Told off in Sainsburys

[MassalaQueen]

I was shopping in Sainsburys this morning with my 3 year old ds. At the entrance there was an unmanned taster stall with some crisps in tiny bowls and some Robinsons squash in cups. My ds asked if he could have some juice and I helped myself to a cup. The stall holder came along and said you dont just help yourself to the samples. I was embarrassed and apologised. She then continued to reprimand me saying this isn't a cafe you know and tutting. Was her reaction over the top? Surely the point of the sample stalls are to promote the products rather than tell customers off for sampling. AIBU if I report her to customer service?

I think stores are canny enough to know some folk taste samples they've no intention of buying
And will continue until its explicitly made clear don't sample unless you intend to buy
These are items set out for consumption,with presumption of purchase in an appealing setting

I would email in and report her for her rudeness. No one needs to spoken to in such a rude manner when they go shopping.

The woman obviously feels that she is entitled to speak to customers like this so she needs to be reminded that she isn't.

(I am an ex-customer service manager for Sainsburys if that helps any).

There is no need to be so thin skinned,or report someone about a brief brusque comment

You can't possibly have samples labelled 'don't try unless you're going to buy' though can you, what if you found it revolting or had an allergic reaction to it? 'Yes please, it's so disgusting I feel like I might be sick, but give me a whole box of it anyway, I don't want to upset anyone.'

Well sure,that's my point.its a sample.others are saying only sample if you want to purchase.

Well DH and the DDs would have happily helped themselves to a sample, it's what they're there for, FFS.

If you don't want random people sampling the samples, don't leave them unguarded.

I think the whole point of free samples is to entice people who have no intention of buying the product...I mean if you were intending to buy one you wouldn't need to sample one would you?

As an aside I hate it when market stalls or Christmas markets have free samples, how are you supposed to arrange your face into "mm what an interesting taste...not quite my sort of thing though" when your instant reaction is "ughhh!!! Where can I spit it?" The person offering the sample. England probably made it.

Unsure where that England came from...

Of course I'd sample without intending to purchase.its sample not paid for canapés

I was kind of dumbstruck at the time and my face was bright red. I'm the kind of person that apologises even if someone bumps into me like a typical Brit. It was half a cup of squash and we buy that brand regularly so know exactly what it tastes like. We didn't sample the Sunbite crisps, god knows what her reaction would be if we had. I work in Housing and my tenants often complain about me - I was rude to them re their arrears, I don't rehouse them when they have a need etc and complaints are always followed up by management. Its not nice being complained about so Im not going to but just wanted to know if she was BU.

This thread is making me snigger a bit.

No sampling unless you have the intention to buy? What a joyless approach to life. Don't dip your toe in the sea/pool unless you're going to have a full body swim, turn your face from the chocolate button samples they always have in Thorntons kids because we won't be buying a big bag, give back to the delivery driver those free dishwasher tabs that i got with my shopping order unasked for because I don't intend to ever purchase the Fairy ones....and so on.

Ridiculous and depressing approach to life in general.

They gave a free full size fresh cream gateaux out to every shopper at my local (irish) supermarket just before Christmas on their special Xmas shopping day. 8th December. Plus trays of sausage rolls, mini fresh cream chocolate eclair buns etc. The best bit (for me) was the free glass of Irish coffee made with local whisky. They were proper full sized glasses and a very generous portion of whisky. It was grand altogether.

My DS loves the cheese and the cake sample stands they have and feels very hard done by if they don't have anything he fancies that week.

Your one sounds a miserable fecker, to be honest. She wouldn't last long here.

Yes she was brusque. You did nowt wrong. No biggie except she overreacted

The point of samples is surely that as many people as possible try them, especially people who don't already intend to buy. I always try cheese samples at the supermarket or deli, while I'm waiting for the cheese I am actually buying. I would not have thought twice about helping myself from an unmanned stand.

MrsGame It could be viewed as joyless, but I'm kind of over people just having it "because it's there". Not thirsty, not hungry, not intending to buy, not curious (already know the brand and the taste) but.... oh look a freebie, i don't particularly want it but "it's there". My dad doesn't like coffee but he still queues up in Waitrose for his free one, because, free innit.

I hate bad customer service, personally I'd report her.

I reported a right cowbag in Tescos once. DD2 was v v shy and anxious, and had plucked up the courage to ask if there were any more DVDs (Paddington, for the interested), as there were none left on the shelves. Woman was really rude, and snapped at her, telling her there were obviously none or she would have filled the space. Reduced her to tears.

I had a little look in the drawer thing under the display, and there were loads. So I walked DD round the store, until we found the rude woman, got her name, and went and told the manager. Also told him there were at least 20 more DVDs of the bloody film.

But it's not hurting you Teeth, and how do you know if you're going to like something if you can't try it? That's the whole point of taste samples.

SparklyTwinkleGlitter, where do you live? We're moving! Actually we're not really big samplers, ds saw the juice and wanted some no harm done I thought.

People eat when not hungry,drink when don't need to satiate a thirst
and they sample with no intention of buying.because it's there,cause it's offered
And they queue for a free coffee,because it's free.free is a good enough reason

Teeth - you're hardly going to take a sample because you're hungry. The samples are usually so very tiny you'd have to be an elf in order to be satiated! The free samples are intended to persuade people to buy the product, people who possibly haven't tried it before. If the manufacturer (or supermarket, whoever funds the tasting) couldn't afford to feed the hordes, they wouldn't offer the service.

I've been a Waitrose customer for years, and entitled to a free coffee (and newspaper, I think) every time I shop there. I don't read newspapers, and don't drink coffee, so I don't take them. A food or drink SAMPLE is entirely different. You're being actively persuaded to try something new with a view to buy

I just texted my sister, who used to work for another supermarket chain and was in charge of in-store promotional activity, including stuff like setting up recipe demos, seasonally themed events, and promotional samples, to ask her about this:

Her response:

"Haha, WTF? Of course people can take samples for themselves, that's what they're there for, we want them to try the product!! Promo woman should have been there to tell customer about product etc but if she wasn't ppl can help themselves, its fine"

Teeth I always decline my free coffee in Waitrose so I reckon that's about 50 your dad can have on me.

A woman standing outside the cheese shop offered me samples of two types of gruyere. I said I'd just bought some from Sainsbury's and she said 'try ours. You might like it better.' I did and I did. So she didn't make a sale on the day but she did two weeks later because her cheese was nicer and just as importantly she was nicer than the clueless ratbag who alienated the OP this morning.

Yes, and why take food/drink you have not been offered?