Has Tesco become much noisier lately, or is it just my local store?

[AInightingale]

Has Tescos become unbearably noisy or is it just me or my local store?
Just that really. Noticed over the past while that I hate being in there. Nearly all self service (about two 'human' tills open on an average day) and constant alarms. Tags on loads of stuff, people triggering the security gate thing every minute or so. Similar alarms at the door. High-pitched horrible beeping from large trolleys the staff use to wheel heavy stuff around the store, and a tannoy that would shred your eardrums (not a new development, admittedly). It's odd as I remember it being quite quiet, and a fairly laidback experience (if shopping can ever be called that). Now I can't bloody wait to get out!

Supermarkets like Tesco take a lot more money on the online home deliveries than through the actual tills, and would probably prefer for everyone to do same, thus they have no intention of improving in store customer experience.

I shop at two different branches ~

(1) In the city centre ~ loads of security staff, regularly see shoplifters and children from the local school nicking sweets from the pick & mix. Staff always seem miserable and reluctant to help. A lady was taken unwell a few months ago whilst in the checkout queue ~ customers helped her but the staff just watched (they asked for the first aider to come but no-one appeared). Outside of the supermarket is a disgrace ~ absolutely filthy. I don't go there unless I have to

(2) In a residential part of the city ~ lovely shopping experience. There is a really nice cafe, spotless toilets and a room which can be used by community groups for their meetings. The staff are happy and helpful. Very little evidence of security other than one bored security guard hanging around the customer service desk near the entrance.

So it obviously depends on the branch if my experience is anything to go by

Its the fridge doors that are doing my head in.

Who came up with the idea of having aisles just widecenough for people to ve looking at each shelf, and have someone move through the middle would work if eveyobecwho wants a chilled item needs to open a door into the aisle???

I've switched supermarkets to avoid that chais, but expect it's only a matter of time until that one is converted too.

Im mean, I get the energy side of it, but it needs a different opening mechanism.

It’s about how well the manager manages the staff, the stock and the environment. One local Aldi, a pretty new store, was spoiled by poor handling of stock and grubby floors, lackadaisical staff and empty shelves, so we stopped going and went to the next nearest. Then we were passing one day and popped in for something we’d forgotten. It was completely different in a positive way. I assume there was a different manager in charge, but it was an altogether different experience and we’ve gone back to the original.

It’s the click and collect pickers that drive me mad. In my local store they chat constantly, block aisles and are generally a pain in the arse.
I haven’t been for ages because of this and much prefer Lidl.

Agree my local Tesco is awful for this reason!!

I hate those locked Spirit safes they have and yes there’s a horrendous cacophony in our big one.

Perhaps blame the people who have home deliveries and not the pickers.

I don't often go into ours but I do get a weekly home delivery from them which is ace. However. I popped into our local Asda today and it was just awful, too noisy, too random but mainly the location tbh

It's been noticed by others then! Thought I was just being noise-sensitive (which I am). Hard for people with young ND children I'd imagine - they do have a 'quiet hour' once a week but they couldn't possibly switch all those multiple alarms off or it would also be 'shoplifter's hour', presumably. What a time to be alive huh.