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AIBU?

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Original poster

To feel like crying in Tescos

143 replies

bluebeach · 10/02/2011 15:28

I am 8 and a half months pregnant and very hormonal so just having a moan really.

Have just popped to Tescos and as usual ended up with a basket full of shopping. Having lugged it round the shop I got to a free checkout isle and put my basket on it. A highly 'efficient' store manager approached me and asked me to take my basket to the basket isle at the other end of the shop as people with trollies wanted to use the isle I was on (looked around, no one behind me). Ok I thought, but then looked to the other end of the store where the basket isle had a queue. I said 'look can't I just go through here' I had a massive basket full and really didn't fancy hauling it to the other end of the shop and then queuing.

Looking at me like I was being very unreasonable she was then verified as a man came up behind me with a trolly with about 10 things in...much less than what I had. '
"see, other people need to use this isle'.
Actually feeling like crying I then had to carry my basket to the other till and wait about 10 minutes till I could pay. In the mean time, the trolly man whipped through and then isle again stood free. I would have put up more of a fight but I was so knackered after going round the shop and thought I would probably just cry in front of everyone if I tried to protest.

I know she will have had some kind of quota for keeping queues down, but it was just sh*t customer services.

Sorry rant over!! Tescos is bollocks anyway, I'm never shopping there again.

OP posts:
clippityclop · 10/02/2011 16:02

Poor you. Hope you feel better now. I'd definately write a letter of complaint about the dreadful treatment you've experienced, and then change upermarkets or avoid them altogether. I find I spend less money and we eat better now I've swapped Tesco for my local stores and tnen M&S for special offers. Good luck with the baby.

Loopynoo · 10/02/2011 16:02

To be honest, I wouldn't have just felt like crying, I would have cried and probably caused a big fusss too to show the silly woman up! I am sure other customers and maybe the bloke behind would have stepped in. After all if you can't be a big emotional in public when heavily pregnant and get away with it, when can you?!

What a "fail" on common sense (oh, the manager not you OP! Wink

Have a nice cup of tea and next time you are in that tesco look for said manager, pretend to go into labour, watch her face, feel satisfied, walk out... Grin

ThePerfectFather · 10/02/2011 16:07

It's complete nonsense. For one thing, baskets tend to have less in, so what trolley-user would ever say "I want to see a trolley full in front of me, not a basket full" if you know what I mean. I've never ever heard of a policy like that and it sounds like some crazy bullshit she's got into her head. No way is that Tesco policy.

I feel even more annoyed that you bloody listened to her! What were you thinking? I would have told her no and I think everybody else would too. Grow a pair!

goingmadinthecountry · 10/02/2011 16:10

I'd have gone mad! I'd probably have done a sit in and insisted on someone sensible coming to apaologise to me and pack my shopping. It's outrageous, and much as I loathe Tesco, I can't imagine anyone in our local store being that vile, rude or jobsworth.

TBH if I was trolley man I'd probably have told her where to stick her clipboard too. Honestly, whatever happened to courtesy and common sense? I've heard of basket only aisles, but never the other way round. Care to share which Tesco it was? I think you deserve a £10 voucher and a bunch of flowers (plus apology) at least!

activate · 10/02/2011 16:14

YABU

SPEAK UP FOR YOURSELF NEXT TIME

TELL HER TO FUCK THE FUCK OFF

usualsuspect · 10/02/2011 16:16

Seems odd to me ..I've never heard of Tesco doing this

kittybuttoon · 10/02/2011 16:17

Complain! Insist they view this incident on their CCTV tapes, and use it for training purposes!

lottiejenkins · 10/02/2011 16:19

OP I feel very sorry for you.I would find the Tescos chief execs email and send him a copy of this thread!!!

Gemsy83 · 10/02/2011 16:23

Im sorry but what a load of shit- theres no such thing as a trolley only aisle, complain to customer services about this idiot assistant.

KirstyJC · 10/02/2011 16:33

What an idiot!! I go to the nearest aisle with the shortest queue - I have put trollies through the 10 items aisle (IF there are fewer than 10 things in), and a basket in the main aisles. Never been told I can't.

There are no rules, surely? It's not illegal FFS! I have also refused to go to the self-service tills as I always seem to have an unexpected item in the bagging area - which of course is always MY fault according to the sales assistant who scowls at me when she has to help me.

I think you should most definitely complain. If there was no-one behind you to start with then they were clearly bonkers.

