Customers at a number of Sainsbury’s stores in Greater Manchester have been left fuming as the result of a policy requiring receipts to be scanned before they can exit
Upon leaving stores, shoppers at Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Fallowfield and Salford are being confronted with automated barriers that can only be opened by scanning their receipt – or by contacting a store assistant.
Many have taken to Reddit to slam the new policy, with several claiming it is a ‘pointless waste of money and time’ and others saying they have been left ‘feeling like thieves’.
The receipt barriers, some shoppers say, only ‘makes life harder’ – yet it appears that Sainsbury’s is planning to roll them out at other stores across the UK too, following on from the introduction of cameras at its self-service stations in recent years.
The move by the supermarket echoes similar moves by the American supermarket Walmart, which is notorious for staff approaching ‘random’ customers at its exits and asking them to produce their receipts as they leave stores.
ADVERTISEMENT
You don’t have to comply with this. Just push the barrier open and keep walking.@sainsburys need to learn to treat their customers better. pic.twitter.com/aCnPyxixWu
A series of recent posts on Reddit exposes several threads in which users commented on the introduction of the receipt barriers, both here in Greater Manchester as well as further afield.
The social media site reveals that stores in Fallowfield and Salford have both become unpopular since they started adopting the policy, which requires customers to scan receipts in order for them to exit.
If receipts are not scanned, barriers prevent customers from leaving until a store assistant is contacted.
One Reddit user has posted a picture of a notice in one of the Sainsbury’s store, reading: “We’ve introduced new barriers as you leave this store.”
ADVERTISEMENT
“You’ll need to take your receipt and scan this on the barcode reader in front of the barriers.”
@sainsburys Salford New Bailey Square- security colleague very unpleasantly ordered me to scan the receipt from the Costa machine instead of tapping the drink on the screen. A meal deal so wouldn’t effect the price. Why is the option to tap on the screen if not allowed to use?
— Andrew O'Callaghan (@andyocallaghan) May 7, 2023
The original poster said they were ‘not a fan of how this is spreading’, leading other users on the site to agree.
Another person said the policy was a ‘pointless waste of money and time’ that ‘just makes everyone’s life harder, whilst another customer added: “Looks like Sainsbury’s can get f****d then.”
@sainsburys Salford making you scan your receipt after using self scan. What a big fat waste of paper. Grow up
@sainsburys I've just been locked in to self-checkout for not getting a receipt. By treating me as a thief you have lost me as a decades-long customer. Outrageous. Open more checkouts if you want to verify all purchases. You are greedy and hostile. Goodbye and good riddance.
The installation of the barriers has left some customers “feeling like thieves” since their arrival last year but it appears that the supermarket has no plans to suspend the rollout, despite the backlash from shoppers.
ADVERTISEMENT
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said that the barriers are “one of a range of security measures” installed in a “small number of stores” but would not disclose how many it has installed in the UK.
Featured image –Twitter
Food & Drink
A popular Manchester bar is hosting 2000s-themed bottomless brunches all autumn
Thomas Melia
A Manchester city centre bar is making every Saturday feel like a ‘throwback Thursday’ with its latest offering this autumn.
Having kicked off last weekend, and running right through to the last Saturday of November, guests can enjoy unlimited pizza, funky cocktails, and back-to-back noughties anthems as they enjoy Manchester’s best-kept secret roof terrace at Brickhouse Social.
Pizzas being served up are taken from the venue’s ‘Late Night Slice’ menu, which always goes down a treat when ordering.
Drinks will certainly be flowing, as guests are treated to unlimited bottled beers, bottomless fizz, and even bottomless select cocktails.
A popular Manchester bar is hosting 2000s-themed bottomless brunches all autumn / Credit: Supplied
Running in two sessions from 1pm to 3pm, and 3:30pm to 5:30pm, guests can dine and have a good time while enjoying tunes from the beginning of the millennium, right through to the end of the decade when a fresh-faced Bieber reached our iPods.
Expect every genre and artist you can possibly think of, including some of the musical pioneers of this decade like Britney Spears and Beyoncé.
So whether you’re about to ‘Raise Your Glass’ like P!nk taught us, or call someone out on their ‘Girlfriend’ like Pop-Punk princess Avril Lavigne did so well, this bottomless brunch is ideal for all you 2000s music lovers.
