Your shopping habits?

Post by **wangi** » 07 Sep 2010, 21:38

All this talk about shops and damage to the high st if a (small) supermarket were to be built on the old SP site (1, 2) got me thinking... Just what are the shopping habits of people here in Portobello (or at least people on Talk Porty)?

Please share some details - some suggested themes:

Where do you do your weekly grocery shop: Scotmid, Tesco (Musselburgh), ASDA (Jewel), Morrisons, M&S (Fort Kinnaird), other? Mix it up depending on price and offers?

What shops on Portobello High St do you routinely, occasionally or never use? What about in Fisherrow or Musselburgh - is there anything special there that's missing here?

And clothes, electrical items and the like - Edinburgh City Centre, Ocean Terminal, Fort Kinnaird, ... Glasgow, Gyle?

I'll get the ball rolling in a minute...

Post by **wangi** » 07 Sep 2010, 21:57

Ok, so shopping isn't really something I enjoy... It's a task!

More often than not the big weekly shop is done at Tesco at Musselburgh and occasionally at ASDA. Tesco is much more manageable than the oversized ASDA - wonder what impact the big new Tesco will have on that? Morrisons gets a very infrequent visit - probably as often as Aldi & Lidl. Scotmid is only ever in passing, Sunday morning or a "cycle along to get the missing recipe ingredient" sort of place - it's infuriating.

Fort Kinnaird is probably visited weekly - be it M&S for a few food items or B&Q, or (pulling teeth) just more general shopping.

The local High St shops I use the most are both owned by the same guy - one in Fisherrow and the other in Portobello... The wine shop, for beer. The sort of shopping I can enjoy. The butcher is probably a monthly visit, but would be more frequent if the opening hours were better.

Add in a random pick of the takeaways... And newsagents, and Blockbuster.

L/

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 07 Sep 2010, 22:32

Our shopping habits haven't changed much over the years. Pick up the essentials on a daily basis from Scotmid. Most of our meat comes from Findlay's and our fish from Williamson's. Dislike the big chain stores both in principle and in practice but, as a foodie, have a weakness for the more upmarket offerings of Waitrose and M&S. Otherwise, much of our shopping is online. I value our local shops and am prepared to defend them, warts and all, against the soulless, identikit high street experience that is so prevalent elsewhere.

philip myerscough · Post by **philip myerscough** » 07 Sep 2010, 22:51

I don't shop in Portobello but I do share Bob's hatred of identikit soulless high streets. But I think they are a feature of small towns distant from other shopping. Portobello has Fort Kinnaird etc nearby. Those guys will not be interested in Porty High Street. Compare Morningside or Bruntsfield where I do shop. They have Waitrose and M&S foodstore and a small Tesco. There are few other national retailers. Boots is all I can think of. But there are great independents - fashion, books, children's clothes, meat, cheese, fish, german coffee and cakes, oh...and a Costa! Lots of students and elderly and mostly flats so not a mega high income demographic. Could this not be Porty's High Street in the years to come?

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 07 Sep 2010, 23:13

Similarly to Wangi, we do one big supermarket shop at either Tesco's or Sainsbury's (unless I am feeling low on self-esteem and need cheering up in which case I use ASDA). The only big shop I really enjoy going to is Costco. During the week we use Porty High Street for the rest of our bits and pieces. The local shops I regularly use are:

Home Hardware
Williamsons the fish man
Alan's the Chemist
Scotmid - usually a reluctant cycle along the Prom for something I have forgotten!

If we ever fancy a bag of chips we use Carlo's, Baguette Express for a lunchtime baked potato or Tiger Tiger at Eastfield for a family takeaway.

And finally........ do the Ormelie and the Espy count as shopping?

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 07 Sep 2010, 23:25

We do most of our "big" shopping in Morrisons or Asda - Morrison the most because it's handy on the way home from work. Scotmid as well for when we just can't be bothered traipsing round Morrisons/Asda, but they just don't have the variety of the other supermarkets. Of all the shops we use though, Asda depresses me the most...I'm often close to slitting my wrists halfway through a big shop in there.

However, after slating Scotmid's lack of variety, I do have to praise their wine selection, don't know who their buyer is but they've got a much better and more interesting selection than all the "big 4".

