Tesco trouble

Please see letter below sent to Tesco:

WAYDALE SPEARCEY LANE
STAPLEHAY
TAUNTON
SOMERSET
TA3 7HW

May 20, 2008

Customer Services Manager Tesco Customer Service
P.O. Box 73
Baird Avenue
Dryburgh Industrial Estate
Dundee
DD1 9NF

Dear Customer Services Manager, I am writing to inform you of an incident that occurred yesterday, (May 19th, 2008).

I called in to the Tesco Express on East Reach, Taunton, to fill my motorcycle with fuel. After queueing iat the checkout, giving the assistant my debit card, entering my pin number, the assistant then asked me to remove my helmet! I asked why? To which he replied “It’s company policy.”

I asked if it was necessary as I had already paid for the fuel, to which he replied “Nothing to do with me, it’s the rules.” I explained that to take my helmet off, at the front of a queue of people, after I had paid, would cause inconvenience & wasted time not just to myself, but also everyone behind who was waiting. Yet again he just repeated “It’s the rules, nothing to do with me.”

I then asked to see the manager, who came out & said…. yes you guessed it “It’s nothing to do with me, It’s the rules”, then turned around & walked away. I then proceeded to take my helmet off, which includes taking off each glove, as it is impossible to undo the helmet with gloves on.

While this was taking place, the queue grew longer, with other customers complaining that it was a stupid rule! Once I had taken my helmet off, the assistant gave me my receipt. I then had to put my helmet back on, then my gloves, & the queue grew further still!

I left the store feeling totally embarrassed & humiliated, & received a few choice words from some members of the queueing public, (I have to say the majority agreed it was a ridiculous scenario).

Can someone confirm if this is company policy? If it is, then why? If it is not, then why at this particular branch of Tesco?

I am also a sales engineer who travels around 40,000 miles per year, I’m sure using some basic mathematics, it would be easy to work out the total spend for fuel per annum.

After this event, I will not be using Tesco for my fuel, food shopping, (£150 per week), or any other of Tesco’s services. I am also sending a copy of this letter to Motor Cycle News & other motorcycle publications, hopefully to warn others of this situation.

It seems once again, the motorcycling fraternity has been singled out by corporate bully-boys! I eagerly await your comments,

Sincerely,

Martin Ball