I'm Running Sainsbury's I'm Running Sainsbury's - Barbara's story

Comments

1. What an absolute star Barbara is - she turned an average documentary into must see viewing, my friends and I are big fans...I'm wearing TU, RU?!

   Posted by Emma Bailey on 27/07/2009 15:52:37

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2. I am a huge fan of Sainsbury's supermarkets and shop there all the time for my weekly shop and for my everyday items. However, if Sainsbury's rolled this idea out to all of their stores then I would no longer be shopping at their stores. I have a very tight budget and go into Sainsbury's with a strict list of items I want and I certainly do not want to be forced to buy something from a member of staff or be harrassed after a long day at work. I work in retail myself and more and more chains are trying this sort of thing at the detriment of their brands. This is not good customer service it is customer harrassment. Don't do it Sainsbury's - you'll lose far more customers than you'll gain sales and it will make you just another supermarket monopoly rather than the class act you are now.

   Posted by Caroline on 14/07/2009 23:37:35

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3. I have never heard or watched a load of tosh. This idea will drive customers away in their millions. Hard forced intimtitating sales tactics have no place in food retailing whatsoever

   Posted by mark on 16/06/2009 22:03:44

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4. I found the pushy blonde with the radio mike totally unacceptable.Should I or my wife ever be targeted by a Barbara clone in our local Sainsbury store we are both agreed that it would be the first and last time, because thereafter we would shop elsewhere. There's a time and place for Barbara's style of selling, regrettably supermarkets are not it.Think again Justin before allowing this project to continue.Otherwise you will hear the laughter of your rivals all the way to their AGM's.

   Posted by JS Veteran on 12/06/2009 11:53:44

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5. As an old customer of Sainsbury and an ex employee of Safeway I was horrified by the 'cold selling' tactics shown on this weeks program. If this idea was adopted by the management it could have an adverse reaction. I go for my weekly shopping and detest the idea of being approached with this type of hard sell. The lady at Denton shop was selling herself to Sainsbury and they bought it. This type of selling is not new and has no place in a respected store. Don't fall for it Sainsbury.

   Posted by John C on 11/06/2009 14:43:13

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6. I can appreciate that Barbara is a clever saleswoman with just about enough insight to leav people alone who do not wnat to be approached, but even she was getting a bit desperate when she was worried about meeting her targets. If Sainsbury's are clear that they don't want to "hard sell" using store hosts, then they should drop the idea of targets. Personally I think the novelty will wear a bit thin if, every time you turn the aisle you see a Barbara heading for you, and I would probably stop shopping there. There is a case to be made for having a store host available to help people shop who are physically or otherwise impaired, and point out bargains on the way.

   Posted by Debbie on 10/06/2009 16:50:00

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7. I hate people coming up to me in supermarkets and trying to sell me things. I will actively avoid isles where I see this happening.

   Posted by Sue on 10/06/2009 16:23:07

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8. I hope Swansea Sainsburys dont have a Barbara arriving any time soon, if I was approached by here it would put me off shopping there again. Customers are quite capable of deciding what to buy we dont need a pushy member of staff telling us what we need. I hope she dont make an appearance on sainsburys.com

   Posted by swansea shopper on 10/06/2009 15:35:05

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9. I agree and have sympathy with the comments about pushy sales people. However, surely the real story here is that a large organisation employing 150,000 people and run by senior leaders earning 6 figure salary's are not too proud or arrogant to say - perhaps some of the people we employ have got some great ideas, let's see if they do and let's give them a chance to shine. A really enlightened approach to business leadership made all the more remarkable for being carried out in the full glare of the TV cameras. Well done to Justin King and his team, if only more business leaders would follow suit perhaps this ghastly recession might end more quickly than will otherwise be the case.

   Posted by Allen McKay on 10/06/2009 12:41:38

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10. I agree with Norfolkwitch,the tannoy announcement at present get on my nerves, they are never ending. Why do we need to be told, its time for the Morning Huddle (whatever that is),or will XX contact Y, or even code Red to checkouts. We are at the moment stopped by in-store staff selling Gas/electricity. The moment I was targeted by a Roving Seller Would be the last time I shopped at Sainsbury's. Is it to much to ask to be allowed to shop in peace?

    Posted by Fairfield Park on 10/06/2009 06:02:05

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11. I thought Barbara was fabulous. Notin your face but personable. I do, however, think unless they can clone her, it does run the risk of being an irritant.

    Posted by rhylshopper on 10/06/2009 01:52:00

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12. I cannot think of anything worse than being harassed by people when I am doing my shopping. Tannoy announcements are annoying and intrusive whilst shopping as it is without added noise. Many times my husband and I have had to stand and wait whilst these announcements are made so that we can continue what we were saying to each other. Please tell Sainsburys that this is not on - the day I am accosted by one of these people I will leave my trolley (hopefully full of frozen food for them to put back on the shelves) and leave the store! Please pass this on to Justin King.

    Posted by Norfolkwitch on 09/06/2009 23:04:20

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13. When I come into the sainsbury's at Denton I do not want someome like Barbara in my face trying to sell me anything, I want to be able to look around in my own time, I am getting sick of being confronted by the talk talk and energy sales people and dont want anymore intrusions or I will use another supermarket.

    Posted by Denton Shopper on 09/06/2009 22:26:12

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14. I'm a loyal JS customer of many years. Please, please don't roll out Barbara's idea to all stores. I hate people trying to hard sell me things whilst I do my weekly shop. The whole experience seems more akin to a Bingo Hall than a JS supermarket. This more than anything JS has ever done would make me go running to the nearest competitor, even if it meant me having to spend more money - the extra cost would be worth it!!

    Posted by BetteLou on 09/06/2009 22:10:44

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