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Original poster

Morrisons refusing to remove Russian products from sale.

213 replies

Paintyourpaletteblueandgrey · 06/03/2022 10:11

I went shopping to Morrisons last night. Wandering the alcohol aisle I found a full lit up display of Russian Standard vodka which is made in St Petersberg. Morrisons announced earlier that week that they, like all other supermarkets, were withdrawing all Russian products for sale due to the ongoing Ukraine crisis so I was quite surprised to see it there.

As I was leaving I spoke to customer services asking why the vodka was still on the shelves. The store manager came down with an email from the head office to show me. Basically Morrisons have withdrawn the vodka online but have decided to continue to sell it on their stores. Their view is that regardless of what is going on in Ukraine, they have bought the vodka and don't believe they should lose out on the profits for it (manager's words not mine). I asked why they had announced that they were banning Russian products when it was untrue and was told 'well why should we lose money?'

Am I being unreasonable thinking that Morrisons have just jumped on the Ukraine bandwagon with no actual intent to stand by their comments. They are putting money before morality. Surely we should be making a stand against Russia rather than paying lip service to them. I tweeted Morrisons last night but surprise surprise, they have ignored my tweet.

OP posts:
Nosquit · 06/03/2022 10:52

Can I just say one thing to the posters who are saying we need to make ordinary Russians feel the consequences:

ORDINARY RUSSIANS DO NOT AS A WHOLE WANT THIS WAR ANY MORE THAN WE DO OR THE UKRANIANS DO!!

Many have been out in protest. Those who haven’t are so very scared of the consequences. Have you any idea how tight the rules are and how strong the sanctions are for them to speak out against their government? I have a feeling you probably don’t and that if we had the same consequences here (very bad prisons, major loss of income, loss of job and very difficult to find another one, loss of any support, VERY hefty fines on top of loss of job and other things besides) you would not go out and protest against a war either. And again, do you think Putin cares if the people of Russia are happy? No he doesn’t. He’s a self centred war monger who only cares about himself and his cronies and the general public can all die off for all he cares as long as the rich and powerful survive.
Seeing people saying things like “Russians have to suffer to see the consequences” etc makes me so so sad. They see the consequences, they are just totally and utterly powerless and are struggling to survive themselves. The soldiers don’t even want to go to war and fight as many are against this invasion but that don’t want to be shot as deserters.

BobLep0nge · 06/03/2022 10:53

we should certainly target Russians at home or abroad with as many punitive measures as we can

You want to impose punitive measures on ordinary Russian people that live in the UK?

alwaysmovingforwards · 06/03/2022 10:53

I think if a supermarket wants to sell Russian stuff and stay out of politics, then fine. Because let’s remind ourselves it’s Putin the madman declaring war, not the Russian people or Russian businesses.
If shoppers choose to buy it or boycott it, also fine and personal choice.

But I agree - to publicly state a position and not see it through is playing to the gallery. Which is not fine and Morrisons should be answerable for that.

PigeonLittle · 06/03/2022 10:53

Yanbu, attitude from the manager sounded abysmal

KatherineJaneway · 06/03/2022 10:53

They might as well sell it. They have already made the payment for the goods. So selling it on makes sense.

Ordering more from them at the moment would be an issue but I couldn't get worked up about it being sold as the money is already with the manufacturer.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 06/03/2022 10:54

But if they've already bought it, why shouldn't they sell it?

Selling stuff you already have is very different to ordering more stock.

gamerchick · 06/03/2022 10:55

The virtue signalling is getting on my tits a fair bit. Whinging at a supermarket ffs. Going to take some beating that.

Chloemol · 06/03/2022 10:56

@Itsbackagain

As a PP pointed out the produce has already been bought and paid for so why wouldn't they sell it. As long as they said they won't be buying any more once paid for stocks are used that would be good enough for me. Yes I feel terrible for people living in Russia as it isn't their fault but I guess that comes with the terriroty.
Morrison’s earn enough of a profit to not sell this they have agreed not to sell online

They can consider the lost money a donation to the cause

I don’t shop in Morrison’s but perhaps those that do could challenge if they see it

Or pop a note to the Daily Mailn

Sirzy · 06/03/2022 10:56

Nobody is going to be forced to buy it if they don’t want to. But while they have stock in then it seems daft for them to leave it sat in a warehouse. It’s future orders which will be stopped

YvanEhtNiojYvanEhtNioj · 06/03/2022 10:57

What do you want them to do with the stock they have? Pour it down the drain?

China is about to invade Taiwan. Will you be demanding every Chinese-made product be banned?

Original poster
Paintyourpaletteblueandgrey · 06/03/2022 10:58

I accept I may be unreasonable, I do however believe that if a company says they are withdrawing an item from sale on moral grounds they should do. Morrisons make hundreds of millions in profits, one item wouldn't bankrupt them but would show solidarity with the Ukrainian people in my view.

People ask what have I done to support Ukraine, well there's very little I can do really is there so not sure that's fair. I have donated to the DEC appeal and will do anything I reasonably can to help.

OP posts:
YvanEhtNiojYvanEhtNioj · 06/03/2022 11:00

@BobLep0nge

we should certainly target Russians at home or abroad with as many punitive measures as we can

You want to impose punitive measures on ordinary Russian people that live in the UK?

