The Stupidity Of ASDA

Mathom · 03-03-2008, 16:57

If you wanted to improve safety of something in your premises, which already had a warning sign on it, would you follow the weird logic as follows: "lots of people ignore the signs so we'll get rid of them"? No. It would be stupid. But ASDA do.

Apparently it is too dangerous to take a pram, wheelchair or scoota up the travelator as it's "very high up at the top". Fair enough if it's deemed a risk but it would be nice to know seeing as these things are used everywhere nowadays. There are no signs to warn you of this height danger, apart from a 3 inch square one at foot level, sideways on, probably where a leprechaun desperate to get in there and get his hands on a triple pack of extra-small George undercrackers might notice it.

There used to be signs, apparently, but they got rid of them for 'health and safety reasons' because "a lot of people ignored them" - well they certainly ignore them now as they're not there!

Instead it is the 'Greeter's' job to stop you. Quite hard seeing as the poor chump is stood 15 feet away next to a stack of shopping baskets with his back to the thing. This is much safer apparently, but I can't see how as the poor bloke has not got eyes in the back of his head.

The manager admitted someone had been to the top of the thing in a scoota before being seen.

Alas, the shop cannot do anything about putting up a sign because the Head Office gestapo have made the signs verboten. I presume it's also head office that makes the Greeter (probably on a poverty wage) stand facing the door ready with baskets for you to fill with goodies to fill the shareholders' wallets instead of stopping you going onto something which has been deemed dangerous. Or indeed pointing you to the lift you did not know existed which is hidden in the bowels of the paper napkin aisle like the entrance to Narnia or something. Or maybe having a barrier at the foot of the travelator which would be the best solution of all...that might get in the way of the hoped-for human stampede for more produce though.

I'd settle for some nice, highly visible warning signs though. But there won't ever be any, as the manager pointed out.

Be warned parents and wheelchair users. ASDA didn't think you could read a sign so they took them away. I suppose it means more room to cram in another display of discounted Eater Eggs though.

chem1st · 03-03-2008, 17:00

Are you allowed to cycle roudn the store now then? Save me locking it up outside.

Mathom · 03-03-2008, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by chem1st

Are you allowed to cycle roudn the store now then? Save me locking it up outside.

Scoota as in one of those motorised wheelchairs. Reading PT's posts taught me the right name for 'em

chem1st · 03-03-2008, 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathom

Scoota as in one of those motorised wheelchairs. Reading PT's posts taught me the right name for 'em

Hehe, I did gather, but had a mental picture of me flying round ASDA on a bicycle or motorbike. It would be great, they could have speed cameras on every aisle, traffic lights at the till.

Mathom · 03-03-2008, 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by chem1st

Hehe, I did gather, but had a mental picture of me flying round ASDA on a bicycle or motorbike. It would be great, they could have speed cameras on every aisle, traffic lights at the till.

Well there'd be no signs to stop you anyway

Hjdary · 03-03-2008, 17:20

Just shop at Morrisons...its cheaper

Mathom · 03-03-2008, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hjdary

Just shop at Morrisons...its cheaper

I never normally do use the horrific American company. I only went there because family wanted to.

DIVA · 03-03-2008, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by chem1st

Hehe, I did gather, but had a mental picture of me flying round ASDA on a bicycle or motorbike. It would be great, they could have speed cameras on every aisle, traffic lights at the till.

Unless you've got a good headlight, I wouldn't bother going after 10 o' clock - in the 'twilight hours' when the lights are turned down and you can just about to see to get your wallet out at the checkout, but that's it.

Don_Kiddick · 03-03-2008, 17:39

One has to look at the over egging of H&S anyway.

People have to take a bit of responsiblity for themselves.

If you are going to push your baby up the North Face of the Eiger in a pram expect to come a cropper - you don't need a sign to tell you.

And if you are so stupid that you do need a sign, then you probably can't read it anyway.

I blame the Mental Capacity act 2005

troubledjoe · 03-03-2008, 17:40

but shouldnt a person know that being on a high travelator could be dangerous? it stands to reason doesnt it! and if a person is simply stood on it and not messing about then surely nobody is in danger!!

2521ash · 03-03-2008, 17:47

Isn't it time people took responsibility for there own health and safety. Some may call it common sense...

Doesn't take too much logic to work out its not a good idea to be carried up a moving flat surface in a wheeled object without being secured to it.

However they do provide two ample lifts in the store for people who require it, and a staircase.

troubledjoe · 03-03-2008, 17:52

i once read of a kid in america that stood on a balcony and mooned at his mates. He fell off the balcony and injured himself. he successfully sued the ownres of the building because there wasnt a sign stating "do not moon from the balcony, it could be dangerous". I fear british society is going the same way!!!

ken1 · 03-03-2008, 17:54

do you need a sign for everything?

surely if someone does manage to injure/kill themselves in that way, its good for natural selection.

i'm all for removing every warning sign. maybe in a few generations, there'd be less idiots.

Old_Bloke · 03-03-2008, 17:57

Not sure why it's stupid to be honest. Isn't it obvious that taking something on wheels up a long slope means you have to hold on to it? I know the idea's gone out of fashion these days, but natural selection has served humanity well for thousands of years...

2521ash · 03-03-2008, 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathom

Well there'd be no signs to stop you anyway

Well wouldn't we all be stuck if there were no signs in the world. Do we really need to be told the obvious?

mrmist · 03-03-2008, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathom

Or maybe having a barrier at the foot of the travelator which would be the best solution of all...that might get in the way of the hoped-for human stampede for more produce though.

More importantly, it would get in the way of the trolleys that the travelators are designed to move from floor to floor, thereby somewhat defeating their point.

I'm fairly curious as to how the travelator is any more dangerous than pushing a pram up a hill, to be honest. Unless you're some kind of dimwit who stands in front of said pram and pulls it up instead of pushing.

Mathom · 03-03-2008, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2521ash

Well wouldn't we all be stuck if there were no signs in the world. Do we really need to be told the obvious?

No, but in this case it's not obvious. Not when you can use these things in other shops and in stations and airports. The biggest danger is in letting go of the pram/wheelchair but I'm not in the habit of monkeying around like that with the baby.

What I object to is that there WERE signs but they were taken away because SOME people ignored them. That's just completely illogical. Especially where someone might reasonably think something was perfectly safe to use.

Even worse, the store cannot do anything without the say-so of Head Office

spritulist · 03-03-2008, 18:30

i shop at tescos its cheaper......

Mathom · 03-03-2008, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmist

More importantly, it would get in the way of the trolleys that the travelators are designed to move from floor to floor, thereby somewhat defeating their point.

I'm fairly curious as to how the travelator is any more dangerous than pushing a pram up a hill, to be honest. Unless you're some kind of dimwit who stands in front of said pram and pulls it up instead of pushing.

I know, woe betide we make it more difficult to get a trolley up if it could make it more safe for kids and wheelchair users eh? Madness.

They could use those low things they have at Netto and a turnstile for people.

Don_Kiddick · 03-03-2008, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by spritulist

i shop at tescos its cheaper......

And you get tokens for schools - which my dear fellow forummer Pattricia has just informed me has started today!

It's t-t-t-t-t-time!!!!