I just had to go to the grotesque white, blue and red festooned building that has become Mecca in the new millenium, quite literally for a bag of peanuts as I fancied a nibble.
Now, I am not going to hand my "Tesco Clubcard" over anymore as I do not like a lot of their produce and I theorise that a lot of people agree with me and the more that they keep putting the same stuff on the shelves, which is then ear-marked personally to the individual shoppers identity and the areas in which the produce is sold, the more of the same we are going to get served.

A lovely lady and a perfect gentleman agreed with me, and neither of us submitted a card earlier, at the same checkout.

I hate Tesco bread and it worries me that when I nip for an emergency loaf (or loafette), it is marked against my name that it is one of my "regular buys".


I don`t know about anyone else, but for the odd

Clubcards are EVIL!

The amount of information that gets gathered about you through regular use is scary and seeing how often "private data" gets lost or abused these days, it ain't worth it.

It's just a friendlier version og Big Brother - a way to monitor your tastes and habits. And what do they want that info for? What are the benefits?

I know 2 people who worked as cashiers who got fired because they got caught out by mystery punters... because they HAVE to always ask you for a bloody Clubcard at the checkout. Disgraceful, so even the staff are being monitored on a sinister level.

I wonder if Nectar cards hold the same data?

I do not posess one club or loyalty card. As soon as I see that they require my d.o.b. I refuse to apply. Why would they need that information?

I just did a further emergency dash to the dreaded shop as I fancied some cheese on toast and had no cheese, funnily enough nobody asked for my card!

A nice old guy, said "Hi! I don`t suppose you have a small bottle of brandy do you?"

The assistant said " Three Barrells?". I said "for heavens sake he only asked for a small bottle can`t you get the staff???"

Cards are one thing - but Tesco know how to run a business by providing fresh food and goods at reasonable prices.

They own absolutely nothing.

All stores are leased, as are their vehicles etc. No item on their shelves is paid for - but is sold long before the 120 days minimum credit (which they require from suppliers) runs out; accordingly, they use your money for nearly four months before parting with it !

Tesco is an excellent business model.

Pity that banks, for example, can't replicate.

Some very good points there from Ralph.

When I first signed to a large company, I was told a cheque could take 3 months to get. Ralph, points out that Tesco are doing this over 4 months.

Now, the interest on my bank account is paid yearly, notified, 3 or 4 months, before they pay it to me, however, the interest taken out of my current account, should I neglect to look at it, goes out monthly to them! Hmmmm...........


But, what the heck happens to the pre-packed food that Tesco fail to sell? And where does all the plastic go in which the foodstuffs were interred?

I seriously recommend that we use the grocers, or we will become slaves to blandness.

Can someone explain why Tesco is the only supermarket that leaves me with trolley rage? Is it because certain folk treat a visit to Tesco's as a day out or that every frickin aisle is always clogged with someone re-stocking? Or could it be the endless product advertising on the little telly's? 1, 2 3 and relaaaaax.

Angel wrote:
Can someone explain why Tesco is the only supermarket that leaves me with trolley rage? Is it because certain folk treat a visit to Tesco's as a day out or that every frickin aisle is always clogged with someone re-stocking? Or could it be the endless product advertising on the little telly's? 1, 2 3 and relaaaaax.

Well said! Tesco is a nightmare to shop in. The amount of times I have ended up suffering panic attacks and rage in Tesco are countless. I can shop quite happily in other stores, but not Tesco. I have to get out of there inside 5 minutes or else, I start losing it. It is the most user unfriendly supermarket of all.

You always get long queues at the checkouts and to try and quell this, they'll start trying to get you to use the self service checkouts. One problem... various goods have those security tags on them meaning you HAVE to use the checkouts.

Then there's always uproar at the cigarette counter. You can only have 3 items IF you are buying any cigarettes... otherwise, you get told off and sent away. The other day I saw the staff trying to explain to an elderly guy he could not pay for his solitary pie at the cigarette counter. In the two minutes it took to send him on his way, he could had been served swiftly and I would not had been standing about like a stupid prat.

I'm sorry but I don't think Tesco is remotely a "good model" of anything. The staff are generally treated like dirt and so are the customers. Ever tried to make a complaint to Tesco? Google "Tesco Complaints" and the results tell their own story.

I must admit I'm with you.

We have a Tesco in Queensway and I used to pop in there for basics - milk, bread etc - cheaper yet the same.

But I started getting so irritated by the atmosphere, queues, check outs and then - hurray - Waitrose opened just around the corner.

Now it's M&S in Whiteleys and Waitrose for me.

I'm not a massive fan of Tesco, partly because they tend to monopolise, partly due to my local branch no longer stocking certain products which I used to buy there, and partly due to the constant battle with shelf stackers. However I do occasionally use it, and on my last few visits I have not had to queue at a checkout.

I buy fruit and veg from the small fruit and veg shop in town, and meat from the butchers. I noticed that Tesco have stopped labelling much of their meat. You can buy beef or lamb, but no mention of what cuts they are. The local butcher is much better.

