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LIDL Autism Aware Quiet Evenings

13

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 11,710 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    our local supervalu been doing tham for at least a year now, lovely to go in without that piped music playing

    blimey - if that's them with the advert where the woman picks up a tin of baked beans and a big poof of blue ticker tape shoots out behind them its enough to give ye heart attack! :eek:


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,908 ✭✭✭Jeff2


    Why not just do it all the time if they know the effects.?


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,710 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    Jeff2 wrote: »
    Why not just it all the time if they know the effects.?

    yes i was thinking the same - if the pilots that they tried out before Christmas say that the system works then maybe they should do it all the time.

    I dont mean this in a horrible way , but maybe it would put some shoppers off if it was done all the time and it might drive some to shop somewhere else

    - I know first hand how how some shoppers are 'held up' or allowances have to be made for others these days

    not everyone, but a lot full of 'huffs" and "tuts" and stares - people are coming around slowly to the fact that not all disabilities are forthright / or can be seen, or understood but we are no-where near the 100% mark of total understanding yet


  • Registered Users Posts: 29,976 ✭✭✭✭freshpopcorn


    Jeff2 wrote: »
    Why not just do it all the time if they know the effects.?

    Would making the shop dull all the time effect people with visual issues tough?


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,710 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    Would making the shop dull all the time effect people with visual issues tough?

    makes you think about heath and safety rules/issues - I mean how dark are we talking, are we talking so dark that the customer cannot see spillages on the floor, or who cannot read labels on the tins and jars and what have you or trip up over something?


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  • Posts: 14,344 ✭✭✭✭ Luis Screeching Spit


    makes you think about heath and safety rules/issues - I mean how dark are we talking, are we talking so dark that the customer cannot see spillages on the floor, or who cannot read labels on the tins and jars and what have you or tip up over something?

    Just dark enough to save on the ESB bill.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,908 ✭✭✭Jeff2


    Would making the shop dull all the time effect people with visual issues tough?

    Are you there to shop or?


  • Registered Users Posts: 29,976 ✭✭✭✭freshpopcorn


    makes you think about heath and safety rules/issues - I mean how dark are we talking, are we talking so dark that the customer cannot see spillages on the floor, or who cannot read labels on the tins and jars and what have you or tip up over something?

    I think they turn about 50% of the lights off!


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,710 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    Just dark enough to save on the ESB bill.

    I should imagine a lot of those shops now (especially the German shops) have all changed over to low power LED light fittings these days now havent they? (especially if they are talking of dimming the lights) - would they be saving a great deal?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 996 ✭✭✭ Danna Important Hedgehog


    This is just a marketing ploy, its very naive to think any different.
    Big business exists to make money for the owners.
    CSR is nothing but good advertising.
    And as pointed out most lidl stores have one working counter in the evenings, lights are turned down to save on bills and i have never heard music playing.
    so what exactly are they promising? A Continuation of the same experience?

    they dont treat their staff well, they are notorious like all supermarket chains for breaking farmers, yet they want to help the autistic. Like **** they do.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,099 ✭✭✭trixiebust


    This is just a marketing ploy, its very naive to think any different.
    Big business exists to make money for the owners.
    CSR is nothing but good advertising.
    And as pointed out most lidl stores have one working counter in the evenings, lights are turned down to save on bills and i have never heard music playing.
    so what exactly are they promising? A Continuation of the same experience?

    they dont treat their staff well, they are notorious like all supermarket chains for breaking farmers, yet they want to help the autistic. Like **** they do.

    I can certainly confirm that last bit. Worked there for nearly 10 years, & I know how staff are treated - it would shock you. Nothing but a PR move.

    I haven't shopped there in years, do they play music in stores now?


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,710 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    their levels of pay for staff always look extremely generous though when they are advertising for staff - i suppose though if working conditions aren't that brilliant I suppose they have to offer higher wages as a sweetener


  • Registered Users Posts: 29,976 ✭✭✭✭freshpopcorn


    their levels of pay for staff always look extremely generous though when they are advertising for staff - i suppose though if working conditions aren't that brilliant I suppose they have to offer higher wages as a sweetener

    My local Lidl can have between 2-4 staff working on an evening. They have to man the tills, stock the shelves, clean the store, reduce items, restock and put out the special buys, deal with all customer service needs, do the bakery go into Tesco or Dunnes and they could have 20 plus staff doing the same.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,517 ✭✭✭addicted to caffeine


    Personally I think its a good idea, as an autistic person shopping can be a nightmare for me


  • Registered Users Posts: 10,423 ✭✭✭✭Outlaw Pete


    It's to reduce sensory overload and the distress from that. Dublin Airport have had autism info/assistance details on their website for years and some cinemas also make accommodations re the sensory environment.

    Yeah, I've a sister with autism and have attended a couple of those screenings.

    Supermarkets can be a nightmare alright but as others have said, Lidl doesn't have music and besides, a little music is far better than none in my experience. If I'm taking my sister for something to eat, I always choose somewhere with background music as one, she has to have music on wherever she goes, and two, if she shouts (at me, or herself) it won't be a big deal. In a quiet setting, totally different story.

    Cool that it's something they are trying though.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,565 ✭✭✭K.Flyer


    Their good intentions for a calm environment may well be shattered as soon as the queue for the only open till gets a bit long, and they then start ringing the hell out of the bell to get another lane open.


