In message <sv4sto$5m1$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:57:28 on Wed, 23 Feb
2022, Anna Noyd-Dryver <anna@noyd-dryver.com> remarked:
><Muttley@dastardlyhq.com> wrote:
>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:06:24 +0000
>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which used to be
>>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>>>> from their inventory.
>>>>
>>>> Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things get worse
>>>> you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl amongst
>>>>the chavs.
>>>
>>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can purchase
>>> the same items in at least a third of the time as in other supermarkets.
>>
>> Not in the nearest Lidl to me (which thankfully is 3 miles away). The few
>> times I've been in the queues were about 6 deep on all the tills of
>>beer bellies
>> and cheap tracksuits and no self checkout option. Presumably they assume
>> their customers might have trouble figuring them out.
>
>The Lidls near me have self checkouts.
>
>Aldi's checkout assistants can deal with a queue of six customers quicker
>than M&S staff can serve one customer.

This is not just a grocery store, it's an M&S checkout assistant social
club store.

Where you catch up on all the gossip when your friends come shopping.
--
Roland Perry

In message <sv4sci$p98$2@dont-email.me>, at 08:48:18 on Wed, 23 Feb
2022, Graeme Wall <rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> remarked:
>On 23/02/2022 08:40, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 20:31:31 +0000
>> Graeme Wall <rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>>> On 22/02/2022 17:59, Roland Perry wrote:
>>>> In message <sv356g$266$1@dont-email.me>, at 17:06:24 on Tue, 22 Feb
>>>> 2022, martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk remarked:
>>>>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which used to be
>>>>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>>>>>> from their inventory.
>>>>
>>>>>>  Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things get
>>>>>> worse  you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl
>>>>>> amongst the chavs.
>>>>>>
>>>>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can
>>>>> purchase the same items in at least a third of the time as in other
>>>>> supermarkets.  And they don't keep moving their stuff around to delay
>>>>> your visits.
>>>>
>>>> That's true. It might also be because their lean staffing model simply
>>>> doesn't allow the marketing people to demand that they do "confusion
>>>> aisling" which plagues Tesco more than Sainsbury's.
>>>
>>> Even Tesco seems to have given up on that, other than the seasonal
>>> aisle, my local one has had the same aisle layout for about three years now.

>> Ditto Asda. Rarely does stuff get shoved somewhere random anymore
>>for that "fun" treasure hunt search you just didn't want when you're
>>in a hurry.
>
>A colleague, who had been a Sainsburys manager in a former life, told
>me it was an American[1] idea to get customers to use aisles they
>usually ignored and might impulse buy something they wouldn't have seen
>during their normal shopping.

Yes, that's right. Also layouts such as persist at Morrisons (inherited
perhaps from another American outfit, Safeway) that force arriving
customers though the vegetable aisles, irrespective of where they wanted
to be.

>Meanwhile the rest of the world has standardised layouts so you can
>walk into a supermarket in Boulogne or Buenos Aires and know exactly
>where to find what you want.

That's not true of Tesco in the UK, where I find stores can have quite
different schemes from one town to another. Variants include the
non-food EJ versus BC.

ABCDE
FGHIJ
tills
--
Roland Perry

In message <sv4t8e$b4o$1@dont-email.me>, at 09:03:12 on Wed, 23 Feb
2022, MB <MB@nospam.net> remarked:
>On 23/02/2022 07:24, Charles Ellson wrote:

>> They were never missing to the extent that they are now with some
>> supermarkets filling shelf spaces with pictures of what is missing
>> along with printed apologies for them not being there.
>
>Not seen that anywhere?

I think Charles has, and so have I.

In fact just yesterday, I was in one which had at least a third of its
upright freezer cabinets completely empty, and a couple of apology
stickers.

<https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2021/10/sainsburys-and-tesco-
criticised-for-cardboard-images-on-empty-shelves/>
--
Roland Perry

On 23/02/2022 08:59, Marland wrote:
> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>> In message <sv31o3$omc$1@gioia.aioe.org>, at 16:07:31 on Tue, 22 Feb
>> 2022, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>
>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which used to be
>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>>> from their inventory.
>>>
>
>>
>> I like Aldi, a lot of their produce is better than other supermarkets,
>> and typically 3/4 the price.
>>
>> Although the stuff, especially frozen, that's "too good to be true" is
>> like chewing old boots.
>
> What are you complaining for?
>
> You said you wanted a Beef Wellington.
>

:-)

--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.

