Customer service goes out the window when you're clearly an idiot!

[RiskyRetail]

This is more of a rant than AIBU, feel free to join me...

So I work in a supermarket convenience store. I was on the early shift yesterday and surprise surprise, people are still ignoring social distancing and essential travel... Just a few examples of people being idiots include...

• Old people coming in to buy a newspaper
• People coming to buy lottery tickets

Neither are food or medicine. What do people not understand about essential travel?

• People coming to the till with a single item... Go to the self checkout FFS 😡
• People not understanding the 2m distance. You don't need to be peeking over my shoulder whilst I'm dealing with the self scan.
• People realising there's a queue to get into the shop and then grunting forget it. If you can 'forget it', it is clearly not essential so why the fuck are you out and about?

I was very snappy with a few customers yesterday but I'm beyond caring. I'm not going to stand with a smile while your idiotic behaviour puts me and people I care about at risk!

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

Sad to see the fat-shaming has started. Twas only a matter of time. Judge someone, if you must, for buying scratchcards. Not for being large. How long before the 'fat people shouldn't have as much food, cos they have more reserves laid down' start? Pleased to see MN 'vipers' are objecting to the fat shaming though.

[UnfinishedSymphon]

What's actually fucking bonkers is you not understanding that if less people went out to buy stuff it's less risk to the workers. It's fucking bonkers thinking 50 people going to the shop for non essentials is not increasing spread of Corona virus. It would be 50 less visits!

This

People are dying, it's just not necessary

[HPFA]

Really annoys me all these people describing their elderly parents breaking all the rules. The whole reason we're doing this is to protect the elderly who are disproportionately affected! And they're determined to put themselves at risk anyway.

[nottoday3000]

Being a key worker, I sincerely hope the last ventilator will be for me and not someone buying a fucking scratch card ....

[TorysSuckRevokeArticle50]

If I'm out to get essentials I also buy non essentials at the same time, doesn't everyone?

This morning I went to get meat, veg, bread and milk. I was in a supermarket so also bought a couple of grow bags, some seeds, a kids magazine, Easter eggs and some plant pots. Not essential but saves me ordering online and getting them delivered by another person and gives DD something to do while locked in the house.

[Barbies97]

@TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 I think that's fine but it's people going out to buy just non essentials, it increases the risk unnecessarily. Yes if you are buying essentials, adding other things is not increasing risk, but continually going to the shops for non essentials is increasing the risk to others unnecessarily.

A PP saying what does it matter what the person is buying the risk is the same, is just not understanding that it is not the case, more people, more risk and again stop going to the shops everyday for non essential, minimise it and get everything (as much as you can) in one go.

[NotJustACigar]

This is not about buying non essentials if you also need essentials - it's about avoiding contact as much as possible to slow the spread. I'm not sure why people don't get this - it isn't rocket science.

My own stepfather went out last week for a minor reason to the post office. Now he and my mother are showing symptoms. It was stupid to go out for nonessential reasons then and it's even more stupid now.

About an hour ago an ambulance pulled up right near my house. The medics suited up in masks and aprons, went down the alley where the bungalows are, and brought out someone on a stretcher. Kind of focuses the mind.

[nottoday3000]

@Tory but the delivery people can literally now drop it and run with no interaction at all ...ffs no one cares do they about key workers stay at home means fuck all when you want a bottle of lucazade a newspaper

[crazycatgal]

The place where my DF works is open because they supply garages and the RAC etc. They've got people coming in to buy polish and air fresheners...

[PuzzledObserver]

Those commenting that newspapers are not essential - newsagents are among the shops which are allowed to remain open, so the decision makers seem to view that differently to you.

We get newspapers on the voucher system on the weekend only - don’t normally have time to read them during the week. I intend to carry on picking up my Saturday and Sunday newspapers from the local newsagent on my way back from my ‘daily exercise’ walk. I will observe social distance and wash my hands when I get home.

[Eckhart]

@RiskyRetail Have you spoken to your manager? Maybe they would be willing to put up a reminder sign that you can verbally ask people to kindly read, regarding the fact that we're supposed to go shopping as infrequently as we can? Or print it on the back of the receipts? Lots will still ignore it but it might give some awareness to people that your shop wants people to try to adhere, and it might help you feel less helpless and frustrated about it. Chatting to violators and helping them to understand might be more fruitful than a MN rant.

[Sonichu]

Fuck MN will HATE me... when going out to top up my gas and electricity yesterday (you know, things I need to stay indoors) I also bought a bottle of Cava and a box of chocolates because they were reduced in price; and I'm a fatty fatty fat fat!

At least when we're all living in Lord of the Rings tribes there'll be plenty of eating on me for the rest of you!

[Alsohuman]

We’ve been told it’s fine to go out to exercise. If someone combines their daily walk with picking up a paper it seems sensible. Do newsagents still deliver papers? That would solve the problem easily.

[BodiesMakeForGoodFertiliser]

My husband just tried to do a shop... Nope. Not happening with the never ending fucking queues.

Some people here must be deliberately misinterpreting what op meant just so they can pick a fight.

It's simple. Go only if you need essentials. While you are there, grab your treats and non essentials. You are there so why not.

Do NOT go to just buy 1 thing especially if it's non essential.

It's just so so so simple

[BodiesMakeForGoodFertiliser]

Shop assistants deserve some respect too. They are there all day every day and absolutely necessary contact between them and someone who wanted 1 unnecessary item is unfair on them too.

You go for your walk, but keep away from people. Retail workers are people.

[Barbies97]

@Alsohuman how is unnecessarily going into a shop sensible? Please do explain, because I really cannot understand why we were told that we should not be doing unnecessary shopping trips by our PM.

[Alsohuman]

Maybe they should just stop printing papers. Or put them outside with an honesty box.

[TheSandman]

People go on about NHS workers being frontline. You shop workers are too. Don't forget it. We're proud of you too. And, like you, NHS workers have to deal with unreasonable, selfish dicks on a day to day basis. My wife is currently doing 12 hour shifts and bringing paperwork home too. Every day she tells me about at least one member of staff losing it and breaking down in tears. We're all in this together.

[Barbies97]

Well bloody said @TheSandman!

People stop putting retail workers unnecessarily at risk, it's wrong, it's selfish and it's got to stop.

[BodiesMakeForGoodFertiliser]

@TheSandman exactly! And with no protection either.

It is time people started treading retail workers like human beings!

[nottoday3000]

I've got a letter from my company ready to give to the police, in the glove box of my car (the uniform should be enough) to explain why I'm out, I'm out so I can go to work so people get their essential food items, us as a key workers are taking massive risks, make it worth it

[marble11]

I went for my weekly shop( I also shop for my Nan) I bought a trampoline in Asda.

[Barbies97]

What's your point @marble11?