Companies Using "Because of COVID" As An Excuse For Poor Service

[kristiang85]

What local authorities and tip operators seem incapable of appreciating is that those of us unable to drive and therefore reliant on others doing tip runs for us be that a mate with a vehicle or a a hired man with a van have had our lives made significantly more complicated bye my pre booking as it's no longer a case of go online, book a slot, load up your trailer or estate car or van or whatever and set off and do it but it now requires coordination of the slot and driver seperate

I'm a non driver too, and I find it better as the people who are doing the favour for you (usually my in laws!) know they won't be wasting their time in a long queue.

But different methods work for different people I guess.

 

[westv]

I disagree - I find it a pain to have to book in advance (partly because the capacity at our local tip is ridiculously low so the slots get taken up well in advance). Problem is if you're cutting a hedge back or something, it's weather dependent so you don't always know well in advance when you'll be doing it.

In the summer me and my neighbours were using each others garden waste bins to get rid of stuff that would previously have gone to the tip. Almost every week the council missed some collections due to the volume of waste, and had to play catch up at the weekend.

Although to be fair to the council, they're not claiming the pre-booking is due to Covid. They introduced it during Covid but say it's been effective in preventing unauthorised use of the tip by non-residents and businesses which is why it continues.

It sounds like you have an awful lot of waste.
In my area the council just issues a pass with the annual (I think) bin collection schedule. You take the pass with you when going to the tip.
Personally, I disagree with the concept of only allowing residents of a particular area use a tip. Everybody should be encouraged to use the closest whether that is in their council area or not. Business use might be different.

 

[Kite159]

If they kept dump bookings but instead of having a 30 minute slot extend it to a 2 hour slot. Only time it's needed for my local dump is summer weekends when everybody cuts the grass.

I don't even think the staff at the dump are actually enforcing it, as they can't be bothered having arguments when someone arrives without a booking when the dump is quiet

 

[Bikeman78]

It sounds like you have an awful lot of waste.
In my area the council just issues a pass with the annual (I think) bin collection schedule. You take the pass with you when going to the tip.
Personally, I disagree with the concept of only allowing residents of a particular area use a tip. Everybody should be encouraged to use the closest whether that is in their council area or not. Business use might be different.

When pre booking came in, fly tipping around Cardiff went through the roof, especially on the coast road and the bottom of Trowbridge Road. Thankfully it has eased off a bit now. Some of the favourite locations have been fenced off or blocked with large rocks. The Trowbridge Road dumping ground has been blocked off for years but somehow people move the rocks. Compare the different street views on the link below.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

 

[MikeWM]

I'm not sure if this counts specifically as poor service, but I've just ordered a home delivery from Sainsburys and their confirmation email *still* says

To help keep you and our colleagues safe, our colleague will maintain a distance of 2 metres whilst you receive your order.
Your order will be delivered without bags, as our drivers won't be able to enter your home, please have bags or containers ready for your delivery.

Other than those lines the rest of the text is exactly the same as it was in confirmation emails as far back as 2017.

 

[Hadders]

Eurostar this afternoon are still pretending masks are required.

 

[island]

I had that on a class 374 a week ago. Nobody was taking any notice.

 

[danm14]

I'm not sure if this counts specifically as poor service, but I've just ordered a home delivery from Sainsburys and their confirmation email *still* says

To help keep you and our colleagues safe, our colleague will maintain a distance of 2 metres whilst you receive your order.
Your order will be delivered without bags, as our drivers won't be able to enter your home, please have bags or containers ready for your delivery.

Other than those lines the rest of the text is exactly the same as it was in confirmation emails as far back as 2017.

Likewise eBay's notification that a Click and Collect order is ready. I received this last week.

Your eBay order is ready at Enniskillen Argos. Code XXXXXXXXX & please follow social distancing guidelines

 

[Bungle73]

I was in York for a few days last week. I stayed at the Dean Court Hotel, which used to be a Best Western, but is now part of a company calling itself "The Inn collection". Just before my stay I received an email with some basic info along with a link to their "safety FAQs". The first thing it says is......

From 19th July our procedures are set to change in line with government guidelines. The wellbeing of our staff and customers will continue to be of the utmost importance to us. The team at The Inn Collection Group have been continuously working hard on changes and precautions that may need to be made so that you can enjoy your visit. We’ve introduced a range of cleaning protocols, in addition to our already thorough processes, to ensure you enjoy a safe and stress-free stay with us.

I struggled to remember what changes occurred on the 19th of July because as I remembered all restrictions ended at the beginning of the year.......then I realised they are talking about the 19th of July LAST YEAR!!

The rest is standard post-Covid stuff though.

