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Original poster

Just abandoned trolley in supermarket.......

310 replies

Milssofadoesntreallyfit · 22/12/2020 12:11

Shops always busy at Christmas, I've just stupidly tried to pop in for a few things, first aisle got jammed in and couldn't move trolley round with out bumping someone, everywhere I turned trolleys and people darting around. Put my apples back, decided to go back later but still struggled to navigate round people. Get near doors decide to keep walking at this point as a man walk down my right side trying to cut across in front and because I decided to keep going, got called a F**king nut case and he kept calling me to the man behind me.

As I left I stated to the man behind that I'd spend a good while trying to stay out of people way that I didnt actually get anywhere and he was being a bit harsh, he replied well I never f**king said anything did I.
I need stuff but I'm I the only one to find the shops today so unbearable that I left and Im prepared to just get whats left later rather than deal with crowds like that.
Christ it had me dizzy and demented.

Sorry, just feel calmer already just typing my stress out!!!

OP posts:
CandyLeBonBon · 22/12/2020 15:04

Try working in a supermarket 3 days before Christmas op. I'm sorry you had a difficult time but stocks are running low where I've been working and people abandoning trollies (especially with frozen or chilled goods) means that the stuff that we think is in stock, actually isnt and when people ask where stuff is, I get missed at because there's none left.

Christmas shopping is hard. We're all tired. Abandoned trollies are not the way! Wink

CandyLeBonBon · 22/12/2020 15:05

@StanfordPines

no one died from not eating pigs in blankets, pringles or mince pies.

This is not a risk I’m willing to take.

That made me chuckle!
ememem84 · 22/12/2020 15:10

i went to the shop earlier today. headphones in, pointy elbows out, but it was surprisingly ok. i must have got lucky as when i left there was a queue forming in the rain.

friendlycat · 22/12/2020 15:11

Went to Lidl at lunchtime and it was absolutely fine and fully stocked. Will go to butchers tomorrow and farm shop for vegetables.
Realistically for a main shop at Christmas you do need to not go mid morning. Better at lunchtime or later on. Might pop to Waitrose after 7pm for nice pates and some puds that’s it.

Porcupineinwaiting · 22/12/2020 15:11

. Made the mistake of trying to pop into Sainsbury's for a few top up bits on the 23rd last year. Never, ever again (and that was without the COVID stress).

Chanjer · 22/12/2020 15:19

I tend to aim for times when I know it's gonna be quiet and went yesterday and managed a good shop, distanced from everyone. Was queuing to pay and queueing is normally the easy bit but for some reason the person behind me was suddenly standing really close and with their arm basically around me rummaging in the shelf in front of me.

Why would you do that? 😂

This would have been weird pre-plague

12frogsincoats · 22/12/2020 15:21

@alltoomuchrightnow

What YeOlde said I work in retail (not supermarket) and we have to stay behind late to put all the abandoned items back (we call them 'loose hands'). We don't get paid for staying to do this...
I'm sorry but it's not the customer's fault that you are for some reason agreeing to work for free.
SailorKerry · 22/12/2020 15:25

@12frogsincoats It's not always 'agreeing' - some managers have you by the balls and don't deem you having completed your duties until you have done shit jobs like this. And of course it's the customers fault if they're too bloody lazy to walk back to where they found something. Even worse, is when they are putting things like meat, dairy and frozen goods on the shelves. My role involves figuring out the costs incurred by people being slovenly pieces of detritus, and it costs a lot of money. So yeah, if people stopped being lazy shits, then people like @alltoomuchrightnow would get to go home on time, and businesses wouldn't be footing the bill for it.

SupermarketStress · 22/12/2020 15:27

@Parker231

Why are people buying so much when we can’t have big Christmas’s this year?
I’m a checkout chick, I had someone with a £475 trolley load last week.

And OP you were v unreasonable.

NuniaBeeswax · 22/12/2020 15:28

This thread is really showing the people who have never worked in retail.

I8toys · 22/12/2020 15:30

I had an awful experience out on Saturday. Needed a haircut and went to shop next door to get something for my dad as I needed to wait outside the hairdresser to get called in.

It said 6 people in the shop - I could see 2 in the main but, but it has a blind corner and I couldn't see around it. Walked in looked and then went out and waited. One man got served then waited inside for his partner, he could see me waiting outside and still didn't come out and let me in. Then another woman shopping with her partner said I barged in - I said I didn't I couldn't see around the corner so didn't know how many people were in and I could now enter as there was 6 people in the shop. Its just fucking horrible.

