Tesco staff give me a headache

Dear Tesco,

I have just been to your new South Road store in Dundee to do my usual weekly shop. As a sufferer of chronic headaches and recently diagnosed IBS I decided to get medication for both of these illnesses at Tesco as the local pharmacy does not open until later in the morning.

I tried to purchase paracetamol and ibuprofen for my headaches and buscopan for my IBS.

At the checkout (where three members of staff were huddled around chatting about Disney holidays) I put my messages through. WHen it came to the medication I ( and the other members of staff that were stilll chatting about holidays) were told that I couldn't purchase more than two types of painkillers.

Confused - I told the girl that there WERE only two types of 'painkillers' - paracetamol and ibuprofen. She said that the buscopan was a painkiller also. Confused, I said it was a muscle relaxant or antispasmodic.

SHe said she would have to ask her supervisor. So the box of Buscopan IBS (oh - it's clearly marked on the box) was shown to the supervisor and the members of staff who had stopped speaking about holidays. She said it was a painkiller. I said it wasn't - she should check the British National Formulary if she wasn't sure.

In the end my IBS meds were put through as a separate transaction - the mind boggles - and I suffered a lot of needless embarassment.

I am a longstanding and good customer of Tesco but this makes me want to shop somewhere else. Shouldn't your staff be taught to deal with these things a lot more sensitively? Why the hell were they allowed to hand about at the tills for so long chatting about personal things? Is there not a canteen for that kind of thing?

Thanks Tesco for making the start of my weekend so crap.

Kind regards,

Joanna Forbes
Clinical Research Nurse

Tesco's FUCK YOU to customer!

A fortnight ago Tesco’s delivered my weekly shop, 20 minutes late as usual and with a list as long as my arm of substitutions that made no sense. I’d ordered my shopping “bagless” as per their new green initiative. So the delivery guy showed up with his crates which he dumped on the floor and stood their while I grappled around on the floor emptying the things into my doorway.

I decided to mention that he was 15 minutes late (knowing that some supermarkets offer a voucher for your next shopping if their late, but only if you point it out), to which the driver responded angrily saying he wasn’t. I assured him that it was in fact 15 minutes past 12 and my slot was between 10-12am. I then asked him politely to note that some of the substitutions I did not want were not even there. He told me there was nothing he could do. I asked him to note that I’d ordered Fairy liquid, and they’d sent me Tesco’s. Nothing he could do, he said, grunting. I asked him if he wouldn’t mind moving one of the empty crates so I could get at the last of my shopping, and the man blew up in my face!

“How dare I speak to him like that” he said. I didn’t consider that he might have been stuck in traffic, did I? He asked. No I said, because that’s what I pay HIM to do. He started yelling at me. He stepped into my doorway and started waving his hands about. I couldn’t shut my door on him because it was stuck open by my all the shopping on the doorstep. I thought he was going to smack me. He eventually grabbed the remaining stuff and crates and stormed off, yelling “f*** you” as he left.

I called to complain, naturally. Two weeks later they’ve offered me a £10 Tesco online voucher. Needless to say, I won’t be accepting their insult of an apology.

Sarah

Tesco Revile Me!

I am writing to express my complete revulsion for this Company I have worked at for a number of years now. (And still do unfortunately). Slowly, and surely, the Tesco Empire has grown and grown into this monster that cannot be tamed. It's rapidly consuming our island's land and swallowing up small businesses. Ok, so it's a company that is performing well. Fair play.... but the fact is, it isnt FAIR play... obviously coming at a price...

Every day I feel more and more contempt for the behaviour of this company. When I first joined, it was an average British Supermarket. Now, it's agressive approach is hidden behind fabricated PR slogans and friendly fonts, adverts, etc etc. Caring for the Environment with Green Clubcard schemes, degradable packaging and flowers that have travelled by air - Everything is so la de dah in Tesco's eyes.... NOT in the Staff's eyes it is NOT.

