Am I evil?

[Tomr]

Out of curiosity, what is wrong with T***o?
(Tom lights fuse and retires to a safe distance!!!)
I’m off to do a forum search.

[Tomr]

Another thought. What is everyone’s view of Waitrose?

[baldowrie]

I personally have no strong opinions on any of the supermarkets

[pskipper]

My personal experience with T***o is that the quality control on their non-food products has been exceptionally poor and that their prices are higher than local independent traders.

[red]

I am sorry but can some explain to me why SS has to slate one particular super market? What have the company done that is so bad compared to Asda, Sainsbury, Morrision, Lidl, Aldi etc?

I just get a little fed up with the constant and often unnecessary T***o bashing!

I don't actually shop there out of choice, but that is neither here nor there.

I agree with you entirely - and if you ever find the thread, you will find me there saying why just them. why not the other stores. The censorship thingy is not of my doing.


edit:
hereis earlier thread

[ina]

From all I've read and heard (radio, newspapers, various books like "Shopped"etc - there has been a lot of information around, but I have none at hand just now):

T* is the largest retailer in the UK (and therefore the easiest target, and the most powerful in dealings with producers, and setting prices for customers).
They have the most aggressive expansion policy (and the most land bought being held out of use just so no rival retailer can build a shop there).
They also like to do stuff like claiming publicly they were the first to introduce biodegradable plastic bags, when the Co-op had been using them for years - only they didn't make that much of a racket about it.

Waitrose hasn't been much of an issue for me as we don't have them here.

[baldowrie]

I know you know why Ina, and so do I actually What I was really, and probably a bit slyly, getting at was those who slate without knowing why really.

All supermarkets, and building firms (don't forget those) buy up land to prevent rivals building/trading and for their 'land banks'. I don't think they can be fully condemned for that as that is common, albeit not very ethical, business practice.

T***o's may have been the largest retailer, but I don't think they are now so big in comparison.

The big T***o smear campaign is due to to their publicity....only they didn't make that much of a racket about it....as you have said. No publicity then it would be slating Asda or Sainsbury's! So their publicity Office is working well then

In an ideal world shopping on the high street at small independent shops would be preferable to most BUT financial, mobility (disablement or transport) problems for some means shopping in a/any supermarket is easier and far cheaper, albeit at the cost of the supplier. They are also more convenient having a wide range of goods under one roof.

So as I said at the start of this must we slate just one company all the time? Can they not just be ignored so SS does not give them publicity?

[ina]

I do try to ignore them whenever I can! But I think that T**s are the only one advertising on Google, which is why it makes sense to censor the name on the forum. All the other supermarkets don't seem to have these annoying ads coming up...

Anyway, I think everybody has to decide for themselves where and what they buy. I know it's almost impossible in some places not to use them - had that problem myself only a few years back, when I stayed at the other end of Aberdeen. I'm really lucky now where I live.

Edited to add: Did you know they are trying to expand into garden centres now? They are trying to take over DObbie's.

[baldowrie]

censor because of anying ads is one thing, it was the constant references that were unecessary, I think...who needs the adverts when SS talks about them a lot of the time?

Anyway, I think everybody has to decide for themselves where and what they buy. I know it's almost impossible in some places not to use them - had that problem myself only a few years back, when I stayed at the other end of Aberdeen. I'm really lucky now where I live.

Exactly!

Edited to add: Did you know they are trying to expand into garden centres now? They are trying to take over DObbie's

Didn't know that but then again Argos and Homebase have already done something smilar so others are bound to follow suit.

[Thurston Garden]

Didn't know that but then again Argos and Homebase have already done something smilar so others are bound to follow suit.

Argos and Homebase are the same company.

[red]

article on waitrose- no idea myself as we dont have waitrose round here, but thought it makes an interesting point

[Muddypause]

There is a T***o being built within 200 yards of where I live at the moment. It is within a mile of a major Waitrose (who also ignored planning conditions when they recently extended - until the neighbouring houses objected) and a Co-Op. There is already another major T***o in town as well as another Waitrose, Morrison, SavaCentre, two Asdas, two Lidls, Sainsbury, and an Aldi. We're not exactly short of supermarkets.

Before the work commenced on the new T***o, protection orders were specifically placed on all the trees on the site. What do you know, they were all cut down a few weeks later in an unfortunate oversight. The council prosecuted them as hard as it could, but the fine amounted to a few thousand pounds - probably a few hours trading on a single Saturday morning.

I don't have a specific policy against any particular supermarket (and didn't know until I saw this thread that this forum does), but this incident with the trees in my immediate locality has left a bad taste in my mouth. And of course, as soon as they open their doors, they will have thousands of customers. Occasionally, one may even be me. They will then be able to say that they are entirely vindicated in all they did, in pushing through all their planning appeals right up to the Home Office, in trouncing any local opposition (including the council planning dept.) - the people will have voted with their wallets, and that's the finest form of democracy that there is.

Isn't it?

[baldowrie]

Thurston Garden

Argos and Homebase are the same company.

Yes they are now. The take over was a while back.

Muddy my house I had a few years back was brand new. The builders were told, and it's in the deeds, about certain trees that must remain. There were no trees on the entire estate and yet I should have had 3 outside my house. Whilst it is despicable, it is also common practice with companies....oooops the chin saw slipped!

So basically the brown envelope contains stuff that gives power...money talks!

[Thurston Garden]

Stew - your comment does not surprise me. As*a got consent (outline) here after pushing it all the way. At every turn, consultants, surveyors and planners recommended refusal on various sound grounds. They got their way in the end and although they don't have detailed planning consent yet, have erected a large part of the building structure and have made good progress on the infrastructure.

I too was not aware that SS had a thing about Tes*co, but IMHO there's little to differentiate between any of them. From my (former!) professional experience, they all barge on ahead with development regardless of consents/restrictions/conditions - local councils just cannot afford (£££) to challenge them in court, and they know that. From a personal stand point, they all trade in an unethical manner with little regard for suppliers, or, even staff.

Nothing will get in the way of profits and market share. It's an evil circle: convince the public that only one thing counts with shopping - cost. To have the lowest cost, savings have to be made, everywhere. Absolutely everywhere and at what/who's cost. Just look at the ads in the papers - we are 2p cheaper than them......etc.

Dare I rock the boat a bit and say that I don't really tar the (local) Co-Op with this brush. Although they are by no means squeaky clean, they get what few pounds I do spend in supermarkets.....

[baldowrie]

the thing is cost does matter when you have a very low income and children to feed.