Supermarket doors rant

[greyhound]

All the supermarkets round our way have several sets of doors, all (except the main entrance) usually kept firmly chained shut.  It is so annoying being at the checkout opposite a set of doors, through which you can see your car, and being forced to walk all the way back to the main doors and then back to where you were.  Even the separate cafeteria doors are never available for customers’ use.   >:(

Perhaps if everyone complained, they might let us use all the doors. 

[greyhound]

[vee]

Know what you mean Greyhound.
I asked at our local Sainsbury's and it's because of shoplifters. If there's only one exit it's easier to control, but not easier for honest shoppers.

[greyhound]

I thought it would be some answer like that.  Perhaps suggest that their priorities should lie with the convenience of honest customers, who are the vast majority.  Grrrrrr.

[cornykev]

There not supposed to chain doors they are all meant to be fire exits, if theres a fire you are not supposed to walk all the way back to the main doors you should leave by the nearest exit, I would bring it up with the manager next time you are in the store. :o :o :o

[keef]

I was working on site at one of those temporary tesco's store today... its inside a big marquee, so a stanley knife would have done.

[Marymary]

Good grief are they setting up shop in tents now - is there no end to it.  :)

[tabbycat]

My OH is a commercial mananger for a construction company that builds Sainsburys stores and he agrees with CornyKev  -  they are absolutey NOT supposed to chain the exit doors shut - this is a total breech of health & safety and means that they shouldn't even allow customers into the store as they have no usable fire exits in the case of an emergency.

He says to write to the store manager telling him that you are not happy and that you have contacted your local fire prevention officer - which you should do. Hopefully Sainsbury's head office and the fire service will give him a right good talking to. He shouldn't be endangering customers, he should be employing more security guards.

Tabby

[gtm41658]

I agree with tabbycat...whilst there are customers on premises the fire doors must work freely....what are they going to do in the event of an evac....remove the padlocks before they can open them!!....i think not!
Ask to see the manager and point him in the direction of his insurance company...that is after the fire officer has been in!

[gtm41658]

read the initial info to quick...are the doors that are chained marked as fire exits?
If so then no they shouldn't be chained shut, however if they are not then this is OK....wots called a get out clause!

[Jeannine]

I still think they would be on a sticky wicket if there was fire as I would go to the nearest door, and if it was a  large main door I would expect  it to be a fire exit, if not it could cause more problems than a blank wall in a fire. It seems foolish to me and somewhat misleading. In this day and age we cannot rely on people  being able to read a sign,nor should be expect people in an emergency situation to have to go to the other side of a shop to get out.

Jeannine XX

[tabbycat]

The large main doors of a supermarket are in 99% of cases used as fire exits because that's where everybody instinctively makes for, even if there are fire marshalls telling them NOT to go that way - it's just a en-mass reaction as the customers know that's the way out.

If these doors haven't been classified as fire exits, then I would still question it from a health & safety angle. Maybe the doors won't be re-instated as customer exits, but the chain may well be removed. The store manager is just being tight with his security budget.

Tabby

[cornykev]

Purrrfectly put Tabby Cat.   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[greyhound]

The large main doors of a supermarket are in 99% of cases used as fire exits because that's where everybody instinctively makes for, even if there are fire marshalls telling them NOT to go that way - it's just a en-mass reaction as the customers know that's the way out.

If we were allowed to use all the doors on a permanent basis, people would be in the habit of using them, and be much more aware of all the alternative exits.

If they need to employ more security staff, then so be it.  They can afford it.