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.

I get what your saying OP and I don't think you are being at all patronising. PP are choosing to ignore the fact that you have stated it's a small convenience store not a large supermarket therefore the majority of people are not doing a weekly shop in there and the vast majority of people don't need to be in there for 15mins plus! Some people are just inconsiderate, however the people being rude to staff for something outside of their control are also rude and inconsiderate.

@Inthemuckheap

Did people actually read the OP? It's a local shop part of a big supermarket so a Tesco Express/Sainsbury Local type of shop. Who actually does their weekly shop in one of those? Nobody in their right mind. It's to pick up bits you may have forgotten so 15 mins is more than enough. You are not being unreasonable and women popping into local shops with restricted numbers of shoppers allowed with their whole brood in tow also drives me mad.

Well people who perhaps can't get to bigger shops and have no other way of getting their shopping in. My Mum uses her little Tesco a lot, it's less than 5 minutes walk away as opposed to the big supermarkets which are 20 minutes each way to walk.

A very fair request from the op. Shopping at these times needs to be treated as a necessity and not a leisure activity! Get in, get what you need as quickly as you can and leave. Where possible leave the rest of the family at home!

Some of the posters of here have such an entitled attitude.

WTF is dawdling ina supermarket? Most of us are trying to find what we need/read food labels etc. Even for a top up shop I need 15 minutes!

So can you stop changing the store around then please? It takes more time when I cant find stuff I need that was there the week before?

Yes I do take longer than others in my shopping but I have food intolerant people to shop for and I use a lot of toilet paper if I buy and cook something that doesn't agree so its swings and roundabouts

It's surprising how many people I see in my local Sainsbury Express buy what looks like a week's worth of groceries. Who knows how many people they are shopping for? Sorry OP I think you are complaining unnecessarily.

This is why I don't go to shops anymore. Ever! Online deliveries all the way..I would have to take my children for starters!

I haven’t seen any supermarket/corner shop that still has a queuing system for ages.

FWIW I wouldn't cause you an issue because I wouldn't queue. I physically can’t stand like this waiting And then go round to do my shopping and walk back home.
But that would also stop me from accessing said supermarket which is crap.

thankfully, our corner shop (despite being part of a big chain) doesn’t do that.

@Petitmum

A very fair request from the op. Shopping at these times needs to be treated as a necessity and not a leisure activity! Get in, get what you need as quickly as you can and leave. Where possible leave the rest of the family at home! Some of the posters of here have such an entitled attitude.

Na. Not when said outing is the only one I do with my family.

Exciting times when your one venture out is the small supermarket next door isn’t it?

I'm sorry you have had to put up with such abuse OP.
The social distancing is ridiculous and you need to be trained how to deal with this and given powers to remove abusive people.
It works both ways though, we have stopped shopping in Tesco due to the lack of social distancing and abusive staff.
One screamed at dh to keep a distance when he was stood still, when he said this she said well I knew you were going to move where there wasn't any distance.
Maybe get a job at Tesco the crystal ball is part of your equipment.

I could possibly whiz around and do my shopping in 15 minutes if I had a pair of skates and was 40 years younger, alas I am not, I am just another doddery OAP cluttering up the aisles.

@Meuniere but that was the basic point I'm trying to make. Not everyone has the time or ability to stand in a queue, especially now it's getting colder.

Simply being a bit quicker in store stops this. I'm not saying 'don't read packaging', this is very important. As is checking prices for budgets.

I just thought it would be useful for people to understand the perspective of shop workers and things we see on a daily basis. We don't want to see people queuing in the cold and rain (sometimes with no umbrella).

Totally unreasonable. The people dawdling will have done their fair share of waiting in the rain too. If people don’t want to queue outside then nobody is forcing them to, shop at less busier times when it’s more likely to have a shorter queue or shop online. I hate being rushed as I always feel like I’m forgetting something. Don’t hold a grudge with everyone because of a few who give you verbal abuse.

