Supermarkets - all changing

[markcoznottz]

Sheepshanks said:

HTP99 said:

The problem with the big supermarkets is choice; there is far too much,

I'm being a bit snobbish here, but we called in to an Asda/Walmart superstore at Huyton, a pretty rough area outside Liverpool, while passing one time and my wife sent me off to find Tartar Sauce and I was staggered by the choice they had - not only of that, but of every other similar product.

I presume they only stock what sells, but it's hard to imagine the people in that area are discerning enough to need a massive selection of such items.

Often wondered that, who on earth buys this stuff, like you say working class people don't want 14 types of tomato sauce surely? What happens to the unsold stock?

[Monkeylegend]

markcoznottz said:

Often wondered that, who on earth buys this stuff, like you say working class people don't want 14 types of tomato sauce surely? What happens to the unsold stock?

The use by dates are pretty lengthy on those products, like months, even years, so they are very unlikely not to sell within these.

You would need to be a very crappy buyer to overstock to that extent.

[Jimmy Recard]

I shop normally at Aldi and Sainsburys now.

I pick up random stuff for work packed lunches like crisps and chocolate bars at Aldi, and main food at Sainsburys because I've found it better.

Also I needed a new drill a while ago. Thought I'd give one from Aldi a try, as an experiment. I thought it'd last about half an hour and be funny. £25 and it's done as much as I'd expect from a DeWalt at £100 or more. It's well within the warranty period but if it breaks I'll throw it away and get the brushless Makita hammer drill I fancied anyway.

I've bought loads of stuff there now. Tools (cordless multitool, spanners, allen keys, a jigsaw, LED inspection lamp, clamp set and others I've forgotten), a Bluetooth cassette player/radio, camping bed. All much better than the price.

I nip in a couple of times a week in the evening to check for cool impulse purchases. Better than spending money on heroin and nappies, I suppose

[Brave Fart]

All this comparing of supermarkets strikes me as odd, because we just go to the nearest one (Tesco). I honestly cannot bring myself to drive 12 miles return to Aldi when Tesco is one mile away. It's not just the petrol, it's the time (you have to see the traffic around the M27 to believe it). Tesco would have to be spectacularly bad for us to go elsewhere.

Also, why are people going on about "customer experience"? You turn up, go round and apart from a brief "morning!" and "thanks, bye" to the checkout person there is no element of experience, whichever shop you visit. If they have what I want, I can park, and the queues are OK then that's as much "experience" as I want.

TLDR: they are pretty similar so visit the nearest one.

[skip_1]

I really like the Lidl bottled ales branded as Hathewood brewery. Range from 0.89p to £1.09 a bottle and are made by Wychwood.

[zeDuffMan]

My parents have fallen in love with Aldi but I much prefer Tesco's scan as you shop thing.

There's a huge Tesco's near where I live. Even when it's 'busy' it doesn't feel like it, and I can walk around at my own pace or zip round like road runner and pack straight into the bags. No need to talk to anyone. The checkout is just scanning the barcode on top of the screen and then paying like the self checkouts. Luckily my gf doesn't go with me on my main shops so I don't get dragged around places I don't want to go. I can be in and out in 15 minutes if I want.

The local Aldi is smaller than most and is always totally packed. You have to queue for parking. I haven't got time for that.

[g3org3y]

Jimmy Recard said:

Better than spending money on heroin and nappies, I suppose

Classic combination.

[FiF]

Just a comment about the new Lidl self scan checkouts. They seem pretty good pieces of kit, none of this, unexpected item in bagging area bks, and the supervising staff member is always on the button, none of the off chatting to mates wastes of time that you get in Tesco. The only thing that keeps us going to Tesco for some of the shop is that it's a) nearest and b) self scan system.

[antspants]

Jimmy Recard said:

I've bought loads of stuff there now... a Bluetooth cassette player/radio

Cassette player?! How long has the Aldi near you been open?

Back on topic, my wife buys a lot of stuff at Aldi but not everything. I think she tends to buy meat and fish elsewhere, and although she tries to persevere I've asked her many times not to bother with the beer because what she brings back is awful.

[TLandCruiser]

I tried Aldi once, thought the quality and selection was poor. I generally shop in Waitrose as their food is excellent and if not Waitrose I'll go Sainsbury's.

[Globs]

FiF said:

none of the off chatting to mates wastes of time that you get in Tesco.

That 'chatting to mates' is their working life that is.
Do we really want a nation of robot zombies ?

[FiF]

Globs said:

FiF said:

none of the off chatting to mates wastes of time that you get in Tesco.

That 'chatting to mates' is their working life that is.
Do we really want a nation of robot zombies ?

No, but when they've got several customers waiting with the "Assistance required" light flashing because a 60 year old apparently needs approval for that bottle of Barolo etc, then waiting for a discussion bout Shazza and Gazza's antics in the bar of the Nosepickers Fingernails gets a bit irritating.

[wack]

10 years ago a friend of mine's wife wouldn't shop at Aldi because she didn't like German milk and wouldn't be seen driving a Skoda

She now does all her shopping at Aldi in her Dacia Sandero

The times they are a changing