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.

Long wait times when calling up companies... because Covid. Even more infuriating when the music stops every so often to tell you to check their website - as if that wasn't the first thing you tried...

YANBU. The worst example I saw was at a national trust place, three toilet cubicles in the ladies’ and the middle one was closed with a sign that it was because of covid. So there were longer queues inside (no ventilation, quite a small building), and each of the two open cubicles were obviously ultimately being used by more people in total so ending up dirtier. But it’s safer because no one is using that middle cubicle? Just crammed in a longer queue right outside instead.

And what really fucked me off - the men’s toilets was not the same, DH said all cubicles were open.

What is the logic beyond “oh we’d better just do something”

YANBU do not get me started on the trains!! We still have a restricted timetable - coz covid, despite bring told we should be back in the office (this is a main line into London).

I agree OP. It seems like a convenient excuse for so many things. It will become an endemic illness - we have to live with it but businesses will keep the cost saves

Applied for my driving licence ( 3 year medically restricted)
TWO YEARS AGO- just got a letter from the Dvla with all the forms I had already filled in and sent off saying ‘thanks for your recent enquiry’
Now have to send them off within 14 days of the date on the letter or my licence will be revoked.
Letter didn’t arrive till 5 days after the date - coz Royal Mail Covid
No one will answer my emails to answer the ridiculous questions about medical history dates cos NHS covid
The Dvla won’t answer the phone cos DVla covid
Waaaaaaaaaaaa

This drives me crazy.

My sons swim lessons finish 5 mins early to wipe the seating area for parents down. When we know it’s not spread on surfaces now surely it can stop? The owner only does it so he doesn’t get into trouble.

A well known opticians brand have stopped doing BOGOF on kids frames that they’ve done for years. Because of Covid apparently!! Bet that never comes back!!

We will never get back to the level of service/services we had before. As pp said it suits so many companies that we have got used to restrictions, poor service, strange rules that why would they ever bother going back to before. Covid has not only caused devastation to so many it will leave us all at the mercy of companies who don't give two hoots about their clients and are there for the bottom line/ shareholders.

@GirlInACountrySong my DD with bowel problems messed her knickers in a shop because they could open their toilets but CHOSE not to. She was absolutely hysterical and we were 10 minute drive from anywhere else. For what it's worth we are very clean people (apart from that day when we were covered in poo because a 3 year old wasn't allowed to use the toilet because of covid)

I agree it's getting tiresome now. It's like people have only discovered germs exist. I think we need to carry on as usual now. It's sad that we have lost lots of people to this virus but death unfortunately is inevitable 😔

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

Absolutely agree with this. I'm reading through so many of these examples and thinking 'I bet this is nothing to do with covid really, and is just cost cutting'.

But companies aren't going to be honest and say that because then they'd be admitting you're getting less for your money.
It's like when chocolate bars (or whatever) get smaller but they still charge the same. They're hardly going to print 'now half the size' on it!

I turned up for am appt which was cancelled because the agent had covid. The colleague was so flippant when she told me, as if i should be accepting of the fact that i had a wasted morning and covid is a reasonable excuse for not clearing your diary!

I wouldn’t know my 7 year old’s teacher if she was in my soup

What a great expression.

I agree with all the rest too.

@0blio

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!

They absolutely love it.

Where are you living? My pick ups have been maskless for ages, my hairdresser is back to normal and I was trying on clothes in John Lewis just yesterday. In the nail bar they've kept the clear plastic screens but everything else is the same, even prosecco Friday!
Seems pretty normal here

I'm in Wales so we're still masked in school and at pick up and on transport, in shops, theatres and cinemas.

By the way to the poster who mentioned harvester salad bars. Been served by a waitress is now permanent I was told its more hygienic and it stops little fingers getting in the food.

Wow haven't come across any of those restrictions. Hair dressers just have a gap between stations - coffee, tea and magazines available. Menus can be online now, but still I get them to hold at places too. Can't comment on school playground but don't see anyone hanging around waiting for gate to open with masks on.
But crap service - I get post once a week at best (SW London) for example - is pathetic now.

All changing rooms open, and I had a full makeup done in John Lewis last week. My hairdresser/ beauty salon has abandoned masks.

Totally agree.

Our local council are still all working from home. you can’t get through to anyone ‘cos covid’. This is for essential services.

The hotel one really annoys me. We stayed in a premier inn for seven days. They wouldn't make the room up "cause covid". So ridiculous it's nothing more than saving money and cutting staff.

I really want to vote with my feet and never stay with them again but it's the only hotel anywhere near elderly parents.

The PDSA are absolutely guilty of this. Since the very start of the pandemic in 2020 only 1 person is allowed in with a pet. No allowances for children or babies in prams. Thankfully I have a car to lock my dc in, but what are single parents that don't drive supposed to do? I had to have ddog put to sleep just before Christmas. Wasn't allowed to be there with him at the end, only say goodbye in the consulting room. Ex DP and the children had to say goodbye in the car park. They are also extremely pushy when it comes to money, much more so than a private vet (I do pay for their service). I get that they are a charity but they are also left millions in wills each year. But us paupers mustn't complain about poor service and should just be grateful for whatever we get.

My dh can’t get an appointment to the asthma clinic in order to dispense life saving medication.

They want to do it over the phone. How can they check your peak flow over the phone?!

Sorry, they say. COVID

"Because COVID" reminds me of things you can't do because of "health and safety reasons".

I was once told that I couldn't walk down some stairs at a venue for "health and safety reasons". I was so pissed off. Just say you'd rather people followed a set route outside, just don't fob me off with that crap.

My DH was caught and fined driving into a ‘bus gate’ which is a barely noticeable notice on the road, where previously you could always drive over.
Over 30,000 people have been caught and fined so far over a few months.
It’s not a permanent feature and will be removed.
It’s in place currently ‘due to covid’.

@KKslidoff

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.

Our GP is the opposite, can't get an appointment for weeks. I need a medication review, I phoned for an appointment. Sorry, no appointments but let us know your weight and blood pressure and we will reissue your prescription. I've got scales at home but funnily enough I don't own a blood pressure device.

I also had the weird carvery experience of someone else has to carry your plate back to the table for you. So the server has touched my plate, why does a waitress need to carry my plate? What covid regulation means I can't carry my own plate and why introduce an extra pair of hands that don't need to touch my plate?