MDF doors warping.

[Flyfisher]

Sadly, the coming of a mega Tesco (claims of jobs...) is closing the newish large Co-op in Hexham down.

But it's not Tesco that's closing down the Co-op is it? It's the fact that, presumably, people make a positive decision to shop at Tesco rather than the Co-op.

Nostalgia for the 'old days' of local, independent shops is all very well but no one forces people to shop in these megastores, or indeed to drive many miles for the privilege. There must be good reasons why people do, though.

 

[Nemesis]

I buy stuff at the Co-op. But many thought Tesco rather more upmarket I suspect. (Waitrose has moved in too, but that's quite a small store which took over a Safeway.)

It was/is a very modern and well stocked Co-op, there's simply a prejudice against it.

But Tesco is mighty and many people don't care - they can't see what they've got until it's gone. And it's all going rapidly. There's only so much food you can buy and not enough custom for both. (We throw away in this country large amounts of food too.)

Tesco sells all manner of things under one roof - it's not just a food store of course.

We also used the hardware shop as much as possible, far more convenient and helpful - what they didn't have they would order for you. It was near also. Now there will be nowhere within many miles to buy a pack of screws or a cake tin or a log basket or firebricks or a door lock or dye remover or hire a carpet cleaner or buy seeds and seed potatoes or...

Our local PO is in danger of being closed also. Along with that will go the village shop and newsagent, as the income for the PO helps keep the whole thing going. So people will have to travel miles for a paper and a bottle of milk. Old folks without transport will suffer, along with the environment.

 

[biffvernon]

People use the Co-op, only the sheeple go to Tesco.

 

[Flyfisher]

But why is Tesco, for example, so apparently popular? Is it, perhaps, that they provide something that most people want more than the alternatives? They must be doing something right.

 

[biffvernon]

Yeah, like really bright candy. More, more, more, please.

 

[Nemesis]

And in the end, the opposition closes.

 

[Flyfisher]

:roll:

 

[Nemesis]

Well I don't know why people like Tesco. I find shopping there not one of life's more interesting experiences. The more I delve the less I like Tesco really. I can't say I never go in but it's not often. I prefer the alternatives.

Have you any ideas? Other than silly smileys?

But then I find the entire modern consumer culture hard to understand also. I think we could do without a great deal and still live rich and rewarding lives. I also think that in the main people are stupid and easily fooled.

But then I don't manufacture kitchens for IKEA and MFI.

 

[Flyfisher]

I can't say I never go in but it's not often. I prefer the alternatives.

The secret of Tesco's success perhaps, if even those who don't like them find them good enough to use occasionally.

 

[Nemesis]

Well I doubt my purchases there would keep Tesco in business.

Do you shop there?

 

[Nemesis]

Maybe this is a good place to post this:

http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=adwords&utm_term=waste&utm_campaign=Food%2BWaste

 

[Flyfisher]

No one's individual purchases keep them in business, but it clearly all adds up.

I rarely go into a tesco store; their delivery service is so much better.

 

[Nemesis]

So you purchase shopping at Tesco?

And can explain what is so fantastic?


http://www.tescopoly.org/

 

[Flyfisher]

Why should they be 'fantastic'? Convenient is good enough for me. I can't be bothered to spend half a day trawling around half a dozen different shops so I spend 30 mins online and they deliver a month's worth of most groceries. What's wrong with that?

 

[Nemesis]

I find the free loos useful.

 

[Matt Green]

And can explain what is so fantastic?

The ability to complete all your weekly shopping in one place in a comparitively short space of time, out of 'normal' trading hours?

 

[Nemesis]

Right.

Bit like having all your damp and rot problems solved in one go by... no let's not go there either.

 

[Matt Green]

Nah. Supermarkets solve my hunger problems rather than just hiding the effects and damaging my construction.

My point was only that some people do not have the luxury of being able to troll round 6 different shops to get their weekly groceries as they have jobs to do.

Times change, more families have two working adults and therefore less time to shop. They also have to service larger mortgages (in an effort to drag this back on topic). If there were a range of local shops open when I wasn't working, I would frequent them more. Opening during they daytime on weekdays means you have a great selection of the unemployed, retired and those few that can afford not to work. Not the people who are earning money whilst you polish the counter for the 5th time that day.

Is it really any wonder the supermarkets get the working person's money? What effort are small shopkeepers actually making other than griping about former practices that are no longer relevant and harking back to times than are not likely to return? Their key business strategy appears to be to guilt trip me into keeping their shops open so that they may whine at length to the local papers.

Change: a fearful concept.

 

[Nemesis]

So there's only Tesco? I dunno what we did without really. Starved?

Yeah - times change. Most folks want a chemical injection, a spray job, and a guarantee. Can't blame them. When they flog on, no worries.

My local village shop is lovely. No-one gripes, they are just fearful for their future. As am I. Without the PO part of it, it can't keep going.

Still, that's life. Bit like all those old buildings past their sell by date. Pathfinder the lot of them, and then B*llway etc can build new.

 

[Moo]

When we lived in a small country town we did all our shopping in the small shops.
I continued to patronise them (especially the lovely butcher) when a smallish Budgens opened, because we lived more or less in the middle and I was no longer working, so it was no great hardship to do one or two light shopping trips every day. However, people (especially those with large families) who lived a bit further out had to carry quite heavy bags an uncomfortable distance. When Budgens opened they simply found it easier to push a trolley-full into the car-park once a week. Before that they used to drive to the supermarket in the next town.