Supermarkets discussion

[SuspectUsual]

The franchise one can apparently choose to opt out of Co-op promotions

It’s a legal requirement apparently.

 

[stadler]

The supermarkets have been crazy today. I went to Waitrose this morning and you can barely move inside the shop. It is like a crowded train station. I had to queue up for almost twenty minutes to pay. The shops are only closed for two days but yet every Christmas it is like this.

 

[hexagon789]

I just push the barriers open. I have never bothered with this new receipt scanning nonsense. These new supermarket checkout barriers are very light and just require a tiny amount of force. It beeps when you do that but most of the time the staff dont care or say anything. Unfortunately more and more branches of the big chains are getting these receipt scanning barriers.

So you just cause damage to store property instead?

 

[stadler]

So you just cause damage to store property instead?

I highly doubt that i am damaging them. They open with a tiny amount of force and then automatically close again and continue working fine. They are designed to be pushed open with minimal force for emergencies anyway. The fire safety regulations require it.

 

[hexagon789]

I highly doubt that i am damaging them. They open with a tiny amount of force and then automatically close again and continue working fine. They are designed to be pushed open with minimal force for emergencies anyway. The fire safety regulations require it.

I've seen plenty of broken ones since they have begun appearing.

I've also seen a few fail to open/close correctly after they've been pushed through...

 

[Ashley Hill]

It’s a legal requirement apparently.

The only reason I thought this was because having been unable to get what I needed at the main store I popped to the small one. They had what I wanted but at full price. This was when I was told about it being a franchise store.

 

[jon0844]

I just push the barriers open. I have never bothered with this new receipt scanning nonsense. These new supermarket checkout barriers are very light and just require a tiny amount of force. It beeps when you do that but most of the time the staff dont care or say anything. Unfortunately more and more branches of the big chains are getting these receipt scanning barriers.

Are you trying to create an incident for nothing? Private businesses can set rules and if you don't like the idea of having to scan a receipt to exit, surely they'd just invite you to shop elsewhere? Why make the staff have to check if you'd just opted to walk out without paying, when these days supermarkets expect one poor sod to have to check a gazillion self-checkouts as well as doing countless age checks, rescans etc.

Why not write to the supermarket and express your anger to someone who could do something about it?

 

[stadler]

Are you trying to create an incident for nothing? Private businesses can set rules and if you don't like the idea of having to scan a receipt to exit, surely they'd just invite you to shop elsewhere? Why make the staff have to check if you'd just opted to walk out without paying, when these days supermarkets expect one poor sod to have to check a gazillion self-checkouts as well as doing countless age checks, rescans etc.

Why not write to the supermarket and express your anger to someone who could do something about it?

Because it is ridiculous. It is a pointless theatre and the supermarkets are constantly making the customer experience worst and worst. Less manned checkouts (or zero manned checkouts in the evenings) to try and make you use self service. Now this ridiculous receipt scanning nonsense to slow down your checkout even more. Pushing open the barrier is much quicker and simpler. I find that 99% of the time the staff dont care if you push open the barrier and they just ignore it. I have sometimes seen others just push it open so i am not the only one.

Scanning your receipt does not say that you have paid for your shopping. A thief could buy one cheap 20p item and get a receipt to scan while meanwhile their bag is full of £100 worth of stuff that they never scanned or paid for. So they would look like a paying customer even though they had stole most of their stuff. This receipt scanning nonsense is just all theatre. It does nothing to stop thefts.

Writing to the supermarkets and complaining is pointless. Complaining to any big company does nothing and all that happens is you will get a copy and paste response and nothing will change. The same thing happens when you complain to the train companies about anything.

 

[jon0844]

Because it is ridiculous. It is a pointless theatre and the supermarkets are constantly making the customer experience worst and worst. Less manned checkouts (or zero manned checkouts in the evenings) to try and make you use self service. Now this ridiculous receipt scanning nonsense to slow down your checkout even more. Pushing open the barrier is much quicker and simpler. I find that 99% of the time the staff dont care if you push open the barrier and they just ignore it. I have sometimes seen others just push it open so i am not the only one.

Scanning your receipt does not say that you have paid for your shopping. A thief could buy one cheap 20p item and get a receipt to scan while meanwhile their bag is full of £100 worth of stuff that they never scanned or paid for. So they would look like a paying customer even though they had stole most of their stuff. This receipt scanning nonsense is just all theatre. It does nothing to stop thefts.

Writing to the supermarkets and complaining is pointless. Complaining to any big company does nothing and all that happens is you will get a copy and paste response and nothing will change. The same thing happens when you complain to the train companies about anything.

So don't shop at those places anymore. Sorted.

I'm not even disagreeing with what you say, but you don't have the right to just push through (and you mention 99% of staff don't care, so what about the 1%?) and if you want to be that militant, sooner or later they'll probably stop you and potentially ban you. Then I bet you'll be even more upset - and they'll have every right to do so.

