this week when other staff members were threatened. I worked at the same supermarket years ago and there have always been rude and abusive customers but it’s been worse lately, add that to the pressure to keep shelves stocked and trying to keep safe, it’s hard work.

Most staff members I know are helpful, friendly and cheery, there will always be rude ones too, but whereas before they would still try to be polite to the difficult rude customers I think they have now lost patience with it, so if someone is rude, abusive and trying to ignore rules in place, chances are the staff will be very short with them.

Ive found this too. I let them off though.
NHS frontline workers are putting their lives at risk BUT they are educated on disease control. They learned about the risks when they trained. They knew they may come into contact with diseases. They're not on minimum wage.

Other key workers are mixing with others but not to the extent of the above.

Supermarket workers? Often very low wage. Mixing with public(lots of us!) AND co workers. Such a high risk.

And they in no way signed up for it.

I work in a supermarket and yes we aren't as cheerful and polite as normal as there are so many customers just being ridiculous ar the moment.
So many couples when only one needs to come in, there were 5 mothers with older teens (age 15-20) in at the same time the other day, all of these extra people keep the queue outside longer and then they don't always maintain distancing rules whilst one pushes the trolley and the other darts from side to side to get items. How are the staff supposed to move about the store as if you are on both sides of the aisle where are we supposed to go?
Other customers treat us as if we are invisible, leaning over us to pick up items, just ask and we will move for you.
We have to maintain social distancing on the shop floor and out the back too and it's weird for us being at work in these conditions, so forgive us if we are less happy and polite than usual.
There are customers moaning all over social media that they can't get delivery slots and threatening never to shop with us again but we have less staff as some are shielding too and more people than ever wanting delivery but no-one seems to appreciate this.

*Supermarket workers? Often very low wage. Mixing with public(lots of us!) AND co workers. Such a high risk.

And they in no way signed up for it.*

This is a good point. They aren’t being given protective equipment and aren’t getting any extra money for putting themselves in harms way. Almost overnight the job got more demanding and became much different to what they actually signed up for.

They aren’t being given protective equipment and aren’t getting any extra money for putting themselves in harms way. They should be getting more money - profits for supermarkets have I'm sure risen. Share price for Ocado has gone up by 50% since this started. M&S have offered their staff face masks if they want them and give a 15% pay rise.

I work for a large food retailer in a petrol station, the last month and half has been hell on earth, I've cried so many times at work and when I get home. I've been abused, threatened, coughed on and spat at because we don't have what they want, they can't have 10 lots of milk, they have to queue, they have to social distance, you name it. Customers have no concept of personal space, the socal distancing applies to staff as well but they don't care, they lean over you, get so close to your face and try to speak to you when you are stocking the shelves, but when you ask them to stand back they become offended.

I used to love my job, I used to love interacting with the customers and having a laugh with them but I've seen so many in a new light now and it's not pleasant, I'm sorry I don't have the time of day for a lot of them. As for non essentials, it drives me crazy the amount of people who just pop in for a redbull, a lotto ticket, an ice cream, did you really need to come out and put us all at risk? I spend my life scared I will get covid 19 and that I will pass it to my family, I strip at the front door, wash myself and put my uniform in the washing machine before my husband and kids can cuddle me, they know they can't come anywhere near me if I'm in uniform, I work in a shop, I didn't sign up for this. Imagine how you would feel if you gave your children or partner covid19 because of your job? Because that's what we are going through every day we go to work!

Thank you everyone who has made nice comments, and those who are working in supermarkets etc who can understand what strain the staff are under. The ones who think I'm out of order- have a LOVELY day!

I don't shop often but have been told off for not using the one way system and for standing in the wrong place at the check our. No probs I apologise and get it right next time. Also any staff I see round the store I'll say hello to (from a safe distance) I work retail for 5 years would never be rude to staff

I've seen extremes. Staff that go the extra mile, others that seem to think that it's ok not to serve, be rude about doing what they are employed to do and throw safe distancing to the wind.
Our local big Sainsers is case in point. Appalling customer services.

When they leave I tell them to have a LOVELY day, and smile. (Underlying message, now fuck off and die cos I don't care). Works for me.

How can anyone agree with this? Have I missed something in @Undercoverworker06 post?

Because shock horror they're allowed thoughts you know! You're paying for the goods you're buying and the service from someone putting it on the shelf and through the checkout. Not a piece of their soul!
That poster didn't say they said it to customers, that it was an underlying message, not a verbalised one. You don't get a say in what a shop assistant thinks, no matter how much you bleat customer service.