Supermarkets - all changing
Discussion
The ongoing supermarket war for customers is alive and well, the big five have been battered by those pesky German newcomers.
This week we went grocery shopping as usual except decided to give Aldi a look in. Completely different approach to the big five in presentation terms, price and service. The shopping felt like a 'needs must' with nothing particularly attractive in terms of the product presentation. For us it really was a. are of we need this, this and this with zero special offers to side track us.
Prices are fairly low, certainly lower than our usual fare, that's a good thing for us.
Choice is more limited regarding products, but the products are all good quality and certainly all of the basics are fine.
The checkout was good, very busy but handled extremely well. Seems like the staffing at the checkout is computerised and very efficient. Dispute the shop being busy we were out in next to no time, impressed.
Onto to our usual supermarket, by contrast they have a long way to go with every aspect. The checkout was terrible with long queuing and half the tills closed. Plenty of self checkouts which were also busy, and I object to using them anyway.
Just our observations, nothing scientific of course, just a customer perspective.
This week we went grocery shopping as usual except decided to give Aldi a look in. Completely different approach to the big five in presentation terms, price and service. The shopping felt like a 'needs must' with nothing particularly attractive in terms of the product presentation. For us it really was a. are of we need this, this and this with zero special offers to side track us.
Prices are fairly low, certainly lower than our usual fare, that's a good thing for us.
Choice is more limited regarding products, but the products are all good quality and certainly all of the basics are fine.
The checkout was good, very busy but handled extremely well. Seems like the staffing at the checkout is computerised and very efficient. Dispute the shop being busy we were out in next to no time, impressed.
Onto to our usual supermarket, by contrast they have a long way to go with every aspect. The checkout was terrible with long queuing and half the tills closed. Plenty of self checkouts which were also busy, and I object to using them anyway.
Just our observations, nothing scientific of course, just a customer perspective.
hyphen said:
Why do you object to self checkouts? Do you realise there German chains are also rolling them out.
And I think you are in a honeymoon phase/have a particularly bad normal supermarket, as Aldi's near me often have most of the checkouts closed and long queues. Their checkout workers have aggressive targets of how many they have to scan per mili second too along with other sharp practices such as making a Lorry driver who has just driven for x hours also do the unloading.
I use all the supermarkets as being in London they are all nearby, pro's and cons. Tesco is my most hated though, as their ethics seem the lowest of all.
Interesting stuff, the Aldi we used in new, about 18 months, but it's fairly small with only about 7. checkouts. Sort of toe in the water feeling perhaps.And I think you are in a honeymoon phase/have a particularly bad normal supermarket, as Aldi's near me often have most of the checkouts closed and long queues. Their checkout workers have aggressive targets of how many they have to scan per mili second too along with other sharp practices such as making a Lorry driver who has just driven for x hours also do the unloading.
I use all the supermarkets as being in London they are all nearby, pro's and cons. Tesco is my most hated though, as their ethics seem the lowest of all.
Edited by hyphen on Tuesday 27th June 12:03
I dislike self service checkouts owing to my feeling that the more customers that use them the less staff they employ. My trust that the savings are passed onto the customer by self service checkout use is zero. Having said that I will use self service if I have just a few items and the staff tills are queuing.
I was not aware that the German supermarkets were/are rolling out self serve checkouts, but I suppose it's inevitable to help them maintain thier growing customer base, Some of us are just stuck in our ways I suppose.
Really dislike the poor ethics illustrated by the big 'T' supermarket, I know people that have worked for the Company, dreadful experience for them. Say no more.
Europa1 said:
crankedup said:
Not sure how to reply to that! Can't visit? Don't need to visit? Partner loves shopping? Have scurfs to shop for you? Grow your own? Click delivery.
Not sure you meant "scurfs". This may read as really desparate, the best place for steaks we have found is Icelands. Wife presented me with some ( cooked 
as a mixed grill thing, the steak was superb. I asked where it had come from, other than the cow, Icelands. We always buy the steak from them now. As good as any individual butcher shop! Surprising.
as a mixed grill thing, the steak was superb. I asked where it had come from, other than the cow, Icelands. We always buy the steak from them now. As good as any individual butcher shop! Surprising.
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