Tesco Price Drop "Con"

[Butts]

With great fanfare this has been announced....seems to good to be true ???

Certainly is - they may have reduced some prices but jacked all the others up to finance the promotion.

3 small examples from items I regularly purchase....

Tesco Finest 4 pack sultana scones Jan 11 £1.09 Sept 11 £1.39 Up 27%

Grants A&B Roll Jan 11 £1.13 Sept 11 £1.39 Up 23% - plus the size of the tin has shrunk making it even poorer value -a common ploy.

Stag Chilli Jan 11 £1.39 Sept 11 £1.69 Up 22% - again the can size has shrunk as well.

These three are just a random example which I'm sure could be added to massively in respect of other products people purchase.

Do Tesco really think customers are that gullible :roll:

 

[Nym]

Yes, because like almost all retail nowerdays, the're a bunch of con artists and most customers let them get away with it...

 

[SS4]

Do Tesco really think customers are that gullible :roll:

Yes, yes they do. And many times customers have proved them right.

 

[Darandio]

Well, you cannot exactly blame them for the size of the Stagg Chilli can shrinking, thats something going in across the board from the manufacturer. They should not be increasing the price though, not by those margins.

I wondered how long it would be before Tesco made a move, given both Asda and Morrisons have been using the respective Rollback and Price Crunch tactic for a while now. Problem is, those two have managed to offer consistent cuts without putting up other products in a big way, certainly not as noticeable as you have with Tesco.

That said, couple the price increases with the cuts, and some may well make savings. It's more likely though, that for the majority, there will be a rise more than a fall.

 

[Butts]

Well, you cannot exactly blame them for the size of the Stagg Chilli can shrinking, thats something going in across the board from the manufacturer. They should not be increasing the price though, not by those margins.

I wondered how long it would be before Tesco made a move, given both Asda and Morrisons have been using the respective Rollback and Price Crunch tactic for a while now. Problem is, those two have managed to offer consistent cuts without putting up other products in a big way, certainly not as noticeable as you have with Tesco.

That said, couple the price increases with the cuts, and some may well make savings. It's more likely though, that for the majority, there will be a rise more than a fall.

The ironic thing is that Tesco must have the biggest "buying power" in the UK Market.

Think about it ..a small example.. who buys more tins of Heinz Baked Beans than Tesco in the UK ?

Answer = no one - yet their price is more or less the same as Sainsburys or Asda when they will have paid a lower price from Heinz hence trousering a healthier margin than the other two

 

[Darandio]

Well yeah, I agree, have they not put those up as well to compensate?

It doesn't really affect me thankfully, I don't shop there as a rule. Although I do need to go there to buy the bags of frozen scallops. Both Morrisons and Asda decided to stop stocking them. I wonder if they have gone up, will find out tomorrow.

 

[Butts]

Well yeah, I agree, have they not put those up as well to compensate?

It doesn't really affect me thankfully, I don't shop there as a rule. Although I do need to go there to buy the bags of frozen scallops. Both Morrisons and Asda decided to stop stocking them. I wonder if they have gone up, will find out tomorrow.

The proliferation of Supermarkets is ludicrous as well - even the smallest of Towns such as Alloa near me has Tesco, Morrisons and Asda.

Ten years ago one would have sufficed

 

[WestCoast]

I dislike the big four supermarkets, they are always bickering about who is cheapest and forgetting about other important issues.

Local butchers/bakers/fishmongers/greengrocers and Aldi/Lidl for other basics are a good alternative if you can do it.

Another thing I hate is stupid supermarket snobbery, "I shop at Waitrose therefore I am posh". :roll:

 

[Butts]

I dislike the big four supermarkets, they are always bickering about who is cheapest and forgetting about other important issues.

Local butchers/bakers/fishmongers/greengrocers and Aldi/Lidl for other basics are a good alternative if you can do it.

Another thing I hate is stupid supermarket snobbery, "I shop at Waitrose therefore I am posh". :roll:

Or "I shop at Asda I am a peasant"

 

[WestCoast]

Or "I shop at Asda I am a peasant"

It's such a British thing that.

The big supermarkets are very manipulative in their ways, their special offers and the ways they entice you to shop at their store.

I have nothing particularly against Tesco over the others, they are a successful business (and a major employer) and they are obviously doing something right. However, that doesn't mean I like them.

I don't really care about the shop environment (or who else is shopping there, or all that Daily Mail lark), I am just bothered about the products value and quality, which is probably why I like the discounters (like Aldi), who sacrifice the 'shopping experience' for low prices on mostly decent products.