On 23/02/2022 09:03, MB wrote:
> On 23/02/2022 07:24, Charles Ellson wrote:
>> They were never missing to the extent that they are now with some
>> supermarkets filling shelf spaces with pictures of what is missing
>> along with printed apologies for them not being there.
>
>
>
> Not seen that anywhere?
>
>
>

Tescos have been doing it. Not seen it in Sainsburys or Waitrose.

--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.

On 23/02/2022 09:13, Roland Perry wrote:
> In message <sv4sci$p98$2@dont-email.me>, at 08:48:18 on Wed, 23 Feb
> 2022, Graeme Wall <rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> remarked:
>> On 23/02/2022 08:40, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 20:31:31 +0000
>>> Graeme Wall <rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>>>> On 22/02/2022 17:59, Roland Perry wrote:
>>>>> In message <sv356g$266$1@dont-email.me>, at 17:06:24 on Tue, 22 Feb
>>>>> 2022, martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk remarked:
>>>>>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which
>>>>>>>> used to be
>>>>>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have
>>>>>>>> deleted it
>>>>>>>> from their inventory.
>>>>>
>>>>>>>   Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things get
>>>>>>> worse  you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl
>>>>>>> amongst the chavs.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can
>>>>>> purchase the same items in at least a third of the time as in other
>>>>>> supermarkets.  And they don't keep moving their stuff around to delay
>>>>>> your visits.
>>>>>
>>>>> That's true. It might also be because their lean staffing model simply
>>>>> doesn't allow the marketing people to demand that they do "confusion
>>>>> aisling" which plagues Tesco more than Sainsbury's.
>>>>
>>>> Even Tesco seems to have given up on that, other than the seasonal
>>>> aisle, my local one has had the same aisle layout for about three
>>>> years now.
>
>>>  Ditto Asda. Rarely does stuff get shoved somewhere random anymore
>>> for that  "fun" treasure hunt search you just didn't want when you're
>>> in a hurry.
>>
>> A colleague, who had been a Sainsburys manager in a former life, told
>> me it was an American[1] idea to get customers to use aisles they
>> usually ignored and might impulse buy something they wouldn't have
>> seen during their normal shopping.
>
> Yes, that's right. Also layouts such as persist at Morrisons (inherited
> perhaps from another American outfit, Safeway) that force arriving
> customers though the vegetable aisles, irrespective of where they wanted
> to be.
>
>> Meanwhile the rest of the world has standardised layouts so you can
>> walk into a supermarket in Boulogne or Buenos Aires and know exactly
>> where to find what you want.
>
> That's not true of Tesco in the UK,

Which is why I said in the rest of the world.

where I find stores can have quite
> different schemes from one town to another. Variants include the
> non-food EJ versus BC.
>
> ABCDE
> FGHIJ
> tills

In Southampton my local Sainsburys not only had the non-food items in a
different place but in a different shop round the corner!

--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.

On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 09:13:02 +0000
Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>In message <sv4sci$p98$2@dont-email.me>, at 08:48:18 on Wed, 23 Feb
>>A colleague, who had been a Sainsburys manager in a former life, told
>>me it was an American[1] idea to get customers to use aisles they
>>usually ignored and might impulse buy something they wouldn't have seen
>>during their normal shopping.
>
>Yes, that's right. Also layouts such as persist at Morrisons (inherited
>perhaps from another American outfit, Safeway) that force arriving
>customers though the vegetable aisles, irrespective of where they wanted
>to be.

Though less annoying than the supermarkets that don't let you out except via
the till aisles which is a problem if you couldn't find what you wanted or
decided not to get anything as you either end up squeezing past people or
climbing over a roped off one with the security guard eyeing you suspiciously.

On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 09:16:11 +0000
Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>In message <sv4sto$5m1$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:57:28 on Wed, 23 Feb
>2022, Anna Noyd-Dryver <anna@noyd-dryver.com> remarked:
>><Muttley@dastardlyhq.com> wrote:
>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:06:24 +0000
>>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which used to be
>>>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>>>>> from their inventory.
>>>>>
>>>>> Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things get worse
>>>>> you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl amongst
>>>>>the chavs.
>>>>
>>>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can purchase
>>>> the same items in at least a third of the time as in other supermarkets.
>>>
>>> Not in the nearest Lidl to me (which thankfully is 3 miles away). The few
>>> times I've been in the queues were about 6 deep on all the tills of
>>>beer bellies
>>> and cheap tracksuits and no self checkout option. Presumably they assume
>>> their customers might have trouble figuring them out.
>>
>>The Lidls near me have self checkouts.
>>
>>Aldi's checkout assistants can deal with a queue of six customers quicker
>>than M&S staff can serve one customer.
>
>This is not just a grocery store, it's an M&S checkout assistant social
>club store.
>
>Where you catch up on all the gossip when your friends come shopping.