  • Registered Users Posts: 29,976 ✭✭✭✭freshpopcorn


    K.Flyer wrote: »
    Their good intentions for a calm environment may well be shattered as soon as the queue for the only open till gets a bit long, and they then start ringing the hell out of the bell to get another lane open.

    I suppose they'd use their head sets instead of the bells.


  • Registered Users Posts: 40,452 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    wakka12 wrote: »
    Well personally it would make me uncomfortable that they're using a sensitive issue like this for commercial endorsement but each to their own..thats a big if of course but its definitely suspicious

    My local supervalu has been doing it about 2 or 3 years. I think its an absolutely brillisnt idea to support the inclusion of peoole with autism and their families and carers in local communities. The cynicism about it is ridiculous.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • Registered Users Posts: 2,266 ✭✭✭fash


    I dont know why , but my skepticism always kicks in rather than thinking they are doing this for the benefit of the customer that I always think these businesses are doing new things for their own gain in the name of commercialism
    I heard that they only have low, low prices because it is for their own gain in the name of commercialism also.


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    If LIDL (or any other supermarket for that matter) really wanted to help people with autism and the like why do they not have a certain 'special till' they can open constantly when needed (not just on Tuesdays) so if someone is shopping on a wednesday and can physically see someone struggling (who has autism or any other disability) can open up till and let them go ahead of others - even people who suffer anxiety and panic attacks they can come at any time, you can be fine when you first get into the shop but halfway around you could get a panic attack come on and the first thing if you experience that is that you have to get out of the shop .. and quickly!! you cannot be lining up in a queue waiting to be served , no way! - I have heard people having panic attacks and just putting their item back and running out of the shop!

    Been there done that many times in years past BUT let me assure you that I sought no special help. The only cure is OUT FAST. Trust me on that. never try to stop someone having a panic attack from getting OUT . And a special till would not help.

    Reminds me of a few weeks ago in LIDL. An old lady was trying to sit down on some empty cardboard boxes and of course they gave way. I stopped and helped her up while everyone else rushed by.Only one man stopped, a German, and he went to the checkout to ask for a chair, to no effect, Little old lady was waiting for her daughter so I cleared stock off a small shelf so she could perch there

    No supermarket is really disabled friendly. What LIDL are doing is a step forward and it is the dumbing down of stimuli that matters. You cannot have dimmed lights all the time


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  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    I suppose they'd use their head sets instead of the bells.

    As they do now. Not heard a bell for a while


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭ Katie Mammoth Stopwatch




  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7



    OK. In a situation like this when you KNOW you are in the right, ask immediately to see the manager


  • Posts: 14,344 ✭✭✭✭ Luis Screeching Spit


    they dont treat their staff well, they are notorious like all supermarket chains for breaking farmers, yet they want to help the autistic. Like **** they do.

    trixiebust wrote: »
    I can certainly confirm that last bit. Worked there for nearly 10 years, & I know how staff are treated - it would shock you. Nothing but a PR move.

    I haven't shopped there in years, do they play music in stores now?

    That's mad. I know a girl working there that loves it. Says they pay great and encourage you to upskill into management positions and the likes.

    I never workd there, but I worked in Dunnes before. Hated every second of it (handy job, great staff, but the over-managing of everyhing ruined it).


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    That's mad. I know a girl working there that loves it. Says they pay great and encourage you to upskill into management positions and the likes.

    I never workd there, but I worked in Dunnes before. Hated every second of it (handy job, great staff, but the over-managing of everyhing ruined it).

    Yes I get the impression LIDL staff are happy. Many are East Europeans too


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,099 ✭✭✭trixiebust


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Yes I get the impression LIDL staff are happy. Many are East Europeans too

    Have a read of this ( the article is old, but these practices still continued for many more years ).

    I know, because I was treated exactly the same years later. Their attitude towards staff is shocking.

    http://franklludwig.com/lidl.html


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Politics Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 81,310 CMod ✭✭✭✭coffee_cake


    My local supervalu has been doing it about 2 or 3 years. I think its an absolutely brillisnt idea to support the inclusion of peoole with autism and their families and carers in local communities. The cynicism about it is ridiculous.
    I agree with all of this. Also the quieter shopping experience is pretty cool


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,282 ✭✭✭pitifulgod


    I really struggle to see how people could find an issue with that. Cinemas regularly do it and there has been a lack of awareness in terms of offering ease of experience for those with autism. But it has started to improve which is a positive thing.


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,710 ✭✭✭✭Andy From Sligo


    I got to thinking the other day that i wonder why mainstream Cinemas dont do special screenings of popular and up to date films with subtitles or a signing person at the right hand side bottom of the screen (maybe they do but I havent heard of it?) - but I mean even the deaf would most probably like nights out at the cinema just like anyone else would

    anyone see/heard it done?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 31,152 ✭✭✭✭KERSPLAT!


    I got to thinking the other day that i wonder why mainstream Cinemas dont do special screenings of popular and up to date films with subtitles or a signing person at the right hand side bottom of the screen (maybe they do but I havent heard of it?) - but I mean even the deaf would most probably like nights out at the cinema just like anyone else would

    anyone see/heard it done?

    Ah sure, you'd be along to shìt all over that too.


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