To be so utterly fed up of things being shit “because Covid”?

[Marianne1234]

“Covid measures” just so the organisation in question is seen to be doing something, even if it is pointless? Or just an excuse to reduce the service you get?

Masks in the school playground at pick up. It’s a big outdoor space. We don’t get anywhere near the building or teacher (I wouldn’t know my 7 year old’s teacher if she was in my soup). Forget your mask and you don’t get in the gate.

Hairdresser the other day - no tea/coffee. No magazines. Not even the table thing in front of you. Chair, mirror, with each hair dresser having a wheelie trolley thing.

Morrisons cafe - no menus??? No touch screen ordering at the entrance which saves a lot of time.

I’m so fed up of hearing “coz Covid” to justify cutbacks and crap service. It makes me wonder if little things like this will ever go back to normal. I’m not optimistic.

I think we are just going to have to live with covid. All the measures are frustrating and a lot of the time not necessary.
It’s like a competition to show how safe they are?

They've stopped daily room cleaning and taken away the biscuits and mini bar in the hotel we're at 'cos Covid'. Yup. It's definitely going to spread by not cleaning a room while we're out for the day and denying dd the joy of a complimentary chocolate biscuit

I'd hardly say the hairdressers not having a copy of Women's Own from 1997 was poor service. A lot of companies are actually keeping these measures in place because its better for them. Cheaper, more efficient or they just like it.

I can actually get a same day appointment with my GP now with the new system they've introduced (phone triage) because of Covid. Sickness levels in my company have dropped 80% now people can WFH instead of taking a duvet day. So it's not all shit.

I went to an event at Christmas 21 that I'd been to for years...a kids disco and santa thing, but they increased the price, didn't include the disco and the santa looked like some drunk guy they picked up off the street. They didn’t tell me the disco wasn't included. When I complained I was greeted with 'Soz, because of Covid'. We're two years down the line now....there is NO excuse. Grinds my gears!

A lot of companies are actually keeping these measures in place because its better for them. Cheaper, more efficient or they just like it

Right. So say that then. Don’t just “coz Covid” me.

You’re missing the point.

Don't get me started on GP appointments @KKslidoff. I had a guy I'm helping wait a year for an appointment for a GP cause he was told he needed to use the online system...he couldn't read and write. That's one example.

My husband was in agony and didn't get to see a consultant for 18 months.... coz Covid.

It basically means lots of people who actually desperately need it, fall through the gaps.

YANBU. In so many cases it’s just an excuse for shit and downgraded service.

I agree @Marianne1234...don't treat us like idiots. Just be honest, at least then it's an informed choice

Toilets in some shops closed “coz covid” - never mind that all the other shops have functioning toilets.

Not being able to try on clothes.

Still pretending it's passed by touching stuff is just ridiculous at this point. It's like we've never dealt with an airborne virus before. We've only just abandoned the reinstated one way systems in shops in Wales. The virus won't spread if you all shuffle around slowly in a line. Much better to spend longer in a shop than grab your stuff and go.

(Although I did like table service in pubs but appreciate they need to make a profit!)

Yeah table service can stay

It bugs me when things go wrong ie delayed parcel delivery or slow service in a cafe. And instead of apologising it's just "covid".companies have had two years to learn to manage covid.

I dunno with hotels - I quite liked it when I went to a hotel last year and they didn’t clean the rooms every day - there wasn’t a “do not disturb” sign I could put on my door so them not cleaning meant I didn’t have to worry about my “special friend” and I getting disturbed during the afternoon.

The worst case of ‘cos Covid’ I have come across recently was a kids museum, that is advertised as for kids and being interactive having all the interactive bits closed or turned off or taped over!! I mean what’s the point?!?!
Oh and having a waitress serve you at Harvester salad bars!!! No matter what your thoughts on the hygiene Members of my family have autism and specifically choose Harvester because they can control the ratio of how much of each salad ingredient is in their bowl and also what is touching what. They have had to go without salad because of this stupid rule!

Though to be fair that pales in comparison to a visit to Toby Carvery when they first started letting you go up to the counter yourself again: You were allowed to go up (masked) and tell them what you wanted on your plate and how much, but weren’t allowed to serve yourself - ok that was kind of fair enough under the circumstances at the time - BUT HERE IS THE CLINCHER… you had to then wait for a waiter to carry YOUR plate to your table as you were not allowed to carry it yourself!! The plate that you would be touching when you ate off it and would then get one extra pair on hands touching it than was needed all because of covid regulations!! Luckily you can now carry your own plate and serve yourself again but even the staff at our local thought it was ridiculous at the time but had to do it in case the inspectors or secret shoppers arrived.

I think every time some story is being explained … I couldn’t do x ‘cos Covid’ I couldn’t see y ‘cos Covid’

So annoying - we know!

@Nosquit not being allowed to touch your own plate is pretty much the pinnacle of covid crazy rules.
Although if we're looking back I saw a family of 7 having to split onto 2 tables despite all living together because of the 'rule of six' (I feel 'rule of six' needs an echo at the end or at least a deep booming voice).

I'm utterly fed up of shielding, neither of us will win anytime soon!

The worst case of ‘cos Covid’ I have come across recently was a kids museum, that is advertised as for kids and being interactive having all the interactive bits closed or turned off or taped over!! I mean what’s the point?!?!

Science centre here is the same. £20 to get in to look at some closed interactive exhibits.

@GiveMeNovocain

They've stopped daily room cleaning and taken away the biscuits and mini bar in the hotel we're at 'cos Covid'. Yup. It's definitely going to spread by not cleaning a room while we're out for the day and denying dd the joy of a complimentary chocolate biscuit

The hotel we stayed in last summer went the opposite way - every morning there was a literal carrier bag of tea, coffee and mostly sugar left outside our door. I counted one morning, they had left us 30-odd little sachets of sugar. We had a mountain of them by the end of the week. That was apparently due to covid too.

At our local tip appointments are still needed - cos covid - and staff are not allowed to help so stand around watching while some people struggle with heavy items (only one person allowed out of car). Every other parking bay coned off. It's absolutely crazy!

Went to Santander yesterday, wanted to speak to a person …. Go on line and book for March ! I trotted of to metro and saw someone in 20 min . I do feel for hospitality, my son is a publican , and truly can’t get any experienced staff .

@Marianne1234

Toilets in some shops closed “coz covid” - never mind that all the other shops have functioning toilets.

Not being able to try on clothes.

Yes because customers are filthy and we have realised that it's far nicer to have clean toilets....which we share with the public...

We can open ours, just chose not to. While we are at work we have the right to a clean toilet.

Customers are there 30 mins we are there up to 10 hours

I think some businesses are hiding behind covid to cut costs and not bother with proper customer service

I like some things like extra space in restaurants. I used to hate being so close to other tables you didn’t have any privacy. Same with yoga classes. I can actually spread my arms out and not touch someone else.

Covid is definitely an excuse for bad service

I agree OP. This really boils my piss. Just be honest, so we can make an informed choice : "we aren't doing that anymore, blaming it on covid, but really it's just cost-cutting".