Beggars outside supermarkets

[Merlin5]

I go to either of my two local Tesco stores usually a couple of times a week for shopping and there's always a beggar camping at every entrance and exit. This problem has got worse and worse and is really irritating me. Without fail I get asked for money every single time going into a store and again coming out. It's been relentless for months and has gotten out of hand. Never used to be like this.

I don't want to be mean to these people because obviously things are tough for them, and no-one minds getting asked occasionally. But not all the time. Security people in the stores do nothing and customer services say it's down to the council and the police. Apparently the police have moved some away but of course they return. Any money given would no doubt go on drugs and booze anyway and there's no guarantee they're even genuinely homeless people. I've read stories of beggars demanding money from customers at cash machines.

I've started shopping more at Aldi because they're generally better value plus I've never seen beggars there.
Does anyone else encounter this regularly?

 

[Merlin5]

Gave up going to shops well before the lockdown (apart from small local store and tend to go early), do not miss dealing with members of public esp todays society.

Get nearly all my stuff online to my door.

What if you need something immediately, like a pint of milk, packet of biscuits, fresh fish or a bag of Haribo? Isn't there a delivery charge for online groceries?

 

[Merlin5]

The ones outside the Sainsburys (in my previous post) have started to smash windows if they're asked to move by security, so now they don't bother asking them and just let them get on with taking drugs, begging, anti-social behaviour and verbally and physically abusing customers. They're usually manic dustheads, but last week there was one of them sat by the trolleys, with his trousers and pants pulled down, injecting into his groin.

Manic dustheads. I like that

 

[Merlin5]

Same. If asked for money I just ignore and walk on by. But if they ask for food I'll get a meal deal sandwich for them and a couple chocolates

If you got asked for food when you went in the store, then again when you left the store, two or three times a week every week, you'd buy a meal deal sandwich and chocolates for all of them every time? Sure you would.

 

[Merlin5]

The only thing I don't understand, is why tesco is not doing something about it, I worked at morrisons for 14 years, and this would not be allowed or tolerated

Absolutely. Tesco don't seem to care about their customers. How did Morrisons deal with it, did their security people move them on or call the police? I had a word with the Tesco security man yesterday and told him he should be doing something about it and he just said it's down to the council.

 

[Merlin5]

My Sister has been a Morrisons store manager for at least 2 decades and she goes outside and offers them jobs, not one in 20 or so years has ever taken her up on it.

Yeah, they're lazy sods who want something for nothing. After getting asked for the umpteenth time yesterday, I shouted to this beggar "No. F off". He got a bit mouthy and was saying "Hey I didn't swear at you" or something like that. I went back and said "Did I upset you? Good, then don't come back. This is a supermarket, not a charity!". I walked away while he carried on mouthing off. I didn't feel good about it but my fuse has become shorter with these tramps.