 

[jon81uk]

Because it is ridiculous. It is a pointless theatre and the supermarkets are constantly making the customer experience worst and worst. Less manned checkouts (or zero manned checkouts in the evenings) to try and make you use self service. Now this ridiculous receipt scanning nonsense to slow down your checkout even more. Pushing open the barrier is much quicker and simpler. I find that 99% of the time the staff dont care if you push open the barrier and they just ignore it. I have sometimes seen others just push it open so i am not the only one.

If the experience is that bad then go to a different store offering an experience you prefer. Nothing forcing you to use the place that only has self-service, go to a store that does offer staffed checkouts.

 

[styles]

Because it is ridiculous. It is a pointless theatre and the supermarkets are constantly making the customer experience worst and worst. Less manned checkouts (or zero manned checkouts in the evenings) to try and make you use self service. Now this ridiculous receipt scanning nonsense to slow down your checkout even more. Pushing open the barrier is much quicker and simpler. I find that 99% of the time the staff dont care if you push open the barrier and they just ignore it. I have sometimes seen others just push it open so i am not the only one.

Scanning your receipt does not say that you have paid for your shopping. A thief could buy one cheap 20p item and get a receipt to scan while meanwhile their bag is full of £100 worth of stuff that they never scanned or paid for. So they would look like a paying customer even though they had stole most of their stuff. This receipt scanning nonsense is just all theatre. It does nothing to stop thefts.

Writing to the supermarkets and complaining is pointless. Complaining to any big company does nothing and all that happens is you will get a copy and paste response and nothing will change. The same thing happens when you complain to the train companies about anything.

I don't disagree with you about not liking the system but honestly, do what I chose to do, and just shop somewhere else.

The first time I came across one it was in an express store in London and the self service checkout hasn't been setup to force printing recipes, so I pressed the no receipt button, then couldn't open the barrier. I took my 4 items to the main checkout, (politely) got a refund, and took my business elsewhere, and haven't been back since.

I'm not going to start barging through barriers. If you end up damaging one it may constitute criminal damage; and ultimately the shops are allowed to set their policies and there's loads of supermarkets to choose from (unless you're in a really remote place in which case the shop is unlikely to be operating such a system). And staff on minimum wages don't really need the aggro of dealing with it or turning a blind eye to it and facing disciplinary action.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Dec 2025 ==

It's not the price that's the issue.

I'll bet that the store hasn't followed the bakery production plan correctly.

I used to do a waste food collection from a Tesco Express in London for Olio, one day a week. I would come out of this shop with at least one very large bin bag full of bakery goods.

I was one person collecting from one shop one day a week. There's hundreds, if not thousands, of Tesco Express, Sainsbury's Local, Morrisons Daily, etc in London and I bet you could count on one hand the number who aren't over producing bakery goods.

I believe it to actually be part of their sales strategy - people pop in for a croissant or they smell that fresh baguette smell and they buy half a dozen other things. No coincidence that bakeries are often in the far corner of a shop so you have to walk past the other products to get to them.

I couldn't even get rid of most of it. If I listed it on Olio, it was alongside a hundred other bread listings from other volunteer who had collected that same evening. I tried soup kitchens and they said no thanks we've got loads already from some other places. Food banks didn't want it because it was too perishable. I even asked a pal of mine who worked at a city farm if he wanted it for the pigs and he said we don't feed them bread any more and pointed me to some study about how it's really not that great for them. I would always manage to give away the non-bread products, and invariably someone would request at least some of the pastries, but an awful lot ended up going in the bin.

It made me laugh though, when Russia invaded Ukraine. On the news they were talking of a potential bakery shortage because Ukraine is the 'bread basket of Europe'. I was sat there thinking these people have lost the plot, I've got so much bread I can't even give it away!

So yeah, I believe the supermarkets intentionally make more baked goods than they know they'll need.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

So yeah, I believe the supermarkets intentionally make more baked goods than they know they'll need.

Probably one of those product lines where supermarkets don't ever want to be noted as having completely run out of, other than maybe 5 minutes before store closing time; milk is likely another.

 

[jon81uk]

Probably one of those product lines where supermarkets don't ever want to be noted as having completely run out of, other than maybe 5 minutes before store closing time; milk is likely another.

I would say wrapped sliced bread is something they shouldn't be running out of even though many supermarkets do struggle with the order quanitities for it.

But I don't think many people are rushing in five minutes before closing for a crusty loaf, or doughnuts.

I used to work in a store that saw it as a good thing to sell out an hour before close of fresh bread with one day shelf life.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Probably one of those product lines where supermarkets don't ever want to be noted as having completely run out of, other than maybe 5 minutes before store closing time; milk is likely another.

