Walked into Tesco Extra in Aylesford, Kent today at 9:20pm. Was intercepted by the weaseliest little manager berk I've seen in ages (think Simon Pegg with his legs filed down) who told me I couldn't enter the store without shoes. He blithered something about it being store policy. I asked him if he wanted me to spend money in the shop or not. He started making some excuse about possible broken glass on the floor. I asked him if that would not be my problem. He muttered something but wasn't going to give in. So I gave him a breezy "Oh well, no purchase then" and walked right out again. For the record, I've never had a problem being barefoot in the Reading West Tesco Extra - and I've been barefoot in there dozens of times. Maybe Kent is a more narrow-minded place.
Then he doesn't deserve your business. With the economies as they are, you'd think they'd want some business, but I guess he's rolling in the dough...
Nah, he was just some jobsworth who figured he'd have a go. If it hadn't been so late I would have asked him to go and get his manager so I could have had a (hopefully) more educated debate. Bah, no great loss. I'd already hurt my feet on something sharp and nasty in their car park. At least in Reading the car park is swept clean and the store isn't full of footwear facists.
That sucks. It would've been more honest of him to say "Ma'am we can't have bare footers in here due to the danger our sub-par standards of safety pose to our shoppers." I hope you didn't actually injure yourself.
Hmm that's interesting. I live in Kent and the only place I've had a problem is the big Tesco in Gillingham. I had actually done most of my shopping when I was approached by a similar weasel who spun me a similar line. As I'd spent some time in there I couldn't be bothered to leave it and start again elsewhere, though I wish I had, or at least asked to see the manager. Besides that it's quite embarrassing to be apprehended by the shoe police in front of other shoppers. No problems elsewhere, and I was barefoot in several high street shops yesterday (thank God for spring!!).
This is the first time i've heard of anyone having problems with barefeet in the UK. There is certainly no problem up here in the north. (Hull), or in London, in my experience.
Yes, I rarely hear of anyone reporting trouble in the UK too, and I certainly didn't have any negative comments on my trip to Scotland either. However, even when there's no cultural bias, and when there aren't any anti-barefoot urban legends, there will always be *some* people who hate bare feet. Foot phobia is more rare in countries without those myths and cultural biases but not unheard of -or it could just be a more general homophobia, perhaps the guy just freaks out at any person displaying alternative appearance. Either way, it's probably just him & not the entire company. Just go back next time, odds are you won't run into the same person again & no one else will have any problem with your bare feet.
Same here, I have never experience such a problem. I have been barefoot in several Tescos in London and also in Asdas and other supermarkets and its been normal. Its just one twit whose trying to prove himself or something. Maybe it's just that neck of the woods.
Sorry to hear that Kay; I had trouble with a manager at my local Sainsbury's when barefoot, but haven't seen her since or had any more trouble there!
Likewise, I've had no problems from anyone in the UK. 90% of people don't say anything but those that do are normally friendly and inquisitive. I had a very funny encounter with an elderly lady who just stopped in her tracks and, looking very confused, shouted "NO SHOES??!" at me!!!! I just smiled and walked on! The only problem I've had was from a jobsworth security guy who stopped me in the Trafford Centre nr Manchester. Spun me some line about health & safety and, when I challenged him, he produced their health & safety policy and pointed to the line which said something about causing distress to others...! I've been in there many times before and since barefoot with no problems and seen a few other people shopping barefoot too, but I usually carry some flipflops with me just in case he turns up again .
That's very strange. I've yet to have any trouble from anyone in any Supermarket in the whole of the UK. Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose and pretty much everyone else have treated me just like any other customer. I did get asked if I was ok once, but have never been made to feel unwelcome.
I find that the more up-market the supermarket, the less likely I am to be apprehended. In Waitrose I've never had a problem, nor Sainsbury's - though I am in there far less frequently. On the other hand, I have been to a couple of the discounter supermarkets - Aldi, Lidl etc. and received very dirty looks from staff.
I've not tried ASDA yet as I have a prejudice against them. Their TV adverts have always really irritated me so I don't shop there. I've a feeling if I did I'd probably get confronted what with them being owned by Walmart, and SBL members are always moaning about Walmart giving them grief.
I don't think that has any bearing on what will happen in another country. There are regular reports about McD's too -and the McD's posting signs, and claiming 'it's their own internal HD that has set the rule' when told there is no Health Department law. Yet I've never had any comment at all here in the Netherlands. If the local management and local employees aren't anti-barefoot (as far most people aren't, here in our part of Europe) it doesn't matter how rabid anti-barefoot the headquarters in the US might be, no one on this side of the pond is going to care.
You have a point there. Every time I go into McDonalds and get treated like a human being I can't help feeling sorry for all our yank friends who don't have that privilege. Mind you, it's only McDonalds. It's not as if one would be making a great sacrifice were one to give it up.
I've been barefoot in the local Asda, and no one paid any attention, possibly because i'm a regular customer. Last summer i noticed a few other barefooters in the store (a barefooter is someone who is not only bf, but NOT carrying shoes with them), and no one paid any attention to them, either. Apart from me, that is!
They must have force-fed the management in the Reading West Tesco Extra prozac as I got some grief going barefoot at the other big Tesco in Reading when I visited for WOMAD. Maybe it was just an isolated case and the security guard I encountered was just a small-minded Daily Mail reading prig. I visit Reading quite a lot as my sister lives there and I never usually encounter any problems but ever since I trod barefoot on chewing gum there I tend to play safe and bring out the flip-flops for walking on the pavements whenever I visit. They also have more than their fair share of dog shit and even more worrying I read a piece in the local paper a few years ago about discarded needles being found in the childrens play area my sister's kids -and mine when we're visiting-use.