I also visited the Barley Hall, which also has a Covid section on their website, which first talks about

Please note that these safety procedures may change according to government guidance and as the situation progresses

Then refers to "high plastic screens" in the admissions area and gift shop....screens that don't actually exist anymore. It also goes on about keep 1 metre distance from other visitors, and "we strongly encourage you to wear a face mask". Needless to say I didn't, and neither did anyone else, not even the staff.

 

[johntea]

Premier Inn still have some beyond nonsense ‘guidance’ it seems

“Everyone’s ‘new normal’ will be different…”

So, with that in mind, we're asking you to be considerate of those who are a little nervous around the restrictions being eased

If we all do our bit by being patient and understanding of one another, we can all rest easy.

 

[duncanp]

Premier Inn still have some beyond nonsense ‘guidance’ it seems

“Everyone’s ‘new normal’ will be different…”

So, with that in mind, we're asking you to be considerate of those who are a little nervous around the restrictions being eased

If we all do our bit by being patient and understanding of one another, we can all rest easy.


View attachment 125418

How about the COVID bedwetters being "considerate" of those who are fed up of all the restrictions.

And what do Premier Inn mean by that notice anyway? Oh yes, let's all carry on wearing masks and practise social distancing just because of a few people who have been taken in by unwarranted government propaganda and scaremongering

 

[greyman42]

Premier Inn still have some beyond nonsense ‘guidance’ it seems

“Everyone’s ‘new normal’ will be different…”

So, with that in mind, we're asking you to be considerate of those who are a little nervous around the restrictions being eased

If we all do our bit by being patient and understanding of one another, we can all rest easy.


View attachment 125418

I wonder how much longer Premier Inn plan to run their business like this. 1 year, 5years, 10 years?
I will not be using them.

 

[Razorblades]

Sheffield bus on Thursday, display reading 'Service full - Social distancing in force.'

 

[Bungle73]

I wonder how much longer Premier Inn plan to run their business like this. 1 year, 5years, 10 years?
I will not be using them.

Because they put up a small sign that can be easily ignored?

 

[WAB]

Because they put up a small sign that can be easily ignored?

Does seem a little oversensitive - Premier Inn are not actually asking for people to do anything...

 

[duncanp]

Does seem a little oversensitive - Premier Inn are not actually asking for people to do anything...

They are asking people to be "considerate" without specifying exactly what that means.

People will have different interpretations of the word "considerate" - some people will think it means carry on as if COVID restrictions were still in force (eg. masks and social distancing) and others will think it means just go back to normal.

If you take the view that Premier Inn are not actually asking people to do anything, then it makes the sign somewhat pointless.

But I suspect that the sign is a little bit out of date, as I have stayed in a Premier Inn since all restrictions were lifted, and there was no such sign.

 

[Bungle73]

They are asking people to be "considerate" without specifying exactly what that means.

People will have different interpretations of the word "considerate" - some people will think it means carry on as if COVID restrictions were still in force (eg. masks and social distancing) and others will think it means just go back to normal.

If you take the view that Premier Inn are not actually asking people to do anything, then it makes the sign somewhat pointless.

But I suspect that the sign is a little bit out of date, as I have stayed in a Premier Inn since all restrictions were lifted, and there was no such sign.

Indeed. It's a bit odd to talk about "the restrictions being eased" when that happened almost a year ago.

 

[Blindtraveler]

It is I believe the choice of local management as to whether they keep or remove such signage. And and they are obviously still taking some behind-the-scenes precautions within the group as the check in time has remained, somewhat inconveniently at 15.

They are also still not servicing rooms and less requested during stays of multiple nights, I have continued to have my room done even throughout the more restrictive days of restrictions as quite honestly I'm paying just stay there so why shouldn't I have it? But equally there are plenty of people who don't want housekeeping in their rooms

I have however just not booked a hotel because they they were heavily stating that covid was there a excuse for not providing an evening food and beverage offering. As the hotel is somewhat remote in its location and I'm not likely to want to go out again to get an evening meal once checked in I have had to look for an alternative.

 

[Bungle73]

It is I believe the choice of local management as to whether they keep or remove such signage. And and they are obviously still taking some behind-the-scenes precautions within the group as the check in time has remained, somewhat inconveniently at 15.

They are also still not servicing rooms and less requested during stays of multiple nights, I have continued to have my room done even throughout the more restrictive days of restrictions as quite honestly I'm paying just stay there so why shouldn't I have it? But equally there are plenty of people who don't want housekeeping in their rooms

I have however just not booked a hotel because they they were heavily stating that covid was there a excuse for not providing an evening food and beverage offering. As the hotel is somewhat remote in its location and I'm not likely to want to go out again to get an evening meal once checked in I have had to look for an alternative.

How can they possibly justify that when every other hospitality venue is open and trading as normal, including hotel restaurants ime.