Jesus Christ. Some people have lost their fucking minds.
FrodoAteMyRing · 06/03/2022 11:00

@MorningStarling

Russians are the "bad guys" here. Whilst individual Russians at home or abroad may or may not not support Putin's actions, we should certainly target Russians at home or abroad with as many punitive measures as we can. >

This is sickening to read. Have you ever lived under a dicatorship!? Do you really think the ordinary Russian has ANY say about what their government does!?
Did you (or your family) stop Tony Blair being a nasty invading piece of sh*t? NO you did not!
So if the UK and the US invade the Middle Eeast its just fine and dandy with you isnt it? (Im not even mentioning Englands bloody past) The hypocrisy of some ppl is astounding.

Beees · 06/03/2022 11:01

one item wouldn't bankrupt them but would show solidarity with the Ukrainian people in my view.

Do you realise how daft this sentence is? Do you honestly honestly think any Ukrainian is worrying about Morrisons not showing solidarity because they are selling existing stock?

lakeswimmer · 06/03/2022 11:03

@Nosquit

Can I just say one thing to the posters who are saying we need to make ordinary Russians feel the consequences:

ORDINARY RUSSIANS DO NOT AS A WHOLE WANT THIS WAR ANY MORE THAN WE DO OR THE UKRANIANS DO!!

Many have been out in protest. Those who haven’t are so very scared of the consequences. Have you any idea how tight the rules are and how strong the sanctions are for them to speak out against their government? I have a feeling you probably don’t and that if we had the same consequences here (very bad prisons, major loss of income, loss of job and very difficult to find another one, loss of any support, VERY hefty fines on top of loss of job and other things besides) you would not go out and protest against a war either. And again, do you think Putin cares if the people of Russia are happy? No he doesn’t. He’s a self centred war monger who only cares about himself and his cronies and the general public can all die off for all he cares as long as the rich and powerful survive.
Seeing people saying things like “Russians have to suffer to see the consequences” etc makes me so so sad. They see the consequences, they are just totally and utterly powerless and are struggling to survive themselves. The soldiers don’t even want to go to war and fight as many are against this invasion but that don’t want to be shot as deserters.

This ^
Original poster
Paintyourpaletteblueandgrey · 06/03/2022 11:04

@Beees

one item wouldn't bankrupt them but would show solidarity with the Ukrainian people in my view.

Do you realise how daft this sentence is? Do you honestly honestly think any Ukrainian is worrying about Morrisons not showing solidarity because they are selling existing stock?

You may think it sounds daft but anything we cn do to make Russia a pariah state is good in my book.
OP posts:
TimBoothseyes · 06/03/2022 11:05

The stuff is already paid for and the money is in the makers bank so removing it from the shelves will not have any impact as far as financial loss goes. Not re-ordering it will though.

Squidinkk · 06/03/2022 11:06

It makes no sense whatsoever to waste hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of products that have already been paid for and these kind of knee jerk reactions are going to drive hatred towards individual Russians who are no more responsible for the war than we are in the uk. Like banning Russians from dog shows etc. That's just stupid. We've just seen a post here on this thread that we need to punish Russians. Why? Preventing people from participating in society because of where they were born. What does that sound like to you?

I can't believe you actually complained to the supermarket about it.

UKRAINEwearewithyou · 06/03/2022 11:06

Well you always get some that say things and yet still support the evil putrid dictator.

Avoid Morrisons would be my take.

slashlover · 06/03/2022 11:06

Morrisons are also donating £250k to DEC.

UKRAINEwearewithyou · 06/03/2022 11:09

Many Russians may or may not want this war but not enough of them bother to stand together and fight their dictator leader. Yet the Ukrainian people show much more bravery and actually fight him.

Overthrown from within by his own people would be great but not enough of them stand against him, only very small numbers do and so will be arrested. If hundreds of thousands protested then it might actually make a difference. A few thousand are easily dealt with by him.

TheHoptimist · 06/03/2022 11:09

@slashlover

Morrisons are also donating £250k to DEC.
They have an option to date as you checkout as well

The OP still hasn't told us what they have done to support Ukraine - other than try and make it all about her in Morrisons

Lookjaz · 06/03/2022 11:11

Surely removing the existing stock will only hurt Morrisons, the vodka will already have been paid for. Supermarkets buy very little on sale or return.

couldhave · 06/03/2022 11:11

@cushioncovers

As long as they don't restock it once it's sold. As for harming normal Russians if we don't buy their products, sorry but the average Russian citizen needs to take accountability for their leader as well. They can't all just pretend it's not happening. And yes I know it's much more complex than that but at the end of the day buying Russian products is the same as condoning the war imo.
This is how I see it also.

The people in Russia can't just stand by and say it's nothing to do with them. At some people this man was elected (even if democracy has been undermined since then in Russia). The man can't stay in power if everyone in Russia stands up to him. The people demonstrating are infinitesimally tiny compared to the population size. For evil to flourish, it just takes 'good people' to sit and do nothing.

Svara · 06/03/2022 11:11

Anything already purchased should be sold. Should it be wasted? Can hardly give vodka to the foodbank!

Ordinary Russians should not be punished either!