Scotmid-What's it like?

General discussion - "gossip and tittle tattle"
Post Reply
Cleopas

Re: ranting......again

Post by Cleopas » 20 Jul 2006, 18:34

bouncie_kiwi wrote:i think that the people with the least common sense end up being in charge of the people with a slightly higher functioning level of brain activity.
It's called the Peter Principle ...

"In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Principle

I see it happen SO often.

bouncie_kiwi
Posts: 54
Joined: 04 Mar 2005, 19:20
Location: arcadia

Post by bouncie_kiwi » 20 Jul 2006, 20:07

teddygirl wrote:Oh dear, please tell me that the roll incident didn't happen today .
lol no dont worry teddygirl it was wednesday it happened and i binned the ones he had touched. well, the ones i seen him touch.

bouncie_kiwi
Posts: 54
Joined: 04 Mar 2005, 19:20
Location: arcadia

evil shoplifter in scotmid this morning!

Post by bouncie_kiwi » 05 Aug 2006, 20:03

some ned tried to steal 12 bottles of bells whisky - in big LIDL carrier bags then wander out the shop with them - after clearly being watched by a random check-out operator.
3 of the lads went after him and he attempted to break into a run - yes RUN with 12 litres of glass bottled whisky banging off your legs, eventually he just dropped the bags then attempted to hide behind a car - ahh scotmid just gets more and more exciting....
what an numpty!
Last edited by bouncie_kiwi on 14 Aug 2006, 21:13, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
gilo
Posts: 619
Joined: 24 Apr 2006, 20:22
Location: By the beach. ok the main road

Post by gilo » 05 Aug 2006, 21:39

So are you saying that so long as I look hard enough I can nick stuff from scotmid? :D

User avatar
Sandra
Posts: 3376
Joined: 17 Nov 2003, 16:50
Location: Portobello

Re: evil shoplifter in scotmid this morning!

Post by Sandra » 05 Aug 2006, 21:48

bouncie_kiwi wrote:some ned tried to steal 12 bottles of bells whisky - in big LIDL carrier bags then wander out the shop with them - after clearly being watched by a random check-out operator.
3 of the lads went after him and he attempted to break into a run - yes run with 12 litres of glass bottled whisky banging off your legs, eventually he just dropped the bags then attempted to hide behind a car - which then drove away causing him to try and run for it again. the lads just gave up - a fiver-an-hour job aint worth getting stabbed by some neddy junkie/alkie for!
ahh scotmid just gets more and more exciting....
what an ***.
Why am I never in store when something exciting happens? :lol:

compo
Posts: 3
Joined: 19 Jul 2006, 15:31

Post by compo » 03 Oct 2006, 15:46

It's been nearly two months since someone's logged anything that's happened in Scotmid - surely it's not all been sorted or has it been very quiet?

User avatar
jimann
Posts: 31
Joined: 01 Sep 2003, 15:44
Location: Porty at the Power Station

Post by jimann » 12 Oct 2006, 01:04

S'funny you should ask that selfsame question - why nae posts about Scotmid for 2 months - well, that's the time it takes to get served at the checkout!

Naw, seriously, I quite like to get my beer and wine there on a Sunday when I've forgotten there's some fitba' on the telly and need to get some in before it starts.

The Scotmid "style" makes me think that they don't as much stock the shelves, as use one of these ancient Roman catapults, and launch the stuff in fae the back door, and where it sticks, thats where the price sticker gets stuck on - and then it falls off!
Always reliable for unstuck stickers, .......... thats Scotmid.
I admire their stance on FairTrade though - 'bout time some of the flash stores thought about supporting that trading cause.

