Refused to buy a U cert DVD as had no ID

bod1467

I'll let others decide whether or not to agree with my observation.

And you have NOT "explained in great detail on this thread why the employee is stupid" - you've simply given your opinion. Nothing more. There are some who share your opinion, and others who do not.

unholyangel

gik wrote: »

I don't think anyone disagrees that it's a nonsensical approach for a U Cert DVD. I suspect it's the stores policy/training that is wrong and not the till operator being thick, stupid, dumb or lacking in intelligence that is at the root of this.

If the cashier had said "this daft things asking for ID for that Universal rated Dvd, hang on while I get help/double check that I need to ask for it etc" instead of actually asking for ID, I'd be more inclined to agree.

A little common sense goes a long way.

gik

unholyangel wrote: »

If the cashier had said "this daft things asking for ID for that Universal rated Dvd, hang on while I get help/double check that I need to ask for it etc" instead of actually asking for ID, I'd be more inclined to agree.

A little common sense goes a long way.

The cashier may not have had a clue as to what the rating are or mean. I myself have just looked them up and discovered there are seven different ratings...I'd have guessed at four. As I said it may be training issue.

Nilrem

JReacher1 wrote: »

I see retail employees are sticking together in support of this idiotic employee.

What's would have been interesting is if the dvd was bought by a 12 year old. They would be asked for ID and they may have had ID proving they were 12. As a 12 year old can buy a U rated dvd that would have been acceptable.

What retail employee...

I just happen to have a clue as to what happens when any employee breaks company policy, and why that employee won't put their job at risk for someone they don't know, especially with the jobs market as it is at the moment, and given how easy it is to replace a checkout operator.

The chances are almost certain that the DVD/Blu-ray listings on the backend for the till will probably default to a "check age" prompt (safer for the store legally), probably with it manually requiring whoever enters the data for the individual stock items to override it as needed (something that is very easy to overlook when you're entering lots of data, which is the reason it'll almost certainly default to on rather than off)
The Checkout operator will be under instructions to always check ID when prompted (Saves issues with accidentally selling something to someone under age - check 21/25 as policies aren't particularly foolproof and don't offer any protection to the store if a mistake is made).

So checkout operator sees the item has popped up an age restricted flag, and mindful of their job follows company policy.
To do otherwise risks disciplinary proceedings regardless of the legal restriction on the item.
Companies do run random checks on their employees to ensure procedures are followed, so checkout operators may not want to risk their job.


I've seen similar things happen with:
DVD players, monitors, computers (without TV input) and even an AV cable in regards to a TVL form - because they're listed in the AV category and the system has obviously defaulted to be on the safe side when TVL notification was legally required upon purchase of a TV receiver (DVD players and computer monitors very frequently).
I've seen it happen with plastic cutlery - because the system has obviously seen defaulted to marking it as age restricted the same as cooking knives.
I've seen it happen with various glues, because the system defaults to it and I suspect it's easier/safer to stick to it for everything than expect the data entry people to know what glues can be sniffed.

Usually when it's happened to me (only a few times) I've laughed about it with the checkout operator who is often well aware of how silly the situation is, but wishes to retain their job.
I've also laughed quietly about it later when someone has "taken a stand", caused a scene and basically wasted far more time than it would have taken to just comply.


In very short form.
If you work for a company, you follow it's procedures if you want to keep your job.
You can bring up issues with your line manager/manager, and call over a supervisor if needed on the shop floor, but you do not take it into your own hands to override a procedure (for example you can point out the issue to the relevant person who may be able to override the prompt on that item for all future transactions, but overriding it yourself is leaving yourself open to problems).

One of the reasons companies get upset about employees overriding the age checks without actually doing one, is because they don't know how often you've done it, and under what circumstances, and they face joint prosecution if you do it at the wrong time.

redcard

gik wrote: »

The cashier may not have had a clue as to what the rating are or mean. I myself have just looked them up and discovered there are seven different ratings...I'd have guessed at four. As I said it may be training issue.

The rating system is explained on the back of the DVD box, but the employee may not have realised that the DVD box has a back as well as a front so it's understandable they didn't look there.

You can't train common sense.

redcard

Nilrem wrote: »

What retail employee...

I just happen to have a clue as to what happens when any employee breaks company policy, and why that employee won't put their job at risk..

If you were this person's manager would you have fired them?

unholyangel

gik wrote: »

The cashier may not have had a clue as to what the rating are or mean. I myself have just looked them up and discovered there are seven different ratings...I'd have guessed at four. As I said it may be training issue.

Erm doesnt the rating usually have a box like this:



Telling you that its "suitable for all" ?

JReacher1

Nilrem wrote: »

The Checkout operator will be under instructions to always check ID when prompted

I've just quoted one line as you've posted a lot so apologies if this takes it out of context. It just seems like you are making stuff up to support your argument. You seem to be saying that supermarket staff will ID everyone when the prompt turns up, which is clearly untrue.

I shop at all 4 major supermarkets regularly and I am significantly over 25 (and look it). The check 25 prompt comes up frequently and I have never been asked to provide ID as its quite clear that I am over 25.

The whole point of the check 25 policy is to give the staff a big cushion away from 18 to protect them from selling restricted products to minors. They do not ID everyone when the check 25 appears on the till....

peachyprice

gik wrote: »

The cashier may not have had a clue as to what the rating are or mean. I myself have just looked them up and discovered there are seven different ratings...I'd have guessed at four. As I said it may be training issue.

They will have been taught that in their induction training and will have been tested and signed off to say that they understand it.

The store can't enforce Think 21/25 without training the staff what it actually means, so not only would they have been trained to say they can't sell a 15 cert to an under 15, an 18 cert to an under 18 or alcohol to anyone under 18, the law regarding knives, solvents and liquer chocolates, they would also have been told they can sell a U cert to anyone without asking for ID as there is no minimum age.

Of course there's always the possibility they didn't understand any of the age related sales training session.

gik

unholyangel wrote: »

Erm doesnt the rating usually have a box like this:



Telling you that its "suitable for all" ?

I have no idea being of an age that I can watch all ratings I never look/check!