When I started at Coop in 2014 supply chain had about 50 articles that were classified as “NOOSE”, which stood for never out of stock, ever.

Obviously they didn’t achieve that

 

[styles]

When I started at Coop in 2014 supply chain had about 50 articles that were classified as “NOOSE”, which stood for never out of stock, ever.

Obviously they didn’t achieve that

It's almost a bit daft really.

I think in the UK we have just become so accustomed to having this magnificent range of choice in the supermarkets.

If you go to a bread aisle there must be a hundred different types you can buy. White bread, brown bread, multi grain, wholegrain, small loaf, big loaf, thin sliced, medium sliced, thick sliced, unsliced, 50/50, crusty, no crust, toastie bread, sourdough, protein bread, olive bread, small baguette, big baguette, tiger baguette, plain bagel, cinnamon and raisin bagel, sesame bagel, everything bagel, part baked rolls, part baked baguettes, however many types of rolls, buns, wraps, pittas, naans, chapati, ciabatta, panini, muffins, teacakes, crumpets, brioche, gluten free, tacos, fruit loaf, pancakes, etc. That's before the pastries and cookies and cakes and doughnuts etc. We are spoilt for choice really and I think we take it for granted.

So if a supermarket doesn't have that orange Warbutons toastie loaf on a Monday evening when doing the big shop, people switch supermarkets.

 

[m0ffy]

Aldi’s pricing seems particularly aggressive this year. 25% off some already well-priced wines; toys well below RRP, and the standard issue veg offers. I’m giving them bonus points for having the least annoying self checkouts.

 

[SuspectUsual]

It's almost a bit daft really.

I think in the UK we have just become so accustomed to having this magnificent range of choice in the supermarkets.

If you go to a bread aisle there must be a hundred different types you can buy. White bread, brown bread, multi grain, wholegrain, small loaf, big loaf, thin sliced, medium sliced, thick sliced, unsliced, 50/50, crusty, no crust, toastie bread, sourdough, protein bread, olive bread, small baguette, big baguette, tiger baguette, plain bagel, cinnamon and raisin bagel, sesame bagel, everything bagel, part baked rolls, part baked baguettes, however many types of rolls, buns, wraps, pittas, naans, chapati, ciabatta, panini, muffins, teacakes, crumpets, brioche, gluten free, tacos, fruit loaf, pancakes, etc. That's before the pastries and cookies and cakes and doughnuts etc. We are spoilt for choice really and I think we take it for granted.

So if a supermarket doesn't have that orange Warbutons toastie loaf on a Monday evening when doing the big shop, people switch supermarkets.

I don't think its unreasonable to have basic availability all but guaranteed, and indeed the modified version the Coop moved to made a lot of sense - some white sliced bread rather than specific items; some semi-skimmed milk rather than every specific size. I can't remember many of the things on the list, but it did include milk, white bread, brown bread, eggs, bacon, sausages and baked beans, so people should have been OK for their hangover breakfasts

 

[Cambrian359]

I just push the barriers open. I have never bothered with this new receipt scanning nonsense. These new supermarket checkout barriers are very light and just require a tiny amount of force. It beeps when you do that but most of the time the staff dont care or say anything. Unfortunately more and more branches of the big chains are getting these receipt scanning barriers.

Do you just push barriers open at train stations? Given both station and shop barriers are doing the same job - revenue protection.

While i do actually agree with some of your comments in a later post I think the pushing the shop barrier open attitude to be quite a sad sign of the times.

 

[simonw]

The supermarkets have been crazy today. I went to Waitrose this morning and you can barely move inside the shop. It is like a crowded train station. I had to queue up for almost twenty minutes to pay. The shops are only closed for two days but yet every Christmas it is like this.

Our Waitrose,was,very quiet today. If you use the scanners,,theres no queuing.

 

[AM9]

Do you just push barriers open at train stations? Given both station and shop barriers are doing the same job - revenue protection.

While i do actually agree with some of your comments in a later post I think the pushing the shop barrier open attitude to be quite a sad sign of the times.

... and even more sad that someone chooses to openly admit to such a pathetic act.

 

[Russel]

So you just cause damage to store property instead?

I've forced the sliding type barriers open at my local Morrisons a couple of times, I believe they work from facial recognition, or so the store staff tell me, but the often fail to open after paying and the staff just stand there and shrug...

I'm all for anti-theft measures, but anti-theft measures that actually work.

On a different note, my local Tesco had security marshalling the car park yesterday, at first I thought it was a bit daft, but it did make a positive difference.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I just push the barriers open. I have never bothered with this new receipt scanning nonsense. These new supermarket checkout barriers are very light and just require a tiny amount of force. It beeps when you do that but most of the time the staff dont care or say anything. Unfortunately more and more branches of the big chains are getting these receipt scanning barriers.

Well do not be surprised if one day you get some bad treatment.

