Thank heavens for Tesco

"Thank heavens for Tesco, it keeps the scum out of Waitrose". So goes the old joke so I was not that surprised to read that a Tescos branch in Cardiff has put up a sign that says:

"‘To avoid causing embarrassment to others we ask that our customers are appropriately dressed when visiting our store (footwear must be worn at all times and no nightwear is permitted).’"

The reason?

"While the dress code would appear to be common sense to the majority of shoppers, Tesco staff at St Mellons, Cardiff, said they were forced to put up the posters.

This is because increasing numbers of young women have taken to shopping in their nightwear after dropping their children off at school in the morning.

A shopper in her pyjamas is reported to have said "'I just don't understand it. I go in other shops in my pyjamas and they don't say anything.

'You used to always be allowed in Tescos. But not now, it is ridiculous and stupid. I've got lovely pairs of pyjamas, with bears and penguins on them. I've worn my best ones today, just so I look tidy.'

'I walked in with my trolley and the security guard came over and told me to leave,' said she said.

'He said it offends people. But I've never seen anyone offended.'

(The shopper) admitted she is often still in pyjamas in the morning after sorting out her children for nursery.

She said: 'It is just when I'm in a rush or busy with the kids. I haven't got time to get myself all dolled up.

'I would usually put a coat or something over the top and it's not like I'm flashing the flesh or anything."

"get myself all dolled up"! It's not getting dolled up, it's called getting dressed. Put a pair of tracksuit bottoms and a sweatshirt over the top of the pyjamas, have some self-respect and respect for others. You have just spent 7 hours in bed wearing pyjamas, do you think your fellow shoppers really want you wearing them and nothing else as you brush up against the fresh food displays?


Another disgruntled shopper said ‘I won't be bothering with Tesco anymore, I'm off to Aldi.’ Hmmm I may have to amend my opening line!

I don't shop at Sainsburys but if I did this might persuade me to stop

I don't shop at Sainsburys but the news that they are to use motorbike-riding traffic wardens to patrol its car-parks and fine customers £50 if they misuse the disabled and parent and child parking spaces would be a factor in deciding me to shop elsewhere if I did. That and their alcohol sales policies speak of a Supermarket who wouldn't want the custom of a childless, able-bodied customer, preferring those with children. Fine I will continue to take my above average weekly shopping budget elsewhere.

Even more totalitarianism at the checkout

This is yet another in the long line of stories that I have published on supermarkets and their weird over-application of bans on selling alcohol to minors. You can see the last such of my postings here. This latest story is from a Sainsburys in Melksham in Worcs, where a 43 year-old RAF squadron leader was prevented from buying three bottles of wine with his shopping because he was accompanied by his 17 year-old son. As is often the case, the store manager backed his member of staff. A Sainsburys spokesman now says that the cashier asked for identification because the teenager had "presented" the wine by placing it on the conveyor belt, thus making it looks as though it was the teenager buying the wine. Now I rarely go to supermarkets but when I do it seems commonplace for children to help their parents by helping take the shopping form the trolley and placing it on the checkout conveyor.

These storied are not just about the application of licensing laws they are also about controlling the public. We can't be allowed to assume that we can buy what we want, we have to be allowed to do so by the store and the government. One final thought, and it is just a thought, I wonder if Squadron Leader Mark Giles was identifiable as being in the military and if this was some sort of anti-war stance taken by the cashier... Just wondering.

Ocado shopping

A brilliant service but some of their suggested alternatives for out of stock items are weird:

Want: 2 x organic avocado pears
Suggestion: Plums