Supermarkets

Robin! · Post by **Robin!** » 09 Jul 2007, 00:21

Where do you usually get your shopping? Reason I ask is I work for Tesco.com on a part time basis for some extra cash. I was in the canteen today and I was bored so I picked up the latest propaganda saying that Tesco have cut 3,000 prices and are cheaper than Asda.

I usually shop at Asda, more a force of habbit than anything as my parents took me up to Asda Jewel as a child every Sunday and I've kinda followed that tradition. Anyway I got home from Asda tonight (after my shift at Tesco)

and I thought i would go on Tesco's online price check and compare. My findings were that Tesco either matched Asda's price or were more expensive! However their is thousands upon thousands of items, and Asda could well end up dearer for one of you! I do find Tesco stores usually have more selection and are stocked better.

On the flip side, Tesco's online delivery service is far more superior to Asda or Sainsburys' and I'm not putting a bias spin on this because I happen to delivery part time. Tesco.com have larger vans that you do not climb into to retrieve customer's shopping, thus meaning Tesco vans hold a lot more shopping, therefore have more time slots. We also have a more stores covering Edinburgh and I would imagine throughout the UK in most places. A lot of customers have told me they have tried the rivals and not found there services that good compared to Tesco.

Tesco also have a better rate of pay than Asda and have a simpler recruitment procedures. Asda have 3 stages. Application form, Group interview, formal interview. Tesco just have the application form then interview. However Asda give employees 20% off after 3 months, Tesco give you 10% after a year. plus shares. I'm not sure if Asda offer shares after a years service?

Anyhoo, just thought I'd give you my ten pence worth on my views of Asda and Tesco. I've kind of excluded Morrisons and Sainsburys as I dont really shop at those two and when I have I've found them dearer, However Sainsburys' fruit and veg is top notch!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Jul 2007, 10:28

Interestng stuff Robin.

Were Tesco delivery drivers not on strike recently or threatening to strike?

I've only ever used Tesco for delivery, usually wine and not very often.

The latest thing to irk me on my recent trips to Sainsburys? They have notices dotted arouns the store that say "We compare prices with Tesco".
Which of course means exactly whai it says on the tin. So if Sains charge 50p more for a loaf of bread than Tesco do then at least one has the comfort of knowing that they compared the price with Tesco.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 09 Jul 2007, 11:19

Thanks for this info.

We usually use Asda but might try Tesco next time for home delivery!

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 09 Jul 2007, 11:20

We use either tesco or sainsbury online for the main shops.

Bulk stuff (kitchen roll, bog roll, cleaning materials, dishwasher & washing machine tablets, chicken breasts, sweets) from Costco.

My favourite cereal, coffee, bacon grill and energy drinks can only be gotten from Lidl.

Then add in fresh meat and fish from porty/musselburgh, and also the deli bit at Dobbies.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 09 Jul 2007, 11:26

I'm probably a marketing man's nightmare. I flit around from store to store and along the High Street. It isn't that I'm a canny shopper just that I like a bit of variety and ain't loyal. Lately, I've found myself extolling the virtues of Lidl. Great wine prices (Chablis and Prosecco) and their fruit and veg are cheap (even the organic stuff!).

Like Dadaist, all my bog roll/washing up liquid etc. comes from Costco.

I don't tend to shop online. I'm lucky enough to usually have enough time to shop for myself. I often like to see what produce is in store and what takes my fancy before deciding what to buy.

However, if I was to choose just one store, it would be Sainsbury's - that's where most of my dosh goes.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Jul 2007, 12:04

I am a huge Costco fan. Their meat is superb. I had the scotch fillet steaks (not Aberdeen Angus which is even better) on saturday, they were so tender and tasty. Chicken breasts are not bulked with water. The cold meats are excellent too. Same goes for Cod, Salmon and prawns. And if you haven't tried the pakoras you dont know what you are missing.

Sparkling water, bog rolls, kitchen rolls, washing and household atuff is tremendous value too. I also love the "treasure hunt" items that you get there.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 09 Jul 2007, 12:30

Didn't know they had pakoras. Where are they?

We had a costco roast chicken the other day. Not had the ribs yet.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 09 Jul 2007, 12:47

Tesco on-line is a superb service although the majority of times I have had wine delivered and not groceries.

