On average I make two shopping trips to
Sainsbury's in Lincoln each week. The aim of these trips is to complete the
boring task of shopping for groceries. An essential but not highly
exciting trip. On occasions I will purchase non-housekeeping items
including petrol for the car. It is not my intention on these trips
to wash my car or have it washed for me.
So why is it that on 9 out of 10 of my
visits to the Sainsbury's car park I am pestered by 'Heroes' car
washers in their “distinctive blue jumpsuits” asking if I want my
car cleaned. On each of my last three shopping trips, Friday 27th
July, Wednesday 1st August and today I've been approached.
I don't object, having no right to object, to there being a car wash
service available in the car park to those wishing to have their car
cleaned. What I do find objectionable is being targeted by a cleaner
as soon as I have parked my car. More often than not before I have
got my Sainsbury's re- usable shopping bags out of the boot of the
car and locked it up.
On the company's website it states
“grab your nearest Hero and show him where your car is parked”.
You don't need to take this advice because the 'Hero' is there by
your car, asking if you want it cleaned, materialising from who knows
where, like a hunting animal after its prey, attacking from any direction. Now when I enter
Sainsbury's car park, not only do I have to look for an empty parking
space but I also find myself looking to avoid any free spaces close
to any 'Heros' “mobile cleaning stations”.It is similar to walking through a
shopping centre or town high street choosing a route that avoids
annoying leaflet distributors and survey canvassers.
At the moment my customer loyalty to
Sainsbury's outweighs my annoyance towards an unwanted 'Hero' but for
how long?
Perhaps Sainsbury's could have a
special offer: Spend £70 and get two free 'I don't want a Hero' car
window stickers, for the windscreen and rear window? Alternatively
they could insist that the cleaners wait for those desperate for a
clean car to “Grab a Hero”, or have a 'Hero' free zone section of
the car park.
Hi Elliot
ReplyDeleteI completely understand your annoyance with these 'Heroes'. I too find myself trying to avoid them whenever I visit Sainsburys.
When they first appeared at my local store I thought to myself as it is obviously a car wash raising money for heroes I would pay £5 for a wash.
Since then I have found out that they have no connection with any hero charities and are merely a private company cashing in on a good cause. I have spoken to my friends and colleages about this and most people were under the same mishaprehension. They have all vowed never to use them again. I spoke to the manager of the Sainsburys store who informed me that he didnt believe there was any misunderstanding and people did not link this company with any help for hero charity.
Around 4-5 months ago I emailed my local newspaper, the Manchester Evening News, and also the Sun newspaper given their obvious support of our national heroes. I have not even received a confirmation reply from either of them to say that they are looking into the matter.
Am I the only one who finds this misrepresentation totally abhorrent?
Mike Pluples
mikep1965@hotmail.com
Thank you Mike for your interesting comment. Looking at the date of the article I find it difficult to believe that another year has gone by.
DeleteEarlier this year I purchased a new car (pre-owned) and chose one that is black.
When I park in Sainsburys' car park this seems to act like a red rag to a bull (I mention this as I think several of the car washers are Spanish) to the 'heroes' as black cars seem to look dirty with the slightest fine layer of dust. They still get the same answer from me – NO.