I have twice spoken to the duty manager at the local Waitrose.
The gist…. Waitrose prices should not result in Lidl staffing levels.
One till open. The elderly,tired and well endowed despondent.
‘You can use the self service if you are able’
So a little spicing of ageism to irritate the experience.
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Aldi and Lidl are some of the highest paying supermarkets.
I like our nearest Aldi, their meat and vegetables are very good, whereas with Lidl, their bakery section is very good.
However, when we’ve been shopping in Aldi in Poland they have a very good bakery section and you can also slice the loaves you pick to different slice thicknesses. Also never seen a self checkout there.
DG…
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The staff at the supers I use are polite, helpful & competent at what they do.
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Off we go to Specsavers for our DVLA glaucoma test. I do have a current 3 year driving licence but it was a voluntary disclosure.
So head in a bucket and press the button when you see a flashing light.
Sit down haddock,chips and a cup of tea afterwards to ease the trauma.
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Yes I remember the roundabout. I stayed in Paderborn for a couple of months in the early 90s
Why just beat up on the supermarkets? Anyone pump their own gas/petrol lately?
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I worked for the UK’swit largest supermarket for a few years in a part time semi retirement role. They operate in an incredibly competitive market, most have very thin margins, ( as a % of turnover), and run at levels of efficiency that a lot of organisations wouldn’t even comprehend.
The traditional supermarkets have a balancing act between keeping a wide range of products against the increased costs of supporting lower volume items.
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Not my experience - the staff at my local are pretty helpful and I’ve used them for years. I guess it varies depending on store/area.
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Ah yes, the “just in time” model which failed so spectacularly five years ago and from which they appear to have learned precisely nothing.
Three and a half hours typing in Word on my iPad Pro. Probably 90 minutes longer than my eyes can take and than I ought to have done in this heat. Unfortunately now means I have run out of time today to go politely hassle the people who were meant to be securing me accessible seating and companion seating for Hadestown and the last night of Stereophonic.
On the plus side I have secured a seat for Kevin Rowland in conversation at the Stoller, Billy Bragg doing similar at Louder Than Words in November and sorted access for both CMAT and King Princess. Just need to sort those seats for Want One and the theatre shows and I’m up to speed.
Also need to find out what’s going on with Ruth Theodore gig in Sheffield next weekend. Still listed by venue but no longer listed on her web site. Could understand that if it were the Leadmill but… it’s a cafe.
Heading out into the shade to now complete the final two chapters of the Joni book, which has been fantastic. May require a crunchie ice cream and some non-alcoholic beer.
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I’m not sure that comment reflects reality. However, five years ago very few systems and supply chains were designed to deal with a pandemic lockdown.
Which bit? The reality then or the reality now?
From my perspective it’s very much the case that suggesting few were prepared was a case of hiding behind the fact that they simply ought to have been and saying others weren’t is the very worst of excuses.
Yes, I was in Germany pretty much from mid 70s to mid 90s. Many locations. But being as that was NOT in the last 24 hours better get back on track.
Today spent a very enjoyable hour on the archery range trying out my new carbon/aluminium composite arrows.
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Have done that in several supermarkets in recent years, especially when it’s a large trolley shop which becomes a nightmare on the tiny self-checkouts.
I also detest the cameras scanning your face as you scan the barcodes.
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A lot of stock walks out of the store on it’s own, unpaid for. Sadly, any deterrent helps a bit and is unfortunately necessary.
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Yes, we’re all treated like criminals but does it actually stop shoplifting when most of the culprits simply walk out as store staff/security are too scared to intervene either due to risk of physical assault or being sued?
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I also yhink it’s why I hate the scan as you shop models - I might make an error. If the person on the till does that’s the supermarket’s problem not mine.
I may have just come up with a novel solution. Must patent it !
Trouble is, supermarkets are plagued with known shoplifters and thieves who have jumped on self service and rip off items with little consequence.
The middle classes view it as a game to see if they can get away with theft. The shoplifting gangs in the West End are rife. Because of the interconnectedness of stores in Oxford St, at least the cameras at checkouts can be useful in tracking the thieves and, hopefully, at least banning them from stores. Does it work? Dunno. I’m not overly hopeful.
Shoplifting is mainly a career path for criminals, or a game for the well-off as above. Many times I’ve seen people lie on the floor and scream and shout that they’re being abused by security staff, or run out of the store yelling (and having a right tantrum in my view). What exactly are shops meant to do?
And shoppers on the whole like self-checkouts. A report a couple of years ago said that the younger shopper sought them out as it lessened the interaction they had to have with others…jeez…sad.
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Staff are trained not to intervene. It’s pathetic imho.
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