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Original poster

Dear major UK supermarket ...

473 replies

LindorDoubleChoc · 04/07/2023 20:18

What would you like to say to the chief exec of the supermarkets you use? I'll start ...

If you are going to sell spinach in plastic bags, please at least direct that they are stored in the refrigerated section rather than on the general unrefrigerated vegetable shelves along with the potatoes and onions etc.

Thank you Sainsburys.

OP posts:
Vitriolinsanity · 09/07/2023 20:10

Put the air fryer time on packaging!

Twillow · 09/07/2023 20:33

Quisquam · 09/07/2023 11:23

So sick of hearing people moan about things like this, what's 'easier' for them while this climate crisis is being ignored at all (albeit worse at governmental) levels.

TBH, I’ve never understood the plastic bag thing. I used mine either as pedal bin liners; or I emptied the cats’ used litter into one, and then put it into the black bin bag - seeing as personal waste is suppose to be double bagged. How is it saving the planet, now I have to buy bags for life, nappy sacks (for just one cat’s poo); and bin liners when it’s all soiled, and needs fresh litter?

If I let my cats go all over my neighbours’ gardens, they could be complaining on MN next week, about how disgusting it is!

@Quisquam seeing as personal waste is suppose to be double bagged
Sorry but where did you get that idea from? Even in Covid we weren't told to do that.

Snailsaresweet · 09/07/2023 20:39

I'm an older person, but I spend most of my life online - I've set up my own website, have twitter/insta accounts etc etc. But when I can't get self-scanning to work, I'm patronised by your staff, who 'helpfully' tell me to do x,y & z. Which I've already done.

Sussexcricket · 09/07/2023 20:43

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 09/07/2023 20:04

As someone who works on the self service machines at tesco I have to say the majority of the problems are user error sorry

How is it my fault when I scan a barcode in Asda and it comes up on the screen what the item and price are - but then claims that it can't recognise the item and tells me to scan it (and be charged for it) again?

How is it my fault when I press 'brought own bags' in Tesco, put two of my large standard (rigid Aldi-style) bags on there and it demands that I wait for an assistant to verify that they are bags and not a heavy item that I'm trying to nick before it zeroes the scales?

You are right those happen to
Most of the time with the bags though it doesn't like it because people use bags full of other items from other shops /personal belongings and it's to heavy
Half of the time people scan and then don't put the item down or on the wrong side etc.

Quisquam · 09/07/2023 20:44

Sorry but where did you get that idea from? Even in Covid we weren't told to do that.

The blurb from our local authority, iirc?

Quisquam · 09/07/2023 20:52

Sorry but where did you get that idea from? Even in Covid we weren't told to do that.

Its certainly on their website, that tissues, etc contaminated with Covid must be double bagged and leave it for 72 hours, before putting it in the rubbish bin

veryfluffyfluff · 09/07/2023 22:01

Twillow · 09/07/2023 20:33

@Quisquam seeing as personal waste is suppose to be double bagged
Sorry but where did you get that idea from? Even in Covid we weren't told to do that.

Show quote history

It's meant to be double bagged. Nappies - double bagged - which is why biodegradable ones are particularly ridiculous they have to be in bag in a bag to then be buried in thr ground for 100+ years.

veryfluffyfluff · 09/07/2023 22:02

Quisquam · 09/07/2023 20:52

Sorry but where did you get that idea from? Even in Covid we weren't told to do that.

Its certainly on their website, that tissues, etc contaminated with Covid must be double bagged and leave it for 72 hours, before putting it in the rubbish bin

And yes you're right there was definitely guidance on covid tissues

TRexTara · 10/07/2023 00:20

@TomorrowToday where in the store can I buy them?

BigGreen · 10/07/2023 09:20

Please redesign your packaging to radically reduce the amount of plastic.

littleyellowarrow · 10/07/2023 09:32

If you insist on using coin-operated trolleys and I've arrived at the store and forgotten to bring a coin, you can guarantee I'll be buying a few things that'll go in a hand basket only as opposed to the bigger shop I'd planned.

Has anyone worked out the cost of having a trolley stolen versus the amount of revenue lost by people who turn up, realise they've not brought a pound and spend far less as a result?

veryfluffyfluff · 10/07/2023 09:36

littleyellowarrow · 10/07/2023 09:32

If you insist on using coin-operated trolleys and I've arrived at the store and forgotten to bring a coin, you can guarantee I'll be buying a few things that'll go in a hand basket only as opposed to the bigger shop I'd planned.

Has anyone worked out the cost of having a trolley stolen versus the amount of revenue lost by people who turn up, realise they've not brought a pound and spend far less as a result?

Would be good to know.

littleyellowarrow · 10/07/2023 09:36

Suggest asking your trolley-collecting staff to do random spot checks on cars parked in disabled bays. No badge displayed? Get your car/reg number read over the tannoy with a request to move it. 😈

MaryJanesonabreak · 10/07/2023 09:37

Please can we have the option of American style paper bags to put our shopping in. Extra thick ‘bags for life’ that many people buy every time they buy a single item just take an extra million years to break down.

