Supermarket Request

[Stellaris22]

I'm hoping not to get shouted at for this, but .....

As someone who works in a local version of a larger supermarket, we are still maintaining social distancing through limited customers, especially important when we have deliveries.

Please don't shout at us for doing this, please don't come in groups or pairs (unless absolutely necessary). Please don't take forever browsing as it causes queues to form (not nice in cold weather).

We are trying our best as staff, but being on an empty checkout watching customers dawdle and a queue getting bigger outside is no fun for anyone.

And?

Good to get us all thinking a bit more over something like shopping which can become a bit mindless, thanks for putting this out there OP.

After another day of customers getting angry at us for having to wait, it's simply a request in case people aren't aware.

Short of asking people to hurry up (which is rude and not something I want to do) it's incredibly frustrating not serving customers with a queue forming due to dawdling in store.

What’s ‘dawdling’? Are people allowed to stop and look at the products to pick the ones they want, or do they have to just quickly pick up the first thing they see so as not to cause a hold up?
This is why I don’t go into shops anymore and won’t until this whole bloody thing is over!

One person’s dawdling is another person’s just trying to find the thing you’re looking for.

Spending 10-15 mins in the store at a time.

I get wanting to check prices, promotions and varieties. But just need to be mindful that when there's a queue in cold weather/rain it's not pleasant for those waiting outside.

As staff we are the ones receiving abuse from those having to wait outside.

I haven't seen queues outside local supermarkets for months now, where are you?!

Why is it unreasonable to spend 10 mins plus in a shop, local or not?

@Stellaris22

Spending 10-15 mins in the store at a time.

I get wanting to check prices, promotions and varieties. But just need to be mindful that when there's a queue in cold weather/rain it's not pleasant for those waiting outside.

As staff we are the ones receiving abuse from those having to wait outside.

If I was expected to hurry up, I’d just go elsewhere to be honest.

Fair request OP and not sure why you're getting such snippy responses.

We do all need to continue to abide by social distancing and that means supermarkets like every other shops have smaller maximum occupancy limits.

A supermarket isn't a social event or day out, no one is being asked to speed round and only visit the specific aisles on their list. Just be considerate, if there's a queue of people standing in the rain, rather than spending 20 mins having a chat with Carl down the road in the veg aisle, try to keep moving and finish your shop in a reasonable time.

@FatGirlShrinking

Fair request OP and not sure why you're getting such snippy responses.

We do all need to continue to abide by social distancing and that means supermarkets like every other shops have smaller maximum occupancy limits.

A supermarket isn't a social event or day out, no one is being asked to speed round and only visit the specific aisles on their list. Just be considerate, if there's a queue of people standing in the rain, rather than spending 20 mins having a chat with Carl down the road in the veg aisle, try to keep moving and finish your shop in a reasonable time.

I would say that 10-15 mins is a reasonable time to do a shop.

@Julietsfishtank

I haven't seen queues outside local supermarkets for months now, where are you?!

There was a very long one outside my local Waitrose yesterday. I went to M&S instead. No queue. Nothing at Sainsbury's either, but I didn't need to go there.

Yes it's reasonable to ask people not to dawdle. If you need to check labels for allergens etc it's probably better to go to larger stores or go to smaller ones when it's not busy. Though 10 minutes doesn't seem unreasonable (unless it's very small and really is more the type of place where you pop in for a pint of milk and are in and out within 3-4 minutes).

To be honest I think the focus should be on stopping people abusing staff for having to wait, not stopping people take a reasonable amount of time to do their shopping.

Slightly patronising op because most of us are not idiots and already know this.

It takes me longer than 10-15 minutes to complete a full weekly shop for our family. I tend to do a click and collect shop though - I hate queuing and wearing a mask.

I think you are focusing on the wrong thing. The onus should be on the people being abusive and Ealing with that, not those doing their shopping.

If you and your colleagues are receiving abuse, you need to take that up with your manager.

Equally if you don't want people 'dawdling' when they're checking prices and promotions, take that up with your manager too and perhaps they can make the prices and signage clearer.

On a different note, I haven't seen a queue outside a shop since mid lockdown.

10-15 mins?
I take 30-60 mins but I only go shopping once in every 3-4 weeks so as to reduce my risk of getting infected.

If people are only buying a few things in their 10-15 mins, tho, you have a point.

@QueenofLean

To be honest I think the focus should be on stopping people abusing staff for having to wait, not stopping people take a reasonable amount of time to do their shopping.

Exactly this.

Not everyone can make it to bigger shops or limit their shopping to quieter times of the day. Shops will never be able to cater to every individual's specific needs - the problem lies with the idiots who think it's acceptable to be verbally abusive towards staff.

If you don't want to stand outside a shop and wait to be able to enter - don't go there if you see a queue.

Greggs is the only shop round here with a queue atm

I am sorry that you're being abused. There's no excuse

@Thesearmsofmine

I think you are focusing on the wrong thing. The onus should be on the people being abusive and Ealing with that, not those doing their shopping.

Absolutely this.

People should not be hurried up.

Sorry you are being unreasonable, not everyone has the kind of brain that can grab what they need methodically or even to make a logical list - we are all different. I also shop with my partner on foot, we want different things often and pay separately. Others may be housemates that cook for themselves remember. Sainsbury's lost our business due to their draconian rules last time - Lidl's gain

@QueenofLean

15 mins is not enough for a weekly shop, even a few bits takes that long including paying

Hold on, you expect someone to do all of their shop for the week in 10-15 minutes? I wish I could do it that quickly! And I don't exactly hang around. I was with you until that comment!

Waitrose is one in one out here now, queued for 20 minutes yesterday