Supermarkets - It's not all Bad News

[Whyareblokesonhere]

I don't work for them, have no direct loyalty but I shopped in my local Waitrose today, it's biggish one in Devon and it was heaving, really really busy, I picked up some parcels, my Christmas food order and some did some other shopping - spoke to three people for various reasons, all really helpful and friendly, one or two small bits I couldn't get but to be honest that just saved us from eating stuff we don't really need - all round a great experience. I do feel sorry for shop workers generally especially when on here it's just always moan and groans! Would love to hear more positive stories of your local supermarkets

Of course my happiness might be fuelled by the prosecco I've accidently opened
🙄😋

Picked up a click and collect from
local Tesco. Parking just next to the shopping, all brought over to me at a convenient height for loading in the car. A couple of minor substitutions (eg different size of the same item). Cheerful, friendly and polite staff. Very positive experience.

My local Waitrose staff are always friendly and helpful. I live alone and sometimes during lockdown they were the only people I spoke to F2F, but they always had time for a chat. How they keep cheerful and smiling at this time of year beats me.

Went in Aldis yesterday with a list got all but two items i wanted bumped into a friend we havent seen for a while so that was nice and aldi staff always friendly in ours even though they were under pressure

I posted on a different thread that our Tesco shopping yesterday was a very positive experience. Everyone seemed cheerful and in good humour, even though it was pouring with rain and freezing cold. We got everything we needed, the shelves were fully stocked, all the assistants were doing a great job of replenishing the stock and everyone was friendly and grateful.

Probably one of the best Christmas shopping experiences we've ever had. Not at all the doom and gloom everyone seems to have been expecting. The store was nice and warm as well, so they must have kept the heating turned up to keep all the customers warm.

Bargains of the day - sprouts, carrots, parsnips and potatoes all at 19p a bag, which was a bit damn good 👍

I went to Tesco today. Inside the supermarket it wasn't too bad, but the carpark was crazy!

I popped into Tesco today for a few last minute bits... car park and shop wasn't to bad.

But it was busier at the tills with queuing about 4-5 deep. A lovely lady came up to me and asked if I am paying by card ... to which I answered yes.
She then told me to follow her to the self service check out. I did hesitate but she reassured me that they will scan my shopping and place it in my bag- which they did!
Excellent service, I was out much quicker than I thought I would be.

Yay, MN definitely needs more good news stories, we take so much for granted in this country, if anyone works for Waitrose thank you, especially if you work the heavitree one but really thanks to everyone that works in supermarkets, it must be hard work for min wage!

Funny you should start this - our local Morrison's isn't great usually .Lovely staff but it does have lots of gaps on shelves .
This morning it was a cornucopia of goods ,shelves bursting with produce and more waiting to replenish.
Staff as usual lovely .
I'd contact the HO but it seems the method is a well hidden secret .

I had to go to Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco today for various reasons. All fine, queues at checkouts but I do scan shop so went really quickly. Loads of stock.

Apart from regular Coca Cola, out of stock everywhere.

Lovely to see a nice thread relating to retail workers. DP works for a well known retailer and my goodness have they all been worked to the bone and under a lot of pressure this lead up to Christmas. There is so much sickness, a lot of worry about looming restructures or closures. DP has store managers (and all other staff frankly) working 7 day weeks and multiple double shifts (eg a 12+ hour day) to meet demand and keep trading as well as possible, and he has been up at 4am every day this December, out the door by 5 and not home until 8 or 9. I imagine they'll all be collapsing on Christmas day (those that get it off anyway, because not all of them do). There's been a huge push to trade well this Christmas because in reality, it hasn't been a good year in retail and there are real concerns about what that means for the future. It's also a good time to remind people that retail managers don't generally get paid their overtime, but are certainly doing a lot of it, and aren't paid particularly well in the first place.

As an aside I popped into the nearest sainsbury's a few days ago (prior to coming down with covid, lovely) and it was fab, a few unimportant things out of stock which can't be helped but lots of staff available, far more checkouts open than usual and a much quicker in/out than usual for me.

If anyone has a good experience please do contact Head Office and say so, preferably take a name if you received good service. It might seem silly to some but there is an awful lot of pride at work and every customer compliment absolutely gets passed on to an area manager who will then pass it on to the store or congratulate them in a newsletter, or awarded vouchers or similar. DP has been handing out company gift vouchers to staff all week to thank them where this is the case and that wouldn't happen if people didn't write or email in to name staff who've been helpful or friendly or to say they like shopping in 'x' store.

My son got a Christmas job at M&S (teenager), they have been great with him and very patient even though it is a busy time and they are probably stressed! (DS has excitedly told me about his days!) So thank you M&S, you have no idea how much I appreciate it (He has been through a rough time and needed a boost!). You have a new customer!

I used to work in supermarkets and actually loved this time of year, despite the odd weirdness you’d get! I was speaking to a friend who still works in a supermarket and we both agreed this is the best time of year to work retail. It’s busy but it feels good and gets you in the Christmas spirit. Always nice to see people being appreciative of retail staff as well

@dontgobaconmyheart - I've just completed a feedback form to Morrisons .It wasn't hard to find after all .Previous experience of wanting to discuss an issue that didn't fit with the prescribed categories had skewed my impression of how contact friendly Morrisons are.

Lidl yesterday was quiet and very manageable. Unfortunately the staff were bizarre, on one side of me I had a staff member dealing with a situation being really lovely to a customer, however the till on the other side the staff member was dealing with the exact same situation horribly, nearly had the customer in tears. I could quite believe the difference

I seem to have been in at least one if not two different supermarkets each day this week and have found the staff in all of them to be helpful and friendly and the supermarkets themselves to be generally well stocked. My online delivery was a few minutes early (having called in advance to check that that was OK) and, whilst there were a few subs, they were all sensible.

I work in retail (not a supermarket) and am fortunate in that the vast majority of my customers are really lovely ... one of the regular ones gave me a Christmas card yesterday .. a very expensive 'individual' one with such a lovely message saying how much she appreciated my kindness and everything I did for her. . I was so grateful.

Lidl's staff were friendly and professional as always yesterday, all 6 tills open plus 6 self serve and an extra person to deal with problems at the self serve eg buying alcohol

The only issue I’ve found is so much stuff has short dated items. Yule logs and pigs in blankets and main Christmas meals like prepped salmon or beef dated the 24th.

It messes up the shelves and some rummage at the back, staff are taken off shelf stacking to reduce items and people are forced into returning every few days to see ifs back in stock with later dates.

I do think people are trying harder this year to be nice to shop staff. It’s got a bit like performance parenting. now though “ hello, lovely shop person, I can see you are so busy but places can you find xxxx, you are amazing, thank you, doing such a good job, thank you” etc etc. All you are doing is telling them frozen pastry is on aisle 5 😁

Did our big shop Wednesday at Asda, even though it was very early in the morning all the shelves, fridges and freezers were fully stocked. All the staff were wearing their Christmas jumpers and hats, and the store had a great atmosphere.
We did scan and go at the checkout, no queuing at all.
Wishing all retail workers a Happy Christmas and New Year.

DH went to Morrisons yesterday morning and had no complaints. I had to stop at co-op for a few bits he couldn't get in Morrisons and my biggest issue was half the carpark was underwater and I had to park in a really awkward space that required about an 8 point turn to get out!😂inside the shop was very civilised although I was only there 5 min.
I feel bad for people working in retail and hospitality because they often bear the brunt of people being busy/stressed and short tempered at Christmas.