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[Lizzie_Zoom]

  Well I will answer that BM.

Where do I start - and these are a mixture orf my experiences, my many friends experiences, and my retail business experiences:

Bad attitude of staff,; unfriendly; unhelpful; can't crack a smile let alone talk to the customer; everything taken for granted that you will shop at Tesco (which I certainly don't now) with numerous other examples on line; refusal to sell alcohol to an adult because they have a "minor" with them who they think you are buying it for;  ditto with cigarettes (many examples amongst us that have also made the press from time to time;" leaders" in selling sub-standard products that contain horsemeat; an "unfortunate" practice of spreading rumours that they are going to build a supermarket (in multiple areas) that immediately destroys the value and retail power of the businesses around the site and devalues the value of the land that Tesco then build on taking advantage of their destructive power; oh, and yes two weeks ago I unfortunately went with a friend who insisted on going to Tesco - went to the Ladies and never had I seen a facility throughout my retail experience like it - no toilet rolls, no soap, floors dirty, bits of toilet roll all over the toilet  cubilcals and female hygiene bins overflowing - all an absolute disgrace for a food store as major as Tesco!

I am a dedicated Sainsbury's shopper have been since shopping with my mum as a child aged 3 years, who also uses Waitrose, Asda, and the likes of Iceland. What a different experience that always is, with staff in especially Sainsbury's always talking to you, smiling (one kept on not doing so and after my intervention they went!) and giving great service in great stores with lovely toilets!

Blimey Lizzie, you really are not a big fan are you ?   

I have to say most of what you say puzzles me. My time is split between North London and West Wales and at the Tescos in both I don't see much, if any, of what you say. In Wales in particular, the staff are outstandingly helpful and pleasant, and chatty. Clean, nice toilets etc, with green hills and cows visible from the car park !

However I certainly have issues with Tesco. In particular the way in which they acquire sites, they bully and manipulate "We are Tesco and we get what we want" ! . . . . one way or the other. I know of one example where a large old shop in London agreed to sell to Tesco. Well into the process Tesco unilaterally reduced the price by £50k on a take it or leave basis. The owner pulled out and sold to Sainsburys.

Treatment of suppliers ? Numerous stories out there, despite the recent TV programme about their buying processes that was ever ever so . . . . "nice". PR crap

"every little helps" ? Yes of course many things are very cheap, and there are good deals. But across the board, they are expensive. Waitrose is frequently the same or even cheaper. No, "every little" of what ? . . . . how about Bull S ?

In London I shop mostly in a Lidl that is walking distance. In Wales, I try to use local town centre shops and the market, but also Lidl, but I do use Tesco and Morissons sometimes. In fact Tesco and Morrisons are almost the only petrol stations left. There is talk of a Tesco Express in the town . . . . . goodbye market ?
 

I wonder how you got that impression Rog!!

I view retail stores with the eyes of a professional, very experienced at training large retail teams in Customer Service, with 40 years experience of managing a retail multi-million pound business with full P&L responsibility. You will get regional / individual store variations in standards dependant on the quality of the management and the type of personnel they employ.

Overall the standards, or lack of them, is my experience after using many of their stores, often with friends, over many years.

The supplier issue is also a serious one, although in all honesty that is rampant throughout the retail trade with all the major chains; you use your huge buying power to get the best deals for your company that gives you maximum gross profit whilst still remaining competitive in the market place. Manufactures, their products, and sometimes both can be ruined if they lose the big chains business, so the best survive by using their professionalism to the full and maintaining high turn-over and the maximum unit costs they can attain in any given circumstances.

The joys of market forces!

[aaronjb]

Damn those market forces.  Communism would fix all this, I'm sure.

[Varche]

We were wondering only the other day , how many folk actually choose which supermarket as opposed to end up using one because it is convenient e.g. nearest or has a petrol station as well. For years our corner store was Safeway- a seven minute walk. We had an Asda but the parking was awful and the council wouldn't give them more space. The town now has a Tesco which involved all the shenanigans people have mentioned.

I have two relatives who work for Tesco. Well one has just retired . Both say the company gets their pound of flesh from their staff!

Anyone remember Liptons supermarket chain? I worked in the Scarborough branch(now a beefburger joint) as a teenager.

[Stuart30]

I worked as a labourer many years ago and one of the houses I worked on was owned by a newly retired Tesco Director.

To say he was minted was an understatement (Had a £25,000 Volvo estate for taking hedge clippings to the dump,The Merc was for daily driving)...but to talk to the guy he was amazing,so easy going and would insist we stopped and had a cuppa with him or help ourselves to a fridge full of cold drinks etc.

He said he started off at a Small store in London as a trainee butcher,worked his way to the top...but always remained as he started out,polite/helpful and considered himself no different to anyone else.

He also told us (were talking 20+ years ago) that you shouldn't buy Tesco meat as it was Gassed to stop it turning bad,whilst it might appear to be nice and fresh looking...it wouldn't be as the age of the meat was much older than people knew.

Top bloke...Can't say im a Tesco fan,but to be honest Sainsbury is just as bad (wife works there).

[biggriffin]

They are all the same, all they want is your money, the products all come from the same factories, suppliers, just a different packet. They all squeeze the life out of suppliers,producers to get the prices as low as possible.
Just happens that Tesco has had a dominant model for years,and has sat on its laurels for to long,and has been taking a kicking from all comers and is now playing catchup.

[TheBoy]

I have found my local Tesco (not much choice around here - there is quite a small Waitrose, but its an arse to get to, and only really does groceries) very helpful, always prepared to ring round local stores to check stock on non groceries.  Can't really fault them, even though its a small shop.  That said, I have absolutely no loyalty.