'course, if you're an organic brown rice freak, hell mend you!!!
My GOD, it's full of stars!

bouncie_kiwi
Posts: 54
Joined: 04 Mar 2005, 19:20
Location: arcadia

Post by bouncie_kiwi » 01 Nov 2006, 22:56

the shelves do get stocked, and faced up every night by our nightshift. its just the old snarfers who insist on ruffling all the stock about on the shelves, taking things off, returning them to the wrong places, dumping things wherever their lazy minds tell them to.
because of this forum people seem to LOOK for things to complain about, im not saying scotmid is perfect - but if you look at ASDA's shelves, they are by far more messy than scotmids, with cardboard all about the place and things shoved to the back of shelves to you need to get down on your hands and knees to get at it.
yes, we are short staffed. no, its not our direct managers fault, but the very high up people (who dont show their face in stores, funnily enough) at head office who cut wage budgets again and again in an attempt to 'save money' (scotmid being a CO-OPERATIVE rather than a purely PROFIT-MAKING SCHEME doesnt have as much available cash as asda, tesco and the likes)
they dont seem to comprehend the fact that a high level of customer satisfaction should come first, then would follow more profit which in turn could produce more staff, more EFFICIENT staff, cheaper goods and maybe even a music licence so make the place slightly less depressing. they appear to be following a vicious cycle, rather than the common sense cycle. mind you, as the manager says (who by the way works his a r s e off) 'common sense isn't that common'. i totally agree.

and before i get pounced on, this is merely my opinion based on the facts i know, and may not all be a solid concrete representation of 'what is actually happening'
aaaaaanyway, happy shopping and hope to see y'all soon :lol:
Last edited by bouncie_kiwi on 04 Nov 2006, 00:48, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
bellybabe
Posts: 1662
Joined: 18 Apr 2003, 13:25
Contact:

Post by bellybabe » 01 Nov 2006, 23:00

BK, I love Scotmid. I thnk the manager's a good guy, Tam is a star, and the rest of the staff pretty cool too. But if you did get a music licence and start playing muzak, I'd stop coming in!
All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!

-Lucy Van Pelt (in Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz)

bouncie_kiwi
Posts: 54
Joined: 04 Mar 2005, 19:20
Location: arcadia

Post by bouncie_kiwi » 02 Nov 2006, 00:56

oh and in response to the fairtrade comment - the reason the big stores dont support fairtrade is because its a lot more expensive to buy in and the profit margin is pretty much negligible.

and we wouldnt want to have to pay more at asdas just because theyre losing money on the fairtrade products would we!?!?!?!?!?!? shock horror. :o

User avatar
Porty
Posts: 8514
Joined: 08 Jun 2004, 14:30
Location: Organic Market

Post by Porty » 02 Nov 2006, 00:58

Bellybabe wrote:BK, I love Scotmid. I thnk the manager's a good guy, Tam is a star, and the rest of the staff pretty cool too. But if you did get a music licence and start playing muzak, I'd stop coming in!
BK, you are unlikely to find greater justification for getting a music licence. If this can't persuade your bosses then surely nothing will.

I can't believe I got away with this completley scot free.
Last edited by Porty on 24 Nov 2006, 17:31, edited 1 time in total.

bouncie_kiwi
Posts: 54
Joined: 04 Mar 2005, 19:20
Location: arcadia

Post by bouncie_kiwi » 04 Nov 2006, 00:50

hmm...well i was just meaning like for to be able to play the radio or something like that. something to make the place less....silent?
who knows!
argh 7am start tomorrow!

User avatar
Gedge
Posts: 154
Joined: 05 Sep 2003, 12:50

Post by Gedge » 24 Nov 2006, 13:46

Nipped into Scotmid earlier in the week to get ordinary easy cook rice. None on the shelf. Looked yesterday - still none! Who manages that place? Do they have to phone someone up to start growing the stuff when they run out? A moment when Tesco Metro can't open soon enough!

I recommend checking out the new "End of line" shelf at the far end. A fine eclectic variety of produce - the kind of thing I would miss if I shopped anywhere else.
Say something once, why say it again?
When I have nothing to say my lips are sealed

User avatar
Sandra
Posts: 3376
Joined: 17 Nov 2003, 16:50
Location: Portobello

Post by Sandra » 24 Nov 2006, 16:58

Gedge wrote:Nipped into Scotmid earlier in the week to get ordinary easy cook rice. None on the shelf. Looked yesterday - still none! Who manages that place? Do they have to phone someone up to start growing the stuff when they run out? A moment when Tesco Metro can't open soon enough!