I used to like working for Tesco. But feel I cannot anymore. It used to be such a nice place to come to work and there was a nice atmosphere and Customer Service was excellent. Now, for Checkout staff it is about Fast Scan Rates, High Throughput rates, Low Idle times, low Tender times, max Clubcard/Customer rates.... How can we deliver good customer service when the goal is to PUSH our customers through so that Tesco can cash up quick?? - Why say our performance is 'Crap' in front of Customers when we are supposedly trying to give ECOH - 'Every Customer Offered Help?????!!! Total Lunacy and humilation.... The attitudes of most managers are appalling. They dont have a clue how to deal with customers. Nor do they care. Good 'One in front' rates and their wage is all they care about.

Secondly, our job has become more and more stressful and un necessarily difficult. The removal of the Void Key has meant that we feel completely distrusted and frustrated everytime a Team Leader fails to come down, EVERYTIME a customer decides to no longer want a product.

Thirdly, the equipment is TERRIBLE. It appears that the Tills run on ancient Windows 95 (or older) software ... they always freeze/crash. Scales barely work, chip and pin reader buttons fall out and broken chairs. They Tesco Value or something?!?! Is this what your staff really deserve as we RAKE in your BILLIONS? For goodness sake Tesco. Wake up. YOUR STAFF WANT TO ACTUALLY GIVE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE HERE. Even though you may like to fob them off with excuses....

We are left to deal with the fallout of every eventuality. (i.e. abuse from Customers). We DO care about our customers but the Managers DONT. WE CARE when customers have to wait but the MANAGERS dont and supervisors never come. Managers speak to Customers very rudely and we are left feeling embarrassed and feeling sorry for the Customers for their disgraceful lack of concern for customer's needs. If it wasn't for them then their wage packet wouldn't be paid.

There are TOO MANY CHIEFS AND NOT ENOUGH INDIANS at Tesco. Far too many people huddling round a little podium doing nothing except banter and phaff around. Come on, if Tesco has such high standards then why is it employing these people?

1. WHY IS IT you get a disciplinary when you have one day off SICK?
And why are our holidays always refused, yet we always help you out with Overtime??!!!
2. WHY do you not collect put backs from customers at ends of tills
and put them back? (i.e. Frozen products/ meat). Holding them to
see if they are cold still to put back on the shelf is UNACCEPTABLE !!!
3. PRICES - Why are they so high? Why have you cut back giving time and a half to new employees on Sundays - Why have you failed to give compensation to your staff that have had serious injuries at work?
(I have heard the story or two).
4. TIGHT - That, they are. New Clubcard reciept policy. Can only redeem points within 14 days from reciepts, and 2 at a time. Also they do not pay for our xmas parties. etc. They also cut back pay from packet from unfair clock in times. Every penny helps....

- I appreciate Tesco is a business but this is a business that has been making lives difficult for not only producers but its own staff. Tesco must seriously sort these issues out ! Before the media gloss backfires! New Slogan should be: Tesco. You shop, We Stress.

Tesco Still Don't Like Disabled People?

hi just felt i had to put my case on this site, i'm disabled i have cerabal palsey which has left me with muscle spasms in my back weak muscles in my legs and mobility problems. i started working for tesco in 1994 as checkout worker with the help of remply,ive had various time off with my back spasms and being unwell and have suffered the consequenses of the disapliarey process on a number of occasions ,in the last year i have had two stomach infections (one day each time ) then in july had to be rushed to hospital with burst appendix had 6 weeks off recovering,this was delt with under sya with just a welcome back and put down to mitigating so that was fine,last month had three days off with flu went back for one shift then pulled muscle in back worked another shift in pain then back got worse went docs got sick notes had four weeks off in total.now i thought my back compaint was always covered by the DDA (disability rights) had an ari meeting last night got told it wasnt covered ,although every other time was and because i had had two verble warnings in this year although expired my warning this time was excellerated straight to a first writen warning .i protested my case with them but they wernt intrested they read warning out asked me to sign it i refused then my blood boiled over and i walked out and came home.i feel victimised bullied and totaly frustrated their system stinks.

