Supermarket workers share the worst things they’ve seen customers do

Many supermarket workers have caught shoppers using underhand tactics, and they’ve now revealed the worst things they’ve witnessed.

Employees from Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s have shared the numerous things they have noticed customers do to grab an unfair bargain.

They’ve also listed all the ways shoppers are really annoying at breaking rules, from trying to sneak in early, shopping after hours or weird queuing tactics.

A report this year revealed that a quarter of supermarket staff have experienced abuse during the coronavirus pandemic. 

See below for some of the things supermarket employees have witnessed.

“The worst are the ones who graze as they shop” 

I think we can all admit we can’t resist picking at the French stick as we shop, but the employees, rightfully, aren’t a fan of touching grubby half-eaten food to scan. 

“Customers are messy – and it’s annoying”

Just pick up the things you drop, ok?! Also – stop putting dog food down with the shampoo because you don’t want it anymore.

“You’re not actually allowed to swap the stickers, you know” 

This one is lost on me, I didn’t realise anyone actually peeled a reduced sticker off and slapped it on another product. Might seem dead clever, but it’s technically stealing. 

“We can spot a ‘savvy’ shopper a mile off”

We all love a good bargain but apparently it’s dead obvious when you swarm around the poor sod who’s got the reduced price gun. Who would’ve thought? 

“I see you have your evening planned”

Around Valentine’s day, hundreds of men go shopping with the exact same shopping list; cheapest flowers possible (preferably red), card, chocolate, cheap bottle of Prosecco and some condoms. 

“Clocking onto loyal customers’ routines”

If you’re one of those on a tight schedule doing your weekly shop every Thursday at 7pm, they know all about it. 

“If you mess up my display I’ll be furious”

Pretty self-explanatory this one. Imagine working hard to get all the tins facing the right way and some little terrors come along and put their grubby little paws all over them, messing the display up. 

“We know you know what 10 items or less means” 

So no, don’t bring your entire monthly shop into the basket-only till. You aren’t special. 

“I can’t just unlock the doors because you’re standing there” 

If the shop opens at 7am, it opens at 7am. It doesn’t matter that you’re early or stood in the rain. Look up trading laws folks.

“We see you trying to get to the store at 3:59pm on a Sunday” 

Honestly, anyone who goes anywhere minutes before it closes is so annoying and immediately on the naughty list. And don’t do a naive ‘oh sorry, are you closing?’ when the shutters – which you just ducked under – are halfway down. OBVIOUSLY we are closing! 

“Huffing and puffing in the queue won’t make me go any quicker on the checkouts” 

It’s just busy, ok!? Actually, in the past, it’s made me go slower if people are rude – oops, sorry!

Don’t be rude to people who work in the service industry folks!