I love Costco too. Kid's will never let us leave without putting one of their massive trays of pizza in the trolley.

Jamesie · Post by **Jamesie** » 09 Jul 2007, 13:11

Porty wrote: Sparkling water, bog rolls, kitchen rolls, washing and household atuff is tremendous value too. I also love the "treasure hunt" items that you get there.

Got to agree with the general consensus re Costco but they aren't always the cheapest. I had to purchase a vast quantity of lager at the tail end of last week and both ASDA and Sainsburys undercut them on the Tennents and Stella front.

This isn't the first time I've seen this with regard to Costco prices, but on the whole I like going there as they have a brilliant range of stuff.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 09 Jul 2007, 13:35

Marya wrote:However, if I was to choose just one store, it would be Sainsbury's - that's where most of my dosh goes.

...same with me...even although I know that they're a bit more expensive, for convenience I just can't seem to go anywhere else for my day to day stuff and their choice is excellent

With you on Costco but I also use Makro and although it is not such a pleasant shopping experience, there are many bargains to be had such as BOGOFs on kitchen rolls and bog rolls etc

rapunzell · Post by **rapunzell** » 09 Jul 2007, 13:41

I didn't think I'd get used to shopping online instead of wandering round shops where I can sniff and prod the food, but I have. Tesco are pretty good, the drivers very helpful, and despite the ocassional setback with sell-by dates, replacements and their not selling stamps, they are just what I need.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Jul 2007, 14:26

Dadaist wrote:Didn't know they had pakoras. Where are they?

Up until the week before last they were on the open shelf/bin end in the chilled food department. Adjacent to where the hummus, salsa etc are merchandised. Now they have been moved back to their usual position which is in the taller, enclosed chilled cabinet that is parallel to and backs on to the cheese cabinet.

They have two kinds; veggie and meat, £4.99 and £5.99. They freeze brilliiantly in the ziplock bags which are located opposite the persil tablets.

If there any other movements when I go later in the week I will report back.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Jul 2007, 14:28

Pal of Porty wrote: I love Costco too. Kid's will never let us leave without putting one of their massive trays of pizza in the trolley.

One of my costco low points. Not the pizza, which is good, especially if cooked from frozen, its the packaging, why cant they fix the lid to the base?

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 09 Jul 2007, 14:30

Thanks Porty re: pakora. I have not been methodical enough in the chilled section - very easy to be distracted by freebies and the smell of the hot chicken.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 09 Jul 2007, 16:39

Where's costco?

I started shopping at Tesco, Musselburgh, several years ago as it was close to where my mum lived at that point. Asda and Safeway lighting used to give me a headache.
I like Tesco and find their prices compare to Asda but then you get the clubcard points on top. I now mostly shop at Dalkeith Tesco as my mum lives near there now
I 've seen a few of the " we compare prices" notices at diffrent stores but they're always careful to choose the items they compare, so's it looks a good deal
In the last week I've shopped at Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrisons, the High St, Portobello and High St Loanhead.
I do my mums shopping as well as ours, one son works part time in Morrisons, needed stuff after all the other shops shut -so late night at Asda and it's been a disorganised week generally as my in laws were moving house( AAAAAAARGH is all that I'll say on that just now )

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 09 Jul 2007, 17:17

SoupDragon wrote:Where's costco?

Costco is at Straiton beside Ikea...it's a cash and carry with membership

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Jul 2007, 17:31

SoupDragon wrote:
I started shopping at Tesco, Musselburgh, several years ago as it was close to where my mum lived at that point.. . . . . . I now mostly shop at Dalkeith Tesco as my mum lives near there now

Maybe you should approach Asda, Sainsbury or Costco and see if they are interested in paying your mum a transfer fee? (plus relocation costs)

She's like a supermarket divining rod.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 09 Jul 2007, 18:33

I'm a Sainsbury gal too! Close to my old address then to work and now the bus to East Lothian.

Good labelling; and good staff usually.

I also use the Co-op a lot (here and Tranent) - their own-brand labelling re ingredients is topnotch and has been for years.

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 09 Jul 2007, 18:42

We use Asda online to get most of our bulk purchases - no car, so Costco not an option - but I detest going to Asda itself. Usually manage to get half way round before screaming and running for the nearest exit.