Whistle Blown at Terry's Head Office

I work at Tesco Head Office and came across some very interesting material :

- Commercial staff having 'secret' accounts with suppliers whereby the Tesco buyers overpay in the good times with the understanding that they can call on the deposit to artificially show improved management of margins when demanded by senior management, up to £25m would be 'squirrelled' away in this manner at any one time. On 2 occasions that I was aware of these secret accounts were used to commit fraud;

- land buyers having to buy x sqft of land to achieve objectives and in turn receive lucrative bonuses, regardless of whether there was any real chance of building a store on the land;

- staff particularly in the property department receiving excessive hospitality, such as receiving multiple fully paid skiing holidays a year;

- mislead staff about the planned offshoring of jobs to India, Tesco senior management knew from the start they intended to lose 2,800 jobs in the Head Office and move them to India. Even when the headcount in India made it above 1,000 they still managed to keep news of this out of the press - other companies were hammered in the press for losing far less UK staff to India;

- a case of bullying and poor management in a store lead to an employee with mental health issues committing suicide, the initial investigation was a cover up;

...more to come

Tesco Nightworkers Depressed

Ive been working for Tesco for about 5 years pretty much. Market Deeping (2875) store. I work at nights with a few others and feel very very depressed. Because from what we see is that the whole store is relying on us all the time. And when something fails its all our fault. Yet things could be sorted out in the day if they work around things better instead of relying on us 100%. Cause the grocery department workers mainly at night. And about 4 in the day.

And to make it even more stupid. Our store manager apparently came up with this idea letting us have christmas eve off if we work Boxing day this year. Now that be taking the biscuit far as i'm concerned. Its a national holiday. So it aint gonna happen no matter what.

But the main thing that is really upsetting me the most is, The constant relying on me. Just cause i know a fair bit of the shopfloor and stuff. Doesn't mean i should be a Jack of all trades compared to the other G.A's. Everyone should be treated the same. And i do hate the constant asking on how im getting on and which gives me the feeling they need an extra body somewhere else every 5 seconds. Or i aint going fast enough for them.

And last off all. Ever since the nights have been going. We dont get the great food benefits compared to the days. All we got is Sweets and rock hard sandwichs in the vendor machines. Bit unfair dont you think.

Alex

This is why Tesco is not hot!

Cages left out for hours, sometimes the whole night. especially yogurts and long life. chiller too full for this stock as spliting down the order needs to be done in there. Unless its christmas and raw meat has overflowed into the provisions chill, then the split is done in the warehouse or shop floor.. how long do you think it takes to split down 80+ cages and then put it on the shelf? more than 20mins.. try hours..

Waste on the shop floor. Fresh waste I mean.. often catch customers digging around the baskets of now out of code reductions.

The policy of never paying staff for half hours.. so if you start at 2130-0700 you only get 2200-0700 pay.

Confidentiality of the 'sick book' when you phone your name, dept and reason for absence are put in a book, this book is then taken to every handover where anyone there can browse through.. any team leader, manager, options candidate, pre options.. and trust me.. it's not confidential.

A thing called 'rolling stock' Where a loose produce item is out of date.. the label on the side of the basket/dolly somehow vanishes (making it illegal) but gets sold anyhow.. or another one is out of date loose things again.. being bagged and put in the reductions cabinet.

The same old one about fire exits blocked up.. always blocked up.

Working in a 24hr store on the tills by myself with no security guard. what about the 2 at all times rule?? i now refuse to work there by myself on such occasions.

Produce Dollies with raw meat stacked in baskets above fresh unwrapped produce.. mainly apples, they dont even have a plastic cover. think of that next time you give your child a tesco apple.

Tesco won't even give water to staff?

