My complaint to Tesco - RE Helmet Policy

[Mozzer]

Okay, thought i'd start a topic for the progress of this as i'm about to set the wheels in motion.

Below is the letter I will be sending, thanks to St3v3 and angryjonny (I can see where that username comes from! )

I will be delivering this to the store by hand on my lunch break, in the hope the manager is present, but if not I have also printed a "receipt" for whoever take it to sign to confirm that my letter has been taken by the store today.

At bare minimum I expect my ban to be lifted, although a more desirable goal for my vindictive self is this cretin being sacked.

[Finglonga]

I would give them more than 3 days to respond, i would say 14 at least, as the complaint will have to be passed to a higher authority.
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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[Gazdaman]

Bet you don't get a response, and if you do, it won't be quickly.

Security guards in supermarkets are very often on a power trip.
If you went back I'm sure there'd be no issue of a ban.

Gaz

[Mozzer]

Hey, i'll pass it to a higher authority if i don't get a response...

They can call me to let me know it's going to take longer if need be, I have included my phone number.
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1st: June 6th 2006 - Nov 6th 2006: 2001 Aprilia RS125 |2nd: Nov 12th 2006 - Present: 1991 Honda CBR400RR
Jamie Stokes wrote: it now has a memory of 512mb and is super fast

[strag]

Good letter, concise, to the point and uses real examples. I would also say give them longer to reply, 3 days is not enough, by the time they have read it, written a response and posted it, it is likely to exceed three days even if they do it immediately (post times). A couple of other comments, you start with 'Dear Helen' maybe a bit to informal? And I would copy it to their heard office in the first instance anyway.
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carbon bling

[Sparks!]

I sometimes fill up at a Tesco and the woman in there said they have no policy on motorcycle helmets, she said she didn't mind me wearing the helmet and said that if I was going to nick anything I wouldn't pay for my petrol first

She said to just look at the camera as you walk in and apparantly they don't worry as much, but not sure how true that is , just what she told me
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[Suzuki]

3 days isn't long enough.

7 would be pushing it.

As suggested, I'd change it to 14 days if I were you.
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<Simple> no I'm shaven Jon
<Simple> it is a big enough hole.. I'll leave it now
Ride: 1999 Suzuki GSXR600 (yellow/black) IRC: Stats - Relationship Map

[Velocifero]

I complained when my local Tesco filling station started asking bikers to pay before filling up with petrol. they came back to me straight away, apologised and said that will no longer be their policy.

[veeeffarr]

I'd remove the phrase "little hitler" as it seems a bit hypocritical of you having a go about someone else using slang and then making a non pc remark yourself.

[ColdInsomnia]

I think the problem arises from chavs mainly.

IE, The chavs come along to a pump with a stolen bike / moped. They fill up, ride off without paying, knowing they cannot be caught (They keep their helmets on to avoid the camera and since the bike is stolen the number plate is no help).

Of course because of a few incidents with scum like this it's no reason to treat all motorcyclists in such a way...
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Yamaha YB100 | Yamaha TZR125 | Yamaha XJ600S | Suzuki GSF600
"Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it."
John Lennon

[JonB]

I can't believe you actually went to the trouble of filing a lengthy complaint about something so pathetic.

It's funny how many members complain about Muslim minorities wearing a hijab in public, yet get on their high horse when they are asked to remove a helmet! It takes 15 seconds maximum to take off a bike helmet. I mean come on, the security guard is only doing his job, yes he used his terminology wrong and there is no ban on helmets in Petrol stations but if you were to have rode off without paying they WOULD NOT be able to identify you. The only reason these rules have been imposed by Tesco is because of lost revenue due to a small minority spoiling it for the rest of us.

I can't actually believe you want some poor soul sacked because they are following Tesco's regulations.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[alone]

Try gather some local bikers, go to your local Tesco, and make an example of how long it can take to remove said biking gear. Of course, do this while there's a bike sat at every pump... They'll surely soon re-think their 'policy' when other customers have to wait 10+minutes for you all to sort your stuff out. You'll obviously all be doing some shopping inside too, and having trouble with old/maxxed cards/forgetting your cards! Easily done of course.

