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Everyday Ageism

Elder abuse in Tesco

(74 Posts)
ArthurMann Tue 30-Sept-25 12:14:51

I was doing my weekly shop in Tesco last week and I was in the queue for my shopping. As I was putting my shopping onto the belt, a young man shouted at me: "Get a move on".
Whilst I was moving quite quickly, I have had a bad back recently so couldn't be very fast. I ignored his comments until he shouted "piss off grandma". I'm a man.
This quite upset me but he did have a word with the manager, does anyone have similiar stories to share to help me feel better. Thanks smile

Coronation Fri 03-Oct-25 04:22:51

Kayteetay1 that's awful. I'm shocked reading what happened to your daughter, I can't begin to imagine how your daughter must be feeling and the lasting impact it may have on her.

seasider Fri 03-Oct-25 06:56:02

@Fenbug. I also work for Tesco and would have done the same as you .smile

BlueBelle Fri 03-Oct-25 07:51:45

I would have taken no notice whatsoever and carried on as I was

Gingster Fri 03-Oct-25 08:06:19

I can honestly say I have never experienced this.
People are so helpful and kind.
I’m fit and healthy but am always asked would I like to sit down, have doors opened for me, asked if I can manage etc etc.

When my two friends and I went on our holiday to celebrate our 75’ths we travelled across the country by train and at each station, we were offered help with our cases, up and down stairs, on and off the trains, by people from all walks of life.

It was heartwarming and made us feel that people respected and supported us, in our later years.

Grammaretto Fri 03-Oct-25 09:49:56

The local Lidl has recently introduced self service, card only, checkouts. One manned till only.
There are still queues and impatient people I am sorry to say.
I try to go either really early or quite late to avoid the rush.

Horrible what happened to your DD Kayteetay Sending hugs.

Grammaretto Fri 03-Oct-25 09:50:33

I volunteer at a community store and wear a badge saying Volunteer.

Grammaretto Fri 03-Oct-25 10:59:40

I meant to add, if anyone gets impatient and taps their fingers on the counter, I remind them we aren't a fast food outlet. Sometimes they leave but most customers are quite happy to wait as I find the right button on the till.

WelshPoppy Wed 15-Oct-25 08:45:06

I'd have told him to go and use the self scan or shut up.

TheWeirdoAgain60 Wed 15-Oct-25 09:03:26

ArthurMann

I'm so sorry that awful weirdo had a go at you. I'd have called for security.

As a way of de-stressing about it, imagine him sitting on the loo, reading the Beano with pink fluffy knickers around his ankles! The laughter will ease things!

But remember, Lady Karma is watching over that idiot, and she'll get him when he least expects it!

Jamesjohn345 Mon 05-Jan-26 08:19:34

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Jamesjohn345 Mon 05-Jan-26 08:19:57

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RosiesMawagain Mon 05-Jan-26 08:22:45

Reported

Esmay Mon 05-Jan-26 09:12:33

I notice demonstrations of impatience at the supermarket if I do a big shop and a home delivery .
It's usually done by men of a certain age.
On one occasion I was told to get a move on .I was hurrying .
So I deliberately slowed up .

Cabbie21 Mon 05-Jan-26 09:28:51

It is no good expecting Lidl and Aldi cashiers to work differently. Their business model of cheap prices is based on speed, on/ off the shelves/ through the checkouts. Staff must put things through at speed and the customer should not attempt to pack at the checkout. There is a shelf beyond the checkout to do this at your own pace.
I shop little and often. I always use the self- check out. I take two shopping bags and pack so they are of even weight. It doesn’t take me any longer than the next person. Ay busy times there is a general queue, so nobody is right behind me pushing their trolley into me.

NotSpaghetti Mon 05-Jan-26 10:13:45

Cabbie21 it is just too difficult for some people to unpack from the trolley, pack it in again, unpack it onto the shelf and repack into bags in the trolley.

Not everyone is nimble-fingered.
Arthritis (for example) means putting the food directly from the till into the bags standing open in the trolley is the only reasonable way to shop.

How lucky you are to be able to do what you do so easily!

dogsmother Mon 05-Jan-26 10:41:02

It’s downright rudeness and people of all ages are more than capable of showing it. I would say that the best response was suggested as an above a finger to the lips and sshhhhh!
The thing I’ve learned about getting older is that it’s certainly not for the faint hearted and it really does take a certain type of person to get out there and manage with advanced years. So heads held high please.

keepingquiet Mon 05-Jan-26 10:43:48

This is an old thread

Esmay Mon 05-Jan-26 17:52:41

Not that old and entirely valid.
I finally stood up for myself when one of the cashiers was insulting to me yet again in the supermarket .
I've found out that she is routinely so .

madeleine45 Mon 05-Jan-26 22:08:33

I once .several years ago ,was stood in a queue at a check out when a youth in front of me started complaining about the speed of the person at the front of the queue. I have been a teacher and can raise my voice if necessary to be quite carrying. I tapped him on the shoulder and said "May I ask a question" He replied "what?" and I said " have you always been a moron or is it just today?" He went red , other people in the queue laughed and he said not another word.

Smintie Mon 05-Jan-26 22:30:59

I was in a large supermarket a few months ago and in a longish queue. I was 2nd by the till and the rest of the queue were in the aisle, leaving the space between the aisle and the till clear for people to walk through.

A lady came and stood behind me, so I politely said that the back of the queue was down there. She apologised and went to the end of the queue.

The woman at the front of the aisle queue came over and said ‘thank you for saying something, I wouldn’t have been able to do so’ and then said’of course, you can say it without being told off’. I asked why and she replied, ‘well, you’re a cripple, no one is going to be cross with you’!!!!

I was shocked. I have a prosthetic leg but never considered myself a cripple.

Some people just have no manners.

swampy1961 Mon 05-Jan-26 23:12:41

jocork

Nannan2

Mt61-Thats a great suggestion about a 'slower lane' checkout- why cant all supermarkets have them? It doesnt help when Budget shops like Aldi & Lidl boast that they do 'fast checking out' in my opinion.And i thought most of the younger ones flock to use the self- checkouts these days.(Maybe he didnt know how to use those but didnt want to look stupid?)😆😁

I usually us the self service tills but sometimes have trouble getting my Lidl Plus card to work on my phone so I've started using the manned checkouts in Lidl. The problem is I always feel I need to rush to pack my shopping in my bags as the end of the checkout is so small and I don't want to chuck everything back in the trolley then move away to pack. Sadly there's no easy answer. Some people just have no patience! Thankfully I haven't experienced such bad behaviour. If I did I'd go into teacher mode and put them in their place!

If you can come up with a good comeback it helps. I usually think of what I should have said 5 minutes later, but when I was still teacjing one cheeky student said to me "Miss your hair is going really grey!" I responded with "Yes, and when you're my age you'll be bald!" You should have seen his face and heard his protestations!

If you have an issue with your Lidl card/Phone - ask the staff member to enter your phone number. Found this out when I left my phone at home just before Christmas!! It still records your transactions and applies vouchers if they are activated.

fancyflowers Tue 06-Jan-26 07:02:00

That was awful for you, and I'm sorry it happened. It's the sort of thing that you tend to dwell on later on and it can spoil your day.

I'm glad you went to the manager and I hope the man was told how unacceptable his behaviour was.

CabbageWars13 Tue 06-Jan-26 08:22:31

Please have faith in Karma.

It may not happen - to the idiot you encountered - quickly enough but it will happen eventually.

I also believe in The Law of Threefold Return.

Yes, I know it can be easily dismissed but that doesn't alter the fact that it happens.

Take care and keep strong.