Tesco Deli Counters - Rude and Unhelpful

Saucepot

The highest earner in a soccer team isn't the manager. The highest earner in many offices I have worked (IT) often isn't the boss. In those environments money isn't discussed so possible resentments are suppressed.

Letting the good staff set an example, lead the other staff and earn more creates an environment where good service prevails. They don't have to take on responsibilities beyond there competence, but they can be given the opportunity to show they are capable of more than shelf stacking.

Allowing cr*p staff to get away with it sets the standard to the new starters. Creating a ceiling it's impossible to move above, creates frustration in those of ambition. Meaning they are only working for the money, and thus wish to do as little as they can get away with.

I once worked in a systems analyst role which involved working closely with a call center manager and his staff. In only a few months I saw good staff move on and idiots stay. The good staff knew they could do better and did. The poor staff were grateful for a paycheck and the fact the boss turned a blind eye to a hangover. I redesigned there system in the way the boss had already decided before my arrival ensuring my analysis was approved, my generous remuneration paid, and my CV had another happy customer. As I always do.

I didn't offer him the truth, as he didn't want it. His customer service levels were unrelated to the system. It was his staff recruitment, training and retention he needed to look at. If you get that right, pretty much any system can be made to work.

zappomatic

I've been told that Tesco's pay structure doesn't allow non-management staff to be paid in relation to their performance, so the helpful person Saucepot encountered will be paid the same as the slovenly one wearing trainers, shirt hanging out who grunts, shrugs and then walks off when asked a question. (This was from someone who works in a central London Metro store, please correct me if this differs around the country).

Outtathaway

zappomatic wrote:

I've been told that Tesco's pay structure doesn't allow non-management staff to be paid in relation to their performance, so the helpful person Saucepot encountered will be paid the same as the slovenly one wearing trainers, shirt hanging out who grunts, shrugs and then walks off when asked a question. (This was from someone who works in a central London Metro store, please correct me if this differs around the country).

That will be correct, in the store I work all the general staff are paid the same price (well at least after 1 year), for example, all shop floor staff will be paid £x.xx regardless of their performance

Brightness

#9 - It makes me laugh when you say about pre-packed and fresh stuff....

The cheeses you see on the Deli (and also the cold meats) are all prepacked before going into store LOL Even the corned beef on a deli comes in a huge tin - really it's no better than the prepacked stuff you find in the aisles!

Believe it or not but I actually get better service in my local Tesco's & Morrison's than I do in my local M&S or Waitrose!

KathrynPenguin

Brightness wrote:

#9 - It makes me laugh when you say about pre-packed and fresh stuff....

The cheeses you see on the Deli (and also the cold meats) are all prepacked before going into store LOL Even the corned beef on a deli comes in a huge tin - really it's no better than the prepacked stuff you find in the aisles!

It may be no better but the goats cheese I like is in waxed paper in the aisles and you can't see how fresh it looks. Looking at the stuff on the counter I sometimes choose not to buy in Tesco cos it looks very old, if it looks old in Waitrose I just ask to buy from a new one!

Astaroth

Brightness wrote:

#9 - It makes me laugh when you say about pre-packed and fresh stuff....

The cheeses you see on the Deli (and also the cold meats) are all prepacked before going into store LOL Even the corned beef on a deli comes in a huge tin - really it's no better than the prepacked stuff you find in the aisles!

Believe it or not but I actually get better service in my local Tesco's & Morrison's than I do in my local M&S or Waitrose!

I was under no misconseption that it isnt "prepacked" too but the items that are prepacked in the aisles are under generic names like "irish chedder" which is easy to compare with other stores but if you buy some apple wood smoked blue valley chedder or the stuff with black truffles the misses bought a few months ago it is much more difficult to compare in price across companies as 1) I can rarely remember the exact name and 2) whilst there may be similiar descriptions if they arent like for like it isnt a true price comparison

yeslek

i'v heard the venting from the other side (not to put down what you said) and it seems to me that staff are not trained to the expections of the customers.

a few friends i know work behind a tesco deli and they can handle food but when asked 'what cheese would bite back' they wouldnt have a clue. i'd blame the managers more than the un-helpful staff

i do agree that the staff should be curtious at all times though, no matter what. i'v had to be nice to right beggers of customers. its jsut the way it works, the customer is always right.

VickyM_2

Of course the answer is don't go to a supermarket, go to a real deli where they actually care about what they're selling and have some idea of what their products taste like!

Alexl_2

I worked on my local Tesco Deli counter some 10 yrs ago as a student, when I visit home again now I still see some of the same faces. Training and product knowledge among my colleagues was good, but after 10 years spending every day cutting cheese and slicing ham everyone is allowed an off day surely! While I know they are paid to do a job, try smiling all day every day, answering every single query politley (including cutting 2Lbs cheese into 1cm squares for some rude XXXX having a cheese and wine party!!!) and smelling of stale cheese all day! Sometimes a bit of friendly 'banter' back from customers helps snap you out of it and remind you there are nice people out there!

KathrynPenguin

VickyM wrote:

Of course the answer is don't go to a supermarket, go to a real deli where they actually care about what they're selling and have some idea of what their products taste like!

A deli would be lovely but I live in Basildon where there is nothing so up market! Even in Billericay where I work there is only a choice of Waitrose or Somerfield, not even a butchers shop on the high street!