Supermarkets - the Megathread

The_Honeybadger · 05-04-2020 04:35PM

Downlinz wrote: »

It's pretty much common sense that an infected person exhaling into the airspace you're inhaling can cause a transmission. Of course it's a risk factor to pass people in close proximity which is why we're told to only put ourselves in that position for essential journeys.

You would have to be monumentally unlucky to catch it from walking past somebody who is not symptomatic. I always maintain the 2m distance where possible, I am not saying it has no basis, just that maintaining it rigorously while going about the things we all need to do to live is very difficult. Hand hygiene and cutting out non essential trips are far more important than worrying about getting too close to somebody momentarily imo.

paleoperson · 05-04-2020 04:42PM

jfc this is like pulling teeth - that are lodged and won't come out.

This is what you said:

The_Honeybadger wrote: »

There is almost no risk from just walking past somebody in the aisle you have to be within 2m for 15 minutes according to the HSE guidelines. The biggest risk in supermarkets is touching a surface that has droplets from an infected person sneezing or coughing on it or from somebody that had not sanitized or washed their hands before going shopping.

Supermarkets should be wiping down trolleys after every use and rigorously enforcing hand sanitisation before entering the store. They are making an absolute killing right now and should be made do this one small thing.

The_Honeybadger wrote: »

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/472f64-covid-19-coronavirus-guidance-and-advice/

Not according to government advice but I guess some people love drama. There is no risk from walking past somebody unless they cough or sneeze on you. Perhaps you should be advising the government that their guidelines are wrong given that you know so much

Take back those two posts - and you should also thank me for providing you with the information and links I did, not to mention taking back your smart alec remarks. That is the only way anyone can take you seriously again.

If you had done this long ago everything would be fine. Acting like you were right the whole time is just making you look stupider and stupider and is really disturbing and annoying to me.

The_Honeybadger · 05-04-2020 04:49PM

paleoperson wrote: »

jfc this is like pulling teeth - that are lodged and won't come out.

This is what you said:

Take back those two posts - and you should also thank me for providing you with the information and links I did. That is the only way anyone can take you seriously again.

If you had done this long ago everything would be fine. Acting like you were right the whole time is just making you look stupider and stupider and is really disturbing and annoying to me.

I stand by those posts, that is the advice from the health authorities. Walking past somebody poses virtually no risk. I have explained my position in my most recent reply to you but you seem completely unable to grasp what I am saying, probably because you simply don’t want to.

Like I have said umpteen times I am following what the HSE and other leading authorities are advising. Keep going with your YouTube theories but you are making a complete and utter fool of yourself.

The official public health advice and social distancing guidelines for Ireland are outlined in the two links below, despite your delusional victory lap they back up what I am saying 100%. If the public health advice changes the fair enough, but for now your claims are not in line with what the health authorities are saying. I know who I trust more

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/protect-yourself.html

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/472f64-covid-19-coronavirus-guidance-and-advice/#how-covid-19-coronavirus-spreads

zell12 · 05-04-2020 05:39PM

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Just had a fairly unbelievable experience in Supervalu Sundrive.
Trolleys are stored outside the shop, paper towel and disinfectant spray are inside the entrance. Hand sanitiser was empty (luckily I had my own). I suggested to the young guy who was controlling entry to the shop that maybe they should have the paper/sprays beside the trolleys rather than pysically distant from each other? (I gather from a lot of posts here that a lot of shops have staff cleaning trolley handles between uses)
"Mmmmmm, yeah, maybe" was his response, as if it had never occurred to him (maybe it hadn't).
I stopped at the customer service desk on the way out, and politely said to a fairly senior looking staff member that maybe they could suggest to management to leave disinfectant stuff beside the trolleys.
Her response - "We've been told not to leave it out there. We're not actually obliged to provide sanitiser, you know? Just so you know"
WTAF??? The card pinpad wasn't cleaned after the previous customer, and no means provided to clean it (same as last time I was in there)
A strongly worded email has gone to SV to have a word with management of that store, quick sharp, and I'll be taking my business elsewhere.

In fairness now, the stuff would be nicked if left there,same as people steal masks from hospitals.
Shops are not obliged to provide sanitiser
Not required to clean checkout divider, every grocery item, coins or notes etc etc

The_Honeybadger · 05-04-2020 06:57PM

zell12 wrote: »

In fairness now, the stuff would be nicked if left there,same as people steal masks from hospitals.
Shops are not obliged to provide sanitiser
Not required to clean checkout divider, every grocery item, coins or notes etc etc

They are not obliged but perhaps at the very least they should be issued some guidelines or minimum standards in line with public health advice, there is a limit to what they can be ‘made’ to do under existing legislation but they have at the very least a duty of care to customers and I expect that most of them would follow sensible guidelines if they were issued. Their turnover has increased quite a bit in recent weeks as people spend more time at home and this should easily offset the cost of additional hygiene staff etc. Some of them appear to be doing very little from what I have seen.

