To think this is in fact NOT less embarrassing for the laydeez?

[RevoltingPeasant]

I was in my local supermarket last night to buy a pg test (bfn before anyone asks :( ). The space on the shelf where they would normally be was totally empty but you could see that was where they normally were as there were price tags, old display boxes. Sod's law, I thought, but there was a woman stacking shelves near by so I thought I'd confirm that they really had sold out of every kind of pg test.

"Oh no," she said, "we keep them behind the pharmacy counter now." She went over to the counter and mouthed pregnancy test at the pharmacist.

"What?" He said.

" Pregnancy test " she hissed back, pointing to me. I'd come over to the counter now and there was someone now queuing behind me.

"Right, which one do you want?"

Erm I don't know, as I can't see what you have?! He pulled out the supermarket own brand one, which I hadn't been going to buy, but whatever. He then told me I needed to pay for that at the pharmacy counter, not the main tills, but I couldn't pay for my other shopping at the counter.

I asked (politely) why they had out pg tests away and was told "Ah, it's because ladies like you don't want to go through the main tills with these. Some ladies find it embarrassing, so we do it more discreet-like here."

AIBU to,think this is a) not more discreet, b) means you can't browse the different tests, and c) a pain in the fucking arse?

(Yes I know it's a first world problem etc.)

Morloth that's my point, it isn't - or shouldn't be - which is why this was such a freakin weird encounter. I am guessing it is as others have Sid, anti theft, but I do find the whole saving your blushes excuse to be odd and pretty sexist!

No hassle of this kind at the pound shop

I guess the younger women might be embarrassed, or secretive about it - I know when I was a teenager, even buying tampons was a bit of a redface thing for me. Things were a bit more "behind closed doors" back then though (30+ years ago), or at least I felt they were. Buying a pg test would have been mortifying.

So perhaps, Revolting, he was trying to suggest that you are a mere slip of a girl to be likely to be embarrassed, you must be young and freshfaced! Or he was indeed a smoothhound (like that description!)

Loo roll TAMPON? You shoved loo roll up there? Isn't that dangerous?

I've obviously used loo roll pads, but TAMPONS???

What's embarrassing about buying a pregnancy test?

Being 16, fucking terrified and buying one at the Tesco near your school hoping desperately that no one you know (school kid, friend of mum, teacher) sees you. I imagine that scenario might be embarrassing.

Agree with others though. We all know that managers don't tell shop floor people the truth. The shop floor guy probably did believe it was for 'blush sparing' purposes.

Almost definitely moved because of theft.

same reason all the crab treatment shampoo is behind the counter

Because the 'blush-sparing' scenario doesn't even work.

You'd have them on the shelf, for the brazen hussies, AND behind the pharmacy counter, for the shrinking violets. Exactly as whatever wine they're pushing is in an aisle-end 'bargain' display but also on its usual shelf so customers who already buy it regularly can find it where they expect to.

Anyway - SomethingOnce is right. They've started selling them in pound shops. So why on earth anyone's shoplifting them from the supermarket...

People are weird.

But wouldn't them just being on the shelf to be thrown in with the other shopping be a better option for 16 year olds in a bind.

Still wouldn't say it was 'embarrassing' exactly. Private maybe but there isn't anything wrong about buying a pregnancy test.

Completely different but this thread has reminded me.. When I was pregnant and suffered from horrendous morning sickness I went to the pharmacy section of local tescos and asked the (female) pharmacist if they had anything for morning sickness.

She asked if it was just in the morning. I said no it's all day. She looked at me funny then asked in a knowing way when my last period was. I was a bit then realised she thought that she thought she was going to be the first to break it to me I was pregnant! What the fuck did she think I meant by "morning sickness"? What kind of pharmacist doesn't know what morning sickness is?

Obviously, being British, we just don't ever have sex and to mention it is an abomination!

Why don't they put dummy boxes on the shelves so you can at least read the info and make a choice before you get to the pharmacy?

I agree with morloth - less embarrassing, more private. After trying for ages after miscarriage I really didn't want anyone to know I might be pregnant... so shouting my request across Asda was pretty comic as I was desperately trying to be quiet in case any of my work colleagues were in earshot!

If you were 15 with an unwanted pregnancy. That might not ve something you'd want people to know.

IMO it's because people steal them, nothing to do with embarrassment. Pregnancy tests, pregnancy vitamins and kids vitamins always have extra security tags on them at our local Boots. Always makes me a bit sad.

Seems a bit stupid I like to have a look and check out the offers like £10 a pack or two for £15..

I did have fun one day when a lady was stacking the shelfs (condoms, lubes and pregnancy tests) though I was 8months pregnant stood behind her and she asked if she was in my way I said no I think its a bit late now as she went bright red and rushed away

When I bought a pregnancy test in Tesco (off the shelf alongside some cat food and toblerone), the young lad that served me picked the test up, waved it about a bit and said "oooooohhh, somebody's in trouble!"

I imagine they do get stolen a lot, and I also understand why some people may not want to be accidentally seen by people they know with one in their basket, or to have it shouted across a counter by the shop assistant that 'this woman here needs a PG test.' You never know who might be within earshot and being PG doest always mean you are delighted and will be having a baby. If you thought you were PG and were really stressed about it, and your mother's nosy neighbor was at the back of the queue with her lug holes flapping you'd have been pretty pissed off if the assistant had said it out loud.

So, to conclude, YABU. And you are only thinking your own POV yourself and not the wider picture. What they should do is have the empty boxes on display so you can peruse to your heart's content without the scrutiny of the pharmacist, and then take the empty box to the counter.

At my old university Spar the tampons are behind the counter. I popped in the other day, they're still there. Have you ever tried explaining to a hungover 18 year old boy exactly which tampons you want? Baffling, really.

In my student days my local corner shop had CHEESE behind the counter. You had to ask specially for cheese. Who steals cheese?! Well, lots of people obviously.

The First Response ones are the only ones that detect anything any earlier. THe rest are all much of a muchness.

And you are only thinking your own POV yourself and not the wider picture.

How do you figure this when I have said repeatedly I'm not embarrassed or fussed but I think young girls might be?

raffle I hoped you answered sternly, 'You will be when I report you to your manager'

raffle Noooo !!

I don't get how my 33 year old DH get embarrassed about buying condoms or lube.

We don't actually need condoms, but when i am ovulating i like to use condoms even though he has had a vasectomy. ( just a double measure)

The pharmacy section isn't always open at the supermarket, and there's no reason why pregnancy tests have to be behind the counter.

If embarrassment was really a problem for some people, they could always sell them on the shelf and behind the counter.