Tesco customers fume over major 'new policy'

Customers say it's a really inconsiderate move

Tesco customers have expressed their frustration on social media after a patron highlighted changes to car park timings at her local store. A sign from the Tesco in question notified that the car park slots have been modified to permit just one hour of parking between 8pm and midnight, and a half-hour window from midnight until 6am.

Those visiting between 6am and 8pm, however, can stay for up to three hours. The disgruntled customer shared her routine of leisurely shopping late in the evening "for a couple of hours" when it's less busy. It should be noted that the parking restrictions could differ from one Tesco to another around the country.

Responding to the backlash, Tesco told The Mirror that it takes customer feedback into account when making such adjustments.

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Taking to X, the microblogging platform formerly known as Twitter, the customer vented: "Hey @Tesco I do my shopping at night so I can wander round without my kids and buy nice things that I can hide and eat by myself. It's a couple of hours to myself once a week. This new policy sucks," reports the Mirror.

She further clarified: "I know to a lot of people this probably seems petty and not a big deal, but to anyone who either has kids or works weird hours and has to shop in the evening, or for anyone neurodivergent it's absolutely not okay."

Her comments resonated with many other customers. One sympathised: "I agree @Tesco I'd need more than an hour in the evening. Have enough stress in work that I don't need to be rushed going shopping too!" Another concurred: "Totally agree, if you're going to have a 24hr store, make the car park 24hrs too! Plenty of people like to do full shops outside their busy hours."

A third customer shared their personal situation: "I don't go to this particular @Tesco but as a sole full time carer for my dad who has mobility issues and mixed dementia, I also can only do the shopping on an evening. Similarly, it's two hours to myself once a week. This is a really inconsiderate thing to do. Shame on Tesco."

The change in policy prompted questions from others. One person asked: "That does not make sense... surely the car park is pretty empty 12 - 6am?" While another speculated: "It might be because a lot of Tesco car parks get used as boy racer car meets late at night."

A spokesperson for Tesco stated: "It is important to us that all our customers can find a space when they visit our stores and, where we have parking limits in place, this is to allow us to better manage spaces, and to deter anti-social behaviour in the car park at night, especially outside of opening hours."