OnYerPike · 05-04-2020 07:10PM

Top marks to Dunnes Stores, Blanch centre.

Very orderly queue winding down through the mall, not too many allowed in store at the one time, only one person per trolley, sanitiser and wipes freely available beside the trollies, offered a free cup of scald or coffee while waiting, shelves fully stocked and plenty of staff beside the huge number of manned checkouts to oversee any queues despite numbers being curtailed to avoid queues there.

Once again, top marks to all concerned. They know how to look after their customers which should surely see them hold onto their custom long after the virus has gone. I know I won't be looking to shop anywhere else.

paleoperson · 05-04-2020 07:16PM

Are the upmarket stores/locations significantly better do you think/does anyone know?

TrivialArguer · 05-04-2020 07:22PM

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

I'll be taking my business elsewhere.

They'll be devastated.

Arghus · 05-04-2020 07:29PM

Speaking as someone who is working in Supermarket, please do not be shy in mentioning to management in stores if you don't observe adequate social distancing going on in stores, particularly amongst the staff. Where I work basically none of the staff are taking it seriously. None.

A lot are quite young and as a result are kind of oblivious, but it frustrates me so much to see it. When I am not at work I try to do my utmost to follow every guideline, but a lot of that is ruined within five minutes of me starting my shift. People still do not get it, supermarket staff in particular do not get it. Everyone is still standing beside each other, sitting way too close to each other in the canteen etc, etc. It's a bad situation, a disaster waiting to happen.

I can't rant and rave at everyone else in here and when I mention it to people they laugh it off. And there's literally zero point in someone like me mentioning it to management, the culture is you don't listen to complaints from the staff - and 90% of them don't observe the guidelines either.

The only thing they might listen to - and it's a faint might - is enough customers shaming them into being proactive.

ShineOn7 · 05-04-2020 07:32PM

Dear Tescos Ireland;

You’re a fúcking abysmal company.

Your lack of response to increasing your drivers and delivery slots is being noted all over the country .... Short term; you’re making a lot of money now, Long term; you’re going to lose millions

Local businesses are stepping upto the mark with extra deliveries when you - a company with revenues of £63 BILLION in your parent company last year - can’t do the same

You’re a joke of a shambles

HeidiHeidi · 05-04-2020 07:36PM

Arghus wrote: »

Speaking as someone who is working in Supermarket, please do not be shy in mentioning to management in stores if you don't observe adequate social distancing going on in stores, particularly amongst the staff. Where I work basically none of the staff are taking it seriously. None.

A lot are quite young and as a result are kind of oblivious, but it frustrates me so much to see it. When I am not at work I try to do my utmost to follow every guideline, but a lot of that is ruined within five minutes of me starting my shift. People still do not get it, supermarket staff in particular do not get it. Everyone is still standing beside each other, sitting way too close to each other in the canteen etc, etc. It's a bad situation, a disaster waiting to happen.

I can't rant and rave at everyone else in here and when I mention it to people they laugh it off. And there's literally zero point in someone like me mentioning it to management, the culture is you don't listen to complaints from the staff - and 90% of them don't observe the guidelines either.

The only thing they might listen to - and it's a faint might - is enough customers shaming them into being proactive.

Fair play. This is exactly what I was getting at.

I did NOT berate the staff, or be rude to them, or complain to them. I appreciate all of you for being at work, and keeping us supplied and fed.

I just think that management could do so much more in promoting an appropriate culture in that particular shop, and I tried to pass that message through (unsuccessfully it seems, I hope the email gets attention). Other shops seem to be making the effort, why won't they?

I don't really care whether they are devastated I'll be shopping elsewhere tbh, but for my own sake I'll go somewhere that takes distancing and cleanliness a bit more seriously for the moment.

ShineOn7 · 05-04-2020 07:38PM

Anywhere delivering Easter eggs within a reasonable time frame? Say 2 or 3 days?

Cheers

punisher5112 · 05-04-2020 07:45PM

Mr.S wrote: »

It's not just a case of hiring more drivers, you know that right?

Most people shouldn't be using home delivery slots, go to the store and free it up for the rest who need it. That's the issue.