KirstyJC · 10/02/2011 16:34

Sorry - just to clarify, she's the idiot not you Blush

TragicallyHip · 10/02/2011 16:38

What a twat! No way would I have moved. You should write and complain for sure!

FabbyChic · 10/02/2011 16:39

I would have asked for an empty trolley or asked to speak to the Manager, what an absolute asshole jobsworth.

WincyEtNightie · 10/02/2011 16:40

I watched this happen at a Tesco the other day (near Cambridge). There was quite a queue at the basket only check out too!

The people in question refused to move (fair enough)and then had a good rant at it to the till lady who was trying not to get drawn in.

OP, YANBU. And yes, complain it's bloody stupid.

theoffsiderule · 10/02/2011 16:40

YANBU - I'd deffo do an email to the store manager as that's rubbish about trolley only aisles (just checked with little bro as he's an "operative" there in his holidays)

Minor hijack - also at 8mo pregnant, a very creepy middle aged checkout man in our new Tesco said to me "oooh I love serving pregnant ladies, you've got such a lovely aura about you" and went on to say "pregnant women are my favourites, you all look so gorgeous" and "what is it about pregnancy in women, it just really excites me?". Note to self not to go back to that till next time, but not paying attention one day, I found myself with him again, same sort of borderline inappropriate statements about pregnant women. I snapped at him that I did not want to hear it and then reported to customer services - DP was with me the 1st time and could not believe what he was hearing!

KaraStarbuckThrace · 10/02/2011 16:44

I would have gone straight to customer services and demanded to speak to the duty manager. What an arse!

HecateQueenOfWitches · 10/02/2011 16:46

Well, you shouldn't have moved. You didn't have to.

However, I know that when you are in the situation, it can sometimes be difficult to think on your feet. Oh, how many times have I been struck dumb only to run through it afterwards and have a hundred things I could have said Grin

If you are in that situation again, then ask them to show you the sign that says that baskets may not go through that particular checkout.

I have never seen a trolley only checkout.

GandTiceandaslice · 10/02/2011 16:50

I rarely go to my tesco as the place makes me murderous.
But they try & make me go to those self service checkouts.
No. I hate them. I'd rather queue for a few minutes.

Soups · 10/02/2011 16:51

Write a letter of complaint, that's awful. I often go through a normal checkout and yet to have a problem, or see a sign!

Often found going central gets better results than to the store manager.
www.tescohelp.com/tesco/forms/cs_form.html

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 10/02/2011 16:53

It wouldn't happen in Waitrose.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 10/02/2011 16:54

Write the letter of complaint to the chief executive of Tesco, you may get a zillion clubcard points..

mrstimlovejoy · 10/02/2011 16:54

i'd have tipped the shopping onto the conveyor belt and walked off or put it into a trolley and then gone back to the same till.
sounds like a right little jobsworth.i'd definitely write in and complain.she could have at least offered to carry the basket for you to the other till.
my friend had an experience in tesco today too.she wanted to buy something from tesco direct that was reduced,went into local tesco and they had the exact item instore but double the price Hmm.asked at customer services if she could purchase it at reduced price but was told no she could only order it from tesco direct.thinks like that baffle me one price in a catalogue different price instore.

Soups · 10/02/2011 16:56

mrstimlovejoy they probably have a health and safety policy that states staff can't carry customers shopping Grin

nickschick · 10/02/2011 16:57

years ago I was heavily pregnant with ds2 and my mil was dying - shopping in asda a sad song came on the tannoy .....I sat down and cried (and i dont do lady like crying -i cry with attitude) an assistant found me took me to the side,a manager came and sat me down and put a call out for dh to come and get me (he was in the store too) by the time dh had arrived theyd offered to pay for my shopping(thinking that i hadnt enough money) and given me an ice lolly Grin they were fab and bagged our shopping and everything whilst I snivelled and snotted my way through a mivvi.

Bubblerapped · 10/02/2011 16:59

Absolutely no way would I have taken any notice of her. To the point that I would have held up the queue and demanded she fetch the manager.

It pisses me off when people with a trolley load use the basket till. There was a woman with a trolley full at the till next to me last week which had these huuuuuuge signs saying "basket only".. so I gave her my best paddington stare, and raised my eyes to the sign... she ignored me but I felt better for doing it.. Grin

I have a really bad shoulder though, so I get a trolley, put a basket IN IT.. and push my "basket" around the store Grin