Fed up with supermarkets

[SelfScanHell]

Sainsbury's reduced me to tears today.

Our DC has recently finished GCSEs so we decided to move from the usual online shop to taking them to learn how to do a shop in real life. They are autistic and can struggle in busy environments.

It was challenging but we managed to do a whole week’s shop using the ‘smart scan’ (they’ve used it before and prefer it) and got to the check-out. A few hiccups but managed with headphones and music. In the past we’ve had the ‘items needs to be checked’ thing every other time we visit, and just put up with 10 items being checked, never an issue.

Today we had the message, only 1 staff member seeing to about 20 check-outs. Other staff just said ‘sorry I can’t do that’. New staff member eventually appeared and told us the WHOLE trolley needed checking - an overflowing trolley with a week’s shop for a whole family. There was nowhere to do this, nowhere to move the stuff from our trolley, no extra bags, no counter space, just the floor for space to move the shopping to. No suggestions of how this was to be done. I was left standing by the trolley piled with food, next to a confused DC with the staff member just staring at me.

My first instinct was just to abandon the trolley to them. I should have said ‘OK I’ll go for a coffee and you do it’. But I wanted to manage the situation for my DC and felt sorry for the staff member who looked clueless, standing there blankly with no way to achieve this. So off we went to join a new queue for a normal till and do it all over again. Thankfully my DC managed, I’m so proud of them.

After getting the shopping into the car, and DC settled with music, I went back to complain at this new ‘whole trolley checking’ rule without the resource in place to do it. Plus, I’m lucky as my DC managed this time, what about someone else who is standing with a mountain of goods with nowhere to put them. After being given the manager’s email to send a complaint to him, I went back to the car and just started crying. Sometimes it’s just too much. First attempt at a full Sainsbury’s shop for DC has taught them they might be expected to pile their shopping on the floor to be checked (no way that’s happening).

I am tempted to ask if all ND people should avoid Sainsbury’s, but being less antagonistic I’ll ask, AIBU to say:

• If Sainsbury’s have to start checking everything in a packed trolley they should provide the staff and space to do this (not on the floor)

Wealth not "with" inequality. If you work in a supermarket you should want better terms and conditions, you should want proper staff ratios, you should what not to be exploited.

I often do click and collect from tesco, best of both worlds and cheaper.

I shop at Sainsbury's a lot and have never had a shop check.

Also with a ND child who I never take to the supermarket with me, maybe to pop in but the thought of doing a big shop with them no. Xxx

But thats just reality its the same everywhere schools, hospitals etc what do you want me to do quit my job and make a stand and just claim benefits or just go to work do my shift and come home and be with my family and live my life. My job isnt my life its what I do to keep a roof over my families head and people should respect anyone who is making a living to support their family. Being disrespectful and treating minimum wage staff or any staff for that matter like shit is not ok. We have no control over how a national company rules. Do you know how many times a day mainly middle age men say to me you should be paying me for this, or why am I doing your job for you. Its draining. If my job was to scan a shop and go home id be living the life of Riley but that is not the job.

I don't have time to do a big shop once a week for four people and I like fresh food.

Why would I moan at the staff about the greed of the shareholders?

Because this is what the majority of people who talk like this do are you an older male by any chance

A lot of people cant differentiate between the role of a shop worker or a ceo of a company. Its always you need to tell them this. Like tell who I have no say or power nobody at store level does.

No one is disrespecting your job and supermarkets are not like schools, hospitals etc. they are private sector companies with the purpose of making a profit.

I don't think a middle aged man or whoever should give you any grief at all.

No I'm bloody not, I am a 40 something woman. Bizarre, how you have made all these assumptions. I am not in a supermarket, I'm discussing the issue on a public forum, I'm making a broader point not a literal one.

I'd love to know any job private or public that isnt understaffed

There are probably quite a few private sector companies that are resources properly as they are trying to attract people to work for them, I work for one as does DH.

Then you are blessed to have an easier life then most

The job isn't easy by any means but the values of the place can't be like supermarkets as they need people to want to work with them not go elsewhere as chaos is a regular feature of the working environment.

But its easier doing just your own job then the job of 3 people which most people in the public and private sector have to do..

Why would I hold shares in a supermarket, what a dumb investment decision that would be comparative to other FTSE companies. If you think super markets are a good business prospect for shareholders you need a lesson in economics. Their profit margins are razor thin, typically 3/4%. Competition is fierce. The ROI on supermarkets is one of the worst in retail business. Tiny savings on staff numbers are the difference between a business being viable and not, particularly now the NMW is so high for younger workers and increases in NIC's for employers, but I expect you just like the majority on here aren't willing to pay the extra the supermarkets would need to impose, so what gives?

With respect, you don't have a clue about my job, the content of the job is incredibly complex and not easy at all, it is not a process orientated job so the difficulty doesn't come from how many people are on the job, it is the solutions that are the hard bit. I don't think the ease of a job can be quantified in that way.

And with you working at Sainsbury's aswell scanning them few items every day you must be exhausted

It isn't exhausting but it is very annoying and pretty depressing thinking about the ever increasing gap between the richest and the poorest in this country. Child poverty statistics, food banks, levels of inequality last seen in the Victorian era, I find that pretty disgusting actually but you can see how the apathy of society, the cheerleading for hugely rich people (they really don't need your cheerleading by the way) has led to this.

If you would feel better giving me some of your money I will happily accept.

Unfortunately, in not in the bracket of supermarket owners!

Otherwise I would.

Aww dam well was worth a try

Thank you @alexalisten and @Goldenbear for your really interesting discussion. I’ve been reading along and value hearing your differing experiences and opinions.
@alexalisten I think you may have opened a few eyes to thankless elements of working in a supermarket many won’t have known about - I didn’t. Thank you
@Goldenbear I agree with so many of your points, especially about wealth disparity, and with recent changes it’s just going to get worse.

Did you miss scanning an item? The only time I had to have my whole shopping rechecked, I missed scanning a jar of mayo and the assistant was like “ah that was it”

me too, I was expecting 98% yanbu plus 2% the inevitable cranks who think everyone should be delighted to take nonstop booting in the face from our higher-ups.

Its reassuring the Sainsbury’s management, who know this store and how cramped the area is, felt a whole trolley re-scan there was totally inappropriate.

I expect the staff have been complaining about the layout from the off - and a one of customer complaint will do nothing to change it - a series of them might.

I also thought staff didn't pick who got rescanned or how much but told by some system.

It sound sound like classic them - blame the lower staff for stuff beyond their control - I had famly who worked for Sainsburys.

So while I'm glad you feel better about the incident - I would avoid doing a big shop there any time soon as expect it could easily happen again.

Certainly friend and family who used scanners usually find what ever they are told it happens next few times - and in end the give up.