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On two occasions recently, in my determination to use Tesco as little as possible (the company being bent on World domination imho) I try to make purchases instead from small independent shops. The first was a Retirement card; I went to Three Wishes on Hough Lane, only to find it closed (on a Tuesday). According to the sign in the window it should have been open. As I couldn't find what I wanted at other shops on Hough Lane..I ended up at Tesco! The following day, I wanted some shoe laces and went to the shoe repairers on Towngate; of course, it was Wednesday-half day closing (this is 2008 for goodness sake!).So.........I had to go to Tesco again, where it took me all of 15 minutes to find shoe laces (in case you didn't know, they're with Health and Beauty ;-)).
I would always prefer to use small, local businesses rather than Tesco, or any supermarket for that matter but I'm afraid these businesses need to try harder to attract/maintain custom if my experiences are typical.
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Your experience of small shops is entirely typical Bill, and that is why most people prefer supermarkets.
People out at work all day, busy Mums with small children, older people without transport or the ability to walk very far carrying bags of shopping, freezers and fridges in our homes to keep food for long periods without it going 'off', all good reasons for using supermarkets. Gone are the days when it was necessary to shop every day, and I for one say thank-goodness.
I had a car all my adult life up to 4 years ago, and at that point decided to try on-line shopping, not just for groceries but for just about everything as trudging round endless shops in Leyland or Preston was out of the question.
In defence of Tesco, for the past 4 years I have done an on-line weekly shop with them, have had excellent service delivered to and unpacked in my kitchen by the delivery driver for less than the cost of me getting a taxi to the store, plus all the produce has been fresh and hand-picked, and every item costing less than in most small shops.
From my own point of view, thank goodness for supermarkets (and computers!!)
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quote:
Originally posted by Smithy
Your experience of small shops is entirely typical Bill, and that is why most people prefer supermarkets.
People out at work all day, busy Mums with small children, older people without transport or the ability to walk very far carrying bags of shopping, freezers and fridges in our homes to keep food for long periods without it going 'off', all good reasons for using supermarkets. Gone are the days when it was necessary to shop every day, and I for one say thank-goodness.
I had a car all my adult life up to 4 years ago, and at that point decided to try on-line shopping, not just for groceries but for just about everything as trudging round endless shops in Leyland or Preston was out of the question.
In defence of Tesco, for the past 4 years I have done an on-line weekly shop with them, have had excellent service delivered to and unpacked in my kitchen by the delivery driver for less than the cost of me getting a taxi to the store, plus all the produce has been fresh and hand-picked, and every item costing less than in most small shops.
From my own point of view, thank goodness for supermarkets (and computers!!)
Don't get me wrong Smithy-I ue supermarkets-in fact online shopping-for weekly groceries (but not Tesco)but try to use smaller shops where I can for more specialist items like cards, books, records. Supermarkets can't offer the range of choices that smaller specialist shops can and if these shops close due to lack of patronage (or lack of service!) the consumer will ultimately be the loser.
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Honestly Bill, I knew exactly what you meant about small shops - used them a lot myself at one time, and hope you didn't take my comments as a criticism, but over the years so many closed as the supermarkets came on the scene. There used to be so much choice in Leyland then for clothes, shoes, just about anything we needed, but sadly now mostly gone.
Incidentally, I had the same problem as you re greeting cards, books (also videos, DVD's) from local shops - now get cards from the Greeting Card Co. on-line, and books/videos,etc. from Amazon - excellent service from both, and delivery within 2 to 3 days of ordering.
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I like to use local shops, prefering to be able to walk there rather than have to use the car. But sadly in the 20 years we've been living here we've lost a superb greengrocers and two corner-shops. The original owners retire and they find they can't sell the business on. Our old greengrocers shop is now a nail bar (sigh!) and never seems to be open. One of the corner-shops is a hairdressers and the other is closed as the family still lives in the house over the shop. We still have a great butcher's shop though - meat from the supermarket just doesn't seem the same!
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Don't forget your local markets and farm shops for lovely fresh produce
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I use the Five a day greengrocers as much as I can. I am lucky though and finish work at 2pm so have time to get to the shops. Convenience is why the supermarkets do so well. I am planning on trying to go to the Butchers more often and maybe reduce my supermarkets needs further. I actually avoid Tesco anyway as I too think they are out for world domination!! lol! Go to Morrisons, at least they aren't 24hr in your face.... yet.
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quote:
Originally posted by shuffy
Don't forget your local markets and farm shops for lovely fresh produce
The nearest market for me is much further away than the nearest supermarket and there's nowhere to park nearby. We have a farm shop about 2 miles away. I thought I might start using it when our greengrocers closed, but when I found that carrots I'd bought on Saturday had turned black by the time I got them out of the (cool) pantry to cook for Sunday dinner, I didn't bother going back. If I've got to get in the car (can't carry a load of spuds 2 miles!), I might as well go to the supermarket.
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Hi Ant, I used to work with Martin who has that shop. Just mention my name next time you see him. Tell him Sharon & Jeff say hello and the next Saturday I have off I'll pop in and see him.
They do deliveries too so I'm going to try using them a bit more. The shop is also on the net - http://www.five-a-day.net
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quote:
A Leyland greengrocer has blamed the glut of supermarkets in the town for his decision to pull the plug on his business after just 10 months.
Martin Heald opened the Five A Day fruit and vegetable shop on Hough Lane in November but says the competition from the seven supermarkets in the area and the wet summer have combined to force him to close.
http://www.leyland-guardian.co.uk/latest-news/Rain-and-supermarkets-force-out.4440349.jp
Martin ~
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