Seeing this used coffee cup on the shelf of a Coles supermarket reminded me of the challenges we face in retail of shoppers who treat our spaces as a dumping ground for trash. Too often we pick up all manned of things deliberately discarded by shoppers in-store. Scraps of paper, empty cans, used tissues, empty coffee cups, gum and, yes, even used nappies.
There is not much we can do about this unless we see the person trashing first-hand. Rather, we have to pick up the trash and ensure we offer a clean and healthy space for the majority of our shoppers who respect the place we provide for them.
I have sometimes gone back through CCTV footage to find the person who left trash in the shop but I soon realised it was not worth the effort – because once you have the vision, what do you do with it? They have not committed a crime. While you could post it on social media that could make you look worse than them.
Much as it galls me, I think the best approach is to suck it up and move on.
I always wonder why there are not bins in stores.
Might solve a problem
we have a huge bin, i don’t like to see inside though. People are so …
You sell a postage stamp at no profit and they peel stamp off and leave backing on counter or floor!
Jenny ..why are you selling stamps. I absolutely refuse to subsidise the Post Office and take every opportunity to remind customers asking for stamps why they cannot buy stamps in my store, especially on Sundays. I take every opportunity I get to thrash the post office stores. I want every customer seeking stamps to go into the Post Office with a bad attitude.
We (and I suspect every store) has a bin behind the counter. Thoughtful customers ask to use it and we oblige. As for stamps, no profit, no do and we are starting to stop a lot of very low profit transactions unless they show strong benefit in other ways.
Tried that approach. Then an account customer asked for 50 stamps. Too hard to favour good customers, stamps no longer available to all.
Colin I buy a box of 100 stamps and have in drawer at counter, when a customer asks we say we don’t sell stamps but can sell them one or two of ours, it’s often with a card purchase.
I don’t like it but we are in a centre 800 metres from PO and we get a lot of elderly customers and mums with prams so I’m happy to do it for them.
A few years back we approached Australia Post to sell stamps and a few other items, so glad now that they said no as it would have created a lot more unprofitable traffic. So many just head straight to counter, ask then straight back out when you say no, without so much of a glance at shop.
Opal is proving to be the same!
Jenny, we do this as well.
I also put the stamp straight on the envelope for people as well. That way, they don’t have to deal with rubbish, and I don’t have to pick it up off the floor or the lotto bench as well.
It also looks like we make an extra effort for customer service as well. I often get “wow. great service” comments
RE stamps, the most common comment from customers is that they don’t want to join the post office queue – they expect us to do it for them. Then I explain that I can’t pay a staff member (and that includes me) to queue in their place for no profit. Most get this and understand.
This is loss making and as Jenny said, most walk straight out with no intention of making a purchase of anything that is profitable to us.
It’s a service I think most newsagents do or are asked to do on the weekends particularly. Our Post Office is 100 metres away and stocked with all range of stationery, printer supplies, gifts, cards, books – you name it and I’m know I’m losing customers to them so you have to do whatever you can to get them back and if that’s selling stamps for cost as a service, unfortunately so be it.
Lyndon, my problem is people who want stamps often never buy anything else. They want 50 stamps and to pay by CC. I actually enjoy turning them away. The looks on their faces are priceless. 🙂
I keep stamps for those who buy greeting cards from me. If they buy their card at the supermarket or the chemist, too bad, go back and get a stamp there.
you can’t turn away regular customers even though she bought 1 stamp only with no cards
I ask the customer of they want a fast stamp or a slow stamp or a pensioner’s stamp, and they never know. At that point I say I’m afraid it’s all too complicated for me too, we have given up on stamps because we make no money on them either