Supermarket early closing

[notmrpootles]

Just went out for the first time in 3 days to try and get some shopping in.

Went to my local Tesco Metro. Before CV+ this shop was open til 11pm. For the last few weeks it has been closing at 10pm (all 7 days of the week). The Tesco website is updated to tell you it’s now open til 10pm every day. Fine. I got there for 9.31pm.

On the door was a security guard who says no, you can’t come in. Why not, I asked. Because we’re closed to re-stock. Read the sign, he says, in an arrogant and patronising voice.

To one side of the door was a hastily erected sign saying “Closed for re-stocking”. And on the other side of the door was a more permanent sign saying “Opening times: Monday 6am to 10pm; Tuesday 6am to 10pm... etc etc”.

I’ve checked and this isn’t some pre-announced early closing time for Easter Monday. The shop wasn’t meant to shut til 10pm. It being closed to me at 9.31pm meant I had to go to another shop and presumably either spread any germs I had to others, or picked up germs from other people.

WIBU to complain to Tesco? If they need to re-stock they should do it when they’re scheduled to be closed. Or at least their staff should be apologetic, rather than act as if it’s your fault for coming outside their arbitrary opening times.

All customer-facing services industries are struggling at the moment. Demand is higher than ever, but like other companies they are having to run with a reduced staffing level due to people needing to self-isolate or being ill. It's stressful for staff as they have to risk contact with a high number of people, not all of whom are responsible about social distancing. In a time of global pandemic, it's sensible to expect disruption to normal services and we should be grateful to supermarket staff for keeping things going to the extent they are doing. Short of a scenario where staff punched me in the face or something, I wouldn't be complaining to a supermarket about service at the moment.

In the present situation it is reasonable to close early to re-stock if the shelves were empty but the guard could have been more polite about it and the website could have a note explaining this may happen.

Everyone (including supermarket staff) is stressed but clearer communication makes it easier for everyone.

Waitrose have said that they may decide to close early if necessary to restock, perhaps Tesco are doing the same?

If they need to restock, it's probably pointless going in anyway as they won't have a lot of things on your list?

Op, I get it’s incredibly frustrating. However there would have been nothing on the shelves anyway; you’d have been no better of if you’d been let in.
The smaller shops don’t have enough space for staff trolleys and customers.
Focus on the fact you had another shop you could go to. For plenty of towns and villages you’d have nothing open after 8pm.

Who in their right mind complains about something like that....have you not got enough going on in your life right now....i think you need to get a life op.

@PhilCornwall1, i don't see the issue?

There's increased pressure on local chemists. Many have tripled the amount of people that they deliver to. Prescriptions are being sent from the doctors, rather than patients collecting them and using different chemists. They also deserve to have the ability to minimise contact whilst working.

There's been complaints about store assistants stocking shelves around customers, especially during the elderly/vulnerable 8-9am hours. Complaints about empty shelves at those hours. So they are doing their best.

When I went to the supermarket they came round and said it would be an hour and a half wait until we got it. I thought to myself ‘that’s fine, I haven’t got anything else to do’.

Normality just doesn’t exist at the moment.

My dh is in the shielded group and so he hasn’t been out at all and I’ve noticed that it’s impossible for him to grasp what the situation is like about there. All the new rules that have come out and that are now the norm in such a short period of time.

There is no doubt about the fact that some people are revelling in the new rules and restrictions. Leaving notes on people’s cars and going on about Easter eggs. But this doesn’t sound like one of those times.

our local express is closing for 2 hours over lunch to restock, and closing at 8.00 pm.
i guess the security guard could have been kinder about it

While bigger supermarkets are able to restock in shopping hours, surely most Tesco Metro don’t have the space to maintain social distancing if they restock when customers are in the shop?

I note your post is from 3 am, are you - genuine question - OK, do you think? You’d be pretty unreasonable to complain to Tesco, but if you’re struggling, and stressing over this in the middle of the night, it’s OK to admit it and seek help. There are resources available online and despite our reputation, Mumsnetters are actually pretty good at signposting towards sources of support and advice, it might be worth starting a different thread though.

YABU, my DS works for a local coop (long hours not much pay). They had a delivery yesterday afternoon, they had to shut their store for an hour to unload it all and restock the shelves as the delivery was so large it wouldn’t fit in the stock room and the aisles so narrow they couldn’t restock safely. People queued patiently outside or chose to come back later. Their store is currently closing at 8pm so they can safely restock after closing.

These are testing times for everyone.

🤦🏻‍♀️

The security guard could have been a bit more apologetic and nicer to you, I agree. However, I think that you should let it go. These are extraordinary times and whilst he was abrupt to you you need to be more resilient and plan better. Going to a supermarket 30 minutes before closing isn't a good idea anyway, there could have been queues meaning you wouldn't have gotten in anyway.

Re chemists, they need time to cope with the surge in the volume of prescriptions and it is a lot easier to do that whilst closed. Staff are also entitled to have a lunch break, they are stressed too. Websites should be updated to reflect opening hours which is something that could be complained about.

Lots of shops are during the day to restock. I went into town to get a few bits and 1 store I needed to get medication from closed for an hour as there wasnt enough staff to manage an all day opening.

Think you need to be a bit more understanding of the circumstances. If you email customer services complaining, chances are you'll get a response in about a month with an apology and maybe a £5 goodwill voucher (if you're lucky!). Is it really worth it?

I get this is frustrating and the security guard could have been more pleasant but I wouldn't complain about this in normal circumstances, never mind now.
You're getting a hard time here, clearly you havent seen the memo that says you can't complain about supermarkets, the NHS, delivery and utility companies currently. According to MN the only acceptable complaints are about runners, cyclists, your neighbours, DH and over 70s 🙄

I went to the co op the other day, got there and it was closed 12.30-13.30, I assumed for a restock. What did I do? Went to another shop a 10 minute walk away. Was it annoying? Yeah, a little bit but hardly the end of the world! Don't be a dick.

Annoying no doubt but how will complaining help at the moment.

Gloriously entitled and massively u.

If its a metro I'm guessing it will be a small store, so staff stocking shelves will find it hard to keep a decent distance from customers. Why should staff put themselves at risk because, heaven for fend one customer might experience a minor inconvenience?

I hope we keep to the shortened opening times for supermarkets. There's no need to keep them open so long, little profit is going to be made in those late night hours.

either spread any germs I had to others, or picked up germs from other people

You would be doing that in Tesco. What’s the difference?

@PhilCornwall1 Even Boots is doing that, with 100s of prescriptions being electronically sent a day, the staff also need lunch too, constantly cleaning... I don’t see the issue.