IME and my wifes, M&S food isn't what it used to be. Though still marked up.

On 23/02/2022 10:16, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
> On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 09:13:02 +0000
> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>> In message <sv4sci$p98$2@dont-email.me>, at 08:48:18 on Wed, 23 Feb
>>> A colleague, who had been a Sainsburys manager in a former life, told
>>> me it was an American[1] idea to get customers to use aisles they
>>> usually ignored and might impulse buy something they wouldn't have seen
>>> during their normal shopping.
>>
>> Yes, that's right. Also layouts such as persist at Morrisons (inherited
>> perhaps from another American outfit, Safeway) that force arriving
>> customers though the vegetable aisles, irrespective of where they wanted
>> to be.
>
> Though less annoying than the supermarkets that don't let you out except via
> the till aisles which is a problem if you couldn't find what you wanted or
> decided not to get anything as you either end up squeezing past people or
> climbing over a roped off one with the security guard eyeing you suspiciously.
>

My local Tescos has recently installed more substantial barriers along
the gate line to prevent people hopping over the ropes. Though you can
still get out via the snacks/tobacconist/gambling till which is designed
for people to nip in and out quickly.

--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.

On 23/02/2022 08:38, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:06:24 +0000
> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which used to be
>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>> >from their inventory.
>>>
>>> Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things get worse
>>> you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl amongst the chavs.
>>
>>>
>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can purchase
>> the same items in at least a third of the time as in other supermarkets.
>
> Not in the nearest Lidl to me (which thankfully is 3 miles away). The few
> times I've been in the queues were about 6 deep on all the tills of beer bellies
> and cheap tracksuits and no self checkout option. Presumably they assume
> their customers might have trouble figuring them out.
>
I regard no self checkouts as a plus point in any supermarket.

On 23/02/2022 08:57, Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
> <Muttley@dastardlyhq.com> wrote:
>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:06:24 +0000
>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which used to be
>>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>>>> from their inventory.
>>>>
>>>> Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things get worse
>>>> you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl amongst the chavs.
>>>
>>>>
>>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can purchase
>>> the same items in at least a third of the time as in other supermarkets.
>>
>> Not in the nearest Lidl to me (which thankfully is 3 miles away). The few
>> times I've been in the queues were about 6 deep on all the tills of beer bellies
>> and cheap tracksuits and no self checkout option. Presumably they assume
>> their customers might have trouble figuring them out.
>>
>>
>
> The Lidls near me have self checkouts.
>
> Aldi's checkout assistants can deal with a queue of six customers quicker
> than M&S staff can serve one customer.
>
>
Aldi and Lidl's checkout assistants can probably deal with 12 customers
in the time it take (prolonged) Waitrose to deal with one.

On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 08:57:28 -0000 (UTC), Anna Noyd-Dryver
<anna@noyd-dryver.com> wrote:

><Muttley@dastardlyhq.com> wrote:
>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:06:24 +0000
>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which used to be
>>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>>>> from their inventory.
>>>>
>>>> Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things get worse
>>>> you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl amongst the chavs.
>>>
>>>>
>>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can purchase
>>> the same items in at least a third of the time as in other supermarkets.
>>
>> Not in the nearest Lidl to me (which thankfully is 3 miles away). The few
>> times I've been in the queues were about 6 deep on all the tills of beer bellies
>> and cheap tracksuits and no self checkout option. Presumably they assume
>> their customers might have trouble figuring them out.
>>
>>
>
>The Lidls near me have self checkouts.
>
>Aldi's checkout assistants can deal with a queue of six customers quicker
>than M&S staff can serve one customer.
>
Both M&Ss near me (1 food, 1 food section) have self checkouts. Local
Lidl seem to have around 50% with self-checkouts.

