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AIBU?

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Original poster

Told off in Sainsburys

204 replies

MassalaQueen · 21/01/2017 13:40

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?

OP posts:
EvansOvalPies · 21/01/2017 17:53

Because . . . . . . . . . . . they are samples meant to be sampled. It's not a private party in a house or someone's picnic that you're helping yourself to.

exLtEveDallas · 21/01/2017 18:02

DD and I once spent about 15 minutes tasting all the different Christmas cheeses at our local Tesco Blush and critiquing each one (even more Blush) to the chap promoting them. It was wonderful

(Oh and she's just reminded me about the 'posh' popcorn. God that strawberry and dark chocolate one was gorgeous)

I bought tons of cheese that Xmas. Daft Sainsbury's woman has certainly lost a sale.

GimmeeMoore · 21/01/2017 18:13

Samples are freely offered with no compulsion to purchase
There's no prior conditions or caveats only sample if willing to buy
Retail location,so clearly not a domestic house party.no one is duped by surroundings

EvansOvalPies · 21/01/2017 18:13

Oooh! I love a good cheese tasting! Have found some really lovely ones and now buy them regularly. (Can't always remember the names, but recognise the box or packet when I see it). Epoisses has become a favourite with DD and me. A bit like something between Camembert and Brie. Soft and creamy. Lovely on a digestive. Wouldn't have thought to try it beforehand though.

Bettercallsaul1 · 21/01/2017 19:02

Teeth I don't understand your point about not taking a sample unless intending to buy at all! If you intended to buy anyway, why would you need to sample the product first? The whole point in supplying sample stalls is to tempt new customers - who haven't tried the product - to taste and then buy. This includes people who were not thinking of buying that product at all. have often taken a sample of something I didn't particularly want, because I was invited to try it, and then bought whatever it was on the strength of the tasting. (mulled wine last Christmas, chocolate mousse a couple of weeks ago)

The OP was absolutely entitled to try samples that were there for the public to try even though the member of staff wasn't there. With a sample stall, there is an implicit invitation to try the goods, which does not have to be made explicit by a member of staff actually asking you. The person's motivation in sampling ie her "interest" in buying is completely irrelevant.

TeethDrama · 22/01/2017 00:50

Better I am really not that fussed about it but since you've asked Grin

I mean about not needing to taking a sample if, for example if you are already familiar with the product, so it's not new to you and you know what it is and what it tastes like, or you already buy it, or if even if you like the look of the product you know you won't be buying some because of diet or budget.

It's not about not being entitled to take it, legally, technically or anything else. No argument with that. I guess I am just kind of fed up of greedy Britain. It's free innit so eat it/drink it/take it whether or not you actually really wanted it or needed it or were intending to buy it or not or whatever. Oh look, free samples. Take one, even though I don't really like cheese.

Bettercallsaul1 · 22/01/2017 01:09

I think bringing morality and the "greed" argument into it is a bit daft as capitalism (as exemplified by the shop itself) is based on trying to make a profit out of customers by enticing them to buy things that often they don't need and are actually bad for them! Shops happily exploit customer "greed" to make a profit. Customers helping themselves to samples without any intention of buying is a cost absorbed by the company as part of its promotion of the product and one which they have calculated to be worthwhile. There is no sentiment in business.

scaryclown · 22/01/2017 01:13

if she said it with a massive grin on her face..its ok. if she was serious, she is a fucking idiot. THEY ARE SAMPLES ..stallholders who give out samples in markets double takungs usually. She is either a. srupid..and doesnt understand samples b. tired and emotional c. so.pooly paid everythimg looks like wasted resources and of high value...

scaryclown · 22/01/2017 01:18

its not 'grred its free innit' that idea only works in a society where everything is stolen by the rich snd sold back to the poor..thats the britain that instilled the 'refuse food if offered' ' wait your turn (place in the pecking order/class) bullshit that cayses us all to.be so.jumpy we won't even smile generously at someone for fear of stealing or loding our miserable barren souls...

its normal to taste and sample fucking everywhere except locked down 'its the squires land' nations like ours...

OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 22/01/2017 01:22

YANBU. Free samples are to be, well, sampled.

I avoid the free sample people in shops like the plague. I don't know if I have one of those faces that says "I'm a gullible person who will spend lots of money if you're nice to me" it's true but I seem to be a magnet for them, and why is it always biscuits?

I ended up having a shortbread finger waved in my face quite viciously as I tried to explain that I couldn't have one. She took it as a personal insult.

Bettercallsaul1 · 22/01/2017 01:22

I think she was just taking her personal role in running the promotion far too seriously and was rude to a customer as a result. Completely defeating the purpose of the promotion of course! The customer was not at all happy about it and neither would the shop's management if they'd known.