(FWIW - they are hiring more delivery staff and pickers)

Also vans would be hard got as so many rentals are even taken by Gardai, An post etc etc...

at9qu5vp0wcix7 · 05-04-2020 08:02PM

punisher5112 wrote: »

Also vans would be hard got as so many rentals are even taken by Gardai, An post etc etc...

Are they refrigerated?

Not much good to Tesco with their requirements. I think the expansion of click and collect would be more beneficial in the short term, volunteers could easily pick up an order for those that need it.

gmisk · 05-04-2020 08:13PM

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Dear Tescos Ireland;

You’re a fúcking abysmal company.

Your lack of response to increasing your drivers and delivery slots is being noted all over the country .... Short term; you’re making a lot of money now, Long term; you’re going to lose millions

Local businesses are stepping upto the mark with extra deliveries when you - a company with revenues of £63 BILLION in your parent company last year - can’t do the same

You’re a joke of a shambles

Maybe send that to them? Not sure the CEO of Tesco's reads boards ...

The_Honeybadger · 05-04-2020 08:20PM

Mr.S wrote: »

It's not just a case of hiring more drivers, you know that right?

Most people shouldn't be using home delivery slots, go to the store and free it up for the rest who need it. That's the issue.

(FWIW - they are hiring more delivery staff and pickers)

Yep, there is simply no way Tesco or any other multiple can be expected to instantly facilitate the absolutely enormous and unprecedented surge in demand for home deliveries that they are trying to deal with. Putting things in place for this takes time like you are saying.

To be fair community organisations all over the country are stepping up and doing deliveries etc. which should begin to help but demand in the large urban areas is going to be very hard to meet. I agree that anyone who is able bodied and not in the at risk category should be going to the store if they can to take the pressure off the service.

ShineOn7 · 05-04-2020 08:30PM

gmisk wrote: »

Maybe send that to them? Not sure the CEO of Tesco's reads boards ...

Typical Boards thanks whoring.

And yes, I've sent them correspondence.

The Tescos defenders are absolutely mind boggling. The company should have rolled out 24 hour delivery service across the UK and Ireland by now.

They're either woefully mismanaged or tight c*nts. Or both.

Isn't there a post in this very thread of an industry insider saying they've no interest in upping their delivery service and, in fact, have mothballed some of their existing trucks?

"Analysts on average expect Tesco to report operating profit before exceptional items of 2.08 billion pounds ($2.72 billion) for its financial year ended Feb. 23, up from 1.64 billion pounds in 2017-18"

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesco-results-preview/tesco-to-report-jump-in-profit-as-key-targets-loom-idUSKCN1RH1HZ

seanl77 · 05-04-2020 08:31PM

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Dear Tescos Ireland;

You’re a fúcking abysmal company.

Your lack of response to increasing your drivers and delivery slots is being noted all over the country .... Short term; you’re making a lot of money now, Long term; you’re going to lose millions

Local businesses are stepping upto the mark with extra deliveries when you - a company with revenues of £63 BILLION in your parent company last year - can’t do the same

You’re a joke of a shambles

Obviously loads of refrigerated vans and trained drivers have been kept on standby for the last few years in case of a global pandemic. This is the sort of entitled drivel that is breaking down the will of retail workers. The selfish nature of some people is absolutely soul crushing. I work for tesco, have no intention of hiding my bias. The dot com staff are starting at 5.30 am tomorrow morning picking customers online orders. The current level would be three times the average, the drivers are working extra shifts and we have two extra vans on the road which means extra slots. Abysmal, joke and shambles would better describe your attitude and self entitlement than the efforts of our company

GetWithIt · 05-04-2020 08:36PM

Seanl77, what's the bottleneck: stock, pickers, drivers, vehicles, something else?

Jim_Hodge · 05-04-2020 08:40PM

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Typical Boards thanks whoring.

And yes, I've sent them correspondence.

The Tescos defenders are absolutely mind boggling. The company should have rolled out 24 hour delivery service across the UK and Ireland by now.

They're either woefully mismanaged or tight c*nts. Or both.

Isn't there a post in this very thread of an industry insider saying they've no interest in upping their delivery service and, in fact, have mothballed some of their existing trucks?

"Analysts on average expect Tesco to report operating profit before exceptional items of 2.08 billion pounds ($2.72 billion) for its financial year ended Feb. 23, up from 1.64 billion pounds in 2017-18"

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesco-results-preview/tesco-to-report-jump-in-profit-as-key-targets-loom-idUSKCN1RH1HZ

I have never shopped in Tesco but your self entitled attitude is astounding.