I worked part time at Tesco whilst I was at uni. the staff are lovely but the managers are awful. I’m not sure what it is that makes them think they are better than the general assistants, I was there finishing off my PhD yet was treated like I was educated to 11+ standard. The attitude towards the staff really put them on a downer, especially when they put them on a disciplinary for having days off sick, yes, that’s right, if your ill then you get in trouble. They also flaunt human rights, telling staff they are not allowed to have a bottle of water with them on the tills which is a direct violation of the ‘portable water’ that all staff are entitled to have. All in all they make a lot of money because that’s their motivation, they are not concerned about staff welfare and flaunt human rights and safety laws where possible. it’s a disgrace.
Sincerely
Anna Stapleton

Dem Tesco man be racist... (but me not)

My self and a friend (work-colleague), both of us of British -African/Caribbean origin. Were in the Tesco Metro store on Kingsland road North London, weds 8th aug, approx 5.50 pm. We are regulars to the store, especially as my friend has his own business situated around the corner, to the Tesco. To our annoyance, we found that the security guard (Indian) took it upon himself to follow us around the store. As if to say, 'I'll follow these two black guys, they look like thieves'. He was a bit too blatant, as he tried to make out that he was moving around shopping baskets. Me and my friend noticed what the security guard was doing and decided to complain to a manager. The manager of the store was eventually found. I took him round to face the security guard. Then we made known our grievance. The manager seemed to find the whole episode quite amusing-(he was grinning from ear to ear.) I let him know that I didn't find this incident amusing, but rather offensive. The manager explained that the security guard was 'just doing his job'. (Tesco's must have a racist policy then, of instructing their security to tail only, people of colour!) The security guard at this point told me to, 'Shut up!' Then the manager stepped between us, as if to keep the peace. As I mentioned my work colleague owns his own business around the corner. I myself am a freelance -writer. (We are NOT thieves and are fed up of being treated as such @ your store.) We have enough funds between us to go to court if needs be! We therefore want a written apology from BOTH the security guard and the store manager. We will be notifying the CRE and I may well document my 'TESCO experience' in some way using online media...(If the Indian security guard knew his history, he would know that Africans inhabited 'India' which means 'black', a long time before the people living there now, they come from African blood.)

Charlie Bins
mob: 07949 99 88 23

Update: I've not had a reply to my email to Tesco. (The whole thing has started a furious debate online within the African community.) I and my work colleague have stopped our custom at all Tesco stores. If you aobserve Tues London Lite 14 aug page 4. You will see that the Met Police have stats to show that foreigners commit 20% of all London crime. TOP of the list are the POLISH!!!

Tesco's Fresh Prawns are FROZEN?!

I love my prawns!!!! However, visiting my local TESCO store in Montrose on Thursday 16th August, I was about to put my TESCO Jumbo (fresh) prawns in my basket, but noticed they were in fact FROZEN!! Label clearly states that the product can be frozen at home - dilemma! Are they fresh or frozen - can they be refrozen at home??

I managed to (finally) attract the attention of one of the two assistants standing immediately behind me - busy talking to friends (customers?) - though it took a few attempts! I explained my dilemma about "fresh", "frozen", health hazzards, etc. After around 6-7 minutes, they called "Chris" (presumably the person in charge?) who, VERY reluctantly shook the packages about, mulled over the situation (I'm still waiting for a decision) and, even more reluctantly, took the few remaining packets of prawns away (I think?) muttering something about "contacting the supplier"!

So, I left for home (minus my dinner) in the hope that I'd perhaps saved a few other unsuspecting shoppers from possible food poisoning?! Today (Friday 17th August) visited the TESCO store in nearby Forfar - guess what? Same "fresh" prawns - FROZEN! Unfortunately, I was in a rush, and couldn't find a nearby assistant to help - needless to say, I didn't buy the product - no dinner again!

This is a disaster waiting to happen - my biggest issue is (apart from the obvious health implications) that there were only a few items left on the shelf by the time I discovered this - how many people didn't actually detect this before purchase/consumption??

I, personally, am a long standing, faithful TESCO customer, however, I now have very serious doubts about the food standards - too many incidents recently in the media regarding health issues for my liking!!

TESCO, please do something about this - someone could end up VERY sick and, unfortunately, your staff appear blissfully unconcerned....

A VERY concerned customer. Vicki P viccatpat@yahoo.co.uk

Do not touch my BOX!!

Not so much a complaint about the companies ethos as the sheer rudeness of one of their staff. I visited their store in Fulbourn, Cambridge, this afternoon.