Findlays, Kitcheners and Fine Wine all get frequent patronage from us though, as did Borders before it closed. I wish some of them (and Williamsons which I can hardly ever visit) would open longer hours 1 day a week, or open Sundays if even just from 10-4 or so...

And, like Bob, we just can't resist the occasional foodie visit to Waitrose or M&S!

allaboardtheskylark · Post by **allaboardtheskylark** » 07 Sep 2010, 23:52

OK the big shop is usually chavzda, but the big shop is not an attempt at the week's provisions. Sometimes Sainsbury's, or .... Waitrose on-line has had the odd visit for the big shop. Not TESCO for some reason.

Then I would say money spent in High Street everyday on the sundry stuff like milk bread etc. The Co-op gets very regular visits plus Williamsons, Findlay's and the butchers at Joppa. Others in the High Street get regular visits, quite a reasonable spread.

Electrical goods, usually on-line. Books charity shop and give them back again, perversly always to a different charity shop.

Snacks if we get lazy bagex etc. Treats at home? M&S and you guessed it, Waitrose.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » 08 Sep 2010, 11:54

Tesco or Morrisons for the big shop, finlays for steak pies/haggis/roasts,kitcheners for the over-priced over-rated occasional roll,greggs for the occasional under-priced under-rated chicken pastie,blockbuster,hardware shop,bg cycles,mccolls and the fishmonger beside vicky wines, the wife uses the scotmid for bevvy, she claims they have the best options in porty.

I'm against Waitrose/M&S stores though.The food, whilst being OK, is over-priced and mostly pre-packaged meals.If I want to buy tasty over-priced food, i'll go up to Valvona & Crolla (they tried to charge my mate £10 for 4 peaches recently, how we laughed)

How about something along the lines of Borders?Books/music/coffee/magazines.Smaller, but why does it have to be food?I still miss the music shop at the top of Marlborogh Strasse.

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 08 Sep 2010, 12:00

My routine for provisions is pretty local apart from Tesco or Asda online (would use the local Scotmid or Iceland instead if they did deliveries) plus the High Street: Woodwares, the chemists, charity shops, Portobello Massage and the newsagent at the Joppa end (can't remember the name of it). Plus take-aways many, many, many times...

Trying to think which businesses I use infrequently. They're all local - laundrette, Steve the handyman, dentist, Greggs, Dalriada, Espy, Beach House, Swim Centre, sweetie shop at the top of Bath Street, key cutting place, library, bike repair shop, CAB, and Findlay's I spose. But I get any electrical goods online.

In the very near future I need a new laptop, a local solicitor, window cleaner and a computer repair bod - any recommendations..?

Forgot to say, if that bingo thing is ever reopened as a wee cinema, I'd be a regular visitor!

Mark Cameron · Post by **Mark Cameron** » 08 Sep 2010, 12:51

Our weekly shop is done at Scotmid 99.9% of the time (except for fruit/veg which we get from the High Street).

We occassionally use Finlayson's but again price and opening hours are an issue.

We try to use other shops where possible but I do'nt have a problem if a small high-end store (eg Waitrose/M&S) was to be part of the development.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 09 Sep 2010, 14:45

Franck wrote:.If I want to buy tasty over-priced food, i'll go up to Valvona & Crolla (they tried to charge my mate £10 for 4 peaches recently, how we laughed)

bought one large ball of mozarrella - it was £8 and they asked if we wanted two!

We had similar problem with the ridged Italian tomatoes...

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 10 Sep 2010, 12:03

We alternate the big weekly shop between Asda and Morrison's (although Morrison's only if we want to eat the same thing week after week after week....). I like Asda - they play good music

. Most of our veg comes from the allotment.

Locally I regularly use McColl's, Portobello Stationers, Woodwares, BofS, Allans, Kitchener's, Popeyes, all of the charity shops (

), the butcher at Bellfield St (great steak pies and cheaper than Findlays), the fish shop, Robertson's shoe repairers, Buddies. Have to say though, have never entered Spells and Smells.....what IS that??

I would definitely use a Waitrose but not a Lidl or an Aldi - no snob value involved just hate the whole soul destroying Lidl/Aldi experience

Makaveli · Post by **Makaveli** » 10 Sep 2010, 12:38

We shop in Morrison's and also use the High Street for 'top up's' and when we are buying any meat i.e. the butchers and fishmongers.

Scotmid is beyond a joke and the only reason folk go there is they either have no transport or they are using the PO and happen to pick up other things whilst in there.

