Re: B&Q self checkout machines

[tim....]

It's not about making a profit. It's about being seen to "do" something (to reduce usage)

tim

[michael adams]

Quite possibly they're obliged to ask that question by law wherever you happen to live, if you give the appearance of maybe being disadvantaged in some way, or suffering from a mental incapacity of some kind.

michael adams

...

[Frank Erskine]

On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:19:38 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)" had this to say:

The majority.

[Mark]

Yes. Waitrose use something that locks the wheels of the trolleys if someone attempts to take them out of the carpark.

[whisky-dave]

You could be right there, I shop in various supermarkets depending on what I want. But I do notice that in Asda people tend to push past or wait for you top move for them but it Sainsbury's shoppers mostly make way for each other.

I guess that makes sense too, I wonder what the pay rate is like for cashiers in different stores.

[Clive George]

You need to live somewhere less pikey :-)

[mogga]

The Tesco at Failsworth does too. I'm not sure how many get thrown in the canal there though.

[Clive George]

AIUI Lidl and Aldi pay shit and stress their workers.

[Bruce]

That seems about right. But there are also large variations between supermarkets of the same brand. I would normally place Sainsbury's above average, but their branch in Luton is one of the worst supermarkets I have visited. Conversely, their new flagship store in High Wycombe is outstanding.

From downmarket to upmarket I would list the chains as:

Somerfield Morrisons ASDA Tesco Sainsbury's M&S Waitrose Booths (NW England only) Obviously, we will all have slightly different preferences based on our own particular local stores.

[Bruce]

That certainly isn't true of Aldi, who pay their workers a lot more than the going rate. In return, Aldi expects hard work, a willingness to carry out a wide range of tasks, and politeness when dealing with customers. Three things that the average British supermarket worker appears to find challenging.

[Tim W]

Bruce wibbled on Wednesday 28 October 2009 14:47

[Bruce]

On Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:51:16 +0000, Tim W amended:

True, so true. :-(

[Clint Sharp]

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes

Yes.

>

[Stuart Noble]

I find Lidl staff perfectly helpful, and not in that scripted way either

[PeterC]

snip

That's about right - I was really pleased to find Booths in Kendal (it is also close to Greggs and Wetherspoons :-)) )

[Rod]

Has been my experience also. I would actually put their pleasantness more or less equal with Waitrose and ahead of most others. But it is obviously something that will vary from store to store.

And don't you get sick of the empty 'Do you need any help packing?' so many stores train them to say. And the 'How are you today?' or similar - especially when you are having a really bad day. I really hate being put in the position of lying ('Fine thanks.') or having to express my misery du jour. (Actually I am not that miserable a git. :-) )

[ARWadsworth]

But you deserved it Neil. Brilliant.

Adam

[Stuart Noble]

Or muttering under your breath, "WTF has it got to do with you how I am?"

(Actually I am not that miserable a git. :-) )

Actually you probably are, but then you're also probably over 40, so it's understandable :-).

[Rod]

I am. So quite likely!

[djc]

Bloomsbury

Though the interesting question re that particular branch is where all the non-chavs shopped before it opened.