To look for a loaf for bread that doesn’t expire in the next two days??

[MelKarnofskyCrane]

Got a minor telling off in Tesco today. Went to buy bread. The loaves at the front of the shelf all had a best before of 18 October. The ones at the back were 21 October. So I took one from the back.

Got a tap on the shoulder (yeah) from a member of staff. “You should just take one from the front”. Had the conversation, taking one from the back because it’ll last longer. No, we need to sell these ones first, that’s why they’re at the front, you can’t take from the back.

Anyway, calm discussion, I’m not for fighting with anyone in public (once he was gone I switched them back and took the 21st one anyway to be honest). I wasn’t making a mess or damaging the bread or holding anyone up or anything - I just moved them aside them put them back again.

I’m not interested in complaining but I also don’t intend to stop doing this. As far as I’m concerned, if it’s on the shelf it’s fair game.

Unless my thinking is skewed on this one and I am in fact being unreasonable?

I do this too 🤷‍♀️

They can't tell you which product you "have" to take. Like you said, if you were damaging things then they'd have a point. But you're at liberty to grab whichever item from the shelf you want to buy. They can either sell it to you or not 🤷🏻‍♀️ if it's enough of a problem, they need to not put the longer lasting bread on the shelves until the first lot has gone. Btw everyone I know does this OP including me!

It is reasonable for them to put the shorter dates at the front. It's not compulsory for you to buy those ones. I do the same when I need a long date, but not when it doesn't matter.

I've been doing this for years. Not sure why the shop assistant would care.

I always look for the longest date possible too, with most things, not just bread.

If they're that desperate to sell the old ones then they need to keep the newer ones in the stockroom. As long as you didn't make a complete mess what you did was fine.

Similarly I also look through the packets of chicken fillets to find one with the most in. I know they're all the same weight but practically I will always cook one fillet, so the packets with more in will actually go further!

I have always and will always do this! Thought it was the norm to be honest lol

I always take from the back.

I always take from the back too. Husband annoyingly will just take whatever's at the front and eat it even if it's expired lol

It’s your money, you can buy whatever sodding loaf you want with it. jobsworths really can’t control themselves.
Although Personally I buy bread and freeze it the day I get it so I don’t care if it’s only got 2 days before BB date.
I would have told staff member to not touch me. That’s fucking weird if they literally tapped your shoulder.

Well this is what I thought. I thought it was a common thing to do. I don’t know what his problem was 🤷🏻‍♀️

No one picks the short life bread..

I always do this! We’re entitled to buy whichever one we want!

I would genuinely complain tbh. Back when I worked in a supermarket we are (obviously) trained to put the shorter dates at the front as they will naturally sell quicker. I can guarantee you that if I'd been wandering around policing which products customers were allowed to buy id have been reprimanded.

I honestly think he's new and has taken the training too literally and just needs a quiet word.

Someone is way over invested in their self stacking job

I used to work in a supermarket (not Tesco though) and it is the done thing to pull the fresh items expiring first to the front but of course lots of customers want to buy the ones with a longer shelf life so it was the done thing to go round regularly and ‘face up’ the shelves. People can buy whatever they like, if I’d spoken to a customer like that I would have been in serious trouble. What’s not sold will be reduced and people love a bargain, especially bread as it can freeze for toast, so it’s all fine! You are totally normal!

YANBU

If they didn't want to sell the bread dated the 21st they shouldn't have put it out on the shop floor until the bread dated the 18th had sold.

Yeah he tapped me. He was just a teenager I think. To be fair my hearing is shite so it’s quite feasible he spoke to me before he tapped me.

I always do this - ALWAYS check the dates on fresh stuff! I don’t want to be lumbered with something that goes off within 48 hours 🙄

If a member of staff did that to me I’d tell them to sod off 😄

I would complain.

They are entitled to put older stock to the front to encourage people to buy it. You are entitled to choose newer stock from the back.

If they do not want you doing this they should not put out newer stock until old is gone/almost run out.

Its poor stock management on their part and not your problem. I'm gobsmacked a store worker actually challenged you for choosing sensibly from the stock available on the shelf.

I always do this too. You're buying it, you're allowed to choose which one you want

You could have looked him square in the face after he’d finished his little spiel and said,
“Oh! So that’s what mansplaining is!”

I used to work in tesco and thankfully i never worked with anyone like that, yes complete ad utter jobsworth, if Tesco were desperate to sell the bread expiring soon they would keep the longer dated bread in the stock room, but of course they have to compete with other supermarkets, what person wants to do a weekly shop and buy bread with one or two days left on it?!

Cheeky bugger. Well done for not telling him to fuck off.

Why should you get worse value for money when the better value is readily available?