I had a look around the wine section and found a number of offers to tempt me. I selected half a dozen bottles and then looked around for a box to put them in. The Tescos employee in charge of the wine section was emptying half cases of wine in order to make an end of aisle display so I asked him if I could have one of the empty boxes; he refused! In a very abrupt tone he told me I would have to use the flimsy card carriers they provide instead. He then appeared to make a point of tearing up the box he had just emptied.

Half way along the aisle was one of their rubbish cages with a *complete* empty box beside it, so I picked it up and went to put my bottles in it. No sooner had I picked it up than I noticed the employee was bearing down on me! He shouted that "THERE IS ALWAYS ONE" at me in an aggressive manner and just stood there glaring at me.

At this point I tried to politely explain that I don't like using their carriers as I find them too flimsy. Indeed this same employee had had to fetch a mop the last time I used one as the bottom gave way mid way to the till and all 6 bottles shattered on the floor. Evidentially his memory isn't that hot. Was there really a heinous crime in me using an empty cardboard box that had been consigned to the rubbish pile?

Apparently so. He stormed off again muttering at me.

Thanks Tesco, there's nothing like sheer rudeness and public embarrassment to make me go to Sainsburys.

Media Request FAO Tesco Staff

"Are you a current or former Tesco employee? Did extreme targets cause you to cut corners in your job? Are you a manager or supervisor who was forced to compromise your standards in order to keep profits on track? If so please get in touch with this site."

Tesco Crew Not Down With Tesco!

Hi there I work in an express store in the city centre of Glasgow and its the worst job i've had. We have only been open a matter of weeks and the staff and managers are overworked and stressed out all the time. The shelves are empty and dirty and most of us are looking elsewhere for jobs.Anonymous disgruntled employees........

Tesco's Bad Customer Service Lottery!

I am writing to complain about a member of staff in your Tesco extra store in Galashiels. Whilst in the store today my 17 year old daughter was refused a lottery ticket because the woman who was serving did not believe that she was 17, even though both myself and her dad was present. This I understand is store policy and I would have been okay with this but the way that she spoke to me when I asked to buy one was disgraceful especially in front of other customers. She spoke down to me as if I was a child made out that I was a liar and she then refused to serve me a lottery ticket in case I gave it to my daughter.

I'm actually 45 years old and have been a customer of yours for many many years and I have never before been spoken to like that before. I spoke to one of the managers who actually apologised on her behalf which I think was also wrong, I should have received an apology from her. For someone who deals with the public on a daily basis her attitude needs to change or I am sure you will lose many more customers.

Yours sincerely
Mrs G Campbell

Iconoclast David Nicolas Banned From Tesco!

A truly dark event has happened, following the iconoclast David Nicolas' wonderful film reports for Tesco-Complaint which showed Tesco's pitiful lack of customer service, our roving reporter has been banned from every Tesco store in the land (and beyond!). Gloria in excelsis deo!

David Nicolas writes: "Today, I took the computer back that I bought when filming 'Tesco's the Movie', as it was not to the described specification. Double click here for movie:-
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNJ5JPBVWd0

For the crime of openly filming with a camera (such as can be bought in Tesco's or as is on any mobile phone), I was presented with this pre-prepared 'banning order' by the 'duty manager':

What a result.... the first iconoclast in the U.K. to be banned from every Tesco shop and store :)..... unless you know differently?

David says 'A wonderful result, I was only too pleased to do my shopping in the lovely local town of Shoreham-by-sea' where I got British food from the Co-op, Organic potatoes and fluoride free toothpaste from 'The Healing Light', a coffee at 'Angels Bar '... (and a chat with a beautiful manageress), and a hair cut at the barbers next door... Wonderful! I also bought a nice video in the Dogs Trust Charity shop (for 50p)... and best of all 'The Guardian' newspaper which has actually published some truth, which the metropolitan police and the Attorney General spent last night trying to ban :)

What a wonderful morning.... all thanks to being banned from Tesco's.

Thank you so much.