 

[Mojo]

Having multiple supermarkets in a single town is not a bad thing. Personally I don't like shopping in Tesco or Morrisons but am happy to shop in Sainsbugs or Waitrose (depends on what I'm buying) both of which I feel offer the right service at the right price.

 

[WestCoast]

My mother is obsessed with collecting Tesco Clubcard points, it's quite disturbing actually.

Mind you, RedSpottedHanky is now partnered up with them! She uses them for her trips to Scotland..

Yeah, most towns are getting rather a lot of supermarkets. It my neck of the woods, there is a Tesco (plus about 3 Expresses), Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Aldi and 2 Booths.

 

[table38]

My mother is obsessed with collecting Tesco Clubcard points, it's quite disturbing actually.

There is an article here which describes how to reclaim lost or unused Tesco Vouchers. I had a go and found about £35 I hadn't claimed!

Although that probably just shows I spend too much in Tesco.

 

[Butts]

Having multiple supermarkets in a single town is not a bad thing. Personally I don't like shopping in Tesco or Morrisons but am happy to shop in Sainsbugs or Waitrose (depends on what I'm buying) both of which I feel offer the right service at the right price.

I take it you did not mourn the demise of Kwik Save then

Personally I will shop in whichever is closest which in my case is Tesco - previously it has been Asda and Sainsburys.

With regard to Waitrose I note they do not have the same "never knowingly undersold" mantra that applies to the John Lewis Department Stores

 

[WestCoast]

With regard to Waitrose I note they do not have the same "never knowingly undersold" mantra that applies to the John Lewis Department Stores

We don't have a Waitrose around here, such a shame. :roll: Actually, we have a Booths, which is just as posh, if not posher. *shock, horror*

 

[Greenback]

All supermarkets are much of a muchness. We go to the locla markets more now. At the supermarkets, we only buy special offer items, I won't pay the 'normal' price for anything!

 

[Mojo]

I use the website http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/ as it compares the prices between Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbugs and Asda, plus Ocado.

Asda probably is cheaper if all you buy is frozen pizzas, but for fresh fruit and vegetables, I find Sainsbugs and Waitrose to be better value and overall it's a more pleasant shopping experience (for me).

Attached is a shopping list of items I have recently bought, which I've just compared on the mySupermarket website. The saving is actually greater and not reflected here, as the cereal I buy is own-brand whereas in the other shops I would buy Kellogs as I don't like the taste of the own brand in the other 3 supermarkets.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We don't have a Waitrose around here, such a shame. :roll: Actually, we have a Booths, which is just as posh, if not posher. *shock, horror*

Booths have a reputation for being based in pleasant and well-lit premises, with good staff and an excellent range of products. The West Lancashire area has many of their outlets. With regard to Tesco, we will never knowingly shop in any of their premises, large or small.

I don't know what people have against John Lewis as a company, as all their staff are "partners" who share in any profit sharing. We have always found the goods purchased there to be excellent value for money. They do monitor other prices offered by competitors and reduce their prices accordingly.

 

[WestCoast]

Booths have a reputation for being based in pleasant and well-lit premises, with good staff and an excellent range of products..

Yes, it's a nice supermarket for a treat. They make their own 'prepared meals' and the name of the person who prepared them is on the packaging. They really like local produce too. They have branches all over West Lancashire (and Cumbria) and I believe they've been voted as the 'best supermarket' a number of times. It's probably the reason why Waitrose doesn't exist in this area. I have a few friends who work for the company and they say they are a great employer too. I've read and heard all the hype about Waitrose and was quite disappointed compared to Booth's offering. I believe Booths are opening a store at MediaCityUK at Salford Quays.

 

[imagination]

One rule I've learned is never buy meat at a supermarket without a dedicated meat counter. They always design it to be as awkward as possible to try to make you buy more than you intend to use.

 

[Drsatan]

As a student I end up shopping around to save money, helped by the fact there's an Iceland, a Poundland, a Sainsburys Local, a normal Sainsburys and a Tesco Metro within 10 minutes walking distance of my house. I've now started buying bread in Iceland for instance, since they now have a permanent two loaves for £1.70 offer on whereas in most supermarkets a loaf of Kingsmill is now over a pound. Likewise, I now buy most of my vegetables in Sainsburys since they have more special offers and a greater selection. Finally every now and then I cycle to Lidl to purchase tinned goods and anything that's not on sale in the aforementioned supermarkets: neither Tesco, nor Sainsburys seem to sell salami even though it's a meat I quite like. I've also noticed in Lidl that frozen meat is sometimes a bit cheaper than in the 'big four' supermarkets.


