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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to expect Sainsburys staff to know what mincemeat is?

175 replies

trinity0097 · 19/12/2013 19:56

Hubby was directed to beef section when he asked for 'mincemeat, the sweet type for mince-pies'. Surely at this time of year grown up staff should know what this is and where it is in the store?!

OP posts:
Southeastdweller · 19/12/2013 22:19

I sometimes ask where things are in supermarkets and now and then been asked what I mean. Common things like chocolate muffins or orange squash. Twice I've complained.

I think most managers aren't fussed about the quality of the applicants as long as they can speak and understand basic English and are flexible. I also suspect they want to get them in quick and so the training is limited.

But then I live in London and quite jaded after experiencing generally bad customer service for years.

weebarra · 19/12/2013 22:20

I worked in Safeway as a student. We were randomly tested on vegetable identification.

confusedalways · 19/12/2013 22:20

The other week I went to tescos for pastry. Couldn't find it so asked a guy working there. He had no clue what it was, so I said 'you know pastry like what's on a pie.'

He took me to the pies. Confused I told him I didn't want the pie bit just the pastry. I ended up leaving and going to sainsbury's. Honestly pastry! Who doesn't know what pastry is?

mirivy · 19/12/2013 22:25

Orzo- Italian for pearl barley.
Was it an Italian supermarket?

SilverApples · 19/12/2013 22:25

'We were randomly tested on vegetable identification.'

We do this in reception and Y1. See, jobskills for infants. Gove would be proud.

SilverApples · 19/12/2013 22:28

orzo isn't pearl barley, it's pasta shaped like pearl barley.
Just like orecchiette only looks like little ears.

Gruntfuttock · 19/12/2013 22:32

milliemouthy "Im confused mince meat is mince pies ?"

I'm sure no one has said that! Just that mincemeat is the filling used in mince pies. Mincemeat contains no meat, although it did centuries ago.

LaFataTurchina · 19/12/2013 22:33

If I was looking for orzo I'd be looking in the tea/coffee aisle.
I love caffe d'orzo in Italy - barley coffee, tasty and has no caffeine.

I do fruit and veg identification with my pre-schoolers too. They'd definitely know apricot and melon but I don't think we've ever had grapefruit.

mirivy · 19/12/2013 22:44

I've not bought the English pasta version- sounds very useful.
...... But orzo is Italian for pearl barley.
I would have been confused in that supermarket encounter too.

mirivy · 19/12/2013 22:58

I lived on caffe d'orzo when I was pregnant, Fata. Lovely stuff.

leftkidney · 19/12/2013 23:06

YABU. For £6 an hour you aren't going to have 100% of staff who know the ins and outs of every supermarket item. I'm sure most people who aren't ardent Delia smith followers have some food items they may not know something "obvious " about.

EmmaFreudsGivingMeJip · 19/12/2013 23:19

YABU. For £6 an hour you aren't going to have 100% of staff who know the ins and outs of every supermarket item.
Surely it doesn't matter how much they get paid, it's their job?

op yanbu 'the sweet type for mince pies' couldn't have been clearer. Maybe he should take a photo with him next time.

SueDoku · 19/12/2013 23:21

I had the same thing a few years back in my local Co-op.... When I explained, the assistant looked amazed and said, 'You can make your own mince pies..????'

I felt old.....Xmas Shock Mind you, I made 69 mince pies this afternoon......Xmas Grin

NoComet · 19/12/2013 23:32

I've had no bother with the staff, the gentleman I asked for pasta, happily agreed labelling the aisle baked beans and tinned veg didn't help.

It's a lovely friendly little Tesco and I should have remembered they only stock the bare minimum of pasta shapes in a tiny block.

The big Sainsbury's has one side of a row.

leftkidney · 19/12/2013 23:34

surely it doesn't matter how much they get paid, it's their job?

It really isn't, have you ever worked in a supermarket? Just because you want a level of service (and probably like most people, with paying a rock bottom price), doesn't mean the supermarket are obliged to offer it.

takingthathometomomma · 19/12/2013 23:35

Sue I now feel very young. I giggled at "69"... Xmas Grin

Mouldypineapple · 20/12/2013 00:01

My house number is 69. My teenage DD got quite a few comments when we moved here!

BeCool · 20/12/2013 00:07

As a teenager I worked in a supermarket deli. One day someone asked me for rollmops and I directed them to the hardware aisle. Grin

BeCool · 20/12/2013 00:10

Mince is meat usually. And millions more people by mince pies than make them. I know what it is but I'm not surprised if people don't.

Surely all 'proper' MNers would make it from scratch anyway? Smile

SueDoku · 20/12/2013 00:11

It was a stealth boast..... Xmas Grin

BeCool · 20/12/2013 00:16

I'm impressed Sue!!
Pass us one then. Please Smile

steff13 · 20/12/2013 00:29

What's a Christmas Annual?

My local grocery, in Ohio, sells mincemeat in jars with the other canned and jarred pie fillings. I've never had it, but I knew where wasn't any mean in it. :)

HOMEQCRICH · 20/12/2013 00:43

I have the same trouble finding phoenix eggs..

Sexykitten2005 · 20/12/2013 00:46

Bakery section bottom shelf near the dried fruit. I worked in a supermarket for 8 years over Uni. Never got bored of being spoken to like I was stupid just because of my age and job description. Best day EVER was the dickhead who whilst I was scanning his shopping when i was 19yo (and still a bit spotty) turned to his 7/8yo daughter and said "see darling this is why you have to go to school so you don't end up working here". Well I lost it and told his daughter "see daddy will buy you a brand new sports car and pay for you to go to Uni and pay for you to have two foreign holidays a year and pay for all your clothes, shoes and make up, that's why I work here!" Please don't lump us all together maybe the person he asked didnt have a mum who baked with her, or was gluten intolerant so had never had a mince pie (apart from free from) or just was a bit deaf.

redshifter · 20/12/2013 00:50

"see daddy will buy you a brand new sports car and pay for you to go to Uni and pay for you to have two foreign holidays a year and pay for all your clothes, shoes and make up, that's why I work here!"

Excellent response sexykitten