So it seems that shoppers are abandoning Tesco in their droves. Which makes me a little sad, as I still remember the feeling of awe when I first visited their first Superstore in Essex in the 1980s. With a demanding job, life was busy, and the idea of being able to buy everything in the one place was very seductive.
For me it still is. The prices are still pretty good, and my local Tesco superstore has almost everything, including a pharmacy, which we seem to need regularly. I still shop there every week. But I go to other places too. And they all drive me demented me in different ways.
Here are my top 8 in no particular order, because I can't decide which ones annoy me the most...
Perhaps it's my age, but I really don't want a bland diet of muzak that messes with my brain while I try and compare prices and find things. Oh wait, that's two more reasons.
In fairness Tesco is not the worst. There's another local supermarket where the music is so loud that I just run in, grab the sausages (pay for them) and leave.
That sometimes aren't special at all. You really need your wits about you, as sometimes special offers are definitely not what they seem. Why do they do this? It's tiring and annoying when you can't trust what's in front of you.
My purse seems to be permanently full. But not with money. It's all those ridiculous plastic cards (has nobody told these companies about apps?) and bits of paper with money off this and points for that. As a result, shopping takes longer, as you don't want to miss out on a saving, and then there's the delay at the checkout while you fumble around trying to find the right cards and tear off all the itty bitty bits of paper. Really, I would love it if supermarkets would get rid of all of them: cheaper prices would be just fine. They could cancel their stupidloyalty data collecting schemes at the same time.
In fact, my perfect supermarket would not take any cards at all. Just cash.
My local superstore often has a good range of family clothes. It's very easy to grab a new top and throw it in the trolley. Or a pack of socks, or jeans, or PJs or whatever needs replacing, especially as most are easy care and can be thrown in the tumble drier too.
But recently I have noticed a desperate effort to include more high fashion stuff: the other week I found a cuddly top with a hood, exactly what I was looking for, except.... when I pulled it off the hanger its crowning glory was a pair of bunny ears. Perfect for the teenager who would never buy her clothes in a supermarket, not so good for the middle aged shopper.
Hands up who has got home and discovered squashed bananas and broken eggs? I don't know who designs supermarket layouts, but they really don't work for the benefit of the shopper. Many of the heaviest items seem to be at the back of the store. So to avoid damaging everything else you have to keep repacking. One solution would be to have an aisle of heavy basics near the door, e.g. sacks of potatoes. Or why not have some trollies with moveable sections?
In the days when my family mostly ate meat and two veg, the meat always seemed to be at the back of the store, and I would have to head there first - looking for special offers - before heading back to the start again!
Yes I know, I've been a bag packer, and I probably will again. But I still hate bag packing and I hate having my bags packed. I just feel ambushed at the checkout, so I nearly always use the self-service checkouts now. Which means I have to use a small trolley (large ones are not allowed) or basket, so obviously I'm going to buy less stuff.
I do try to cook meals from scratch these days, as I don't really like the taste of processed food any more. But sometimes I do need to take short cuts, which usually results in a trip to Lidl, because their ready made stuff always seems to be better quality for the price.
It doesn't make me spend more. I don't cruise the aisles desperately hunting for the latest place that they've hidden the only pasta that my children will eat and think "Oh how lovely I'll just buy this nice tin of cheap sauce as well." No, I just give up and go home in frustration. Or somewhere else.
I presume it's not just me?
For me it still is. The prices are still pretty good, and my local Tesco superstore has almost everything, including a pharmacy, which we seem to need regularly. I still shop there every week. But I go to other places too. And they all drive me demented me in different ways.
Here are my top 8 in no particular order, because I can't decide which ones annoy me the most...
1. The Music
Perhaps it's my age, but I really don't want a bland diet of muzak that messes with my brain while I try and compare prices and find things. Oh wait, that's two more reasons.
In fairness Tesco is not the worst. There's another local supermarket where the music is so loud that I just run in, grab the sausages (pay for them) and leave.
2. Special Deals
That sometimes aren't special at all. You really need your wits about you, as sometimes special offers are definitely not what they seem. Why do they do this? It's tiring and annoying when you can't trust what's in front of you.
3. Cards, discounts, vouchers and other annoying bits of plastic and paper
My purse seems to be permanently full. But not with money. It's all those ridiculous plastic cards (has nobody told these companies about apps?) and bits of paper with money off this and points for that. As a result, shopping takes longer, as you don't want to miss out on a saving, and then there's the delay at the checkout while you fumble around trying to find the right cards and tear off all the itty bitty bits of paper. Really, I would love it if supermarkets would get rid of all of them: cheaper prices would be just fine. They could cancel their stupid
In fact, my perfect supermarket would not take any cards at all. Just cash.
4. Clothes for the family
My local superstore often has a good range of family clothes. It's very easy to grab a new top and throw it in the trolley. Or a pack of socks, or jeans, or PJs or whatever needs replacing, especially as most are easy care and can be thrown in the tumble drier too.
But recently I have noticed a desperate effort to include more high fashion stuff: the other week I found a cuddly top with a hood, exactly what I was looking for, except.... when I pulled it off the hanger its crowning glory was a pair of bunny ears. Perfect for the teenager who would never buy her clothes in a supermarket, not so good for the middle aged shopper.
5. Layout and Trollies
Hands up who has got home and discovered squashed bananas and broken eggs? I don't know who designs supermarket layouts, but they really don't work for the benefit of the shopper. Many of the heaviest items seem to be at the back of the store. So to avoid damaging everything else you have to keep repacking. One solution would be to have an aisle of heavy basics near the door, e.g. sacks of potatoes. Or why not have some trollies with moveable sections?
In the days when my family mostly ate meat and two veg, the meat always seemed to be at the back of the store, and I would have to head there first - looking for special offers - before heading back to the start again!
6. Bag packers
Yes I know, I've been a bag packer, and I probably will again. But I still hate bag packing and I hate having my bags packed. I just feel ambushed at the checkout, so I nearly always use the self-service checkouts now. Which means I have to use a small trolley (large ones are not allowed) or basket, so obviously I'm going to buy less stuff.
7. Food quality
I do try to cook meals from scratch these days, as I don't really like the taste of processed food any more. But sometimes I do need to take short cuts, which usually results in a trip to Lidl, because their ready made stuff always seems to be better quality for the price.
8. Moving things around
It doesn't make me spend more. I don't cruise the aisles desperately hunting for the latest place that they've hidden the only pasta that my children will eat and think "Oh how lovely I'll just buy this nice tin of cheap sauce as well." No, I just give up and go home in frustration. Or somewhere else.
I presume it's not just me?