On the other hand, in my home town (small market town in Hampshire) there's a Waitrose, where nearly everything is overpriced, an Aldi (which isn't as cheap as Lidl) and a small Co-op which is also expensive.

 

[richw]

Not sure if many members are in Cornwall but i try to do most of my shopping from http://cornishfoodmarket.co.uk
They are a co-operative of several local farmers and suppliers, but also able to supply mainstream goods like cola, baked beans and so on. They also deliver anywhere in Cornwall for free, including the isles of scilly i have been advised!
The product quality is second to none, and i used my receipt to compare their prices to Asda, and comparing like for like, i.e. butcher meat not prepacked, the cornish food market came out £8 cheaper (including the asda home delivery charge of £3.95) so still £4 cheaper not counting the home delivery charge!

See their website and it explains why they can supply the products so cheap, but it is something to do with savings made by fuels costs, as they dont need to ship to a distribution centre 100s of miles away and so on.

 

[Butts]

We don't have a Waitrose around here, such a shame. :roll: Actually, we have a Booths, which is just as posh, if not posher. *shock, horror*

Is it like the "Fortnum and Mason" of Lancashire ? - I've not heard of that emporium - thought it was Gin

 

[WestCoast]

Is it like the "Fortnum and Mason" of Lancashire ? - I've not heard of that emporium - thought it was Gin

Ha, I wouldn't go that far, It is the North West's version of Waitrose. Rather expensive at times, but there are some very interesting high quality product lines. Not many people have heard of it but they are everywhere around here!

 

[Mike395]

One rule I've learned is never buy meat at a supermarket without a dedicated meat counter. They always design it to be as awkward as possible to try to make you buy more than you intend to use.

Or better still, support your local butcher for the meat, and just use the supermarket for everything else

 

[Lampshade]

Ha, I wouldn't go that far, It is the North West's version of Waitrose. Rather expensive at times, but there are some very interesting high quality product lines. Not many people have heard of it but they are everywhere around here!

I've not found Booths to be posh, just that they don't have the price advantage of being a national chain, so have to make up for it in other areas. The meat counter is rather good though, as is their fresh sandwiches

Or better still, support your local butcher for the meat, and just use the supermarket for everything else

If they hadn't already closed down

 

[ACE1888]

As I've been an employee of Tesco since 1984, I'm more than happy to go along with whatever they want to do..."Never knock the hand that feeds you"
Each to their own though, if you don't like it, take your business elsewhere...

 

[Greenback]

Not sure if many members are in Cornwall but i try to do most of my shopping from http://cornishfoodmarket.co.uk
They are a co-operative of several local farmers and suppliers, but also able to supply mainstream goods like cola, baked beans and so on. They also deliver anywhere in Cornwall for free, including the isles of scilly i have been advised!
The product quality is second to none, and i used my receipt to compare their prices to Asda, and comparing like for like, i.e. butcher meat not prepacked, the cornish food market came out £8 cheaper (including the asda home delivery charge of £3.95) so still £4 cheaper not counting the home delivery charge!

See their website and it explains why they can supply the products so cheap, but it is something to do with savings made by fuels costs, as they dont need to ship to a distribution centre 100s of miles away and so on.

That's great! I can't see the sense in buying stuff that has to be flown in when we have great seasonal food down the road. This is part of the reason we now use the market a lot - the quality is far better than the supermarkets, and it's worth the effort even though the hours are not so convenient.

 

[WestCoast]

I've not found Booths to be posh, just that they don't have the price advantage of being a national chain, so have to make up for it in other areas. The meat counter is rather good though, as is their fresh sandwiches

That is a good point, being posh doesn't always make things good!

 

[Harlesden]

Booths have a reputation for being based in pleasant and well-lit premises, with good staff and an excellent range of products. The West Lancashire area has many of their outlets. With regard to Tesco, we will never knowingly shop in any of their premises, large or small.

I don't know what people have against John Lewis as a company, as all their staff are "partners" who share in any profit sharing. We have always found the goods purchased there to be excellent value for money. They do monitor other prices offered by competitors and reduce their prices accordingly.

I can't help wondering what you have against Tesco. I have always found their staff pleasant, helpful and knowledgeable; and there is nothing wrong with their stores.