to think supermarket shelf stackers shouldn't get annoyed because I want to get items that have a later best before date?

[supersup]

When I am food shopping, I always choose the items at the back with the later best before dates. The items at the front are sometimes out of date in the next day or two. When I am planning ahead, I want to get food with a later date as possible.

I know the dates don't have to be strictly followed but I prefer the later dates.

Shelf stackers are getting increasingly annoyed when I pull out items from the back and I was told I should just get one from the front. I put everything back properly so it is not as if I am messing up the shelf.

AIBU?

They tend to keep the number for the date, but use a letter instead of a month.

It may be the initial letter of the month (or another letter in the month's name where more than one month has the same initial) or A for Jan, B for Feb, C for March etc.

Thus D14 will mean displayed on or best before 14th April.

They claim it's to help customers not throw away still-fine food after they've bought it, by making the date slightly less obvious; but it's really to stop customers from selecting the newer stock before they buy it.

@supersup

tell them to
mind their own business

Read the OP

When you buy vegetables from a market or farm shop, you just judge freshness by its appearance or feel - no need for dates or codes. And even an old, slightly wilted carrot is edible.

No YANBU. Something about calling them “supermarket shelf stackers” in the title seems a little off to me though. I can’t quite put my finger on why, but it feels like a scathing, judgmental label. Kind of with a “you stack shelves for a living, don’t question me” tone. I could be reading it wrong, but “supermarket staff” or something similar doesn’t convey the same feeling.

Do you need their photos, names and addresses?

Don’t start me on poorly printed dates! As a former code checker, that really pissed me off along with my fellow code checkers. Black ink on royal blue? Muller Corner yoghurt multi packs. Yet the single yoghurts are printed with white ink and easier to read.WTF is that about?

There are manufacturers whose 6 and 8s look similar.

You are benefitting other customers, by increasing the number of items that will end up in the 'last chance to buy' section at a reduced price.

It's us against them, and if supermarkets don't like it they can improve their stock rotation.

Which supermarket was this OP?

I’d be seriously unimpressed at being ‘told off’ by the stackers for this. I do essentially the same in the greengrocers - no BB dates but I will examine the fruit/veg on display and choose whatever looks the freshest / best. Same in the butchers. Surely everyone does this?

Most supermarket chains have this coding the letter is the month. So February it’s B, March is C then number is the date

Where are you shopping that the shelf stackers are stood watching you?

If I can see that shelves are in the process of being stacked, of course I do not start rummaging around at the back of the shelf, because that's rude and annoying. I go and do the rest of my shopping and then come back.

I shop in store specifically to get the freshest items with longest dates. If I shop online I end up my weeks worth of milk expiring in two days & bruised, old fruit. I've pulled items out of date, like yoghurt & meat, off the shelf to give to staff, so they obviously don't care enough to check.

I leave it tidy, though.

It’s an absolutely normal shopping habit. Tell them you’ll take the one you want, thanks very much. As long as you leave it how you found it.

Some items can be put in the freezer if they have a shorter expiry date. Like most people though I do try and get longer life items. I think they need to discount more stuff that only has a day or so left. Online shopping is so annoying because I can end up with half a dozen meat products all with a Use by Date the next day.

If I go shopping I want the slices of chicken that will be in date for the week for sandwiches. I don't want to go shopping twice. If it won't last then I won't buy it.

if they've got loads going out of date tomorrow then that's on them. They should know roughly how much they're going to sell and stock up accordingly.

Maybe the supermarkets should start using reverse psychology and putting the newer stuff at the front!

Then, the keener shoppers will take the trouble to reach right to the back and take the short-dated food with a mistaken sense of self-satisfaction at having 'won'

Have you posted this before supersup? I remember reading an identical thread a while ago. It seems an unusual issue to have and not one I’ve ever experienced or seen. Is this in smaller supermarkets like Spars or mini marts?

I'm impressed you can get near the shelves to actually look at the dates.

If they're doing the exact product I want I say 'May I take one of these? Gives you less to put out.'

I literally did the job.
We had to check the dates and got in trouble if any were left past their dates on the shelves.

I am unsure why you are telling me the job I did isn't what happened lol.

Never posted about this before.

It was Tesco Express.

I’ve been a shelf stacker and think you’ve done nothing wrong. If I’m working on a fresh section and a customer asks me to pass them something then I pick from the back or give them an item fresh out the box. I’d rather then ask me to pass them something than make a mess.

Aldi will discount if it’s 2 (maybe 3?) days until expiration which is a good policy and works well for those who shop multiple times a week.

I always take products from the back, with the longest dates on them.
In fact, anything with a date only a day or so away, I put back and don't buy the product if there isn't anything with a longer date available.
I always leave the shelves neat and tidy, and no staff member has ever accosted me about it. It makes good sense as I'm on my own and need items to last a while.

So you just steal
them?

Tbh I doubt they give a shit