David was also reminded of the old Kenneth Williams line 'Infamy! Infamy!.... they've all got it infamy!' :) as Tesco's Security Staff spread around the car park of the Holmbush Centre to observe David re-parking and shopping in Marks and Spencers."

Fear not David for the law on trespass is on your side and if you were to enter a Tesco store and film or shop Tesco would need to do the following in order to sue you:

1. Establish you are/were indeed David Nicolas
2. Establish your home address or place of business
   
3. Establish what damages they have suffered by your trespass (likely NIL)

There is no criminal offence of trespass and to state one can be prosecuted for trespass is an untruth at law. Don't worry David, this banning order's threats are as empty as Tesco's apologies and promises over it's filthy fuel.

The great news is David is not banned from the Cheshunt Head Office so we look forward to some lovely film footage of the Terence!

Triumph The Insult Dog, Tesco's New Head of CS?

My partner and I have received appalling treatment from some staff members of the Carrickfergus Castle store, County Antrim, NI. Tesco Customer Services department in Dundee has been ineffective in dealing with this. We have demanded a sincere, personal apology from all 3 culprits in this store. I have preserved the anonymity of the staff and I expect the same in return from Tesco if and when Sir Terry replies to me.

We have given Tesco every chance to sort this problem but their response has been completely abysmal. It is our opinion that Tesco has got so big they don’t really care. So now we have decided to spread the word about our experience. I apologise if this posting is rather long but you can see we have been led a merry dance! I have summarized the main points below:

1. 30 Dec (yes, that long ago) – a rude and surly CS assistant barked a question at me like I was a dog then stomped off like a stroppy teenager.
2. Same day – Acting Duty manager was patronizing and arrogant towards us. She leveled an unsubstantiated, very insulting accusation at us and upset my partner a great deal. We challenged her about this but didn’t receive an apology
3. 17 Jan – we received a totally inept reply from Customer Services HQ for NI, to whom we had complained. They referred the matter to the Store Manager (who was absent on 30 Dec)
4. 14-Feb – a telephone message from Carrickfergus Castle Store Manager, asking me to contact him.
5. Same day and next 3 days – I kept phoning the store, the manager had gone home early, he was off or else when I rang the phone wasn’t even answered. Next thing I heard – he was off for a week’s leave.
6. 20 Feb – I wrote to Sir Terry, asking for the matter to be resolved either by him or (in his absence) one of his immediate subordinates
7. 23 Feb – received an e-mail from a Customer Service Executive informing us he would deal with the matters
8. 26 Feb – Carrickfergus Castle Store Manager eventually phones us. It was not worth the wait. He quickly became quite aggressive, choosing to rant about one point in my complaint about which he took exception. Even after I conceded that particular point to him he carried on ranting. He even ranted at my partner when she tried to verify to him how upset she had been by the Acting Duty Manager’s comments. He glossed over our complaints and stated that the 2 culprits had denied everything. He was very rude and at no stage did he even attempt to deal with our complaint. I am convinced that the only reason he phoned was to rant at us.
9. Same day – I sent an e-mail to the same CS Executive as before, complaining about the telephone manner and behaviour of the Store Manager. I asked him to handle matters personally as I did not want any further contact with anyone from the relevant store, unless they were prepared to apologise in person.
10. 28 Feb – a bland reply received from CS Executive. He had spoken to Store Manager and stated we were not getting an apology. By now I suspected that this person was not a senior manager, he didn’t even have his own personal e-mail address!
11. Same day – I replied to CS Executive stating that he had not dealt with my complaint about the Store manager. I assured him that we would be taking matters further.

Tesco have tried to justify the long delay overall (now 59 days) by stating that the Store manager was absent for some time. It took from 17 Jan to 14 Feb before the Store Manager contacted me. That is totally unacceptable. If he was absent that length of time, Tesco should have organized someone more senior to investigate our complaint i.e. area manager

I will shortly be sending a further e-mail to Sir Terry Leahy and asking for a personal response, preferably by telephone. I won’t hold my breath. I will also be spreading the word about our experiences both nationally on another popular consumer forum (which I am told has over a million hits a day) and locally by e-mail and word of mouth. I have lived in Carrickfergus for 43 years and I know a lot of people. Bad news travels fast, especially with my foot on the accelerator!!

