A former Tesco employee has disclosed the most irritating habits of supermarket shoppers, as revealed in a survey of staff from major UK chains including Morrisons, Sainsbury's, and Tesco. The worker highlighted the frustration of customers who ask for discounts on damaged items, such as an opened box of fish fingers, or blame the store for the 5p plastic bag charge.
Among the top annoyances were customers who arrive before opening time and expect early entry, with one worker noting: 'I know it's three minutes until we open, but I can't unlock the doors just because you're standing there.' The employee also expressed irritation at shoppers who gather around when staff reduce prices on items like mince.
Another common gripe was the request to 'look in the back' for items, which the worker said is often a pretext to text friends about the annoying customer. The former employee also criticised parents who give in to children's tantrums over sweets, and shoppers who complain about carrier bag costs.
The revelations come as supermarket staff continue to work through the pandemic, with many expressing a mix of dedication and exasperation. The survey aimed to shed light on the hidden truths of retail work, from dealing with rude customers to the therapeutic technique of mentally 'making them disappear'.