 

[35B]

How can they possibly justify that when every other hospitality venue is open and trading as normal, including hotel restaurants ime.

Plenty of hotels are struggling for labour, and with cost increases, may well not want to be running restaurants.

 

[Razorblades]

Plenty of hotels are struggling for labour, and with cost increases, may well not want to be running restaurants.

Fine, but be honest about it, instead of using Covid as a nonsensical smokescreen.

 

[Crossover]

Premier Inn still have some beyond nonsense ‘guidance’ it seems

“Everyone’s ‘new normal’ will be different…”

So, with that in mind, we're asking you to be considerate of those who are a little nervous around the restrictions being eased

If we all do our bit by being patient and understanding of one another, we can all rest easy.


View attachment 125418

I wonder if this may be a "rogue" hotel - I have stayed in quite a few Premier Inn's over the last year or so and not seen any such signs

 

[MikeWM]

I wonder if this may be a "rogue" hotel - I have stayed in quite a few Premier Inn's over the last year or so and not seen any such signs

I think there is a mix - I've stayed in maybe 15 or so this year and a handful have had signs like this. As I mentioned in #493 above, the one in Tunbridge Wells still had signage about masks, too, or at least it still did in early November.

That said, there's no actual issues. Indeed, I had no issues with any Premier Inn even when there were still legal restrictions in place (eg. masks, which of course I didn't do).

 

[island]

I would put this kind of thing down to people not bothering to refresh the signage rather than any intent to enforce long-expired rules.

 

[Cdd89]

I certainly expect to see occasional evidence of the pandemic in 20 years’ time, just like how evidence of NSE is commonplace in stations.

Those too young to remember will be confused as to why some places have a grid of strange circles drawn on the floor.

 

[sheff1]

It is I believe the choice of local management as to whether they keep or remove such signage. And and they are obviously still taking some behind-the-scenes precautions within the group as the check in time has remained, somewhat inconveniently at 15.

They are also still not servicing rooms and less requested during stays of multiple nights, I have continued to have my room done even throughout the more restrictive days of restrictions as quite honestly I'm paying just stay there so why shouldn't I have it? But equally there are plenty of people who don't want housekeeping in their rooms

I have not used Premier Inn since February for other reasons, but the chains i have been using have all returned to servicing rooms as pre-2020 so Premier certainly seem an outlier.

 

[Bungle73]

I've stayed in a normal Premier Inn (in Milton Keynes) and a Hub by Premier Inn (in Scotland) in the past year, and tbh I don't recall if they had those signs. All that sticks in my mind are signs demanding mask use, and repercussions if you don't comply, near, and in, the lifts at the Hub, and large plastic screens at reception at the PI.

Fine, but be honest about it, instead of using Covid as a nonsensical smokescreen.

Exactly.

Apart from those I've stayed at a few other hotels during the past year. From what I can tell the typical hotel restaurant is back to normal, at least at breakfast. I tend to dine in local pubs in the evening. From what I observed evenings looked normal too.

I'm sure the non-PI hotels I've stayed in rooms have been serviced as normal iirc.

 

[bramling]

I have not used Premier Inn since February for other reasons, but the chains i have been using have all returned to servicing rooms as pre-2020 so Premier certainly seem an outlier.

I think it’s more to do with staffing issues than anything else, though of course will be conveniently blamed on Covid.

Of course, Premier Inn still have their Covid “CleanProtect+” promise, which is rather ironic as post-Covid I’ve found all the PIs I’ve stayed in have been notably grubby. Indeed my experience has been PI has notably declined in recent years, and Covid seems to have accelerated this.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Travelodge now give you a choice of three options, no service, complete full service or just a general top up and tidy up. The tidy up never seems to happen when the top up option is selected


As for still seeing vagrants of the pandemic in 20 years time proper it's perfectly possible that a newly refurbished or recently opened shop or hotel reception or other such public place might have started off from new with plastic screens fitted and when the interior gets a complete strip out in a decade or to they will still be there

 

[TAS]

I certainly expect to see occasional evidence of the pandemic in 20 years’ time, just like how evidence of NSE is commonplace in stations.

As for still seeing vagrants of the pandemic in 20 years time proper it's perfectly possible that a newly refurbished or recently opened shop or hotel reception or other such public place might have started off from new with plastic screens fitted and when the interior gets a complete strip out in a decade or to they will still be there

Quite. I remember seeing some white patches either side of a door at Durham Castle about a decade ago. Apparently they had originally been painted to help locate it during WW2 blackouts and renewed subsequently. Colchester Castle still has a sign from the same era pointing to the air raid shelter in its vaults. Any event that causes disruption on the level of the last couple of years is going to leave "ghosts" for many years to come.