12frogsincoats · 22/12/2020 15:30

[quote SailorKerry]**@12frogsincoats* It's not always 'agreeing' - some managers have you by the balls and don't deem you having completed your duties until you have done shit jobs like this. And of course it's the customers fault if they're too bloody lazy to walk back to where they found something. Even worse, is when they are putting things like meat, dairy and frozen goods on the shelves. My role involves figuring out the costs incurred by people being slovenly pieces of detritus, and it costs a lot of money. So yeah, if people stopped being lazy shits, then people like @alltoomuchrightnow* would get to go home on time, and businesses wouldn't be footing the bill for it.[/quote]
If you are being made to stay late and not being paid overtime you need to take that to your union. It is not the fault of the customer. It is poor business practice.

VinylDetective · 22/12/2020 15:31

Tesco yesterday was like a circle of hell. The worst part was the two women blocking the cream section for what felt like eternity. How can it take you five minutes to choose a pot of cream when they’re all the bloody same?!

Bathroom12345 · 22/12/2020 15:32

If you are 10 mins over your shift are you really saying that you should down tools at 2100 or even better trying to claim 10 mins worth of £8.56 per hour? Really??

TBH - I think its par for the course now working in retail. Would I let anyone in when the store is closed - no I wouldnt and the public know this which is why they come in 10 mins before closing.

12frogsincoats · 22/12/2020 15:33

Also, there is a difference between being too lazy to take something you don't want back to where you got it, and having to abandon your trolley because you are having a panic attack.

Woahisme · 22/12/2020 15:34

People are twats at the best of times. Christmas amplifies it. These same.twats are probably the loo roll hoarders we saw in March. Fuck em all OP.

12frogsincoats · 22/12/2020 15:34

@Bathroom12345

If you are 10 mins over your shift are you really saying that you should down tools at 2100 or even better trying to claim 10 mins worth of £8.56 per hour? Really??

TBH - I think its par for the course now working in retail. Would I let anyone in when the store is closed - no I wouldnt and the public know this which is why they come in 10 mins before closing.

If your clocking in and out on a machine (we have to do this at Tesco however can't speak for other supermarkets) you should automatically get overtime. No need to fight to claim it unless your manager is a twat.
lynsey91 · 22/12/2020 15:36

@Belladonna12 don't buy meat as me and DH are vegetarian. We bought carrots (2 types), cauliflower, brussels, parsnips, brocolli, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, lettuce, cucumber at the farm shop on Sunday. It will last easily until Friday.

I have never had a problem with veg going off in a week unless I bought it in Aldi. I either keep it in the fridge or in the shed. Done that every year at Christmas as far back as I can remember. Nothing would get me in a supermarket Christmas week

Bathroom12345 · 22/12/2020 15:37

What would you suggest you say to someone who comes in 10 mins before closing time and grabs a large trolley? We are keeping our eye on you? Follow him around timing him?

He 100% knows what he is doing. He doesnt care. He thinks he is being clever.

JinglingHellsBells · 22/12/2020 15:40

At the risk of being shouted at, all the supermarkets did have plenty of click and collect slots a few months back if you got in early and booked.

NuniaBeeswax · 22/12/2020 15:45

"If you are being made to stay late and not being paid overtime you need to take that to your union. It is not the fault of the customer. It is poor business practice."

No one is forcing people to leave trollies full of stock lying at their arses.

waterlego · 22/12/2020 15:47

Sorry this will be unhelpful but I went to Asda at midday today, all ready to wait in queues and find the shelves half empty.... and it was absolutely fine; pretty much like a normal day. 😯 The checkout assistant said it had been horrendous yesterday so I obviously got lucky.

I agree with other posters suggesting evening shopping. I did this a lot during first lockdown when supermarkets were horrendous. I found there were quite a lot of the delivery shoppers doing their thing in the evenings, and a bit of shelf stacking going on but hardly any customers.

12frogsincoats · 22/12/2020 15:50

@NuniaBeeswax

"If you are being made to stay late and not being paid overtime you need to take that to your union. It is not the fault of the customer. It is poor business practice."

No one is forcing people to leave trollies full of stock lying at their arses.

Unfortunately a panic attack does often force you to do this.
Santastealer · 22/12/2020 15:55

I’ve just been to Aldi and there was hardly anyone in and shelves were full.

ReindeerAntlerLights · 22/12/2020 15:57

I live near a 24 hour Asda, I went Monday morning at 6am because that is when scan and go opened meaning I don't even need to unpack and repack a trolley.

Fully stocked shelves, easy to social distance. It was getting busier by 7am but I am awake at 6am for a normal school day so this felt no different.

I buy everything I can in advance if it will last so cheese, crackers, nuts, drinks, all done in November or beginning of December. The only bits left to buy are the fresh ones.

Asda has a QR code if there is a queue so you can scan it and return to your car and you sit in a virtual queue instead of out in the cold.