How are you supposed to shop when you are treated awfully?

[Mummypig2020]

I popped to jojo this morning as Dd needing some shoes. She’s 3 and Dh works during the day so I took her with me.

We were barked at as soon as we walked in (no one else was in the store). Don’t let go of dds hand, no touching anything. I don’t mind these things but to be made to feel utter shit about it. It was horrible and I really had to bite my lip from not crying (hormonal!).
I just felt so sad for Dd, she normally loves that shop :(

I said jokingly “wish we could just go back to normal” to be shouted that it won’t ever go back and if I touch something it will not keep other people safe 😑😑

They were arseholes in Waterstones when I went in a couple of days ago. I bought a book I knew my mum wants for her birthday. I'll be buying it off amazon or wherever like I have been the past 12 weeks in future 🤷‍♀️

@Thisismytimetoshine - ultimately for the shops, yes. But then why shop in person when there's nothing in any shop you couldn't get something similar online?

It's the process of going, talking with someone else, trying things on. Looking what other clothing is there, styles, getting ideas. Touching fabrics to decide if you like them...

I don't have the time or money to shop as a hobby. But it's very sneery to suggest that people who enjoy the whole experience of shopping are somehow doing it wrong compared to people who have better ways to enjoy themselves.

You can't be so in your own bubble you don't realise that a lot of people do shop for more than just 'need', but because they enjoy it? Why do you think window shopping is a thing enough people do to deserve it's own term?

Browzingzz Well Good for you .Just because you have been lucky enough to be treated well, doesnt mean everyone has! I was shouted at and questioned about my shopping in Tesco, by a very rude and unpleasant assistant .Will not be going there again in a hurry! Shops are surely wanting us to buy things ,as BJ has said to go shopping again and yet we are being treated badly by surly staff! They dont seem to realise no customers= no jobs for them!

Think you are being a bit precious. The rules are to keep everyone safe and it sounds bloody stressful having to be a shop assistant right now.

Why would you think she could go around and touch things?

Because the risk of surface transmission for COVID is actually very low. Even the recent outbreak in Beijing that was originally linked to Norwegian salmon and the chopping board might have originated a month ago.

I've only been out three times in the last 13 weeks, the atmosphere was very tense

I have been going to my local supermarket two-three times a week throughout the lockdown. I have been briefly chatting with shop assistants. Some customers did look intense but the personnel were always helpful, professional and very friendly.

I hope people working in non essential shops will eventually follow their supermarket colleagues and remember what customer service is about. I agree the shopping experience this week has not been particularly pleasant.

I got shouted at on Monday by the queue marshall at Primark. Was told in no uncertain terms to "STAND THERE" and when I didnt move, not realising it was me being shouted at I was told either I moved to the correct place in the queue or they wouldnt let me in.

It was at this point that I said I wasnt in the queue and that if that was his attitude I wouldnt be bothering in future either. For clarity, I was waiting for DD to tie her shoelace (which he possibly couldnt see) and was way further than 2 metres away from the queue and anyone else so why the hell he thought I was part of the madness I dont know!

Some people are just assholes.

How are you supposed to buy childrens shoes if you can't touch them beforehand. Just because it says, for example, size 6 it doesn't mean it will fit the same as a size 6 in another style/make. Have they banned the measuring of childrens feet in that shop too? They are just going to love it in a few weeks when all those parents with children come in looking to buy new school shoes.

I’ve been in Clark’s and M&S today with a six year old full of excitement at a trip out for new clothes and shoes. Staff were lovely. I’m remembering where and where not for future shopping and brand loyalty.

I think everyone is a bit tense at the moment. It was like that in our local supermarkets a month or so ago but its calmed down a lot since then. I expect other shops will be the same.

However, if they are rude about it (tone is everything) then just don't go there again, that's your prerogative.

If someone barked at me I'd have turned round and walked out again.

Next time someone does that just leave immediately. When there’s no one shopping there they will get the message. We don’t have to be rude or unpleasant to each other to keep safe.

Don't you realise OP, everyone is now medically trained and an expert in reducing covid spread.
You and your DD should have just been grateful that they allowed you into their precious shop without wearing a white boiler/space suit each and bowing at the manager when you left.

I ordered a shoe measure online and measured my ds feet at home and then ordered the shoes. It saved me trying to stop him running around!

Everyone needs to report this awful behaviour to the CEO of each company. I get how they may be stressed but you don't need to name staff. These companies need to wake up.

I think they should be able to explain the rules to you without being rude.
I'm sorry you had such an awful experience.

These companies need to wake up? What, and proactively manage the mental health of their staff during a pandemic? Yes, good idea. I agree.

I went to a fabric shop this week and the staff were lovely. Had to queue outside and they asked everyone to use hand sanitiser on the way in. Nobody was shouty or tried to stop me touching things. Sorry you had a bad experience, OP. Not all shops are like that tho, so it’s definitely worth trying other places.

I had a bad experience in M&S, staff shouting at a couple to stand away from the aisle and about viral load etc in middle of the shop

Used the self checkouts as no-one there

I understand people are stressed but no need to shout, the poor couple looked very taken aback. They hadn't done anything wrong

@babba2014

How ridiculous! As if the CEO is going to listen to a customer above an employee! In times like this retail staff are doing there best......not been trained in this new marshalling system you see it not in our contracts to be doing this either!

Customers are being vile....it’s s fact.... our store was at capacity and we were doing one in one out, guy said ‘fuck that’ and pushed me aside and strode in. That’s what we are up against and every company with a good senior management is firmly backing up employees right now.

I've only really been in (a variety of) supermarkets and garden centres so far. But if anything I've found them more friendly and pleasant than normal. I really got the impression that they've been trained to take the stress out of the customer's experience. I've even had cheery goodbyes from staff as I leave.

So yep, it's perfectly okay to be given a set of rules on entry, but the rudeness isn't acceptable at all.

So yep, if you're a shop worker, here's one person who's had purely good experiences, and I'm grateful to you all.

If the employees didn’t make themselves heard And intervene first you can guarantee it would kick off between customers

Problem is nobody is reading the signs anymore and different shops do distancing differently

This is where Boris could have been more help. We need uniform distancing all done the same way and Boris in the TV daily telling everyone nothing’s changed, stick to it!

Turn around and walk out. Every time, there are plenty of places to get shoes. You really don't have to put up with it.

We’ve been open since the beginning ‘essential’ Store so have seen it all evolve from over cautious customers to those Now,who believe we are now out of lockdown and tut at you if you remind them of SD

they were pretty rude in lidl the other week, and making comments about wishing they didnt have to do their job
so unnecessary.

What they said sounds completely normal and reasonable. Certainly nothing to cry about.

All the shops are doing this. I don't get what you're upset about. I mean, obviously it's not great for little kids at the moment, but that's hardly the shop staff's fault.