Focus on Food First, Countdown

A couple of weeks ago, I passed through Waipukurau and popped into the local Countdown. As I was trundling around doing what one does in the average supermarket, the following announcement came over the loudspeaker (this might be a slightly summarised version):

"Attention shoppers. If anyone says anything to any of our staff that makes them feel uncomfortable, you'll be asked to leave, and the police may be called."

Like . . . WHAT? And the definition of discomfort causation might be? According to whom?

I looked around for any sign of trouble in the camp, but there was no sign of anything. It was just some random, intimidating, announcement over the loudspeaker, aimed at every shopper daring to breathe (let alone, actually speak) inside a Countdown store.

One can only assume that this is some bullshit, random woke policy creeping into the ranks of Countdown corporate.

What's the purpose of this random, unprovoked, self-consciousness-engendering intimidation of the Countdown customer base?

Whose Need Is It to Intimidate Customers?

Most of the check-out operators (by way of worker hierarchy example) in the small selection of Countdowns I frequent are good-natured and helpful. And I don't believe for one moment that any of them have actually asked their corporate management to intimidate their customers with this random loudspeaker announcement.

May I respectfully (you know, Countdown, respect?) suggest that Countdown corporate put its focus on the quality of the FOOD you sell, rather than psychologically paralysing your customers into being too terrified to speak to anyone in your retail environments.

Example: 

In the past week, I've bought quite a number of products from Countdown that simply have to be thrown out.

1) Avocados that are rubbery and revolting within a couple of days of purchase. (See photo)

2) Basil plants that are almost dead by the next morning. (See photo)

3) Shamefully misleadingly labelled "fresh, stone-baked bread" that is actually imported frozen from Australia. Countdown 'fresh bread' imported frozen | Otago Daily Times Online News (odt.co.nz)  As the Otago Daily Times' article points out:  The label on the $8 loaf states: “There’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh bread, warm out of the oven and lathered in butter.” 

Yeah. And there's nothing quite like the taste of being duped with misleading advertising or labeling.

And there's nothing quite like the feeling that you have to be uber-careful you don't accidentally have the "wrong" intonation to your vocal quality when you say "hello" to, or ask a question of, a supermarket staff member.

Lest you be thrown to the floor by some over-exuberant security guard, while you wait to be handcuffed because you smiled at someone, or made some innocent comment, and someone decided they were "uncomfortable" - or, more to the point, they were encouraged to be so, by their woke corporate management.