Nothing cooperative about this.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....anistan--uniform.html

Absolutely disgusting, everyone in that area should boycott that co-op.

I have seen yobs stripped to the waist shopping and being served.

I have seen care-workers and nurses in uniform shopping and being served.

Policemen, Firemen etc etc.

And to be topical even women wearing Burkas.

[jno]

weird. I predict a U-turn by the Co-op fairly shortly.

[jackthehat]

"A Co-op spokesman said the incident had been a 'genuine mistake on the part of our two members of staff' and apologised for how Anthony was treated."

Didn'tyou bother reading the article to the end ?

[Count-A-Strong]

For once AOG, I completely agree with you.

[McMouse]

In the same piece in DM co-op confirmed this had been a mistake on the part of two members of staff. Hardly world shaking news.

[jno]

actually, yes, I missed that bit myself, jack. So it sounds like there's no such policy in place, though I wonder what made the two staff members think there was.

[craft1948]

I saw that at the end jack but I don't think the assistant did make a mistake. The management are furiously back-pedalling on this one and are trying to blame the poor assistant, who I'm sure was following co-op procedures.

[B00]

If i had my way i'd refuse to serve EVERYONE, that way my job there (In Co op i mean, not that particular store) would be a lot more pleasent :-)

[jackthehat]

There always used to be a bar on serving alcohol to 'policemen in uniform'; perhaps this is where the confusion occured.......a half-remembered warning not to serve 'mumble' in uniform ?

[craft1948]

Perhaps Boo will enlighten us.....

[B00]

Incidently Craft the co op has no policies about serving anyone in uniforms of any kind.

What likely happened was the cashier had a personal reason for not serving him, anti war perhaps (?) and the manager had no option but to go along with her at the time.

[jno]

I was wonderijng if you'd show up here, B00 - what about it, is there some sort of policy that might make staff think they could refuse to serve soldiers? I'm bewildered how this might have happened.

[craft1948]

Would that happen Boo...........if I refused to deal with a member of the public in my last job, and it was down to personal reasons, I'd have been sacked.

[B00]

See above jno.

I just think the girl on the till had her own odd reasons for not serving him, bugger all to do with store policies, of which we don't have any.

[jno]

oh, right, thanks. Maybe jack's got the answer. It all sounds rather bizarre.

[B00]

Craft, the only sort of example i can give you is that say I refused to serve a customer who tried to purchase booze/cigs/whatever but looked underage and didn't have ID. They kicked up a fuss and asked to see the store manager. Now the manager can clearly see the customer is obviously over 18, but because i'd refused the sale, my manager would ultimately stick by me and not the customer.

[McMouse]

I look forward to aog posting some future DM stories e.g.

"Asian taxi driver gives uniformed sqaddie a free ride home"
"Woman in burkha puts £50 in charity box"
"Tattooed skin-head helps old lady across road"

[China Doll]

It's damn lucky I don't work for the co-op... I don't think anyone would get served... I'm still working on my 'people skills' ;0)

[B00]

And in answer to Jack, I don't think we (dunno about other supermarkets) have a policy about serving alcohol to any uniformed person, be it fireman policeman whatever. Least I've not heard of one in the 3+ years ive been working there.

[LoftyLottie]

So if I came into your store BOO and you refused to serve me because I looked under 18 but your manager could clearly see I was a grumpy old lady, he would still refuse to serve me! I don't understand that?

[B00]

you'd have loved it there the other week CD. One old 'dear' was poking me in the shoulder. I had to walk away whilst she was in mid rant as she was in serious danger of me breaking said pointy finger.