On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 09:56:32 +0000, Graeme Wall
<rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>On 23/02/2022 09:03, MB wrote:
>> On 23/02/2022 07:24, Charles Ellson wrote:
>>> They were never missing to the extent that they are now with some
>>> supermarkets filling shelf spaces with pictures of what is missing
>>> along with printed apologies for them not being there.
>>
>>
>>
>> Not seen that anywhere?
>>
>>
>>
>
>Tescos have been doing it. Not seen it in Sainsburys or Waitrose.
>
The "virtual" goods are presumably those not expected to be available
for a significant time ahead. The only constant/repeated item for
empty shelves/racks so far seems to be bottled water, possibly a
consequence of driver shortages encouraging loads of higher value per
ton.

In message <sv5252$ac6$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:26:42 on Wed, 23 Feb
2022, martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk remarked:
>On 23/02/2022 08:38, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:06:24 +0000
>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:

>>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which used to be
>>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>>> >from their inventory.
>>>>
>>>> Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things get worse
>>>> you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl amongst
>>>>the chavs.
>>>>
>>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can purchase
>>> the same items in at least a third of the time as in other supermarkets.

>> Not in the nearest Lidl to me (which thankfully is 3 miles away).

>>The few times I've been in the queues were about 6 deep on all the
>>tills of beer bellies and cheap tracksuits and no self checkout
>>option. Presumably they assume their customers might have trouble
>>figuring them out.
>>
>I regard no self checkouts as a plus point in any supermarket.

The M&S I use most often has exclusively self-checkouts. (But it's more
of a convenience store than a supermarket).
--
Roland Perry

In message <sv528l$ac6$2@dont-email.me>, at 10:28:36 on Wed, 23 Feb
2022, martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk remarked:
>On 23/02/2022 08:57, Anna Noyd-Dryver wrote:
>> <Muttley@dastardlyhq.com> wrote:
>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:06:24 +0000
>>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which used to be
>>>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>>>>> from their inventory.
>>>>>
>>>>> Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things get worse
>>>>> you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl amongst
>>>>>the chavs.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can purchase
>>>> the same items in at least a third of the time as in other supermarkets.
>>>
>>> Not in the nearest Lidl to me (which thankfully is 3 miles away).
>>>The few times I've been in the queues were about 6 deep on all the
>>>tills of beer bellies and cheap tracksuits and no self checkout
>>>option. Presumably they assume their customers might have trouble
>>>figuring them out.
>>>
>> The Lidls near me have self checkouts. Aldi's checkout assistants
>>can deal with a queue of six customers quicker than M&S staff can
>>serve one customer.
>>
>Aldi and Lidl's checkout assistants can probably deal with 12 customers
>in the time it take (prolonged) Waitrose to deal with one.

While I understand the metaphor being used here, it doesn't actually
work like that in practice. At my local Aldi it's fairly unusual for
people to be buying less than a *whole* conveyer-belt of stuff. Whereas
in Waitrose it's predominantly one carrier bag's worth. That difference
in scale evens up the customers-per-hour somewhat.
--
Roland Perry

In message <mv3c1h1fegdfhn176uog5vgg745biiaso4@4ax.com>, at 10:47:32 on
Wed, 23 Feb 2022, Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com>
remarked:
>On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 09:56:32 +0000, Graeme Wall
><rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>On 23/02/2022 09:03, MB wrote:
>>> On 23/02/2022 07:24, Charles Ellson wrote:
>>>> They were never missing to the extent that they are now with some
>>>> supermarkets filling shelf spaces with pictures of what is missing
>>>> along with printed apologies for them not being there.
>>>
>>> Not seen that anywhere?
>>
>>Tescos have been doing it. Not seen it in Sainsburys or Waitrose.
>>
>The "virtual" goods are presumably those not expected to be available
>for a significant time ahead. The only constant/repeated item for
>empty shelves/racks so far seems to be bottled water, possibly a
>consequence of driver shortages encouraging loads of higher value per
>ton.

