Sainbury's Argghhhh!

[LibraCarr]

Hi,

Last night we decided to go to sainsbugs to get some back-up food for a party. The checkout queues were horrendous. we went into a self scan line and waited thirty five minutes with just two customers in front of us. The poor lady in front of me had to have the attendant scan her authorisation card at least ten times as did the man in front as well.

A announcement over the PA system apologised for the lack of 'till trained' staff.

When I finally got to the till I too had to have the assistant come back at varying times of the check-out to authorise items.

I was annoyed and spoke to the customer service manager who told me that the new system is succesful as 37% of the customers are using the scans and, because of the success of the new system in other stores it is here to stay in East Dulwich.

This new system did not work in Somerfields and was quickly taken out because people either got fed up and walked out without the shopping or chose to ignore them.

My main point is that we are being treated as sub standard human beings, instead of the customer being right we are made to collect, wait and pay for our items without a friendly smile or any kind of assistance. In short it is the customer needs to eat, compete on price, maximise profits for our shareholder syndrome.

The downside is that you get stressed and have to wait. I wonder if we should charge them waiting time.

I would love to note your experiences in this matter.

Kind regards,

Libra Carr.

[Sherwick]

Hi Libra,

What time this this happen?

Cheers,

Sherwick

[Ladygooner]

I have to say I love using the self checkout system if I only have a few items but have never had to wait 35 mins. Indeed if I did I would have put the basked down and walked out.

[PinkyB]

I hate the self-service checkouts; never use them. Having said that, I also hate ED Sainsburys - too big, too chaotic, too many people, long queues. I go to the smaller Sainsburys in Forest Hill. It has everything I want (and if it doesn't I don't know any different!), I can whizz round quickly because the aisles aren't blocked with families doing their weekly shop with massive trolleys, and I don't end up spending hours in there dithering over the vast amounts of choice you get in the larger place. It's just a much more pleasant experience all round.

I know, imagine, someone sticking up for Forest Hill on the ED Forum!

(Their train station's better too!)

[Huguenot]

I wonder if the lack of checkout staff is because no-one's applying for the job or because they're saving cash?

I wouldn't like to work on a checkout and get a rep for card cloning or whatever insults we chuck at these people next?

If it is because no-one's applying, you could hardly blame Sainsbury for installing the machines.

[EdieF]

I have to agree with PinkyB about Forest Hill Sainsbury's - it's smaller and easier to get around and is a much friendlier store, with some very nice staff. Dog Kennel does sell more stuff, though, but I choose my times to avoid the crowds...

[Mikecg]

Ive tried the self serve tills in the past and made a complete pigs ear of it so now I avoid them like the plague. I hate the crowds and try to go on a Sunday before the footie comes on, it takes about an hour or so to do the weekly shop.

[red devil]

Sainsbury's online...simples

[Mikecg]

red devil Wrote:

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> Sainsbury's online...simples

I have tried that RD and they always choose the most expensive items and the sub items are always anoyingly wrong.

[JetSetWilly]

same applies to all supermarkets, go at off-peak times ie 10-12, 2-4 and any time after 7. i do like the old self service tills as there nothing worse than queuing for ages just to buy 2-3 items, plus the old fogies avoid them like the plague, leaving us young bucks to fly through, the only prob being they appear to operate on a weight system, so if like myself you ended up buying several birthday cards during the week, the assistant had to be called over as the machine didn,t recognise i,d placed them in the bagging area. sorry l.c.

[daizie]

east dulwich sainsburys is like a kindergarten so id rather starve

[woofmarkthedog]

Is that why all the single girls stay away then?

Oh.........I see now

W**F

(Grand master in writing sh*t)

[Asset]

daizie Wrote:

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> east dulwich sainsburys is like a kindergarten so

> id rather starve

I won't make the retort I'm sure we're all thinking

[BigPhil]

fan of self service tills , never waited more than a few mins except at the M&s foodhall in oxford st ( the queue was massive at lunch time)

busy shop doesnt bother me as i quite enjoy mooching along looking for anything i may not reaaly need but might want this visit. "1 kg of fresh mussels" last time when i was only supposed to be getting "just the neccesaries"

but the mussel fritters i made were great!!!!

[Asset]

mussel fritters???? Blaaaaarghhhh

[woofmarkthedog]

Big Phil.............just how big is you?

Mussel fritters.......wow I will try one just to say " done that" but......let's see the recipe first

W**F

[bon3yard]

Heh, I had exactly the same problem the other day. Took me an absolute age to get all my stuff through the bloody scanners with the help of an overworked and harrassed 14 year old assistant. Rubbish.

[bigbadwolf]

Before any of the se23.com members initiate the mother of all bitch fests let me remind you that I'm a resident of fozzy hill but I'm also aware that when it comes to respective supermarkets DKH Sainsbury's drops bombs on forest hill Sainsbury's in terms of stock variety/availability and customer service. Forest hill Sainsbury's is an utter joke and is staffed by a gang of mouthbreathing morons and the management resemble the cnuts of the 'Apprentice'.

[woofmarkthedog]

I too sail my cutter close to that SE23 store........... nearly got scurvy due to lack of stores held there.

Assumed this branch must be an exclusion colony for miscreant staff.

W**F

[bigbadwolf]

No Woof. Sainsbury's Forest hill is a testimony of the consequences of not paying attention in school.

[bigbadwolf]

And the fact that a customer died in their carpark last year and their staff relied on the customers to alert the authorities speaks volumes!

[woofmarkthedog]

Oh god I use that as a threat to my boys " see that man on the ------ that could be you if you don't work hard at school"

Poor buggers are petrified of the place

W**F

[woodie]

lol

[daizie]

Asset surely you dont mean you wish i was dead..? ::o

[charliecharlie]

don't go to supermarkets... support your local independent shops...

lovely service, plenty of choice, more pleasing human experience, keeps our highstreet alive, etc. etc.

http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/biodiversity/news/2006_april_shop_local_first.html