Emotionalsupportviper · 10/07/2023 09:51

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 09/07/2023 00:04

@Pipsquiggle i cant use the self scan. They never work for me. I was actually banned from using them at our old Tesco as I went through 5 in 5 minutes and they couldn’t be resurrected from the dead. I can’t wear new digital or sport watches either, as they last around a month and then refuse to work again. Old fashioned wind up one works ok.
on line shopping works fine for me, but no longer doing a full trolley shop has meant I spend a lot less overall - no impulse purchasing. So a win for me and a loss for the store.

I can’t wear new digital or sport watches either, as they last around a month and then refuse to work again

Same here!

I just gave up on watches altogether and rely on being annoying and asking other people the time 50x a day.

I'll have a look for a wind up watch.

Emotionalsupportviper · 10/07/2023 09:59

MaryJanesonabreak · 10/07/2023 09:37

Please can we have the option of American style paper bags to put our shopping in. Extra thick ‘bags for life’ that many people buy every time they buy a single item just take an extra million years to break down.

We used to get strong brown paper carrier bags at one time in the UK. I remember them well. They had string handles.

neveradullmoment99 · 10/07/2023 10:16

Please put more checkout staff on
@ Asda, I'm looking at you! Not everyone wants to scan a full shopping trolley of stuff.. My Asda has cut down on staff. Really long queues like the Covid days.
Automation🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

neveradullmoment99 · 10/07/2023 10:17

littleyellowarrow · 10/07/2023 09:32

If you insist on using coin-operated trolleys and I've arrived at the store and forgotten to bring a coin, you can guarantee I'll be buying a few things that'll go in a hand basket only as opposed to the bigger shop I'd planned.

Has anyone worked out the cost of having a trolley stolen versus the amount of revenue lost by people who turn up, realise they've not brought a pound and spend far less as a result?

I hate this. I end up going to a different supermarket for this reason.

VegetablesFightingToReclaimTheAubergieneEmoji · 10/07/2023 10:22

littleyellowarrow · 10/07/2023 09:36

Suggest asking your trolley-collecting staff to do random spot checks on cars parked in disabled bays. No badge displayed? Get your car/reg number read over the tannoy with a request to move it. 😈

There’s been a big rise in that near me.

I like running up to them as they get out the parent and toddler bay

“you’ve forgotten your baby”

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 10/07/2023 11:10

You are right those happen to
Most of the time with the bags though it doesn't like it because people use bags full of other items from other shops /personal belongings and it's to heavy
Half of the time people scan and then don't put the item down or on the wrong side etc.

Oh, I know that a lot of people are clueless when they use them - I see them all the time; but I was dubious of your claim that most problems that people experience with the robot tills are down to user error.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 10/07/2023 11:20

Would be good to know.

It seems absolutely insane to have a simple well-proven method with which to enable people to buy a large amount of items from your shop - i.e. a shopping trolley - and then to prevent them from using it.

Our local Asda doesn't provide their own free car park - the adjacent one is owned by the council and you have to pay, but Asda have never troubled themselves to offer to pay for parking for customers spending a reasonable minimum - as minnow Waitrose does.

There are spaces in the streets around the edge of the car park where you can park free for an hour, but they've now nobbled the trolleys so that they lock if you try to take them beyond the car park to your free space. It never used to be a problem as people just left the trolleys there around the edge and the trolley collectors came to get them back - no drama.

Now, every time I go to Asda, the uppermost thought in my mind is "Will I be able to carry this to my car, or do I need to leave it and buy it when I next go to another supermarket that does offer a car park? Madness for any shop to actively discourage people from buying stuff from them. And the trolleys shake and rattle in the store (but don't roll very smoothly) now that they've nobbled one wheel on all of them to make them uneven.

violinviolet · 10/07/2023 11:30

To Sainsburys here where I live- please can we have our fresh deli back. I miss it

GettingStuffed · 10/07/2023 11:54

Stop putting the film on meat, yoghurt etc with super glue. You have a corner unglued so you can rip the top off, only it won't because it's impossible to do.

neveradullmoment99 · 10/07/2023 12:41

GettingStuffed · 10/07/2023 11:54

Stop putting the film on meat, yoghurt etc with super glue. You have a corner unglued so you can rip the top off, only it won't because it's impossible to do.

Oh yes! Why oh why!

EsmaCannonball · 10/07/2023 13:00

All supermarkets - please relocate to places where people can get to you without driving.

Most supermarkets - stop mixing the customer service desk with the kiosk. It just creates a massive queue.

My local Waitrose - you replaced the lovely patisserie section with a dingy-looking café that hardly anyone seems to use. I miss the apple strudel and the mint and white chocolate cheesecake. Bring back the patisserie!