M&S and Waitrose for me as well. If I want to go "cheap" brand shopping it is either Asda or Sainsburys. Tesco Garage Shops are usually OK I might add - but I have not shopped in a Tesco in London for over 15 years - dreadful places.

I actually have suffered the Queensway one myself and I believe it has the same problem as all of them.
One walks in, and a furious cold blast of air hits ones head from above as a greeting, one walks around and the strip lights seem to be supplying messages to implant in ones brain, and Elliot, I too have had panic attacks in their various places, I left the shopping and walked out more than once, and I do not suffer from panic attacks at all.
The place is just hell, which is why I like grocers and farm shops, and JK, I can`t stand Waitrose either for the same reasons, don`t even start me on M+S hells............

Actually one of the GOOD things about Tesco - they do carry name brands where so many others (both M&S and Waitrose) have moved to generics.

Prime example - Lea and Perrins Worchestershire Sauce (I cannot live without it).

Actually Lea and Perrins is liveable without, "Whole Earth" Worcester Sauce, is actually better, I discovered it when I went veggie as it is anchovy free. Obviously tracking that down , is a nightmare in a supermarket.

M+S amused me, when they decided to specialise in "baby vegetables". Hmmm..."Baby carrot massala",etc.. hmmm. nah!
What I will say about Tesco in their favour, is that the clothes are better than M+S , similar and cheaper for for casual wearing.(once you are past the wind machine at the door and the lighting of course)

M&S have always been "own brand" - St Michael and now just M&S. Though I believe they are trialing branded items in some stores. Waitrose seem to be moving the opposite way.

The big growth is happeing at Aldi and Lidl. Aldi's offer is quality as good as (or better than) the brands, but at a much lower price. (As opposed to the Supermarkrt's Vale/Basics/Smart Price ranges where quality is compromised to achieve a lower price).

Aldi can price quality for less by keeping overheads low. No bags or baskets, only trollies - and the speed they get you through the check-out is amazing. (Meaning less staff and greater savings!).

I first went to Aldi two years ago, expecing "cheap crap", but was totally surprised!

Mart wrote:
I actually have suffered the Queensway one myself and I believe it has the same problem as all of them.
One walks in, and a furious cold blast of air hits ones head from above as a greeting, one walks around and the strip lights seem to be supplying messages to implant in ones brain, and Elliot, I too have had panic attacks in their various places, I left the shopping and walked out more than once, and I do not suffer from panic attacks at all.


That is VERY interesting Mart! Have done that too many times... just dropped the basket and fled from the building in a state of panic. I do know it has induced panic attacks in a few I know and one can only wonder if there really is something a bit sinister about Tesco! It sure says a lot when people like yourself who are not prone to panic attacks feel that way sometimes in Tesco. Something is not right somewhere... I've never felt such sensations in any other supermarkets... just Tesco.

In my own case, my head starts to spin within 5 minutes. It's a peculiar and horrible sensation, so I only go into Tesco if I have no choice. Unfortunately with Tesco monopolising the supermarket industry in the UK (to the degree they'll even have 2 branches on the same road within walking distance of each other) there are a great many people for whom there is no choice. I've seen many Tesco Extras open (against the wishes of locals I hasten to add) and surrounding businesses suffer to the degree many shut down within a year. This is another reason why I loathe Tesco... they are killing off too many local businesses some of which have lasted several generations.

Over the last 3 years I have noticed that Tesco usually have the very same "special offers" at the same time of the year... something else rather sinister I have noticed.

For fruit, veg, fish and meat one should ALWAYS try and support your local retailers because they now need us more than ever to survive and you are at least guaranteed Quality. I don't trust meat from supermarkets because I know some (not all) put artificial crap into the meat to make it look or taste better or the meat originates from factory farms so heaven knows what you end up eating. At least from a local Butchers they can tell you exactly which farm their produce comes from. You might have to pay more but at least you know what you are getting.

You may pay more than the big supermarket at a local little shop,but you will never pay as much as you do at a Tesco Express outlet. I`m very lucky as I can use farm shops etc out here in the country a lot of the time, but for the London people that visit the board , you get more regular street markets to shop at.

And Elliot, I am sure that you have also had a fight with the "self service" counter at "Messcos", the amount of times that I have tried to buy low alcohol or zero alcohol beer or wine and could not get out of the shop whilst the dang computer barks "approval needed" at me, is just ridiculous. When it did this to me only 3 weeks ago, I did , as well drop my basket and just walk out. The shopping was an ordeal enough without the final bone crunching insult of that!

Very strange that we all agree Tescos is an uncomfortable experience........a story in that somewhere.

If I could buy from Farm Shops direct I would - the quality is light years ahead of what you get in supermarkets

I use a real butcher and would love to have a real fish shop where I live - but we have an M&S and nothing else. Tescos has opened a small branch about 2 miles away but has no superstore within about 6 miles thank goodness.

I visited a pleasant new Tesco in Ilfracombe ( it is a new one on the top of one of the hills ) it seemed very different and had alot of obviously local Devon produce in it........just to balance the general view.

Not all property is leased. I've sold land property to them in Scotland. They also land-bank stopping their competitors from building next to them. Sinister.