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TESCO has come under fire after a buyer was told they cannot purchase sanitary pads from a branch in Wales because they are NOT an essential item.
The supermarket giant has been caught in a furious line when customers say they were “furious and crying” over the move.
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Tesco has blamed the Welsh government for the dispute, claiming that ministers said products from the period cannot be sold during the country’s 17-day Covid shutdown.
A move by the supermarket to cordon off vintage items with barriers sparked a furor.
One shopper named Katie tweeted to the supermarket giant to ask, “Can you explain why they told me today that I can’t buy menstrual pads because I’m sure they are essential for women?
“But I can buy alcohol, it doesn’t make sense.”
Crazy: eight items that count as ‘essential’ (and eight that don’t)
The Welsh government’s decision to ban the sale of ‘non-essentials’ during a 17-day firewall has sparked a furor
Essential:
- Alcohol
- Chips
- Journals
- Cigarettes
- Dog treats
- bikes
- Rubber gloves
- bouquets
Not essensial
- Mops and buckets
- Kettles
- Toasters
- books
- The baby grows
- Warm winter jumpers
- Quilts
- Birthday cards
Another tweeted to say: “I am literally furious and crying.
“Tesco, how the heck is essential beer and non-essential PERIOD PRODUCTS”.
A Tesco PR representative responded to Katie: “We understand how frustrating these changes will be for our Welsh customers.
“However, the government of Wales has told us not to sell these items for the duration of the firewall.”
But the chain later apologized for being wrong after government officials clarified that the products can be sold.
In a tweet, a spokesperson for the authority said: “This is wrong, vintage products are essential.
“Supermarkets can still sell items that can be sold in pharmacies.
“Selling only essential items during the firewall is to discourage spending more time than necessary in stores.
“It shouldn’t prevent you from accessing the items you need.”
Now Tesco says: “Of course, sanitary products are essential items and are available to customers in all of our stores, including those in Wales.
“The response to this customer was sent in error and we are very sorry for the confusion caused.”
So what counts as essential in Wales?
Welsh people can buy products that are normally sold in:
- Food and beverage retailers (even without licenses)
- Newsstands
- Construction material and hardware stores
- Pharmacies and pharmacies
- Bike shops
- Oil stations
- Garages and car rental companies
- Post offices, banks, housing credit societies and the like
- Pet Shop
- Agricultural and aquaculture supply stores
- Livestock markets and auctions
- Batteries, light bulbs and rubber gloves may continue to be sold.
The rules state: “Companies that would normally sell a variety of products in their stores can only sell those items that fall into the categories above.
“This likely means that some areas of the stores should be closed to customer access. However, it will be important for those stores to manage access to different product categories in a way that ensures that customers and staff can circulate. safely inside the store.
“Some products may need to remain available to avoid creating unnecessary restrictions in a mixed product aisle for the safe movement of customers.”
It occurs when the country’s officials face a huge backlash over their definition of what counts as essential and what doesn’t.
During the new closure, which took effect at 6 pm Friday, stores are unable to sell clothing to customers and staff are told to prioritize selling “important” essentials.
Shocked shoppers shared images of cordoned off aisles.
The sale of stationery, books, warm winter duvets, children’s clothing, and even cleaning products like mops is banned until November.
The terms of the new measures are much harsher than the original closure in March, when supermarkets were not prohibited from selling any items.
More than 50,000 people have signed Senedd’s largest petition ever challenging the “non-essential property” rules.
The rules fell further into confusion today, as ministers said that people can buy non-essential products in supermarkets, but only if they are essential.
Labor leader Drakeford and his team have risked adding to the chaos by saying that stores can now use their “discretion.”
Health Minister Vaughan Gething said customers should be allowed to buy “otherwise non-essential products” if there were “exceptional circumstances” that meant they were essential.
Gething told Sky News this morning that they were “clearing up” the rules.
“We seek to have that clarity for everyone so that you do not see cards, for example, stamped in one store but available in another,” he said.
“If there really are exceptional circumstances and someone needs what would otherwise be a nonessential item, that can happen too.”
In addition, the police have been conducting on-the-spot checks on people traveling through the country.
The British North Wales Transport Police team faced anger over the weekend after sharing a now-deleted photo of officers huddled around a passenger on a train.
And many in the country have now lashed out at the Welsh Prime Minister, Mark Drakeford.
I am literally furious and crying. Tesco, how the heck is beer essential and PERIODS non-essential?
Twitter user Nichola-Louise
He has confirmed that this week a review of the items for sale in supermarkets will be carried out.
He said: “We are going to review how the weekend has gone with the supermarkets and make sure common sense is applied.
“Supermarkets can sell anything that can be sold in any other type of store that is not required to close.
“In the meantime, get out of the house only if you have to.”
He said during a press conference last week: “It is a simple matter of justice, we are in this together here in Wales.”
“No individual or organization is above the effort that we must all make.
“That includes people who may believe that they are beyond the law themselves, and it includes those organizations that are big and powerful.”
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