As with any other successful British company, its trendy for Brits to hate Tesco, in the same way they hate the pharmaceutical firms, BT, Rover, banks and so on...

[Rog]

They are all the same, all they want is your money, the products all come from the same factories, suppliers, just a different packet. They all squeeze the life out of suppliers,producers to get the prices as low as possible.
Just happens that Tesco has had a dominant model for years,and has sat on its laurels for to long,and has been taking a kicking from all comers and is now playing catchup.

Not sure. I'm not defending Tesco, but often in Wales there will be a special offer of Welsh Lamb that is way WAY below anything that you will see in any other Tesco or even local butcher. I really do think that they sometimes source locally, but does the supplier get really screwed ? Delicious welsh lamb at £8.50 per kilo, I can't believe the supplier is making much


 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I have found my local Tesco (not much choice around here - there is quite a small Waitrose, but its an arse to get to, and only really does groceries) very helpful, always prepared to ring round local stores to check stock on non groceries.  Can't really fault them, even though its a small shop.  That said, I have absolutely no loyalty.


As with any other successful British company, its trendy for Brits to hate Tesco, in the same way they hate the pharmaceutical firms, BT, Rover, banks and so on...

In many ways that is true TB, but my thoughts are based on a mix of personal, professional, and others experience.  The trouble with many British companies, if no others, is they become complacent, self centred on their own success, and then dictatorial, ignoring what the customer actually wants.

Marks & Spencers have done that, and are still fighting to regain their position in the market with us women. Sainsbury's, once the leading supermarket did it, and really went off the boil allowing Tesco's in. The British motor companies of Austin, Morris, Wolsley, Rover, etc., also did that, producing cars that the world, let alone British motorists did not want thus allowing the Japanese in, who also destroyed a complacent British motor cycle industry.

As I touched on before, market forces dictate who is successful, who is not, and who will go out of business. Lose sight of that and only do what you want to as a retailer or manufacturer, and away you go.  Somerfield, Home & Colonial, Lipton's, Kwik Save, Cyril Lord Carpets, Rolls Electricals, Ekco  Radio's, etc, etc, have all gone due to losing site of the market and customer needs, and by God there will be more!

Only the fittest will survive!

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Yep...I agree with Mistress Lizzie.

'Complacent' being the operative word.

Tesco long ago gave up 'wanting to be the best' and instead became complacent.

Their attitude these days has more of a 'f**k you' feel to it, and they are now paying the price for being dismissive of the people who shop there.

[omega3000]

Our new Tesco superstore is great , always friendly and happy to help ... just keep out my way round the corners while im in the scooter 

[Sir Tigger KC]

They are all the same, all they want is your money, the products all come from the same factories, suppliers, just a different packet. They all squeeze the life out of suppliers,producers to get the prices as low as possible.
Just happens that Tesco has had a dominant model for years,and has sat on its laurels for to long,and has been taking a kicking from all comers and is now playing catchup.

Not sure. I'm not defending Tesco, but often in Wales there will be a special offer of Welsh Lamb that is way WAY below anything that you will see in any other Tesco or even local butcher. I really do think that they sometimes source locally, but does the supplier get really screwed ? Delicious welsh lamb at £8.50 per kilo, I can't believe the supplier is making much

I worked for a haulage company a few years ago that had a good contract with Sainsbury's.  I was picking up a load of pork chops at an abbotoir one day and one of the fellas told me that Sainsburys wanted to run a 2 for 1 promotion on pork chops and were expecting the meat company to supply the extra chop free of charge!! 

The directors of the meat company were refusing but Sainsburys were playing hardball and threatening to take their business elsewhere.  Apparently the meat company were between a rock and a hard place as they depended on the Sainsburys contract, but would make a loss if they supplied the extra meat for free..... 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

They are all the same, all they want is your money, the products all come from the same factories, suppliers, just a different packet. They all squeeze the life out of suppliers,producers to get the prices as low as possible.
Just happens that Tesco has had a dominant model for years,and has sat on its laurels for to long,and has been taking a kicking from all comers and is now playing catchup.

Not sure. I'm not defending Tesco, but often in Wales there will be a special offer of Welsh Lamb that is way WAY below anything that you will see in any other Tesco or even local butcher. I really do think that they sometimes source locally, but does the supplier get really screwed ? Delicious welsh lamb at £8.50 per kilo, I can't believe the supplier is making much

I worked for a haulage company a few years ago that had a good contract with Sainsbury's.  I was picking up a load of pork chops at an abbotoir one day and one of the fellas told me that Sainsburys wanted to run a 2 for 1 promotion on pork chops and were expecting the meat company to supply the extra chop free of charge!! 

The directors of the meat company were refusing but Sainsburys were playing hardball and threatening to take their business elsewhere.  Apparently the meat company were between a rock and a hard place as they depended on the Sainsburys contract, but would make a loss if they supplied the extra meat for free..... 

All two for one promotions of BOGOF's if you prefer are at the expense of the supplier.

It's not the supermarkets who are taking the hit. They are not that benevolent.

[peter the butcher]

What or who is Tesco? We only go to the one shop, Waitrose, or slum it and have Sainsburys deliver.

I believe it is one of the Scilly Isles

lol, that Tresco, boss has a cottage there

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Our new Tesco superstore is great , always friendly and happy to help ... just keep out my way round the corners while im in the scooter

Scooter?.......How about a Kawasaki ZX1400?

Would that be allowed?

[peter the butcher]

Anyone remember Liptons supermarket chain? I worked in the Scarborough branch(now a beefburger joint) as a teenager.
[/quote]

I did a weeks relief butchery manager at one in Scarborough years ago