Asda change priority queue criteria

Zirconia

Up until yesterday at our local Asda, my husband and I were able to get priority in the queue between 8-9 on Thursday mornings.We are both in our 70s, have been unable to get a delivery option and so once a week on a Thursday we have to go out for grocery shopping.Yesterday, we were told we had to go to the end of the queue as the store policy had changed on allowing the elderly priority in the queue.So we went to the back of a long queue and waited about 30 minutes to get in on a chilly morning.We don't expect 24/7 priority but surely one hour a week is not too much to ask? We could get a volunteer to shop for us but we are physically able to shop and do not want to use a service needed by others.It is just that standing around in cold or wet weather is difficult for my husband because he has arthritis.

I tried ringing the shop but they were not taking calls due to the virus situation.I just wonder why Asda have done this when other shops still offer priority shopping for the elderly.

Galloglass

As an alternative, have you considered Click and Collect. You can wait in your car while the shopping is brought to you. Can see more and more slots opening up at different retailers.

bradders1983

I see nothing on here anymore about an elderly hour

https://corporate.asda.com/20200309/steps-we-have-taken-in-response-to-the-coronavirus-outbreak

If you have a Sainsburys nearby then they do one M/W/F between 8 and 9.

IMO as many elderly people as possible need to be using delivery and Click And Collect slots but many of these will be getting taken up by the selfish who are young, have too much time on their hands and can easily get to a shop themselves.

ComicGeek

bradders1983 said:

IMO as many elderly people as possible need to be using delivery and Click And Collect slots but many of these will be getting taken up by the selfish who are young, have too much time on their hands and can easily get to a shop themselves.

Just because someone is young doesn't mean that they aren't vulnerable.

Around here there are plenty of delivery slots available as the elderly prefer to put themselves at risk and go shopping to get out of the house - even now I could get slots this Sunday for Tesco, Sainsburys and Waitrose if I wanted to, and ANY day after that. My elderly neighbours just aren't interested in deliveries even though I have offered to arrange it for them.

LilElvis

Marks and Spencer have the first hour Mondays and Thursdays for the old and vulnerable, Tuesdays and Fridays for emergency and care staff. My local store never seems to have queues and is always well stocked. 

bradders1983

ComicGeek said:

bradders1983 said:

IMO as many elderly people as possible need to be using delivery and Click And Collect slots but many of these will be getting taken up by the selfish who are young, have too much time on their hands and can easily get to a shop themselves.

Just because someone is young doesn't mean that they aren't vulnerable.

Oh of course not. I was making a general point.

Old schoolfriend of mine a few weeks back in our Whatsapp group was smug as anything about getting a Click and Collect slot at Tesco.  Mid 30s, off work now,  car, wife at home with the kid, no health conditions, and far too much time on his hands and absolutely nothing stopping him (or his missus, the other could stay at home with the kid) walking around a supermarket and freeing that slot up for a disabled or elderly or vulnerable person. Had to bite my tongue.

Loads of other selfish people will be doing the same. Although if slots are a bit more available now then they were a few weeks back, maybe its not a huge issue now.

Brewer20

Can't you shop on a different day?
We've found Tues/Weds are better days, maybe around 9.30 ish for Asda. I know areas will differ with volumes of customers.
Sainsbury's on the other hand are far better, hardly a queue any day, certainly not on Weds (elderly 8 to 9)  we go after 9, again area differences.

KxMx

Are you able to shop alone if your husband is finding the queuing difficult?

Asda generally ask one adult per household only anyway. Not least because every unnecessary extra person means someone outside has to wait longer than is necessary.

I'm a single person who also finds queuing difficult on top of walking there and back!

Last time I was there I did see two couples, one had two trollies which was fair enough and the other was clearly some kind of carer dynamic. 

ComicGeek

bradders1983 said:

ComicGeek said:

bradders1983 said:

IMO as many elderly people as possible need to be using delivery and Click And Collect slots but many of these will be getting taken up by the selfish who are young, have too much time on their hands and can easily get to a shop themselves.

Just because someone is young doesn't mean that they aren't vulnerable.

Oh of course not. I was making a general point.

Old schoolfriend of mine a few weeks back in our Whatsapp group was smug as anything about getting a Click and Collect slot at Tesco.  Mid 30s, off work now,  car, wife at home with the kid, no health conditions, and far too much time on his hands and absolutely nothing stopping him (or his missus, the other could stay at home with the kid) walking around a supermarket and freeing that slot up for a disabled or elderly or vulnerable person. Had to bite my tongue.

Loads of other selfish people will be doing the same. Although if slots are a bit more available now then they were a few weeks back, maybe its not a huge issue now.

If there's plenty of slots available, then what's the problem? They might be asymptomatic and therefore might be saving lives by using the available slots. This judging mentality doesn't help anyone.

bradders1983

ComicGeek said:

bradders1983 said:

ComicGeek said:

bradders1983 said:

IMO as many elderly people as possible need to be using delivery and Click And Collect slots but many of these will be getting taken up by the selfish who are young, have too much time on their hands and can easily get to a shop themselves.

Just because someone is young doesn't mean that they aren't vulnerable.

Oh of course not. I was making a general point.

Old schoolfriend of mine a few weeks back in our Whatsapp group was smug as anything about getting a Click and Collect slot at Tesco.  Mid 30s, off work now,  car, wife at home with the kid, no health conditions, and far too much time on his hands and absolutely nothing stopping him (or his missus, the other could stay at home with the kid) walking around a supermarket and freeing that slot up for a disabled or elderly or vulnerable person. Had to bite my tongue.

Loads of other selfish people will be doing the same. Although if slots are a bit more available now then they were a few weeks back, maybe its not a huge issue now.

If there's plenty of slots available, then what's the problem? They might be asymptomatic and therefore might be saving lives by using the available slots. This judging mentality doesn't help anyone.

There certainly werent plenty available when he was bragging about it. And no, he hasnt had it and nobody in his house has. He is just a bit selfish and snobby and thinks going round a supermarket is beneath him.

p00hsticks

bradders1983 said:

If there's plenty of slots available, then what's the problem? They might be asymptomatic and therefore might be saving lives by using the available slots. This judging mentality doesn't help anyone.

There certainly werent plenty available when he was bragging about it. And no, he hasnt had it and nobody in his house has. He is just a bit selfish and snobby and thinks going round a supermarket is beneath him.

If you're asymptomatic you don't know that you've got it - that's one of the horrible things about this virus. 

Until we get a vaccine and/or a reliable antibody test that shows if people have had it and some data on whether it makes them immunen, we need to be assuming that everyone we come across (including ourselves) may have it, be contagious and not realise it.