Bettercallsaul1 · 22/01/2017 01:25

Grin at vicious shortbread finger!

ChocolateCakeandSprinkles · 22/01/2017 01:26

She does sound a bit ridiculous. The point of a free sample is its free and a sample and she certainly won't get any sales from that.

I wouldn't bother complaining, it is really trivial. Maybe she was just having a really bad day. Or had someone just before who had taken loads of them.

Freyanna · 22/01/2017 01:38

I love trying the free samples, we had a lot in Tesco's and M & S this past Christmas, I bought some lovely presents for people by trying before buying!

If someone were not manning the stall I would help myself, I hadn't thought it would be wrong to do that.

It would be different if you were starting to open packets or taking more than one sample of the product on display.

MistressDeeCee · 22/01/2017 02:15

She shouldve been at her stand then. She may have been annoyed but after you'd apologised she carried on about it, and there's no need for that at all. She'd already made her point, you'd already apologised. All that, for the sake of free samples?! I can't stand people like that and Id have spoken to Customer Service..albeit I know Id have told her off too (mildly, in front of a child) Anyway hope you and your little one arent too upset, she's the moany one in a bad mood so its her lookout

Zafodbeeblbrox10 · 22/01/2017 02:41

Fuck her, she's a sad cow

limitedperiodonly · 22/01/2017 07:23

Some people think the key skill of their job is the ability to make everyone else as fucking miserable as they are.

GizmoFrisby · 22/01/2017 07:35

Yanbu I would report her

FrancisCrawford · 22/01/2017 07:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

limitedperiodonly · 22/01/2017 08:01

In my office we're bombarded with free samples every day. Sometimes I take them, sometimes I don't, sometimes halfway through a Krispy Kreme I say to myself: 'Limited. You didn't really want this. You're just bored, aren't you?'

At Christmas four men came in dressed as French waiters with bow ties and long white aprons and boots and from the back they were completely naked.

I showed so much interest I was one of the few to get a £20 Just Eat credit. Haven't used it yet. Perhaps I never will...

BoffinMum · 22/01/2017 08:13

I think the woman's employers would be very upset to see her behave like that to potential customers. Not exactly good for the brand, is it? Perhaps she has confused her role with being a dinner lady.

ChuckSnowballs · 22/01/2017 08:15

How does one know that one has to wait for a staff member before taking the free samples, when the staff member is not there to explain?

Esspee · 22/01/2017 08:17

Ladies, I do sampling for pin money and we NEVER leave samples unattended due to hygiene and allergy issues. We are hired from an outside agency to promote a particular product or message, have to study up on it beforehand and all of us have food hygiene certificates. It drives me nuts when the store staff are told to put out samples elsewhere and they are left unattended. NEVER allow your children to help themselves from a bowl. Any samples should be distinctly separate (even popcorn) in little dishes and there should always be someone with the promotion. If I have to move away my samples are removed. Any additions eg. Chutney should be added, never dipped into. I was working to the highest standards in Tesco the other day when a bakery staff member passed offering bits of pancake which customers were then dipping and double dipping in maple syrup. Made me feel sick.
On the other hand I have had customers help themselves when distracted by another customer. In M&S before Christmas I offered a customer a quarter of a piping hot bit of partyfood and politely refused her request for one from the display plate where they had been sitting uncut and lukewarm for hours. She waited until my back was turned and whipped it. Sort of hoped it gave her tummy ache!
OP you should not have helped yourself.

ImaLannister · 22/01/2017 08:34

They are brand ambassadors, and aren't part of Sainsbury's staff. Major supermarkets hire these people from selected agencies, Sainsbury's would then use these brand ambassadors to promote certain foods/products. I used to do it for Asda (great pay should I add!)
Your best bet would be to get in touch with the store manager, and ask which agency/company she is from.
You should then get in touch with the said company and complain.
They aren't allowed to leave their stands, and leave products unattended for allergy reasons, if they do then they have to put away all contents and put up a sign on the stand saying back soon or whatever. So she was in the wrong, not your fault OP.
Also she shouldn't shout at you etc, not only is it unprofessional, and makes Sainsbury's look bad, but it was her fault in the first place.

Stormwhale · 22/01/2017 08:46

If she was any good at her job she would have swooped in with a pleasant and positive comment about you trying the products. Eg "what did little one think of fh juice? Lovely isn't it! If you wanted to find it its in aisle 32." You would have been far more likely to buy the product then. Instead you came away with a sour taste in your mouth and the impression that she has clearly misunderstood the job she was given.

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