To think that M&S were being shitty about this?

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I'm standing here on my market stall, facing M&S front entrance. They have approx 70ft of frontage, with at least half of that being recessed window space. bear with me, I'm going somewhere with this
A while ago, it started pouring. The recesses filled up with people sheltering from the downpour.
A member of M&S staff came out, approached the Big Issue seller who was amongst the crowd, and told him to move on. He wasnt selling, just keeping dry!
I'm at this, it was pissing down, and he was singled out of a crowd of about 30 people!

That is because they are arseholes of the hyacinth bucket order!

shocking !

That's horrific! Which M&S is that?

I'm sure it would of been a snooty shopper going inside and asking them to tell the person to move on. Otherwise why would they come and analyse everyone outside and single him out.
It's awful that he was singled out, but i'm sure it was a reult of people complaining he was there and not just meanness of M&S's part

YANBU.

I take it you've called him over to shelter at your stall?

I'd be inclined to write a firm email to the store manager, and CC in some head office bod. Chap from M&S was on the radio yesterday morning talking about how ethical they are

Hi Saggy!

yes, that is shitty - YANBU

if he wasn't hassling people to buy (which Big Issue sellers aren't allowed to do anyway, I think) then he had as much right as anyone to stand out of the rain

Sounds like a jobs worth. I assume no one is allowed to collect/sell without written permission from the store. Idiot.

Really? Would someone actually go into M & S and complain about a Big Issue seller sheltering outside their store?

Yes, some jobsworth twat huh. It would be interesting to find out M&S's policy on this though.

Put it on Twitter and name and shame the store.

I agree it is a shitty thing to do, but I know he wasnt selling and it was raining he was just looking for shelter etc. Though do M&S own that little bit of land under that roof? If so would they be allowed to have someone on their land with their own product (in this case the big issue) to sell? Maybe they thought he was selling it there and it was their land so he wasn't allowed.

It was M&S in Chelmsford.

P.s
How's it going over there?

Raining...so much the same as in Chelmsford, really

There was something on Twitter the other day about a store where people were sheltering from the rain under their aswning, and the store manager retracted it so they all got soaked. Cue grovelling apologies when they got angry messages from (former) customers. Picking on one person out of a crowd is far worse IMO.

how strange I'm just in the middle of doing a M&S order, stopped to get a cup of tea, came back to computer and MN came up, saw M&S clicked on thread in case it was warning about orders,

what a truly horrible thing to do, should someone send a link of this thread to M&S head office and the big issue,

oh and if they do I'm sure that M&S will be pleased to know I have now cancelled my order,I was up to £246, and still had a few items to go, unless I hear that M&S are actively supporting the big issue I won't spend another penny with them,

I don't fund bullies, talk about kicking someone when they are down.

So they want us to take in old clothes to donate to Oxfam, so the less fortunate can get help?

Oh the irony of what you have just done M&S, on the back of your super duper ad campaign.

Awful behaviour.

Maybe they had a reason????????

They might rent out that piece of land and cant have the big issue on their property as they dont sell it.

Yes I saw he was just keeping dry, but maybe they thought he was trying to sell it on their property. Or maybe he did sell one and the OP didn't see it? Or maybe Im completely wrong. Either way I wasnt there and dont know what went on so certainly wont be boycotting it over a story someone told me.

Tbh, even if he was selling, it would be a shitty thing to do!