I recommend checking out the new "End of line" shelf at the far end. A fine eclectic variety of produce - the kind of thing I would miss if I shopped anywhere else.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: you love it really!

User avatar
Pal of Porty
Posts: 2136
Joined: 30 Sep 2004, 13:41
Location: Old Folks Home
Contact:

Post by Pal of Porty » 24 Nov 2006, 17:06

The double bed between the two fridges has got to be the best one ever! :lol:
Justice delayed is justice denied.

User avatar
Sandra
Posts: 3376
Joined: 17 Nov 2003, 16:50
Location: Portobello

Post by Sandra » 24 Nov 2006, 20:49

no it has to be the gazebo :lol: and the single bed at the entrance

bouncie_kiwi
Posts: 54
Joined: 04 Mar 2005, 19:20
Location: arcadia

Post by bouncie_kiwi » 25 Nov 2006, 00:09

well the orders are supposed to generate themselves for the ambient section, all products have different 'minimum numbers' for example the easy cook rice has (i think) a minumum number of 6. that means when a certain number of these packets are sold, the system (connected to the tills, obviously) re-orders it. orders then take 2 days (usually) to come, unless the actual Depot is out of stock.
the problem here is, if something get stolen, the system thinks we have say, 5 of that item, when in reality 4 have been stolen leavng us with one. so it wont re-order. (they didnt think of THAT one when they designed stockbased ordering, although they did think of giving you a bed to lie in while you wait on your credit card processing!)

i will never understand the logic behind these bizarre ideas of gazebos and beds, but then again we shouldnt judge people based on their aberrant idiosyncracies.
nevermind!
On the upside, i think we are getting new uniforms in January.
Oh, and im annoyed. i popped into tescos the other day, because i couldnt get leeks there the other day, still none. so i had to buy the 'waste-your-money-this-is-imported-from-some-weird-country-millions-of-miles-away-to-get-here-and-has-clocked-up-more-air-miles-than-a-boeing-747' organic ones - two quid for 3 measly leeks!
One of the old wifeys who was standing complaning said "GARGH THIV NIVVUR GOAT LEEKSH HAW, NAE LEEKSH IVVUR IN HEEIR, AYE, AN NIVVIR OANNAE GUID UNYINS, GRUNT, SNARF,"
so they must terrorise other stores also.
oh well.

User avatar
Gedge
Posts: 154
Joined: 05 Sep 2003, 12:50

Post by Gedge » 21 Dec 2006, 11:18

Just like to say I decided to make a biscuity cake thing the other day and Scotmid had all the necessary ingredients including glace cherries. Okay, we are talking about a food shop so perhaps it isn't that amazing but praise where praise is due. When this is coupled with one or two smiley helpful competent checkout people, I am getting a bit worried this thread is going to disappear.

Good to report that easy cook rice still hasn't reappeared - or has it all been shoplifted again?
Say something once, why say it again?
When I have nothing to say my lips are sealed

User avatar
Porty
Posts: 8514
Joined: 08 Jun 2004, 14:30
Location: Organic Market

Post by Porty » 21 Dec 2006, 14:52

Good to hear it Gedge.

It just confirms that Scotmid is ideal for fruitcakes. :D
.....ambition makes you look pretty ugly

User avatar
Sandra
Posts: 3376
Joined: 17 Nov 2003, 16:50
Location: Portobello

Post by Sandra » 18 Feb 2007, 20:16

Not normally in Scotmid twice in one weekend but.. :o

On Saturday, shop was really busy and they decided to close one of the two checkouts which were open :o :o

On Sunday, went to get bread and the only three brown loaves which were left on the shelf were open with slices spread on the shelves...

bouncie_kiwi
Posts: 54
Joined: 04 Mar 2005, 19:20
Location: arcadia

Post by bouncie_kiwi » 20 Feb 2007, 02:05

Hmm did you not realise the management team purposely spread the bread all over the shelf on purpose!?