I use the hairdresser (Buddy's) and we go to Redz and use the hardware store and Le Vie en Rose too.

I can't see our habit's changing if there was a Waitrose (or A.N. Other) built - the only loser would maybe be Morrison's for us.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 10 Sep 2010, 23:11

morrison has recently announced its going into online shopping...just catching up with the rest.

Makaveli · Post by **Makaveli** » 11 Sep 2010, 06:00

Yeah I read that about Morrison's. Although they are only going to trial it in a certain area next year so not really expecting anything for a couple of years on that.

We tried the online grocery shopping and it really isn't the same as going in store - I can see how it would be useful to some though.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 11 Sep 2010, 11:07

I must be a bit of a nightmare for all those companies that try to track spending habits. I've numerous loyalty cards and fluctuate from being quite price conscious, visiting shops just for their offers, to buying based on quality of product, rather than price.

For basic canned goods etc. my favourite supermarket to shop in is Sainsbury's, but I like the quality of Asda's 28 day aged beef, which is also well-priced, so will shop there occasionally when we want some nice steaks.I don't like the Asda shopping experience very much, but their Newhaven Store isn't too bad. I also occasionally shop at Morrison's and Tesco, but not very often. Just don't like them very much. I'll also shop at M&S at Fort Kinnaird, especially for their dining-in deals and very occasionally at Waitrose in Stockbridge, because they do a cut of lamb loin that I can't find anywhere else. If my OH spots me with a Waitrose bag, however, he threatens divorce.

I like Findlay's for their free-range chickens and their huge variety of pork sausages, which are great for BBQs or weekend breakfasts. When the weather turns colder I also buy smoked ham houghs for soups. However, the downside to the quality is that it is pricey; I found rack of lamb, for example, cheaper in M&S.

Fresh veg comes from either the allotment, Sainsbury's or Banana Republic.

Fish is always from Clark Brothers in Musselburgh.

Wine is very often from Scotmid - they have a good range and I'm convinced they sometimes make mistakes when pricing up! We also use Scotmid for fresh milk and anything we run short of.

We also use Woodware's (can't remember its new name!) for allotment stuff and hardware items. One of our favourite local shops!

Other local outlets we use include Gregg's , McColl's, Boots and Baguette Express.

Like PoP I also shop at Cost-co.

I don't shop online unless I'm really short of time. I much prefer picking up stuff in store.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 11 Sep 2010, 19:40

This was my shopping experience today. Findlay's deli for honey roast ham and rolls for our usual Saturday packed lunch (entire day spent ferrying daughter from one class to another). Scotmid for a few essentials. Into Williamson's and spent some 10 minutes chatting to owner on various fish-related topics, including the live lobsters he is selling (bargain price but I just can't bring myself to kill the poor things, delicious as they are) and the £15M herring and mackerel scandal in Lerwick before buying mackerel, mussels and hot-smoked salmon. Headed home, having stopped to speak to various friends and neighbours I met on the way.

Back to Scotmid later on for wine and a few other things I realised I needed for tonight's dinner.

philip myerscough · Post by **philip myerscough** » 11 Sep 2010, 19:59

Bob Jefferson wrote:Back to Scotmid later on for wine and a few other things I realised I needed for tonight's dinner.

Sweet Jesus! I'm salivating. Any prospect of coming to yours for dinner tonight?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 11 Sep 2010, 20:26

Sure. Moules marinieres just about to be served. BYOB.

allaboardtheskylark · Post by **allaboardtheskylark** » 12 Sep 2010, 11:09

Marya, Woodware = MICA Hardware.

Shop there all the time, so much easier than going to the Mother Ship at B&Q. Can never find anything up there.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 12 Sep 2010, 12:21

Bob Jefferson wrote:This was my shopping experience today. Findlay's deli for honey roast ham and rolls for our usual Saturday packed lunch (entire day spent ferrying daughter from one class to another). Scotmid for a few essentials. Into Williamson's and spent some 10 minutes chatting to owner on various fish-related topics, including the live lobsters he is selling (bargain price but I just can't bring myself to kill the poor things, delicious as they are) and the £15M herring and mackerel scandal in Lerwick before buying mackerel, mussels and hot-smoked salmon. Headed home, having stopped to speak to various friends and neighbours I met on the way.