People reading this site may wonder why I am pursuing this but ask yourself if the person you loved was insulted and upset very much, what would you do? Also if we all let Tesco get away with appalling Customer Service, they will never change

NiteRider
Carrickfergus, County Antrim

Tesco announces 600 redundancies in Crick

Today Tesco announced 600 (approx) redundancies from their Crick depot. This is becoming a regular occurrence, to the point of my having lost count, but it runs into thousands around the UK in Depots and Service Departments.

I hope they get the best deal possible and wish all who have found themselves in this awful position all the best for the future. I fear todays are not the last. It's not all sunshine and roses, working for Tesco, that's if you are fortunate enough to be allowed to keep your job.

The Mrs
www.VeryLittleHelps.com

Tesco leaves elderly instore during fire evacuation...

My elderly parents were shopping at The Tesco store in Chelmsford, Princess Road, on Friday 2nd February 2007 at approx 10.30 am in the morning when the Fire Alarm went off. As the alarm went off everyone looked at each other wondering what to do, then everyone started making their way to the store entrance. All the checkout staff seemed to disappear, there was no announcement over the tannoy, and no direction from any of the staff whatsoever. The fire exit in the centre of the store by the window near the checkouts was locked due to building works. Everyone was going towards the main entrance, no one was being directed to any alternative fire exits. Once outside shoppers were blocking the entrance by standing about, so that others could not get outside. What has happened to Fire Safety at Princess Road, Chelmsford, why was there no direction from any of the staff. It seems that customers were left to exit the store without any guidance or direction from staff whatsoever. Fortunately this was either a very small fire in some small section of the building, or a false alarm, or the alarm had been accidentally set off by the builders. If this had been a more serious fire I dread to think what would have happend - mass panic with injury and loss of life I imagine. Please investigate this incident!!! Could someone reply please. Helen.

Iconoclast records Tesco's poor customer service!

Tesco's unsafe system of work?

I have been working for Tesco Express for around 6 years. During this time I have gained many skills from office admin to all areas of shop floor. Since the procedure changed to only having flatbeds instead of cages on the shop floor I have found it’s more time consuming filling heavy items onto flatbeds than having one cage on the shop floor. This procedure has increased time for completing the fresh delivery by two hours. Therefore we are not coinciding with the cold food chain cycle.

This procedure is not only time consuming but an health and safely hazard too. Using flatbeds/trolleys for off- loading heavy chilled items adds unnecessary strain to the bottom of your back. As a company I believe you are to reduce the risk of this kind of health and safety hazard. Its not just lifting the items onto the flatbed/trolleys, its also wheeling heavy flatbeds onto the shop floor, as most of the flatbeds/trolleys have their own minds you are continually steering the flatbeds/trolleys to go in the particular direction you want it to go in, which puts more stain on the individuals back than there is necessary.

I know what your going to say, ‘ask a colleague to help you’ and yes I follow my training guidelines. My point to you is that your actually losing your manpower from other areas of the shop floor, therefore more time consuming, less availability within the store, which leads to poor customer service. Not to mention the stress staff are under, to ensure all the check outs are attended to soon as the bell rings, which is literally every 60 seconds and your on the till between 5 - 10 minutes depending on the amount of staff you have on your shift on a particular day (if less staff, the longer you are on checkouts). This causes moral to become unbearable.

I have spoken to management and other colleagues on this issue and suggested ideas to achieve our goal. But they are not listening to my concerns or ideas. E.g. have only one cage all staff work from on the shop floor. This actually prevents unmanned cages because all staff are working to clear the cage at once. This also increases the availability on the shop floor, increased communication between colleagues, we are also adhering to the cold food chain policy as it’s less time consuming and our main concern providing good customer service.

I feel if you finish the delivery earlier then staff can provide more time and friendly assistance to customers. Please someone out there listen to me; it will work!!!

Yours faithfully
Ms Potter