Asda change priority queue criteria

roddydogs

I Found the "elderly hour" to be useless anyway, as theirs thousands of elderly the queue was the same! I now go a out 8pm, its usually quiet then.

KxMx

Actually I've found the Government consistent on only one group, those medically advised to shield (Extremely Vunerable) , who are expected to be in lockdown much longer than everyone else.
End of June is the current recommendation:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/if-youre-at-very-high-risk-from-coronavirus/

Government have gone back and forth on advice for over 70s, who are currently classed as Vunerable.
Current advice is stringent social distancing which is somewhat moot with UK wide lock down. 
Perhaps over 70s will get separate advice once lockdown starts to ease. Perhaps not.
As a Vunerable person myself (medical not age) I am personally expecting separate advice. 

p00hsticks

Zirconia said:

We are constantly told by the government that the over 70s are the most vulnerable group and must be prepared to stay indoors and in lockdown far longer than other  groups in society.Yet when it comes to getting a little help in a queue  only once a week because of our "vulnerability,"  a major supermarket making huge profits during this crisis just cannot be bothered to organize it.Other stores do it, so it is possible.

Unless they have other health conditions, the over 70's are NOT the most vulnerable group. The extremely vulnerable are those who have received shielding letters - they will be of all ages, and are strongly being advised not to leave their homes at all, even to go shopping.

As well as the elderly there are plenty of people such as the disabled, care workers and volunteers shopping on behalf of others such as those shielding, single parents with small children etc who will find it difficult to stand in a queue for any length of time. ASDA have obviously decided that hours set aside specifically for the elderly is not a facility they wish to offer - if other shops do and you benefit from that, then vote with your feet and take your custom to them.

Fire_Fox

Zirconia said:

We are constantly told by the government that the over 70s are the most vulnerable group and must be prepared to stay indoors and in lockdown far longer than other  groups in society.Yet when it comes to getting a little help in a queue  only once a week because of our "vulnerability,"  a major supermarket making huge profits during this crisis just cannot be bothered to organize it.Other stores do it, so it is possible.

I received a very bland, unhelpful response from customer services online.It was impossible to contact the store in question by phone.

Not Asda's finest hour and yet they virtue-signal on the media about their  altruistic contrbution to the present crisis.

You have misunderstood some of the advice, and are 'cherry picking' other advice.

NO the UK government articles linked to by others, and the members of the cabinet/ medical experts at the daily Downing Street Press Briefings ARE NOT saying what you claim about those who are  70+. YES the UK government have, on too many occasions, been unclear about which of the two vulnerable/ at risk groups they are referring to. YES some sections of the media have created confusion with poor reporting throughout.

The risk group you are in is huge. It encompasses all over-seventies and many under-seventies with a relevant medical condition such as mild to moderate asthma. For some to get special treatment purely on the grounds of age is discrimination.

If you still believe you are "the most vulnerable" and must stay indoors for at least twelve weeks ('shielding') why are you both going to the supermarket?? Stay indoors.

PixelPound

Fire_Fox said:

Zirconia said:

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.

You are actually saying you need priority access because of a chronic health condition that affects mobility, not because of your age. It would be better to focus on this with ASDA Customer Service.

There are 8.5+ million over 70s in the UK. If all those over 70s who are not 'shielding' took advantage of the priority hour once a week at their nearest major supermarket that system would not work for those it was intended to help. In my city ASDA has the longest queues; if that is is replicated elsewhere it is understandable they would try to make the system fair for all.

Many of us, older or younger, have difficulty standing around in cold and wet weather or hot and sunny weather. Single parents with a small child or two, people who have a long walk, cycle ride or bus journey to and from the store, people with anxiety disorders and more. Many of us have had to change where we shop, what day we shop, what time we shop, how often we shop, who we shop with or for.

It was the same in mine, until recently. This last week or so often there has been no queue!! Today is different as everyone out buying booze and bbq stuff. I did comment to one of the staff and was told that it was often the case after the morning rush. I guess a lot of people have stocked up.

So it could be they've made the decision to stop because less demand, or maybe if they've seen it been abused.

Steve_L

We "oldies & vulnerablies" were flavour of the week with ASDA for the first week. Now, it's NHS staff and we've been relegated to "virus fodder".

bradders1983

Steve_L said:

We "oldies & vulnerablies" were flavour of the week with ASDA for the first week. Now, it's NHS staff and we've been relegated to "virus fodder".

Its amazing what the media can do. Seven weeks later and people are still flocking to their front doors on a Thursday night like sheep to set fireworks off and bang pots and pans. 

Claire2989

bradders1983 said:

Steve_L said:

We "oldies & vulnerablies" were flavour of the week with ASDA for the first week. Now, it's NHS staff and we've been relegated to "virus fodder".

Its amazing what the media can do. Seven weeks later and people are still flocking to their front doors on a Thursday night like sheep to set fireworks off and bang pots and pans. 

That’s just so the government/media can justify otherwise healthy Social & healthcare workers dying prematurely due to government failings. If they are ‘hero’s ’ it is expected that some will ‘die on the frontline’. It’s all just good propaganda for the government.