@amusedtodeath1

The OP gives an insight into what it's like to work in a local supermarket and asks people to be considerate and she's being unreasonable?

Some people need a better hobby than giving out shite to random people on the internet.

Hear hear.

I can see both sides and I think op has a fair point. Otoh for those people stuck in the same four walls alone, the trip to the supermarket must feel like a social event and you can't blame them for wanting to chat. At peak lockdown saying hello to the people who work in our local coop was the highlight of my social interaction - but at least I don't live alone.
I think the message that if people are waiting it would be appreciated if you didn't dawdle really isn't controversial.

Thank you, Stella, that was a useful post.

i agree with OP, i am very aware if there are queues outside the Sainsburies local/ Tescos express that once i am in, its time to quickly and efficiently move through the store, getting items on my list without dawdling for ages.

Bit different in a massive store, but very important in a smaller one with a queue outside (and soon, probably rain too)

Tbh I have been mindful of others if I see there is a queue to get into the shop. A quick in and out. It's really just being considerate to others, isn't it.

@BloggersBlog

Why are people saying to focus on the abusive idiots in shops? As if the OP is going to do a post saying "Can the people who abuse us, please stop" and mnetters say "oh, ok then, I was going to go and swear at the staff in my local Tesco but wont now"

There is more chance that lots of us need reminding to hurry a bit up than not to abuse the staff.

Fair point OP

People don't need to be reminded to hurry up though - there is no time limit on shopping. People will take how long they take. Some will be quick and others not so quick.

People shouldn't be hurried through a shop. They shouldn't feel them being in the store is an inconvenience to others. If people have to wait to get in then they have to wait to get in or go back later.

The op's post is a double edged sword and it may be the old adage of being careful what you wish for - shops are struggling with online purchasing and if people start to feel unwelcome and they are told how long they are allowed in store then they might just go elsewhere and if enough do that then queues are no longer an issue as the store could just close.

Today I went for our weekly shop the only people I saw dawdling was the staff who was busy gossiping as they were supposedly filling up shelves.

10-15 mins is a time frame many can't make.

how about we simply say

If you do your best to look after me and keep me safe.
I will do my best to look after you and keep you safe?

[quote Anderton]**@Stellaris22 sorry the impertinent abuse you’re getting here is likely mirroring the abuse you may receive at work. I think posters’ reactions speak volumes as to how lowly people regard supermarket staff and other essential workers. Really selfish. I hope your managers can find a way to make the environment safer for you and your coworkers

Could not agree more.[/quote]
I agree. It's one in one out at our local small Co op. The OP isn't talking about people doing a full family shop. It doesn't hurt anyone to be mindful of others.

Dawdling in the supermarket is the people who stop to have a 'quick chat' with their neighbour then see their friend and stop to say a 'few words'. In mine it's the people who come in as a three then when one pays the others just hang around near the till whereas if they came outside then another two customers could enter.

In the Tesco Express near where I used to live there was a 20 minute limit on car parking even pre covid so you were certainly expected to complete your shopping quickly.

i agree with the op ,my sainsburys local is 2 long isles ,with no room to get past people only 5 allowed in at any time ,i just want milk i was in there for 15mins and there was only 2 customers in front of me , i can do my weekly shop in the large supermarket in about 40mins

My intended message may have been misinterpreted so apologies if I wasn't clear.

I work in a local convenience type store NOT a superstore, so cannot speak for larger store policies.

We pride ourselves on good customer service and have great relationships with regulars, we often get thank you cards.

It's because of this care for customers that we don't like seeing people queuing in the rain and cold. It's not ideal and these are exceptional circumstances, we'd normally love to spend time discussing local produce and offers. This isn't possible right now.

Neither do we WANT to rush people, shopping should be a pleasant experience. But for us to offer the best service everyone needs to shop a bit quicker so others are able to also get their shopping done.

This is advice with only wanting to continue good customer care in these times.