Forum Topic

Sainsbury’s, closure of front entrance

I rarely shop in Sainsbury’s but if I do I tend to go by car so approach from the car park. However I walked today and realised that if you are entering from the High Road you have not option but to walk in the road for some distance to get to the rear entrance. I think in these circumstances perhaps the front door should be open.  Is it worth asking ?

Maggie Dodge ● 2310d45 Comments

I think it is closed to manage number and the flow of people. So closed specifically for these circumstances.

Hayden Potier ● 2309d

I understand the theory.  Most supermarkets have adopted a single door entry system.  However, none of the others I've visited have required you to walk in the road to gain entrance.  In addition, if they are so keen to manage the numbers, why was there no one monitoring numbers entering on Monday when I was there.

Maggie Dodge ● 2309d

>>In addition, if they are so keen to manage the numbers, why was there no one monitoring numbers entering on Monday when I was there<

Gordon McDonald ● 2308d

To be honest, I hadn’t thought of that as an alternative to opening the other door.  Great idea .

Maggie Dodge ● 2308d

Why can’t they do the same at the front door as they do at the back door with a queuing system as they do at Waitrose and M&S?This would make it a great deal easier and safer for all those who are not arriving by car and have to carry heavy shopping all the way back to the High Road.

Rima Jones ● 2308d

I imagine that trying to coordinate two separate queues (one at the front door, one at the back) would be quite difficult.  Waitrose has only one entrance and (as far as I am aware) so does M&S

Andrzej Kowalski ● 2308d

One out, one in as at the back door.

Rima Jones ● 2308d

If approaching from CHR/Essex Place, you don't HAVE to turn right out onto Belmont Road etc.You can always go left, past the disused car park and into Sainsbury's car park round towards the right again (by Horn Lane).Ok, it's a bit further, but not that much more to the end of the queue when it's very busy. And it avoids traffic.

Richard Cathcart ● 2308d

'That said, I think they should have closed the Belmont car park entrance for a safer walk.'Agreed, it would be safer to not have cars driving on the same roads where the pedestrians shoppers are now walking due to the closure of the main pedestrian entrance off CHR.All the drivers I've seen when I've been coming in that way have been very good and driven slowly and patiently, but it just takes one child running out or one impatient and inconsiderate driver to result in an accident.

Andrew Jones ● 2308d

Further for the elderly to walk back to bus stops carrying heavy shopping.

Rima Jones ● 2308d

If they closed off the vehicle access route through Belmont Terrace at both ends and made all cars enter and leave the car park via Acton Lane that would make the pedestrian access safer.

Richard Greenhough ● 2308d

And if they opened the front doors it would be even better.

Rima Jones ● 2308d

It seems that Sainsburys profits depend on the use of the large car park for all those who are buying large quantities and Essex Place is regarded as being the back door for people of all ages who are leaving their cars at home and using public transport as we are now being advised to do.It appears that profits come first and that the safety and well being of pedestrians is immaterial.

Rima Jones ● 2306d

For elderly, vulnerable and disabled customers Sainsbury's still maintaining closure of the front entrance is not only ridiculous and inconsiderate but also dangerous having to walk along the road to and from the car parkfor the aforementioned group of their customers.Today I called their Custer Service Complaint line and spoke to a very helpful lady who then called the branch and spoke to Mark who told her that there are no immediate plans to open the main entrance, he also told this lady that they had received a lot of complaints and enquiries about the front entrance not being re-opened !Please call Sainsbury's Customer Service Complaints  on 0800 636262 and ask them to re-open the main entrance. Surely it's not that difficult to manage customer flow in and out via the front entrance. And just have the rear exit for egress only.

Loraine Pemberton ● 2306d

"Surely it's not that difficult to manage customer flow in and out via the front entrance. And just have the rear exit for egress only."Wouldn't that mean that the customers coming from the car park would have to walk in the road to access the front entrance ?

Richard Greenhough ● 2306d

Thank you Loraine.There have been a lot of complaints but there are no immediate plans for reopening the front doors. No reason given.Sainsburys have demonstrated time and again that they have no regard for the elderly and vulnerable.Closing the cafe and not providing any chairs to sit on.Reorganising the self checkouts so that the flow leads to the car park end.Surely it wouldn’t be difficult to control the number going in and out through the front doors as at Waitrose whilst continuing to do the same at the car park end.

Rima Jones ● 2306d

RichardWhichever way it's looked at the current access scheme favours the fit, young and healthy and not the elderly and vulnerable.  If Sainsbury's truly cared about the latter group they'd give access to the elderly, vulnerable customers from the Essex Place access doors.

Loraine Pemberton ● 2306d

Today I have spoken to a member of the staff. A lady who has been working there for years and she says that they also have to walk all the way round with their shopping to get back to the High Road and wait for a bus home but they haven’t been told why.Perhaps the press could enquire?

Rima Jones ● 2306d

Sainsburys have now raised the shutters on the front door and put notices up saying that we must walk all the way round to the car park entrance. Then of course do the same to get back to the High Road with our shopping. Why must we?

Rima Jones ● 2305d

it is hardly some distance lets be honest and gives them control un numbers

Peter Mizzi ● 2304d

Am I missing something or isn't the reason for doing this obvious? They have to control numbers coming into the store and can only do this by have a single point of access. Social distancing also means exit needs to be a a different point. It would be impossible to do this at the front entrance to the store.I can appreciate this isn't ideal for people arriving by foot from the south but a far higher proportion of customers, including the disabled and the elderly will be  using the car park. If you closed the rear entrance you would be just meaning a different but larger set of people would be inconvenienced.The extra walk isn't far perhaps 100 yards and Sainsbury's are still offering preferential deliver slots to people unable to get to the store.