Apparently Scotmid is not 'allowed' to employ anymore staff. For the forseeable future. Not good, considering the rate of turnover in SM.

The tills have been wreaking havoc also. Its all part of their master plan...

Anyway there has been copious hilarity due to the gravely moronic idiosyncracies of a selection of recent customers to the store, some of which are described below:

Saturday, customer 1: Man enters store with carrier bag. Man is very intoxicated. Man says to cashier at kiosk "KIN YAE PUHHHHLEESH LOOK EFTIR MAAH BAG FURMY SO YAYS DEEHHH HINK AHM CHORIN" proceeding to drop his bag over the kiosk. Cashier accepts this proposal. Customer then proceeds to attempt to 'chore' some random objects, and is quickly clocked by the security guard who promptly asks him to leave. Customer grunts, snarfs, drools a little, grunts: "AH NEED TAE GIT MA BACK, SNARF" (behind the kiosk remember) then decides to walk straight out the store, leaving us rather confused.
After some circular pacing, customer takes off jacket, turns it inside out and replaces it - back to front, swivels the baseball cap 180 degree and 'pretends to be someone else' returns to the store, to where he was originally trying to "chore" and proceeds with the same actions. Repeat as above. This time, instead of replacing the jacket, he raids through the bin.
Pulls out a Greggs bag.
Opens it...
And progresses in removing a halfeaten....obect from the bag. And begins to pick bits off it, and eating it.
Eventually leaves store without bag, after staff try to return it to him "its not his apprently, he chored it all"
Customer goes home.
The End.

Customer 2: Teenager attempts to come to my till with alcoholic beverage. Teenager is naturally asked for identification. Teenager stared vacantly for....around 8 seconds before information is processed. "EH, AHM PURE ATE-TEEN N THAT LIKESH."
Pure eighteen? really? Still need proof of ID mate. "haw....heh...ah pure left it at school in ma locker" (dribbles from corner of mouth)
Enough said.

Customer 3: Elderly woman is buying goods. Cashier scans items and inserts them into carrier bag for customer. Customer waits until cashier has packed all 4 bags. Customer then empties EVERY bag out onto the checkout again, and proceeds in packing them again, while complaining that there is nobody to help her pack her bags.
Explanation?

Customer 4: Male attempts to steal bottle of Baileys. Baileys is stuffed down jacket. Security guard stops male, asking for the bottle of Baileys, he just witnessed him take on the security footage.
Customer: "haw for fackshake man, dih yae ken whoat itsh like huvvin tae walk aboot wi this tumour and ivry-wun hinkin ahm chorin????"
Security: Aww realy? funny how it just magically grew when you walked down the booze isle eh? hand it over.

There were more, but after todays shift, i dont have the mental capacity to remember the details
:roll: :o
(i am so happy this scotmid malarky is temporary: working with bacteria, they dont answer back....on saying that, the bacteria in SM do :lol: )

User avatar
Sandra
Posts: 3376
Joined: 17 Nov 2003, 16:50
Location: Portobello

Post by Sandra » 20 Feb 2007, 10:14

I never see these "incidents" anytime I'm in Scotmid :lol:

User avatar
Maria
Posts: 4795
Joined: 12 Nov 2003, 19:41
Location: Portobello
Contact:

Post by Maria » 20 Feb 2007, 10:53

Love it!:lol:

Bouncie_kiwi you have missed your vocation. Abandon the bacteria and take yourself off to a garret to write a best seller.
www.porty.org.uk

User avatar
Porty
Posts: 8514
Joined: 08 Jun 2004, 14:30
Location: Organic Market

Post by Porty » 20 Feb 2007, 11:25

Fantastic work BK and one kens its all true. I must ask you about the following, the bit in bold. Is this a new phenomenon is Scotmid? I was in the other day and was staggered when the cashier offered to pack my bags. They never used to do that. Mind you, i only had 3 tiny items and thought she might be taking the p***.

bouncie_kiwi wrote:
Customer 3: Elderly woman is buying goods. Cashier scans items and inserts them into carrier bag for customer. Customer waits until cashier has packed all 4 bags. Customer then empties EVERY bag out onto the checkout again, and proceeds in packing them again, while complaining that there is nobody to help her pack her bags.
Explanation?