Back to Scotmid later on for wine and a few other things I realised I needed for tonight's dinner.

Bob, I can't help thinking you're a bit unusual - in the nicest possible way, of course

So far it seems that the rest of us use our local shops, but we also use supermarkets in the surrounding areas ( the exception being mcdryburn who uses Scotmid for his major supermarket shop).

If another supermarket opens up in Portobello I won't be abandoning my local shops for it, but my trips to Sainsbury's might decrease. That might hit Sainsbury's profits, but it won't harm our High Street.

Do you think that you would change your shopping habits, abandoning all those cosy 10 min chats in the fishmongers (I can just imagine the queue behind you

) if a new supermarket opened up?

I honestly can't see it.

I would be opposed to an application to build a hypermarket on the Scottish Power site (which is what the PCATS campaign fought against), but I'm unconvinced so far that a much smaller supermarket carries the same threat.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 12 Sep 2010, 17:38

Depends what it was. I would be sorely tempted by a Waitrose for deli-type things but I would continue to buy the majority of my meat and fish in the High Street. And it depends where on the site the supermarket is located. If I'm just popping out for a few essentials, I'm not going to want to have to walk further for the same things and I'm certainly not going to take the car.

But you're right, we are probably unusual in that we don't do a weekly 'big shop' as most people here seem to. We used to go to Sainsbury's every Sunday morning for opening time because it was quieter then, but even so it was a couple of precious hours lost from our weekend and I never enjoyed the experience, trudging around pushing a trolley with hundreds of other consumers, trying to choose between dozens of varities of basically the same things. Too much (meaningless) choice, too many decisions. But I suppose it depends on your circumstances. Because my wife works from home, it's easier for her to shop locally on a daily basis.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 14 Sep 2010, 16:47

Bob Jefferson wrote:....... I would be sorely tempted by a Waitrose for deli-type things but I would continue to buy the majority of my meat and fish in the High Street.......

...But if we had a proper Deli in Porty High Street then you would not even have to bother walking to Waitrose.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 14 Sep 2010, 17:06

Costco rules!!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 14 Sep 2010, 18:22

Today, I bought the only carrot in Scotmid.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 14 Sep 2010, 18:25

So it was you!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 14 Sep 2010, 18:34

I was in Scotmid recently and met a friend. She was looking for something to take round to her mother as a present. I glanced around in an effort to help. "Ferrero Rocher?" I suggested in desperation. "The thing I like about Scotmid," she replied "is that I never spend much money in here because they never have anything I want." And she was serious. And I agree with her. Shopping in Scotmid saves you money because you are not tempted to buy all the nice things that they have in Waitrose, for example.

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 14 Sep 2010, 22:28

Agree totally, limited choice equals more pennies in your purse!

I for one am sad and shop in Scotmad every day for bits and pieces. I like their special offers. I hate big supermarkets for the single reason that I get harranged all the way round to buy this and buy that by my 5 year old son! Scotmid - there is nothing much he really wants in there - the odd comic and sweetie and its a cheaper option compated to a 'toy' in Asda. Mr Pb tends to do the 'big shop' but he loves Lidl with a passion.

I also prefer Clarkes in Mussleburgh for fish. Don't use Kitcheners - all a bit Eco washing powdery, lentily for me. If I am visiting a deli I'll go to Lupe Pintos for some treats. Use the card shop, craft shop, RS McColls, the wine shop, takeaways, Boots and the charity shops. Also Mica - is Mica not a chain/franchise - have seen them in Cambeltown and St Andrews? Veg - at this time of year from the lotty.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 15 Sep 2010, 09:03

Puerto bella wrote:....Also Mica - is Mica not a chain/franchise - have seen them in Cambeltown and St Andrews?

More like a sort of co-operative where many of the independents club together to give themselves increased buying power, a bit more of a branded presence etc.

Bazza · Post by **Bazza** » 30 Sep 2010, 16:43

We do almost all our shopping in Scotmid. I would get more fruit and veg from Banana Republic if they were open in the evenings after I get home.

I get the occasional thing from the specialist Indian and Chinese shops on Leith Walk.

We use Micas a lot, and we do the rounds of the charity shops every now and then. Fine Wines gets the odd visit, but again, they close a bit early.

And of course we go to Findlays for sausages and haggis every now and then.

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

Your shopping habits?

Your shopping habits?

Re: Your shopping habits?