Anita Blake ● 2304d

A major retailer is incapable of controlling access via their front / main door ? A little thought, planning and consideration is all that's required.As for walking an extra 100+ yards that can be difficult for older and infirm customers who don't have a car and rely on buses. Not to mention its walking on the road that leads to and from the car park, and thus has obvious potential hazards.

Loraine Pemberton ● 2304d

It would be helpful if Sainsburys can let us know their reasons.

Rima Jones ● 2304d

RimaI asked the woman I spoke to in Customer Services that very same question so she phoned the Essex Place store and spoke to someone called Mark. Apparently he didn't  give a reason but said the front entrance will remain closed for the foreseeable future. However, I'm  guessing it will be about costs of having enough Marshalls on the front entrance.

Loraine Pemberton ● 2304d

Well if that is so, perhaps they can let us know.

Rima Jones ● 2304d

It doesn't have anything to do with paying for marshalls. It would be impossible to manage the flow of customers in and the one way system which is currently in operation would break down.At the moment when you pay you have to turn left to go out by the exit. If the front entrance was open you would presumably have the option of going right which would bring you into the flow of people entering the store. If you want to maintain as much social distancing as possible this is the only way to do it.

Mark Evans ● 2304d

So how are all the other shops managing it with a 1 out, 1 in basis?

Rima Jones ● 2304d

Indeed Rima, M&S and Waitrose do, as do Vodafone, Paperchase et al and all with much smaller entrances.

Loraine Pemberton ● 2304d

They have a single entrance.

Mark Evans ● 2304d

This is also at a time when we are being urged to leave our cars at home. Walk, cycle or use public transport which many people are now doing.Sainsburys “Between 8am and 9am on Monday’s, Wednesdays and Fridays the store will be prioritising access to serving elderly and disabled customers.”Not however if they’re arriving at the front entrance!

Rima Jones ● 2304d

I think even the most zealous anti-car activist would recognise that it is often necessary for elderly and disabled people to take their car to do the shopping.You very unfairly say that Sainsbury's are prioritising profits over customers by choosing to retain access from the rear door only but they are only trying to make sure as few people as possible are inconvenienced. If you are approaching from the north, east or west or by car then there is no disadvantage in having to use the rear entrance. Why on earth would they want to switch to using the front entrance which would cause much more inconvenience to far more people and make it mush more difficult to institute a one way system?

Mark Evans ● 2304d

Whilst there are elderly and disabled people who are able to use cars to do their shopping, there are also those who either don’t have cars or can no longer use them but choose to be independent and pick up their shopping themselves whilst wearing  face masks and observing distancing.Perhaps they are struggling to manage on state pensions so need to look for bargains, don’t have large freezers and can’t do online shopping.Also younger people who don’t use cars to get to and from work but need to pick up some shopping in the short time that they have or choose to leave their cars at home for environmental reasons.This is about Sainsburys refusing to give their reasons for closing the front entrance when even their staff either don’t know or have been forbidden to discuss it.If Sainsburys can be persuaded to make their reasons known it would end all supposition.

Rima Jones ● 2303d

I have already suggested that to one of the Store Managers - like everything to do with Sainsburys it is a Head Office decision - maybe you could add to my voice.

Ruth Mayorcas ● 2303d

Went to Sainbury's yesterday and the front entrance was open.

Dominika Szulc ● 2303d

Great news!

Rima Jones ● 2303d

Whats the front entrance > I was at sainsburys yesterday and it was still closed off,just shutters halfway up.

Julian Pavey ● 2303d

They've now decided - without any kind of signage - to close the back exit door, the one we've all been using for the past three months.  So it was only when I'd dragged my fairly heavy shopping basket to the door which refused to open, that I noticed the sign ON THE DOOR ITSELF that it was closed.  So I had to go all the way back and out through the main car park doors.  I asked one of the supervisors if they could possibly warn shoppers before they made the trek - she looked rather surprised at my request, so I didn't bother to wait for a response.

Micki Hawkes ● 2303d

Oh wow!Today’s reports welcome.

Rima Jones ● 2303d

I went out the back exit door yesterday. Maybe it stopped self opening.

Julian Pavey ● 2303d

Great news !

Loraine Pemberton ● 2303d

Wonderful news Loraine and thank you for your efforts.Perhaps the threat of a bad press also helped.No need now for an explanation now and we can just look at it as “easing”.

Rima Jones ● 2303d

I was pleased to see the front entrance re-opened today, and I suspect it will be a help to the stalls in front of Sainsbury's, since it's easier to visit them again as well as using the main store for other items. I also did the same as Micki and traipsed up to the back door exit with my shopping before realizing it was now locked again. Ah well, I've no doubt the exercise did me good.

Colin Jordan ● 2303d

Well, Colin, I wisH you'd been carrying my bags.

Micki Hawkes ● 2303d

Great news that the front entrance has reopened, just bumping this message up to the top so that people know for this weekend and hopefully the stall holders get some extra footfall.

Adam ONeill ● 2299d

So now we have people coming and going through the two entrances criss-crossing in different directions inside the circulating area by the cigarette stall with no apparent concern for safe distancing.

Peter Evans ● 2299d