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What has happened to the stock control in shops?

(47 Posts)
Elless Thu 04-Sept-25 16:48:06

I have just come back from shopping and visited M&S and Asda. M&S wasn't too bad but it was depressing in Asda because half the shelves were empty. This seems to be the norm these days. We called in B&Q the other day for some handles, if they'd been fully stocked we would have had quite a choice but there were hardly any, just the odd one left in a large space where there should have been loads. 😠

Granmarderby10 Thu 04-Sept-25 16:59:52

Ooooooh Elles do not get me started on B&Q …What a strange store, a vast space and lots of possible things to buy but never anyone to ask about anything!
I wonder how it survives! …not to mention those booming colleague announcements. GBH to the eardrum.

fancythat Thu 04-Sept-25 18:49:12

No idea about Asda. Not been in one for ages.
M&S, over the summer have noticed empty spaces.

Went into some shops today. All ok from what I saw.
Aldi were having a changeover of stock in those middle aisles. From high summer to Autumn. Looked normal.

Perhaps different areas of the Country are different to each other?

keepingquiet Thu 04-Sept-25 18:59:03

Brexit brexit brexit

Deedaa Fri 05-Sept-25 23:43:17

It's strictly a first world problem, but when I went into Waitrose for some of their French salted butter the shelf was completely bare and I had to buy their Essentials one. Just hope I'll make it through the week! At least they had my Duchy Organics marmalade.

NotSpaghetti Fri 05-Sept-25 23:48:58

Granmarderby10 does your branch have a "trade" area? Ours does and the staff there are brilliant...
We aren't trade customers but they know so much and are really helpful. I always ask them now.

Moonwatcher1904 Fri 05-Sept-25 23:57:38

Every week there is something missing from my shopping delivery as item out of stock. It's the same in the store at Sainsburys with lots of empty shelves. Some items seem to be disappearing from shelves and online.

Homestead62 Sat 06-Sept-25 02:35:01

Asda has been awful for months. Constantly empty shelves, or, you get something you like and you don't see it again.

BlueBelle Sat 06-Sept-25 05:03:15

My Asda is fine I ve not seen any empty shelves it’s my go to shop simply because it’s the nearest for me to get my shopping home
I don’t buy Asdas own label though I don’t like it

Babs03 Sat 06-Sept-25 05:48:51

Asda has so many empty shelves and not much choice, whenever I do an online shop is the same, so many items that should be in stock or unavailable or substituted.

HelterSkelter1 Sat 06-Sept-25 06:00:23

Our waitrose had lots of bare or half empty shelves yesterday. I thought they must be about to do a stock check....but these days that must not be necessary. Their stock control must be computerised and continous. The whole store was untidy. I hope they are not having a move around and I wont' be able to find anything.

Aveline Sat 06-Sept-25 07:26:11

My local M&S was fully stocked yesterday as was a big Sainsbury's. I don't know what people think is going on.

Nanato3 Sat 06-Sept-25 08:31:20

I don't know about the other shops but with B&Q you now have to order a lot of products. When you order, B&Q then order the item . That way they are selling before they buy so they haven't got products on the shelves they can't sell.

TheWeirdoAgain60 Sat 06-Sept-25 09:42:16

I know what you mean about B&Q, I can't abide them!

I find some staff - if you can actually find them - are ''off'', like the customers are a pest.

One bloke walking around not doing anything in particular, trying ... and failing ... to look official and macho, I tried to ask him to get someone on the tills so I could pay, as there were none and he was the only staff I could see. Other customers were also at the tills waiting for someone to come on. I was very polite and said ''excuse me, please'' but he was totally oblivious to me. I again said ''excuse me, please'' as I had to follow him as he carried on walking, and he still just totally ignored me, so I dumped my stuff on the floor and walked out!

But I bet if I walked out with the goodies without paying, there would have been thousands of staff on me!

Oreo Sat 06-Sept-25 10:14:05

Aveline

My local M&S was fully stocked yesterday as was a big Sainsbury's. I don't know what people think is going on.

Mine all fine and well stocked too.
Must depend on the local store manager.Nothing to do with Brexit for those who shout Brexit at every single thing that goes wrong.

Oreo Sat 06-Sept-25 10:18:17

Granmarderby10

Ooooooh Elles do not get me started on B&Q …What a strange store, a vast space and lots of possible things to buy but never anyone to ask about anything!
I wonder how it survives! …not to mention those booming colleague announcements. GBH to the eardrum.

That made me 😂
It’s true as well. I have always found it a strange store with staff who do their best to look invisible in case you ask them a difficult question like ‘where’s the paint?’

GrannyGravy13 Sat 06-Sept-25 10:22:00

M & S Food Hall on Thursday fully stocked no empty shelves, same in the rest of the store.

Aldi had a supply issue with West Country salted butter a couple of weeks ago, back in store today.

I use our Sainsbury’s Local several times a week, for a small store they have excellent stock.

Allira Sat 06-Sept-25 10:29:49

Oreo

Aveline

My local M&S was fully stocked yesterday as was a big Sainsbury's. I don't know what people think is going on.

Mine all fine and well stocked too.
Must depend on the local store manager.Nothing to do with Brexit for those who shout Brexit at every single thing that goes wrong.

Someone was complaining one Saturday in Tesco that "there is nothing on the shelves" and that her own small local Tesco was better!
That was because a few of items on offer were all gone.

The assistant who was trying to restock said it had been an exceptionally busy morning, some items on offer had gone and they were waiting for more supplies.

I have seen supermarkets with empty shelves in other countries; in a Communist country years ago, in countries where there has been disruption due to weather events such as flooding, tornadoes, cyclones etc and bridges, roads have disappeared.

We don't know how lucky we are here.

Sago Sat 06-Sept-25 10:57:37

ASDA are in trouble allegedly.

Ashcombe Sat 06-Sept-25 11:06:16

No problems in Lidl this morning with stock or staff of which there were plenty of both. As always, the cashier was chatty and pleasant and I've alays found staff who are busily stocking shelves to be polite and helpful.

In contrast, Asda often seems to lack lustre in terms of general atmosphere and some of the staff. I mainly go in there to look at the clothes in George and to buy Oatibix!!

RosieandherMaw Sat 06-Sept-25 11:06:24

I wonder if tighter profit margins mean they carry less stock and/or if staff cuts (thanks to increased NI payable by employers) mean they are constantly understaffed?
Dare I whisper the B word? It may also be that formerly goods coming from Europe had an easier passage.

Ashcombe Sat 06-Sept-25 11:09:36

www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/asda-announces-huge-losses-600m-31929088

Parsley3 Sat 06-Sept-25 12:28:53

I have experienced empty shelves in M&S food hall. We are not used to this in the UK so it probably seems odd when we come across it. It could indeed a be lack of staff to replenish the shelves. On the other hand, my Sainsbury usually has lots of staff on the floor stocking the shelves.

Samsara1 Sat 06-Sept-25 12:49:37

Perhaps they have moved from 'just in case' to 'just in time'. Saves wastage.

pably15 Sat 06-Sept-25 12:52:24

I've noticed shopping in supermarkets ( online ) there are quite a few items out of stock,,,and for several weeks,,,never used to be like this.