Checking Out Woolies & Coles Myer

This letter to the Australian Financial Review this morning seems to tell it all and as it is...

Service in supermarkets stinks
Mar 01

If Coles Myer's John Fletcher was serious about closing the lead enjoyed by Roger Corbett at Woolworths then maybe he should get out of the office more.

There he will find exasperated shoppers in long queues, trying to jostle for a spot to reach one of the two or three checkout operators.

Better still, he should make his visit on Thursday, pension day, and see real customer non-service.

I work for community aged care, and every Thursday carers have to shop up to five times daily in the supermarkets for our clients. For me, that is three Coles, one Woolworths.

No contest, Mr Fletcher. Your stores are hopelessly understaffed. The staff are mostly trained in avoiding eye contact.

Where are your area managers, tied to their offices? Until you do, Woolworths, which could also do with some extra staff on the tills on pension day, will keep winning customer loyalty.

Shirley Doust, Chiswick, NSW.

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