User avatar
SoupDragon
Posts: 2201
Joined: 03 Oct 2006, 11:02

Post by SoupDragon » 20 Feb 2007, 11:40

Thanks BK haven't laughed so much for a while. Been reading your stories out to Mr Soupy (as he's taken a week off from his bacteria). He's trying to rearrange wardrobe at the moment so thought he needed some light relief

User avatar
Maria
Posts: 4795
Joined: 12 Nov 2003, 19:41
Location: Portobello
Contact:

Post by Maria » 20 Feb 2007, 11:49

Porty wrote:I was in the other day and was staggered when the cashier offered to pack my bags. They never used to do that. Mind you, i only had 3 tiny items and thought she might be taking the p***.
I can do better than that Porty. I was in Scotmid last Tuesday and found a checkout where there was an extra assistant employed just to pack bags :shock:

The assistant was also really cheerful and agreed to address a Valentine's card for me so that the recipient wouldn't recognise my handwriting. How's that for service eh?
www.porty.org.uk

User avatar
Porty
Posts: 8514
Joined: 08 Jun 2004, 14:30
Location: Organic Market

Post by Porty » 20 Feb 2007, 12:07

That is truly amazing M.

I notice that they also have brand new "Next Customer" bars, which as I've mentioned before are among my favourite idiosyncratic scotmid items.

(Initially I did a typo in the above, which is not unusual. I typed Scotmad instead of Scotmid, it doesnt seem that awry)

User avatar
bellybabe
Posts: 1662
Joined: 18 Apr 2003, 13:25
Contact:

Post by bellybabe » 20 Feb 2007, 12:26

Marya wrote: The assistant was also really cheerful and agreed to address a Valentine's card for me so that the recipient wouldn't recognise my handwriting. How's that for service eh?
Who was it for?
:twisted:
All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt!

-Lucy Van Pelt (in Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz)

User avatar
Maria
Posts: 4795
Joined: 12 Nov 2003, 19:41
Location: Portobello
Contact:

Post by Maria » 20 Feb 2007, 12:30

The whole point of Valentine's cards is that they are secret :roll:
www.porty.org.uk

User avatar
Epykat
Posts: 3915
Joined: 04 Dec 2003, 22:35
Location: Portobello, Edinburgh
Contact:

Post by Epykat » 20 Feb 2007, 13:51

Marya wrote:The whole point of Valentine's cards is that they are secret :roll:
Thanks Marya, it was much appreciated :wink: :lol:
Enough of your nonsense - get back to the Play Pen!

foxy
Posts: 2055
Joined: 05 Nov 2004, 09:04
Location: wherever I lay my hat

Post by foxy » 20 Feb 2007, 17:43

Porty wrote:Fantastic work BK and one kens its all true. I must ask you about the following, the bit in bold. Is this a new phenomenon is Scotmid? I was in the other day and was staggered when the cashier offered to pack my bags. They never used to do that. Mind you, i only had 3 tiny items and thought she might be taking the p***.

