Shame on you Sainsbury's

[JumpLeadsForTwo]

Went into our local middle sized Sainsbury's yesterday and just had to complain. One end of the fruit and veg aisle which had previously had a variety of veg had gone. Replaced by Christmas offers for huge boxes of crisps and biscuits
I know they are just trying to push their Christmas sales, and that people will buy them, but come on, there is the whole store to use.

Where has anyone got that I was rude or shouted?! I am the most laid back person usually, and my "rant" is probably a bit of poetic license for the internet. I have never once been rude or shouted to anyone in retail, let alone a teenager. I simply pointed out that I wasn't happy with the missing veg being replaced by such large boxes of crisps when they could have put them anywhere else.

So you would rather that they left the gaps in the F&V section instead of using the space to sell stock?

Shops would rather have areas in their store filled with whatever stock they have instead of having empty shelves and a bare area.
You are aware that getting stock into and out of the UK is much harder since Brexit, right? Fresh fruit and vegetables unless they are grown, picked and shipped within the UK are harder to get to store. So, rather than have an empty shelf or shelves where you would have normally found fresh produce, this supermarket stocked it with items that they have and can sell, though may not be as healthy as a stick of celery or whatever.
Remind me why you were complaining again??

I understand where the OP is coming from. Moving the fresh stuff and replacing it with junk food sends a message that the junk is more important.children in particular will pick up this message.

Shops used to put sweets and chocolates by the till until people complained. Cigarettes used to be sold openly and not behind a cabinet.

Sometimes businesses will listen if people make constructive comments (I dislike the word complain) if impacts on their profits. I do agree that it is not fair to take irritations up on the shop floor staff though, who are only doing what the managers tell them

I love crisps and biscuits. Were they good offers?

@ColinTheKoala how are u so sure what happened? Were u there also?

@Tilltheend99

Well this is the most bizarre thread of the day.

Agreed. Supermarket rearranges it’s stock for the purpose of Christmas marketing, but fruit and veg are still available shocker. Ridiculous.

@Drumshambo

Loving the back track op!! You're very paid back, and there was no ranting involved. Nice bit of virtue signalling as well. Obesity crisis tick, pandemic tick😂

No virtue signaling- I've worked in healthcare throughout the pandemic and see the long term consequences (chronic debilitating physical and mental health) of unhealthy lifestyles ever day.

@JumpLeadsForTwo

I am peri menopausal so finding myself rant at things generally, but I don't care. Customer services are there to help, and things don't change if people don't complain. I wasn't rude at all, just pointed out that there were healthy items missing from their store and replaced by unhealthy food, and in the current climate that is a problem

You WERE rude. Bit you yourself say you don't care using menopause as an excuse to rant at a teenager leaving them bemused. Because customer services are 'there to help'

I'm a retail manager, and daily I have to pick up the pieces rude customers leave behind..... the mental health of retail staff is at an all time low, your 'rant' may well have ruined someone's day

Get over yourself, it's just food!

@JumpLeadsForTwo

The most effective thing is to take your business elsewhere. A greengrocer store perhaps. Ranting at a 'bemused' teenager will achieve nothing and make you look silly at best.

Smoking used to be the big killer, but no where near now in comparison, and that took many many years of clear research before things changed.

This really is daft, because closer to Xmas they take up extra space with Xmas veg and fresh goods and you have to side step to get past it.
Like others have said, they were filling space, if they have veg it would’ve been filled with veg.

@xxxGirlCrushxxx

I agree with you. Why do some people feel the need to rant at customer service staff, including teenagers earning whilst still in education, when they don't make any of the marketing decisions. It's just rude and I agree using peri menopausal is a poor excuse. It's just low standards and no manners.

I feel for the retail staff having to listen to the ranting of a person who cannot locate a few vegetables because someone moved them!

For any retail staff here who need support from having to deal with customers constantly upsetting you/bullying/shouting/abuse of any sort

Free counselling and support

www.retailtrust.org.uk/

Shame the Op didn't have any consideration for the mental health of the teenage assistant she ranted at.

The arsehole of the year award goes to…

Really? There’s stock shortages in all supermarkets at the minute, they were probably filling gaps like most supermarkets have.
Shop elsewhere, not that hard.

So write a complaint to head office and the CEO. Don’t bully a teenager who works at the customer service desk.

@JumpLeadsForTwo

Smoking used to be the big killer, but no where near now in comparison, and that took many many years of clear research before things changed.

Ah, I see what you're doing here. You've suddenly transformed from a ranting at teenage staff pain in the arse to a selfless HCP. Nice move op. Doesn't change the fact that you ranted at a teenager does it!

I e had responses via Twitter and an email to the chief exec.

@JumpLeadsForTwo

Smoking used to be the big killer, but no where near now in comparison, and that took many many years of clear research before things changed.

Nice attempt at a derail, now that you've been called out on being a bully!

[quote withlotsoflove]@ColinTheKoala how are u so sure what happened? Were u there also?[/quote]
No but I don't start accusing people of lying when I wasn't there.

Anyway I think everyone on this thread got out of the wrong side of bed this morning - so much grumpiness.

Wonder if OP has kids and would like them bullied as she bullied the teenager.....everyone is someone's son/ daughter

OP would you have preferred this? Supermarkets got flack for filling gaps in the fruit & veg aisles a few months ago with cardboard cutouts - so clearly they've taken that criticism on board and are utilising that empty space for additional stock. I'd rather that, than empty shelves & fake fruit & veg!

@JumpLeadsForTwo

I am peri menopausal so finding myself rant at things generally, but I don't care. Customer services are there to help, and things don't change if people don't complain. I wasn't rude at all, just pointed out that there were healthy items missing from their store and replaced by unhealthy food, and in the current climate that is a problem

What do you want the teenager that works there to do about it. You just had a rant at someone who has no control over anything in the store because you can't control your temper. Did ranting at a teenager and making them feel shot make you feel better?

There’s empty gaps due to delivery problems, so they’ve not removed the fruit and veg they’ve just not got it and filled it with something else. Have you not been to a shop or watched the news in the last 4 months.
I bet you’ve given the customer service staff a giggle.