Jim_Hodge · 05-04-2020 08:43PM

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Anywhere delivering Easter eggs within a reasonable time frame? Say 2 or 3 days?

Cheers

Got some delivered to our grandchildren last week. Took two days for delivery to N.I.

Do a Google search. Clue:

Not Tesco.

seanl77 · 05-04-2020 08:43PM

GetWithIt wrote: »

Seanl77, what's the bottleneck: stock, pickers, drivers, vehicles, something else?

Too many people looking for slots that just aren't available, the drivers can only physically deliver to a certain number of people. We can't decline people delivery slots, so I assume a lot of them are taken by customers that don't actually need them. Also staff shortages are starting to become a issue, some staff with health issues that normally aren't serious won't come to work in these circumstances. Hard to blame them, especially the older staff

ShineOn7 · 05-04-2020 08:44PM

seanl77 wrote: »

Obviously loads of refrigerated vans and trained drivers have been kept on standby for the last few years in case of a global pandemic.

There's an industry insider somewhere in this thread saying your "company" have mothballed/put in storage many of their trucks and are more interested in the extra millions they'll make off in store customers because it's less hassle. The thought is that Tescos just aren't arsed with sorting their clusterfúck of a delivery system

So enough of the self righteousness and defense of your "company". They wouldn't think twice about firing you if it meant saving them money.

Half a million people are newly unemployed and Tescos can't repurpose some of them for deliveries?

Nah. Not buying it.

And not buying anything off the shambles of your "company" again either

Sheep Shagger · 05-04-2020 08:44PM

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Dear Tescos Ireland;

You’re a fúcking abysmal company.

Your lack of response to increasing your drivers and delivery slots is being noted all over the country .... Short term; you’re making a lot of money now, Long term; you’re going to lose millions

Local businesses are stepping upto the mark with extra deliveries when you - a company with revenues of £63 BILLION in your parent company last year - can’t do the same

You’re a joke of a shambles

Oh if only it was that simple...

ShineOn7 · 05-04-2020 08:46PM

GetWithIt wrote: »

Seanl77, what's the bottleneck: stock, pickers, drivers, vehicles, something else?

Mismanagement.
Greed.

fryup · 05-04-2020 08:47PM

gmisk wrote: »

Maybe send that to them? Not sure the CEO of Tesco's reads boards ...

Well actually he does,,,,,this is a reply from the CEO himself.

Plumbthedepths · 05-04-2020 08:49PM

If the present crisis has taught me one thing, it's to re-evaluate my opinion on various jobs particularly what I once viewed as menial work.
I know people working in Supermarkets are not doing so as a charitable act however they are placing themselves at risk to make sure the rest of us get fed.
Each shopping trip I make ,I make a point of thanking the sales staff the person on the door. The wages aren't great but to give respect and gratitude costs nothing.

ShineOn7 · 05-04-2020 08:51PM

seanl77 wrote: »

Too many people looking for slots that just aren't available, the drivers can only physically deliver to a certain number of people. We can't decline people delivery slots, so I assume a lot of them are taken by customers that don't actually need them. Also staff shortages are starting to become a issue, some staff with health issues that normally aren't serious won't come to work in these circumstances. Hard to blame them, especially the older staff

Buy more trucks
Hire more drivers (half a million newly unemployed out there)
Hire more shop staff/have a "subs bench" of them on standby for the sick ones

Did I leave anything out?

seanl77 · 05-04-2020 08:51PM

ShineOn7 wrote: »

There's an industry insider somewhere in this thread saying your "company" have mothballed/put in storage many of their trucks and are more interested in the extra millions they'll make off in store customers because it's less hassle. The thought is that Tescos just aren't arsed with sorting their clusterfúck of a delivery system

So enough of the self righteousness and defense of your "company". They wouldn't think twice about firing you if it meant saving them money.

Half a million people are newly unemployed and Tescos can't repurpose some of them for deliveries?

Nah. Not buying it.

And not buying anything off the shambles of your "company" again either

The store I work in started 5 temporary staff Friday evening, and have 2 extra vans on the road. As for "industry insiders".... I'm actually laughing at the stupidity of it!! Feel free to shop elsewhere, I get the feeling you are the sort of customer that any store could do without!
Anyway, I'm off to bed, very early start in the morning for obvious reasons....

odyssey06 · 05-04-2020 08:52PM

GetWithIt wrote: »

Seanl77, what's the bottleneck: stock, pickers, drivers, vehicles, something else?

And... has Click & Collect capacity been expanded and if not, what are the constraints there?

Supermarkets - the Megathread

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