TBF I have had the damn thing refuse to work.

 

[Hadders]

I believe the supermarkets intentionally make more baked goods than they know they'll need.

Having spent more than 35 years in food retail management I can assure you that supermarkets don’t intentionally over produce bakery products.

Two things tend to happen:

1. Stores are under pressure to maximise availability of bakery products because they are seen as key ‘hero’ products that differentiate the store from the competition. To do this properly they need to take ‘little and often’. Unfortunately many stores (particularly small stores) fail to do this effectively.

2. Stores should follow their bakery production planner. If they don’t do this it results in too much or too little stock. Unfortunately too many stores see the production planner as an admin task and don’t complete it correctly.

On a different note, my local Tesco had security marshalling the car park yesterday, at first I thought it was a bit daft, but it did make a positive difference.

Car park marshals are quite common in large supermarket car parks during Christmas week.

 

[Harpo]

Aldi’s pricing seems particularly aggressive this year. 25% off some already well-priced wines;

I only pick up their Creme de Loire fizz when it drops to around £7, which happens a few times a year. It’s a bit like the big two’s pricing - you know the price you’re waiting for and buy a few.

On wine pricing, Sainsburys ‘Buy 6 get 25% off’ seems to have been semi-permanent. A product of pushing their wine prices too high?

 

[SuspectUsual]

Having spent more than 35 years in food retail management I can assure you that supermarkets don’t intentionally over produce bakery products.

Two things tend to happen:

1. Stores are under pressure to maximise availability of bakery products because they are seen as key ‘hero’ products that differentiate the store from the competition. To do this properly they need to take ‘little and often’. Unfortunately many stores (particularly small stores) fail to do this effectively.

2. Stores should follow their bakery production planner. If they don’t do this it results in too much or too little stock. Unfortunately too many stores see the production planner as an admin task and don’t complete it correctly.

All true, and one other thing i’d add.

The “right” amount of products like bakery is “a little bit too much”. Partly because demand is impossible to predict perfectly but also because customers like choice.

It’s the same with loose fruit and veg. Because they’re individual items, inevitably with variation, customers like to have choice. Research has shown that if there’s one bread roll left, or one apple etc, customers perceive it’s the last one for a reason - because the others were better or nicer.

 

[styles]

All true, and one other thing i’d add.

The “right” amount of products like bakery is “a little bit too much”. Partly because demand is impossible to predict perfectly but also because customers like choice.

So, intentionally over producing bakery products then.

 

[m0ffy]

I only pick up their Creme de Loire fizz when it drops to around £7, which happens a few times a year. It’s a bit like the big two’s pricing - you know the price you’re waiting for and buy a few.

On wine pricing, Sainsburys ‘Buy 6 get 25% off’ seems to have been semi-permanent. A product of pushing their wine prices too high?

I bought a couple of bottles of C de L this week at £6.75 a piece. It was already good value at £8.99!

 

[cactustwirly]

Having spent more than 35 years in food retail management I can assure you that supermarkets don’t intentionally over produce bakery products.

Two things tend to happen:

1. Stores are under pressure to maximise availability of bakery products because they are seen as key ‘hero’ products that differentiate the store from the competition. To do this properly they need to take ‘little and often’. Unfortunately many stores (particularly small stores) fail to do this effectively.

2. Stores should follow their bakery production planner. If they don’t do this it results in too much or too little stock. Unfortunately too many stores see the production planner as an admin task and don’t complete it correctly.


Car park marshals are quite common in large supermarket car parks during Christmas week.

I haven't seen this, I live by one the bigger Sainsbury's and the car park is a free for all

The bakery produce didn't seem too bad, they probably overdo the pastries as they are always reduced in the evenings

 

[SuspectUsual]

So, intentionally over producing bakery products then.

No

Because:

(1) it isn’t over production against the plan

(2) to sell x there’s an acknowledgement that you need to produce x plus a bit, because customers have a habit of rejecting the last one or two

(And more widely, forecasting demand is incredibly difficult, and for fresh and ultra fresh products there is never any intention of either having 100% availability or zero wastage. That’s only possible in the hypothetical world inhabited by management consultants)

 

[styles]

No

Because:

(1) it isn’t over production against the plan

The plan is to overproduce then.

(2) to sell x there’s an acknowledgement that you need to produce x plus a bit, because customers have a habit of rejecting the last one or two

But when you have a hundred different products and you produce an extra bit, that's satisfying choice over the environment, resource scarcity, and overall prices. It doesn't stop it being overproduction, it's just a way of excusing it.

(And more widely, forecasting demand is incredibly difficult, and for fresh and ultra fresh products there is never any intention of either having 100% availability or zero wastage. That’s only possible in the hypothetical world inhabited by management consultants)

Yes it is difficult and there will always be some wastage, but the scale of it is borderline criminal.