Am I over reacting?

DKLS

I am surprised they didn't offer to refund your shopping, When my ex slipped on a grape in Sainsburys and landed heavily on her butt, Mr S paid for her shopping and a taxi home, which seemed fair.

SandC

I don't think you are over reacting. I believe the nearest staff member did what they thought was best at the time, but somebody should have stayed with the basket until it was cleared up and the wet floor hazard sign placed. It sounds very much like the basket was just to catch people's eye and wasn't covering all the sauce. After all, someone could just as easily fall over a customer's basket they had placed on the floor while reaching for a shelf eh?

The OP is not enquiring about compensation but would like to have been treated better by the shop staff and I completely agree with her. I do understand the problems regarding admitting fault by apologising etc. but supermarkets have adequate insurance to deal with accidents such as these if they were to go any further. I often wonder if it's just heresay that someone uttering the words 'I'm sorry' and giving a refund or offering to pay for dry cleaning will affect some court case that might not even exist (and 9/10 things are settled without going to court anyway).

I would write to the store manager and ask for the cost of dry cleaning or replacement of clothing to be reimbursed. The chances are that you might have had a completely different experience had there been different staff members on hand, or the manager.

SkipE

Playing Devils advocate for a moment..... (not taking away from your mums accident)

If you saw the jar smash and you noticed the provisions the staff member had taken ie the covering up by the basket are you just as much responsible if someone slips and you failed to do something about it?

If you saw debris on a Train track would you call British Transport police or leave it there for a possible crash? I know they are two extremes but its just a thought.

I have often stood with a spileage in a supermarket whilst a staff member has gone off to get a mop and bucket (most usually because said spilage is caused by my clumsy husband).

Arent we all responsible for each other?

I hope your mother heals well soon.

bestpud

The problem here is shop workers don't carry hazard signs and a mop bucket with them at all times, and neither do many of them have a radio.

In the absence of another staff member, Tesco staff are told to use something to cover the area and visibly warn customers there is a problem, and then get a janitor asap.

I'm not really sure what else they can do tbh, short of asking a customer to guard the spillage? And, that's the crux of it really - did they take all reasonable precautions to prevent an accident? I think they did, going on what you have said.

I suppose they could have hazard signs placed in every aisle but then I'm not convinced that would have prevented your mums fall.

ChelseaGirl

SkipE wrote: »

Playing Devils advocate for a moment..... (not taking away from your mums accident)

If you saw the jar smash and you noticed the provisions the staff member had taken ie the covering up by the basket are you just as much responsible if someone slips and you failed to do something about it?

If you saw debris on a Train track would you call British Transport police or leave it there for a possible crash? I know they are two extremes but its just a thought.

I have often stood with a spileage in a supermarket whilst a staff member has gone off to get a mop and bucket (most usually because said spilage is caused by my clumsy husband).

Arent we all responsible for each other?

I hope your mother heals well soon.

Yep, I saw the jar smash. I also saw a member of staff go over to the man whose bag had split.
I had just paid for my own shopping at the time and was looking for my mum as she said that she would be waiting for me by the store exit (where there are seats for customer's use). I left the store to search for my mum and as far as I was aware, the staff were aware of the breakage/spillage so I felt no need to go and guard the offending jar. (Presumably the man whose bag had split would have been able to stand by the mess until a cleaner could have arrived?).

ChelseaGirl

bestpud wrote: »

The problem here is shop workers don't carry hazard signs and a mop bucket with them at all times, and neither do many of them have a radio.

In the absence of another staff member, Tesco staff are told to use something to cover the area and visibly warn customers there is a problem, and then get a janitor asap.

I'm not really sure what else they can do tbh, short of asking a customer to guard the spillage? And, that's the crux of it really - did they take all reasonable precautions to prevent an accident? I think they did, going on what you have said.

I suppose they could have hazard signs placed in every aisle but then I'm not convinced that would have prevented your mums fall.

Unfortunately the staff did not visibly warn customers that there was a problem. No hazard sign was put near the spillage and no member of staff stood there to warn customers of the spillage - oh, not until after my mum had slipped and fallen heavily in it that is...

mazza111

I can see this from both points of view. Obviously the member of staff thought she was doing the right thing by putting a basket over it, for people who's eyesight isn't so good, a basket may not have been visible.. Where as the big yellow signs are rather easier to spot.
I don't think you can use the excuse that they don't have radios, etc. This was on the exit to the store, as the goods were in a bag, most checkout staff have lights, bells or telephones, so they can get in touch with someone should they have problems. The member of staff could easily have used one of these means of communciation to get this sorted. And then there's that little thing called a tannoy, can't see it taking a full five minutes for someone to get a cleaner.

Threebabes

I would write a formal letter and complain.

Health & Safety is a big issue, so give it a go.

carolt

What a lot of nasty trolls there are on this thread, OP.

If it was my mum, I'd definitely write and complain - if you don't tell them , they can't be expected to know, but as someone who'se spent 9.5 hours in A&E because of broken glass in my hand a few years back (entirely my own fault I should add), I'm well aware that falling onto slivers of glass is very dangerous and painful whatever age you are, and is definitely a hazard that should have been marked with a warning sign (as supermarkets usually do).

Don't think the supermarket have a leg to stand on (if you'll excuse the terrible pun).

It was unfortunate, but as it was their fault, I think your mum deserves an apology, the cost of her dry-cleaning reimbursed, and possibly compensation - especially if she's lost earnings or suffers long-term pain.

After all, I'm sure the 'poor' supermarket that so many on this thread seem to bizarrely defend can affrd a few pounds; it's hardly your mum's 'fault' as one wouldn't expect to find broken jars of sauce on a supermarket floor.

Best of luck and get better soon to your mum.

mountainlioness

Where are the trolls? Have I missed them or have they been deleted? All I've seen so far is some posters answering the OP's original question in the positive, in their opinion - though I may have missed something more sinister?