Pensioner struggled to load, pack and pay for her weekly shopping as she’s told there are no manned checkouts before 9am.

A pensioner who shops at her local Tesco store in Hornchurch is upset and angry at the lack of staff at their tills. Paula does her weekly shopping a the Roneo Corner branch of Tesco and is a regular customer there.

This week she was upset to learn that there are no staff members at the checkout tills now until 9am and that to pay for her shopping, she has to use a self scanning service.

Paula told the Havering Daily:

“I have been using this store for many years and I have nothing but praise for the staff there. The ladies who work at the Roneo Corner branch are absolutely lovely. I see them every week and we have a regular chat. They are kind and extremely helpful to myself and my husband and actually go out of their way to help customers. They really are a credit to Tesco. It is staff like them that are the reason why myself and my husband go back every week to shop there.

“I was really shocked this week when I went to pay and there literally wasn’t a member of staff on the tills. No one. The tills were all shut and we didn’t know what to do next.”

Paula was then informed by a member of staff that the tills are manned from 9am only and that before then, she has to use the self scanning service.

“We do our shopping just after 8am as it is easier for us and the store is quieter with less people. We were shocked when we went to pay to see that there literally wasn’t one till open. I was told we had to use the self scanning service.

“I had a weekly shopping, so quite a large amount. We are both pensioners so to unload, scan and pack in that small area really was quite difficult. The self scanning system is not the easiest to use and if you do one thing wrong, it will keep coming up with calling assistance. The area to pack in is not very big either for a big shopping. so it all made it very difficult for us.

“We use this store because the staff are so friendly there, we have nearer food outlets but we like this Tesco. It is sad to see the lack of staff there now. We can see there are many changes and sadly not for the better.

“We understand that many people want the quickness of self scanning, but the store must also cater for those who prefer staff members at the tills.

“As pensioners to have to load up all your shopping, scan it all, pack it all in that small area really is a challenge.”

Tesco have acknowledge that during quieter times such as these early morning periods when Paula and her husband attend, they may close the manned checkouts so that staff can focus on other areas. Staff are also on hand to help at their self service areas.

Paula finished: “I have nothing but praise for the ladies at the Roneo Corner store, they do an incredible job, often on their own despite a busy store. It is sad to see these changes now and sadly they are not for the better.”

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