I, however, have never had a problem with my helmet in petrol stations. But I would deffinately refuse to remove it unless asked very politely with a good explanation as to why, they can hardly make me!

[McJamweasel]

Am I the only one who doesn't give a shit about having to take off my lid when paying for fuel? I do it almost all the time anyway, apart from anything else it's just good manners. I really hate it when customers at work don't take off their lid - it's just plain rude. And I work in a bike shop!

[edit]I'm not the only one - Jon beat me to it![/edit]
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[Stiffler]

I agree with Finglonga, it would be customery to provide at least 7 days for a response and probably more fairly 14 days. You will be lucky if it actually makes it onto the Mangers desk by the three day deadline, and then you have to allow at least some time for it to be sent to you!

It was mostly a well thought out letter until that point. Though, I must admit that I found the section relating to to Religious head gear a little confusing.
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Current Bikes - Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) | BMW G650GS

[NSR Mick]

[TheDonUK]

Not the only one McJamweasel and Jon B... but i take it you boys ride for pleasure...

When you ride 365 days a year in the pouring rain, with earplugs/headphones, balaclava, soaking wet winter gloves.
I find incredibly annoying that just because one petrol station attendant has made a snap assumption that i am a thief, i should be asked to do anything... Usually followed by being patronized/ lied to about "store policy" or "the law".

I wouldn't be AS annoyed if they just said straight to my face, i believe you are going to steal petrol...

[JonB]

[Essex_Mike]

Na, I couldn't care about taking my helmet off. Anything giving me a little extra excuse to be late for college is good to me

Plus anything to give a smile to the lovely girls in the petrol station
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CBT - Passed - 14/07/2006 Theory - Passed - 19/08/2006 A2 test - Passed -19/07/2007
Previous Bike - Suzuki EN125
Current Bike - Suzuki GS500F

[McJamweasel]

[ColdInsomnia]

It's pretty bloody annoying I admit having to take everything off and put it back on again...

If there's no one in the queue then I most often just go in without taking my helmet off, but I make sure that I say "Hi!" in a friendly way well before I get near the clerk (Those guys can have tough jobs... I don't want them to shit themselves).

I'm pretty frequent to my local gas station so I don't have any problems since they recognize my helmet and bike but when going to a new one I make an effort to take my gear off out of politeness more than anything...
____________________
Yamaha YB100 | Yamaha TZR125 | Yamaha XJ600S | Suzuki GSF600
"Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it."
John Lennon

[angryjonny]

[Essex_Mike]

[alone]

Jon B.. It's a way to get a point across, I've seen car drivers take longer than that at petrol stations, and they're doing no more than buying a few quid worth of petrol (take into account I work at a motorway services, so see all sorts of idiots (and no, we don't require bikers remove their helmets, even at night)).

I'm with the TheDonUK on this, I ride everyday, come rain or shine. When I didn't (scooter/125 days), I didn't have a problem, but when you work from your bike (as I used to), it just becomes part of you, and you get set in your kit. It's like anything these days, it should be made clear as you arrive, not be expected that you know, or demanded when they don't display, clearly, their policy.

[TheDonUK]

Fair enough, come back to me when you have done a bit of dispatching, or are on the bike for 8+ hours a day, filling up 2 or 3 times in those 8 hours... Then tell me how much you love taking your gear off so a petrol attendant and camera can see your handsome face...

I have a flip up lids, which i always flip up as soon as i turn my engine off, before i even grab the pump, if i have a balaclava i will roll it down over my nose/ mouth, i usually give the attendant a nod of acknowledgment or a smile i feel like it... So when i am ordered to take off my gear it really gets my back up...

This should be a matter of choice, some of you feel it is polite to do so... and that is your right and choice to take off your gear... I feel i should have the right to keep it on, and not subjected to the power trips of over zealous attendants...

angryjonny: i would respect them slightly more for saying the truth to my face instead of hiding behind a "policy" they have just pulled out of their ass...

[McJamweasel]