Sainsbury’s apologises after checkout assistant refuses to serve mobile clutching customer
Sainsbury’s has been forced to apologise for the actions of one of its checkout assistants following an incident in which a customer was refused service for attempting to pay for their shopping whilst on the phone.
The incident occurred at a branch of the chain in Crayford, south east London, when Jo Clarke arrived at the dill to pay for her groceries.
Recounting the ensuing conversation in The Telegraph Clarke recalled: “I was standing at the foot of the till waiting to bag my shopping up, yet the lady on the checkout was just staring at me, when I stopped my conversation and said: 'Is everything ok?'
"'She said, 'I will not check your shopping out until you get off your mobile phone.’
"'I ended my call swiftly and said to the lady on the checkout, 'Apologies, I didn't realise that it was Sainsbury's policy that you are unable to use your phone at the checkout', and she said, 'Well you learn something new every day'."
Commenting on the incident a Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "We have apologised to Ms Clarke and offered her some vouchers. It isn't our policy to not serve customers who are using a mobile phone."