Aimeé
There is a lot of fear and uncertainty in the air right now, so it makes sense that people are not sure what to do to protect themselves and their families from the pandemic fall out. They’re afraid of getting sick, of course, but there’s also a lot of fear about how things will proceed in terms of living until the need for social distancing lifts. The panicked response has been to buy as much toilet paper as possible and get into fistfights at the Safeway.
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but that isn’t helpful.
Groceries are staying open even as restaurants, bars and movie theaters close. People are rushing the supermarkets for both supplies and entertainment at this point. The retail workers there cannot afford to go home financially and they’re also doing a public service. But people are still treating them like absolute sh—t. A guy posting under the handle @dadopotamus on Twitter shared this simple statement on the situation:
I manage a grocery store.
I gotta say.
You’re all giant scumbags.
— dan (@dadopotamus) March 14, 2020
Crazy how many of you confuse “Manager” with “Owner”.
— dan (@dadopotamus) March 15, 2020
Managers are not in charge of a store’s policy. Their job is to try and help run things smoothly, and that’s a very difficult proposition at the moment. It’s clearly been hard to deal with:
The coronavirus is spreading like wildfire. I’m just going to stay at home…but first, I’m going to the grocery store at the same time as everyone else.
-People
— dan (@dadopotamus) March 13, 2020
And it’s much worse than anything he’s experienced:
Yes. I used to be a manager at Walmart for 5 years. This is 200x worse than any Black Friday.
— dan (@dadopotamus) March 15, 2020
The comments are full of people sharing their own stories from the grocery store frontlines and a few people commiserating who used to work in the industry. Treat your grocery store workers (and everyone!) with respect right now. As time goes on, they will remember who was good to them and who tried to scratch their eyes out for some paper towels.
1.
I *hated* the “do you have more in the back?” question? Like store performance isn’t measured on the tiniest of sales scales!?!! Our joke to each other was “Yes, we are keeping all the really good stuff in the back. We have to sell through this crap first before we bring it out.”
— *clever & forgettable name here* (@OpheliasMarbles) March 15, 2020
2.
six 14 hours days this week pic.twitter.com/BykvR7LTs2
— Raymond Noodles (@InstantRaymond) March 14, 2020
3.
What amazes me is how many people are told there’s a limit enforced by corporate & they still try to talk their way around it. The rules don’t apply to them. “Can I speak to the manager?” I AM the manager. Multiply that times 500 people a day….AND ITS EXHAUSTING. 🤨
— Chrysta 🧼🙅🏻♀️🦠 (@chrystadawn) March 16, 2020
4.
Ten years of retail experience, and even without a “crisis” some people are terrible.
What’s worse, they act like petulant toddlers throwing a tantrum when they don’t get their way, “the customer is always right” (Ha!), right in front of their kids…
— Brian Lindberg (@BzLindberg) March 15, 2020
5.
My daughter works in one and is appalled by people screaming at them for the lines & empty shelves. Many co-workers reduced to tears over the last couple of days. Management is now monitoring cash registers & calling customers out for bad behaviour.
— Mama Wife Concierge (@TwoLs60) March 15, 2020
6.
My son works in one. He’s exposed to all of you shopping and your vitriol. He’s 16.
They have to close 3 hours early just to stock and clean.
Behave.— Alean (@Alean4) March 15, 2020
7.
I work at a supermarket. Can confirm about the general public.
— Katie (@KatieRocs) March 14, 2020
8.
25 years as Deli Manager and saw so many blizzards, blackouts and hurricanes that brought out the best and the worst of people.
— Mark Berkow (@KramWokreb) March 15, 2020
9.
You have it waaaay worse! Grocers have teams. Convenience stores work thin and rarely are people polite in them!
— Robyn 🥩 #yes2meat (@robynski) March 15, 2020
10.
+ my dad manage an electronic store, people have been buying extra freezers and fridges they can fill up with food ”just in case“. He told me one customer bought fridges and freezers for 1300 $..
— Ghostly Instincts (@GhostIyYT) March 15, 2020
