TESCO! Buy one grenade, get the second one free.
- 3 November 2009 19:4132341DT1 - so true. Everything you said!!
- 3 November 2009 19:4332342One more thought: those "super"markets pretend to "meet all the needs of the consumer". What they don't recognise - or care about - is that consumer needs are more than just for buying stuff. Consumer needs also involve the social interactions, the opportunity to teach the kids about money management and thrift, an opportunity to evaluate and weigh up needs against wants. Consumers are not buying machines, they are human beings!
- 3 November 2009 20:1932343Lots of positive views on this one. I`ve learnt alot from you all. We`ve been shopping at Tescos from day one, with no thought on local shops, but only because tesco was on the doorstep, and everything under one roof. Since coming onto this forum, some of you may be pleased to know, that my wife and I are now visiting Farmfoods, Savers etc, who all sell branded names, and as per my other thread, a big difference in price on a number of branded items from the big stores. Also, we`ve been in Marks and Spencers alot more now as well, as there was a time when it was dearer in there than elsewhere. Not too much of a food selection, but essential items are equal to the supermarkets, and hopefully, it will help to keep M & S here. Don`t forget, Folkestone lost their one. Happy shopping. Now, tescos in the middle east............
Tell them that I came, and no one answered. - 3 November 2009 20:2732347great stuff colin, interesting what you say about the prices in marks and spencers.
i always gave their food section because of price, now it is not much more than other shops and still better quality.
before anyone says about the white goods only available at whitfield, we have argos in town, you can ring them they will deliver for you, if you don't have the time available.
i realise that they are a national chain, but do we really want another empty outlet? - 4 November 2009 07:4732362Great news - the more people who choose local the better - nice one!!!
- 4 November 2009 08:5432367Interesting post there DT - always a challenge!
I think you are talking there more about a philosophy than the basic fundamental process of buying one's eggs and bacon. So much of the sentiments expressed, and it is sentimental in a way, a longing for the idyll, is not practical in these times.
The supermarkets are democracy in action. Sheer footfall dictates that they are here to stay. Of the grocery market, they probably account for something like 80% of the total spend. Its less if you take in their wider remit. So its democracy in action. Its what the man/woman on the clapham omnibus wants. If we were talking politics they would clearly form the next government.
We all like those lovely villages in Midsomer Murders(apart from the murder bit!) but you can bet everyone living there visits a large supermarket for their groceries.
I remember what life was like prior to supermarkets. Woman were generally housewives then and they went from hither to tither and probably spent all day doing it.
Mr Browns grocers
Mr Greens greengroces
Mr Smith the butcher
and so on. But they werent necessarily the wholesome entertaining experience Bern talks about. You might have gotten poor quality, bad service, high prices, lack of cleanliness here, obnoxious owners there, and very often you just had to put up with it. If they gave you some poor quality meat you could hardly complain as there was nowhere else to go!
It was not an ideal.
Thats why people embraced supermarkets bigtime when they arrived on the scene. They couldnt believe their luck or their choice. It made a real change from standing there face to face with your grocer and looking over his shoulder from across his counter trying to select the few goods on offer behind him. Some choice! He chose for you, because he bought in the goods you had in front of you. His choice was your choice!
But back to now. Its still not practical to shop small here in town. Let me take an imaginary walk. Ive already covered a mile and Im standing in Market Sq. Where do I go to buy a half dozen eggs?? Ok there's Somerfield, but no thats a supermarket, There's Marks and Spencer but no thats a supermarket(a supermarket that would add £1000 to my annual bill). Okay I'll stroll up this way to see if a shop turns up where I can find some eggs but when I find one will I trust the outlet...after all it is a perishible? Will I have the consumer confidence to buy there. Okay maybe Ive got my eggs..an hour has passed and Im pushed for time..I now need apples, where do I go for the apples..
My mother used to do that kind of thing, but no...shes gone and so is that era.
(I would add though that Im a fan of M & S even though its expensive and frequent there regularly)email: dover7@msn.com - 4 November 2009 10:5732374With respect, I think you are doing two things: talking down Dover and missing the point about the act of shopping.
It is not an "idyll" akin to fantasising about Midsomer Murders territory to express a human need for more than easy-buying-time when shopping. It is indeed an opportunity to teach the kids things, to talk to real people and to smell the roses, as well as buy stuff. Places like Tesco have deliberatley and systematically eradicated the human aspect of shopping and have led to what you describe in your last sentences. I have to say i find Dover with all its faults and reduced shopping experences much more than what you describe. To be sure it is shabby, and there are fewer shops than we need, but it is also alive and packed with real people. We need to be encouraging, as Roger does, the shopkeepers already there to be more helpful and to participate morein the community of shops, and shoppers to visit.