Don't use Asda for "luxuries", prefer Sainsburys and M&S...when the finances allow. Scotmid, Morrisons and local shops for day-to-day things - talking of Scotmid, their new "Truly Irresistible" range is not bad, about 5 years after the rest of the supermarkets started the idea, but they get there eventually. I can highly recommend the range's Date and Walnut loaf.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 09 Jul 2007, 19:46

bearcub wrote:- but I detest going to Asda itself. Usually manage to get half way round before screaming and running for the nearest exit.

I'm with you there. I can cope looking round the George/Homewares bit but cross into the food zone and it's like you've walked onto the set of Night of the Living Dead.
What is it about Asda that attracts the hideous and the zombie like?

Me, I like Tesco at Musselburgh and still haven't given up hope that a big, huge, muckle one with clothes, books, CDs et al springs up somewhere nearer on the east side of Edinburgh. Preferably in Portobello

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 09 Jul 2007, 19:50

ecm wrote: Me, I like Tesco at Musselburgh and still haven't given up hope that a big, huge, muckle one with clothes, books, CDs et al springs up somewhere nearer on the east side of Edinburgh. Preferably in Portobello

CDs, eh? And you wonder why Fopp closed??

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 09 Jul 2007, 20:26

Porty wrote:
SoupDragon wrote:
I started shopping at Tesco, Musselburgh, several years ago as it was close to where my mum lived at that point.. . . . . . I now mostly shop at Dalkeith Tesco as my mum lives near there now
Maybe you should approach Asda, Sainsbury or Costco and see if they are interested in paying your mum a transfer fee? (plus relocation costs) She's like a supermarket divining rod.

Too late! She's currently near Loanhead, site of Ikea, Costco AND there's a Sainsbury there too, AND a MS foodhall at Straiton Park.

Its just easier for me to pop into Tesco at Dalkeith after droping Clanger 1 off at Jewel and Esk college.
Oh, ok, I like Tesco for much the same reasons as ecm.
The 1st big Tesco I saw was in Bristol near my sisters house, clothes and cds and household goods and food and massive queues when the rumours of petrol shortage arose. Theres also an Ikea near there too. Hmm think my family may attract superstores?

Jamesie · Post by **Jamesie** » 09 Jul 2007, 20:34

Got a Costco pizza in the oven for dinner and it wipes the floor with Tesco pizza anyday

Robin! · Post by **Robin!** » 09 Jul 2007, 21:09

Cheers for you input folk, interesting reads

I noticed some of you like the wine club at Tesco, I managed to carry 6 boxes of wine in a oner I was quite impressed with my self

The home shopping drivers were not on strike it was the HGV lorry drivers from the Livingston depot. The striking drivers all got sacked and replaced by Polish workers (driver I spoke to in the back yard told me that).

Costco is brilliant, I find all their stuff is top quality even their own Kirkland branded merchandise!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 09 Jul 2007, 22:05

ecm wrote:I'm with you there. I can cope looking round the George/Homewares bit but cross into the food zone and it's like you've walked onto the set of Night of the Living Dead.
What is it about Asda that attracts the hideous and the zombie like?

I think the pay is ok and there is a pretty good share package too.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 10 Jul 2007, 22:27

When I'm not estolling the virtues of my Tesco delivery men (whether publicly or privately

) we shop in Asda. Mainly coz I like the music. Although the woman who blethers over the tannoy and can't pronounce 'foyer' does bug me.

magbagpuss · Post by **magbagpuss** » 11 Jul 2007, 08:26

We use Asda as neither of us drive. We use about 40 2litre bottles of diet juice monthly n the guys carry it up our 1 flight of stairs with no grumbles . The delivery drivers are great , helpful n cheery,never had any bother .
Used to use Tesco , when the deliveries went to Musselburgh from Dalkieth the service plummeted and we changed to Asda , in all fairness have not tried them again as Asda are so good n Tesco were so bad , they may have improved just have not bothered to change.
As to general shopping , love Waitrose although it's not handy , fruit , veg n meat fab n not too dear, avoid the porty coop if I can , do like Asda ,the staff are good , find Morrison's dear n bit cold n distant but good for a wee bit different things . Fab Indian shop at Jock's Lodge.

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 11 Jul 2007, 09:58

magbagpuss wrote: love Waitrose

me too
Think they are starting home delivery in Edinburgh area soon, its great for different things and go ocassionally (normally spending too much)