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.

@Julietsfishtank

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

Our local always has a queue outside, as they're only letting 4 people in at a time.

And, as she describes, there are ALWAYS people taking forever, getting in people's way, ignoring the one way systems .. drives me mad.

Can't wait for things to get back to normal, I really can't.

I know where you're coming from op! I also work in a convenience store. Max 15 customers at a time. Signs everywhere asking politely to keep moving, adhere to social distancing etc. The number of people who come in and treat their mini shop like a day out! (We only have baskets, no trollies so it's not like they're even able to shop for a few days!)

We don't have the room for people to come in and examine every single product to then buy the exact same thing they buy every week anyway! Then they bump into someone they've not seen in a while and decide to hold up the line whilst they have a gossip. They WILL get asked to move on!

We're still having people queuing outside even after all this time. We even have to lock the doors occasionally so we can have someone extra on the till rather than watching the doors.

Am I the only one who thinks one way systems make shopping so much slower? Maybe I'm just thick but I find myself doubling back because I've missed something, or an item wasn't where I expected it to be, snaking round aisles I don't need to go down...

@BananaPop2020

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

There is a bigger issue here of the number of people who think it's acceptable to be unpleasant to employees for following their employers' instructions and the official guidance. I have various friends and relatives working in shops, pubs, restaurants and tourist attractions, and they all seem to have stories to tell of really horrible behaviour from the public. Get real people, bring your gripes to the government, don't take it out on people who are already doing a difficult job.

@WoodenFox we used to shut the store completely when we had a delivery, but came to the conclusion this wasn't fair on customers who wouldn't be able to make another trip if they arrived to a closed store.

It was great for us as we were able to be super speedy with putting things out.

Went to our local shopping park at the weekend and there were queues outside nearly all the stores, not just the food shops. So it's not unreasonable of op to remind people to be more mindful and focused at the moment. Of course staff should not be abused because we are all trying to comply with social distancing requirements.

@MoonJelly having worked in public facing jobs all my life I can vouch that people were unpleasant well before Covid.

My customer service experience also means that I can appreciate when someone is trying to be welcoming to customers despite the difficulties, and when staff are being a bit jobsworthy. I haven't and wouldn't complain, but there are a couple of places I'll avoid for a while because they've made me feel like an inconvenience for giving them my custom. Other places have been lovely.

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

@Stellaris22 you were perfectly clear. People are deliberately misinterpreting you because they just want to have a gripe at someone.

10-15 minutes!!!! Is that it! No way. I spend about 45 minutes in a supermarket. I like to look at what I'm buying and get the best prices. I wont stop that because others think it's okay to be rude. What a controlling world we live in right now

I will take my time and choose what I want to buy before I spend any of my (hard earned) money in my local supermarket, thank you very much. I’m exposed to the risk of virus everyday, I deserve to chose my food versus running around grabbing things like a headless chicken. Enough already.

10-15 minutes for a full weeks shop for a family? And there’s bigger families than mine. 😂😂😂😂

Regret having 'supermarket' in my title now.

I agree, a weekly shop can't be done in 15 mins in a superstore. I am discussing a convenience store.

Ok, I’ve read the FT now, local shop, ten minutes is loads.

Hate local shops at the mo. Total disregard for masks, social distancing, rules etc.

Do you work at the One Stop OP? Or Tesco Express? No envy.

I'd rather not say which shop it is if that's ok.

But thank you for reading the rest of the thread :)

That done my head in when we had to wipe outside our local co op and someone would be in there for ages!
I could never imagine abusing the staff. Disgusting that people do.

Wipe? meant wait!

Agree with you OP and you certainly don't deserve the grief you're getting from some posters

[quote Stellaris22]@WoodenFox we used to shut the store completely when we had a delivery, but came to the conclusion this wasn't fair on customers who wouldn't be able to make another trip if they arrived to a closed store.

It was great for us as we were able to be super speedy with putting things out.[/quote]
We did the same thing for quite a while. We didn't have a choice as we couldn't socially distance at all whilst trying to get stock out.

I wish the supermarket workers would actually push the stuff properly down to the end of the aisle so that I can actually reach it lol

Facing up! We used to be on top of it a lot more, making sure everything is at the front and accessible. I whole heartedly agree and wish we had time to do it, it makes the store look far more presentable too.

That time is spent cleaning now.

I haven’t seen queues outside shops for ages. I’m actually reassured when I see a queue because it means they are limiting numbers of shoppers, keeping it safer.
I never dawdle in shops as I can’t stand wearing a mask longer than I have to!

My local Co-op allows 5 in at time and there are often queues at busy times. Most people are pretty respectful but some go in 3 at a time with the kids then take forever to buy their bread & milk due to said kids picking up everything and having to be chased after etc.

I was there last week and there was a queue of about 11 people outside in the rain. When I got in there were two women who hadn't even started shopping standing having a chat, at least 6 people had gone in and come out since they went in. I did comment to them that there was still a long queue so maybe they'd want to hurry a little... one sighed loudly and the other told me to piss off. They didn't move. The shop assistant at the till said she'd spoken to them too but they did the same to her and she was waiting for her manager to come back from break to deal with it... so yes I think this is a perfectly valid thread and reminder to people to not be a dick in shops.

Thank you for this and I’m so sorry you’re receiving abuse. I try to be quick and go alone to my local Sainbury’s Local but I’ve been getting a bit slower than I was during lockdown. Thank you for the reminder.

I have just left working for a major supermarket where I had been for a few years as the abuse we got on a daily basis was disgusting. No one has the right to abuse anyone specially where someone is trying to help them. Managers need to help staff more but that is rare now.

As well as.improved signage have recorded messages to play when there are queues and dawdling, ditto people not in-store wearing their face covering instore