bouncie_kiwi wrote:
Customer 3: Elderly woman is buying goods. Cashier scans items and inserts them into carrier bag for customer. Customer waits until cashier has packed all 4 bags. Customer then empties EVERY bag out onto the checkout again, and proceeds in packing them again, while complaining that there is nobody to help her pack her bags.
Explanation?
As BK says, it's a service they offer the elderly :laughing8:

bouncie_kiwi
Posts: 54
Joined: 04 Mar 2005, 19:20
Location: arcadia

Post by bouncie_kiwi » 25 Feb 2007, 22:27

The bag packing 'service': this is a somewhat complex matter as it seems. A lot of unsaid opinions on this....
However, this does NOT relect the views of Scotmid - but personally, i find that the following situations can arise:
(1) Cashier begins to pack bags --> Customer then decides to stand with arms folded/talking on mobile phone/pretending to look for money --> results in cashier having to pack ALL bags (which is fine its its one or two..) subsequently resulting in larger queues which = more snarfing and moaning.
(2) Cashier begins to pack bags --> Customer levitates from current position screeching "I DO NOT NEED A BAG I HAVE MY OWN" and proceeds in acting very insulted, and adopting the pseudo-snobbery view consisting of a 45degree angle stare down the nasal gradient.
(3) Cashier begins to pack bags --> customer is genuinely greatful, and also helps in the packing of their goods. This reaction is USUALLY (not always) confined to the elderly population and those with armfuls of babies or small children.

Cashiers are not taught how to pack bags. Remember now - the overall IQ of staff in SM is not exactly...how to say...altitudinous?

Personally ill pretty much help anyone, if they look like they are going to adopt the (1) stance (lazyness) then i will pack one and not the rest. If they attempt to help themselves, i will continue to help. Elderly people - they are very slow. No offence meant here, but they are. I will probably most likely do 90% of their bagging for them, apart from the odd few who like to put it into their pull-along trollies.

On the subject of carrier bags: We now have (about time) the 'bags for life' (and i'll bet thats what you've all been waiting for people - your LIFE IS NOW COMPLETE! These lovely little 10p bags are replaced for free if they get mangled, smeared with chopped pork, or otherwise snarfed. And in the meantime we are cutting down on the carrier bag usage - less plastic, better for environment yadda yadda you all know the story. (i must say it never ceases to amaze me why people need a huge carrier bag just to take their sandwich out of the shop....or a double bag for 2 bananas and a loaf of bread?)

Anyway i have most likely written enough here to get myself sacked 4 times over :lol: *waves to head office person reading....and bats eyelids*

Oh well, will see you (maybe) monday evening :twisted:

tom nimmo
Posts: 146
Joined: 13 Jan 2004, 15:13
Location: Duddingston
Contact:

Post by tom nimmo » 27 Feb 2007, 13:51

Wow Bouncie Kiwi, so much stuff to say about Scotmid. I am proud to say I have a big sturdy 'bag for life' that I got from Sainsbury's (a REAL supermarket) and I always take it with me on my journeys to Scotmid to replenish my stocks of oatcakes, cheese and beer. I suspect that the current offer of bag packing is just a response by management following a desperate training course about customer service. Lothian Buses once had a 'charm offensive' where drivers were asked to make eye contact with passengers as they got on the bus. Sadly, this backfired and passengers complained of feeling intimidated and uneasy with the manic stares of bus drivers. Isn't Scotmid charming enough? How on earth did the moderators allow you to put a picture of some unfortunate soul wearing a Rangers scarf on this forum?
Prom cycling for all.

User avatar
Sandra
Posts: 3376
Joined: 17 Nov 2003, 16:50
Location: Portobello

Post by Sandra » 27 Feb 2007, 23:02

noticed Scotmid are getting rid of their chilled counter and expanding the pre-packed range of cold meats/cheeses

Plenty more room for the gazebo :wink: :roll: :lol:

User avatar
bearcub
Posts: 1057
Joined: 19 Mar 2004, 22:51
Location: Marlborough Street

Post by bearcub » 28 Feb 2007, 20:57

Sandra wrote:noticed Scotmid are getting rid of their chilled counter and expanding the pre-packed range of cold meats/cheeses
Perfect example of Scotmid management-thinking, exactly what other supermarkets just don't see....lets get rid of the fresh(ish) stuff and replace it with OTT-pre-packed, preservative-loaded "food". Just what everyone's wanting these days. :roll:

Post Reply