More information on how to book your table and reserve your place can be found on the Brickhouse Social website here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Food & Drink
Zouk’s brilliant bottomless deal is back for National Curry Week
Danny Jones
One of the best-loved Indians in Manchester has relaunched its bottomless curry offering and is chucking in free rice, samosas, naans and beer to boot.
Yes, to celebrate National Curry Week in the best way possible, Zouk has brought back its endless curry, rice and naan deal to their Manc restaurant and it’s genuinely one of the best in the city.
Costing just £25 a head, you can feast until your heart’s content on the tea bar and grill’s award-winning, authentic curries, showcasing dishes from all over the Indian subcontinent.
From 12pm until midnight between Monday, 2 October and Friday, 6 October, you can choose from a bottomless helping of four different curries (two meat and one vegetarian) each day.
What exactly can you get on Zouk’s bottomless curry offer?
As mentioned, each booking also includes unlimited rice, naan and samosas to go with your curry of choice and better still, the first 120 people through the door each day will receive a free bottle of Cobra or a soft drink. Jobs a good’en.
Tables are for 90 minutes per booking, giving guests plenty of time to take on the increasingly popular bottomless curry challenge.
With an ever-rotating selection of curries inspired by various distinct regions and speciality cuisines, you’re not short on variety either. You can Zouk’s current bottomless curry menu in full down below:
Monday
Chicken Karahi – A speciality from the Northwest region of Pakistan. Tender pieces of chicken cooking in a sizzling wok over hot flames with tomatoes, crushed peppercorns, cumin, ginger and garlic.
Lamb and Potatoes – Tender chunks of lamb cooked with new potatoes, yoghurt, tomatoes and garlic.
Mutter Paneer (V) – Indian Paneer cheese with new potatoes, yoghurt, tomatoes and garlic.
Chole Masala (VG) – From Delhi to Punjab, this authentic channa masala is a tasty street food classic.
Tuesday
Chicken Jalfrezi – Chicken fillet cooked with capsicum, onions & eggs in a thick spicy sauce.
Lamb and Spinach Karahi – A speciality from the Northwest region of Pakistan. Tender pieces of lamb cooking in a sizzling wok over hot flames with spinach, tomatoes, crushed peppercorns, cumin, ginger and garlic.
Tarka Dall (V) – Channa and mung lentils cooked in a spicy sauce.
Gobi Manchurian (VG) – Spicy cauliflower pakoras sauteed in a spicy sauce with peppers and onions.
Wednesday
Chicken and spinachcurry – A beautifully flavoured dish with chicken pieces cooked in spinach, fenugreek, ginger and fresh cream.
Lamb Rogan Josh – A speciality from Jammu and Kashmir, with chillies and juicy tomatoes.
Tarka Dall (V) – Channa and mung lentils cooked in a spicy sauce.
Mili Juli Sabzi (VG) -Fresh vegetables fused together with herbs and spices.
Over the halfway hump, room for more? (Credit: The Manc Group)
Thursday
Chicken Tikka Masala – A simple classic chicken tikka masala. Chicken pieces marinated in yoghurt tossed inside a balti of garlic and ginger.
Keema and Peas – Minced lamb curry with peas in a spicy tomato masala.
Dall Makhani (V) – Black lentils in a smooth and creamy sauce.
Palak Aloo (VG) – Spinach leaf and fenugreek cooked with new potatoes and coriander.
Friday
Chicken Handi – Punjabi-style chicken curry slowly cooked over burning flames with tomatoes, onions, garlic and Zouk’s special garam masala.
Lamb Handi – Punjabi-style lamb curry slowly cooked over burning flames with tomatoes, onions, garlic and Zouk’s special garam masala.
Bengan Masala (V) – Aubergine cooked to perfection in a masala of aromatic mixed herbs.
Bindi (VG) – Traditional Punjabi dish of Okra cooked with onions, tomatoes and spices.
And now we’re stuffed…
If you’re looking for somewhere to get bottomless curry in Manchester, this is the place for you. (Credit: The Manc Group)
Zouk has become one of Manchester’s leading restaurants since it opened in 2009, even drawing in famous fans like Rihanna, Drake, Manchester United stars and, of course, many a Mancs each and every day – because there’s never a bad time for a curry.
Available all throughout National Curry Week (Monday, October 7-Friday, October 11), you can make the most of this incredible bottomless deal like we do every year and trust us, Manchester it genuinely NEVER disappoints.
You can find more information, including all terms and conditions on the website and book your visit HERE or over the phone on 0161 2331 090.
Georgina Pellant -
30th May 2023 