When there was a shortage of fizzy drinks last year, my Sainsbury's
filled the consequential empty shelves with loo rolls.
--
Roland Perry

On 23/02/2022 10:43, Charles Ellson wrote:
> On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 08:57:28 -0000 (UTC), Anna Noyd-Dryver
> <anna@noyd-dryver.com> wrote:
>
>> <Muttley@dastardlyhq.com> wrote:
>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:06:24 +0000
>>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which used to be
>>>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>>>>> from their inventory.
>>>>>
>>>>> Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things get worse
>>>>> you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl amongst the chavs.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can purchase
>>>> the same items in at least a third of the time as in other supermarkets.
>>>
>>> Not in the nearest Lidl to me (which thankfully is 3 miles away). The few
>>> times I've been in the queues were about 6 deep on all the tills of beer bellies
>>> and cheap tracksuits and no self checkout option. Presumably they assume
>>> their customers might have trouble figuring them out.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> The Lidls near me have self checkouts.
>>
>> Aldi's checkout assistants can deal with a queue of six customers quicker
>> than M&S staff can serve one customer.
>>
> Both M&Ss near me (1 food, 1 food section) have self checkouts. Local
> Lidl seem to have around 50% with self-checkouts.

We have a new Lidl near here which does NOT have self-checkouts.

On 23/02/2022 10:57, Roland Perry wrote:
> In message <sv5252$ac6$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:26:42 on Wed, 23 Feb
> 2022, martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk remarked:
>> On 23/02/2022 08:38, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:06:24 +0000
>>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which used
>>>>>> to be
>>>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>>>> >from their inventory.
>>>>>
>>>>> Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things get
>>>>> worse
>>>>> you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl amongst
>>>>> the chavs.
>>>>>
>>>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can purchase
>>>> the same items in at least a third of the time as in other
>>>> supermarkets.
>
>>>  Not in the nearest Lidl to me (which thankfully is 3 miles away).
>
>>> The few  times I've been in the queues were about 6 deep on all the
>>> tills of beer bellies  and cheap tracksuits and no self checkout
>>> option. Presumably they assume  their customers might have trouble
>>> figuring them out.
>>>
>> I regard no self checkouts as a plus point in any supermarket.
>
> The M&S I use most often has exclusively self-checkouts. (But it's more
> of a convenience store than a supermarket).

I consider self-checkouts as being the opposite of convenient!

--
Colin

On 23/02/2022 10:57, Roland Perry wrote:
> In message <sv5252$ac6$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:26:42 on Wed, 23 Feb
> 2022, martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk remarked:
>> On 23/02/2022 08:38, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:06:24 +0000
>>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which used
>>>>>> to be
>>>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>>>> >from their inventory.
>>>>>
>>>>> Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things get
>>>>> worse
>>>>> you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl amongst
>>>>> the chavs.
>>>>>
>>>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can purchase
>>>> the same items in at least a third of the time as in other
>>>> supermarkets.
>
>>>  Not in the nearest Lidl to me (which thankfully is 3 miles away).
>
>>> The few  times I've been in the queues were about 6 deep on all the
>>> tills of beer bellies  and cheap tracksuits and no self checkout
>>> option. Presumably they assume  their customers might have trouble
>>> figuring them out.
>>>
>> I regard no self checkouts as a plus point in any supermarket.
>
> The M&S I use most often has exclusively self-checkouts. (But it's more
> of a convenience store than a supermarket).
I would never use that store.

Here's why you should not use self checkouts:-
https://metro.co.uk/2018/11/28/poo-found-on-every-mcdonalds-touchscreen-tested-8178486/

On 23/02/2022 10:57, Roland Perry wrote:
> In message <sv5252$ac6$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:26:42 on Wed, 23 Feb
> 2022, martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk remarked:
>> On 23/02/2022 08:38, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:06:24 +0000
>>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which used
>>>>>> to be
>>>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>>>> >from their inventory.
>>>>>
>>>>> Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things get
>>>>> worse
>>>>> you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl amongst
>>>>> the chavs.
>>>>>
>>>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can purchase
>>>> the same items in at least a third of the time as in other
>>>> supermarkets.
>
>>>  Not in the nearest Lidl to me (which thankfully is 3 miles away).
>
>>> The few  times I've been in the queues were about 6 deep on all the
>>> tills of beer bellies  and cheap tracksuits and no self checkout
>>> option. Presumably they assume  their customers might have trouble
>>> figuring them out.
>>>
>> I regard no self checkouts as a plus point in any supermarket.
>
> The M&S I use most often has exclusively self-checkouts. (But it's more
> of a convenience store than a supermarket).

I would never use that store.

