Sainsbury's checking IDs

heatheryone_2

ells888 wrote: »

Im sure every shop assistant up and down the country speak to their customers like that :rolleyes:

I didn't say that, now, did I?

[Deleted User]

I love to have my ID questioned as I am over 65 and it would make my day

superscaper

heatheryone wrote: »

I was once in a shop, browsing a DVD that was 18-rated, and a shop assistant walking past said to me, "Don't even bother" - again, what?! For what it's worth, it was a couple of weeks before my 18th birthday, so I wouldn't have been able to buy it - but why make that kind of comment? Why not wait to see if I tried to buy it, and politely decline if I couldn't prove my age? Needless to say, when I did turn 18, I didn't buy the DVD from there!

Although at the moment it's not illegal to sell DVDs to underage people. (what wonderfully competant governments we get).

heatheryone_2

superscaper wrote: »

Although at the moment it's not illegal to sell DVDs to underage people. (what wonderfully competant governments we get).

Really? That's interesting - lots of anecdotes, on MSE and elsewhere, show that shops are taking it seriously anyway. I bought a 15-rated DVD in Sainsbury's last week, and on the receipt it said: "Think 25 - Cashier Confirmed Correct Age". (I wasn't asked to show ID, which is common sense as I'm clearly over 15, but if they actually do have a Think 25 policy on DVDs, I should have been...)

superscaper

heatheryone wrote: »

Really? That's interesting - lots of anecdotes, on MSE and elsewhere, show that shops are taking it seriously anyway. I bought a 15-rated DVD in Sainsbury's last week, and on the receipt it said: "Think 25 - Cashier Confirmed Correct Age". (I wasn't asked to show ID, which is common sense as I'm clearly over 15, but if they actually do have a Think 25 policy on DVDs, I should have been...)

Well retailers are sticking to it voluntarily (in agreement with the Government) ever since it was found out in August that the Video Recordings Act 1984 (which is the law that governs age restrictions on DVDs, games etc) isn't actually valid after all that time. Basically a paperwork error of not submitting the law to the EU as it should have been and so all pending prosections have been dropped as there's technically no law covering it. And it's yet to be rectified! Basically a fundamental error not spotted by any Government since it 1984, not even when Labour amended it in 1993. I doubt most retail staff realise it, I'm sure management simply let current rules stand. And they have a right to refuse sale on pretty much any grounds they want anyway. But probably interesting to note/mention in case anyone does tell you it's illegal.

DCFC79

heatheryone wrote: »

I was once in a shop, browsing a DVD that was 18-rated, and a shop assistant walking past said to me, "Don't even bother" - again, what?! For what it's worth, it was a couple of weeks before my 18th birthday, so I wouldn't have been able to buy it - but why make that kind of comment? Why not wait to see if I tried to buy it, and politely decline if I couldn't prove my age? Needless to say, when I did turn 18, I didn't buy the DVD from there!

possibly because they were warning you not to attempt at buying the dvd.i know when i worked at sainsburys we were told to inform young looking people(whilst browsing alcopops ) that they best have ID on them if they were attempting to buy some alcohol

heatheryone_2

DCFC79 wrote: »

possibly because they were warning you not to attempt at buying the dvd.i know when i worked at sainsburys we were told to inform young looking people(whilst browsing alcopops ) that they best have ID on them if they were attempting to buy some alcohol

Fair enough to give a warning (and prevent embarrassment at the till), but why not a polite, "Just to let you know, we do ID people when buying DVDs"? I was almost 18 at the time - if it had happened a couple of weeks later, "don't even bother" would have been completely inappropriate as I would actually have been of age.

ohmsoft

heatheryone wrote: »

I was once in a shop, browsing a DVD that was 18-rated, and a shop assistant walking past said to me, "Don't even bother" - again, what?! For what it's worth, it was a couple of weeks before my 18th birthday, so I wouldn't have been able to buy it - but why make that kind of comment? Why not wait to see if I tried to buy it, and politely decline if I couldn't prove my age? Needless to say, when I did turn 18, I didn't buy the DVD from there!

You sure they meant "don't even bother" because it was a cert 18 rather than a warning about the quality of the movie? Only say that because my local blocbuster guy considers himself a bit of a film critic and I always get the "put that one back" comment!

heatheryone_2

ohmsoft wrote: »

You sure they meant "don't even bother" because it was a cert 18 rather than a warning about the quality of the movie? Only say that because my local blocbuster guy considers himself a bit of a film critic and I always get the "put that one back" comment!

I hadn't thought of that! I doubt that was the intention in my case, because of the way she said it, but lucky you for getting such expert advice at the video shop!

mad_bad_spender

superscaper wrote: »

Although at the moment it's not illegal to sell DVDs to underage people. (what wonderfully competant governments we get).

I wasnt aware this was the case but HMV are just about to get an A*S kicking from me as my 11 year old daughter came back from shopping yesterday with a 15 rated film...

will be calling manager tomorrow for a very stern word..

to the op: i know this is frustrating for those old enough but i dont really see the issue. they think you look under 25 so they asked for id, its not like they thought you looked 18? it is hard to judge ages and i know i would err on the side of caution if it meant getting my butt kicked at work