Here's why you should not use self checkouts:-
https://metro.co.uk/2018/11/28/poo-found-on-every-mcdonalds-touchscreen-tested-8178486/

On 23/02/2022 10:58, Roland Perry wrote:
> In message <mv3c1h1fegdfhn176uog5vgg745biiaso4@4ax.com>, at 10:47:32 on
> Wed, 23 Feb 2022, Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> remarked:
>> On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 09:56:32 +0000, Graeme Wall
>> <rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>> On 23/02/2022 09:03, MB wrote:
>>>> On 23/02/2022 07:24, Charles Ellson wrote:
>>>>> They were never missing to the extent that they are now with some
>>>>> supermarkets filling shelf spaces with pictures of what is missing
>>>>> along with printed apologies for them not being there.
>>>>
>>>> Not seen that anywhere?
>>>
>>> Tescos have been doing it. Not seen it in Sainsburys or Waitrose.
>>>
>> The "virtual" goods are presumably those not expected to be available
>> for a significant time ahead. The only constant/repeated item for
>> empty shelves/racks so far seems to be bottled water, possibly a
>> consequence of driver shortages encouraging loads of higher value per
>> ton.
>
> When there was a shortage of fizzy drinks last year, my Sainsbury's
> filled the consequential empty shelves with loo rolls.

My local supermarkets seems to be shelf filling with bottles of soft and
alcoholic drinks. There's also bare floor where you would expect there
to be free standing displays.

In message <sv54pq$6lh$1@dont-email.me>, at 11:11:58 on Wed, 23 Feb
2022, ColinR <rail@greystane.shetland.co.uk> remarked:
>On 23/02/2022 10:57, Roland Perry wrote:
>> In message <sv5252$ac6$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:26:42 on Wed, 23 Feb
>>2022, martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk remarked:
>>> On 23/02/2022 08:38, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:06:24 +0000
>>>> martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk wrote:
>>>>> On 22/02/2022 16:07, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>>> On Tue, 22 Feb 2022 09:39:25 +0000
>>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>>>>>> The Xmas just gone I really fancied a Beef Wellington (which
>>>>>>>used to be
>>>>>>> a staple in Aldi that time of year) but they seem to have deleted it
>>>>>> >from their inventory.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Oh dear, having to shop in Aldi? How the mighty etc. If things
>>>>>>get worse
>>>>>> you'll be shopping in the famine relief centre called Lidl
>>>>>>amongst the chavs.
>>>>>>
>>>>> Aldi an Lidl both have the same endearing feature that you can purchase
>>>>> the same items in at least a third of the time as in other
>>>>>supermarkets.
>>
>>>>  Not in the nearest Lidl to me (which thankfully is 3 miles away).
>>
>>>> The few  times I've been in the queues were about 6 deep on all the
>>>>tills of beer bellies  and cheap tracksuits and no self checkout
>>>>option. Presumably they assume  their customers might have trouble
>>>>figuring them out.
>>>>
>>> I regard no self checkouts as a plus point in any supermarket.

>> The M&S I use most often has exclusively self-checkouts. (But it's
>>more of a convenience store than a supermarket).
>
>I consider self-checkouts as being the opposite of convenient!

Depends; the typical Tesco Metro, or similar (in)convenience store often
won't have a permanent till operator.

So when you go in to buy something it's often quicker to scan one or two
items yourself, rather than wait until they manage to tear themselves
away from shelf-stacking at the back of the shop.
--
Roland Perry

On 23/02/2022 10:25, Graeme Wall wrote:
> My local Tescos has recently installed more substantial barriers along
> the gate line to prevent people hopping over the ropes. Though you can
> still get out via the snacks/tobacconist/gambling till which is designed
> for people to nip in and out quickly.

Didn't Morrison's stop that a few years ago? The till on the outside of
the barriers is tobacco and gambing only I think?

On 23/02/2022 10:57, Roland Perry wrote:
> The M&S I use most often has exclusively self-checkouts. (But it's more
> of a convenience store than a supermarket).

I have a feeling that our local one would like to go over to that but I
refuse to self-checkouts like many others so someone would take you
through which I rather defeats the object of self-checkout. They seem
to have given up now.

In message <sv55ol$q2m$2@dont-email.me>, at 11:28:21 on Wed, 23 Feb
2022, martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk remarked:

>> The M&S I use most often has exclusively self-checkouts. (But it's
>>more of a convenience store than a supermarket).
>
>I would never use that store.

You'd go hungry then. It's the only store in the food court at my local
hospital that isn't either staff-only, or with erratic (and very early
closing) hours.

Hopefully, in that setting, most people have been washing their hands,
frequently. You can't get into the building without being pointed at a
hand sanitiser by a security guard, for example.
--
Roland Perry