My Weekly outing..dont knock it !! (Tesco)

Member Name: Sarahjh

Product:	Tesco
Date:	07/11/08 (120 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good discounts,offers, and a pleasant cafe

Disadvantages: not so clean toilets

Tesco plc over the years has become a household name.
A gentleman by the name of Jack Cohen who hailed from East London founded the company in 1919.
The Tesco brand first appeared in 1924,when Jack Cohen bought a shipment of tea from T.E.Stockwell..he combined the first three letters of the name (TES) along with the first two letters of his own surname (CO) and formed the word `Tesco`.
Tesco started life as a retailer of food and drink,but recent years have seen Tesco diversify into other areas such as clothing,consumer electronics,consumer financial services,CD`s,music downloads,Internet service,telecoms,health insurance,dental plans,software and DVD`s.
In 2008 Tesco became the Worlds fourth largest retailer,with profits exceeding 2 Billion pounds.
The Tesco Company employ over 273,000 people.

The Different Styles of Tesco:
Tesco Extra : These stores are the much larger Hypermarket style stores.
The first Tesco Extra opened in 1997,and now they are building around 20 new Tesco Extra stores a year.
The largest Tesco Extra is in Basildon.
In the main these stores are on two floors,the ground floor used for food products and the first floor for clothing,electronics and entertainments.The high majority of Tesco Extra stores have a Cafe.

Tesco Superstores :
The Tesco Superstores are the large supermarkets,stocking groceries and a smaller range of non food goods.
Most of the stores fitting this description are situated in City suburbs or on the edge of the larger towns.

Tesco Metro :
The Tesco Metro stores are stores that are in between being a Tesco Superstore and a Tesco Express store.
These stores are mainly located in the middle of small towns and cities.

Tesco Express:
The equivalent of the convenience store,to be found in small shopping precincts and on Esso garage forecourts.

One Stop :
The only type of store not to have the word Tesco in its name.
There are more than 500 of them left throughout the country,they work on a different pricing system to the larger stores.
A proportion of them have cash machines installed.

Tesco Homeplus:
A non -food store offering a comprehensive range of goods.
There are currently 8 Homeplus stores throughout the country.
The stores stock the items that are included in the Tesco Direct catalogue.

Tesco Direct :
The online Tesco site where you can buy many different types of goods.
Furniture,electricals,toys,jewellery,home and garden,PC,photo and gaming,sound and vision,sports and leisure,baby and toddler.
Tesco Direct charge £4.85 for a delivery,you can order online or by phone or at selected stores.
The Tesco direct catalogue can either be collected at a store,looked at online or Tesco will send you a copy if you request it.

Tesco Groceries :
I have had a Tesco Grocery account online for over a year now.
The Tesco site is easily navigated .
First of all you choose a delivery spot,then you carry on to shop.
All of the buy one get one free bargains are there on site,as well as the weekly offers.
You carry on shopping until you have all that you need,then you pay either by using your credit or debit card online.
If you go to the HotDealsUK site you will more than likely be able to access a voucher code ,allowing you either a free delivery or a small amount off of your shopping.
You type the voucher code in at the checkout (when you pay ) and it will automatically deduct it.
The shopping is delivered to your door and if any item isn't in stock,the Tesco will put a substitute product in,if you don't want to accept the substitute then you just send it back with the driver.
Your clubcard points are collected in exactly the same way as if you were shopping in the store.

A visit to my local Tesco store :
My local store is just a mile away from me,its my regular shopping place.
The building is basic,but pleasant enough.
The store is open 24 hours and it has a petrol station.
As you enter the store the most wonderful array of flowers hit you.
The flowers are so well priced ,large bouquets come for around £10,I usually treat myself to a more modest bunch .
The smell of the in store bakery is very temping.
Just past the Bakery section the hot chickens are piled up in the warming cabinet.
The inside of the store is a little `No Frills` but its clean and well staffed.
The customer service desk is surrounded by the newspaper and magazine section,alongside the cigarettes and tobacco booth.
A selection of mobile phones ,DVD`s and CD`s are on offer too.
A wide variety of alcohol is available,many offers and discounts.
All around the store are well posted bargains and deals.
We usually spend some time browsing around.
A good deli counter,but no fresh fish counter.
The checkout girls are cheery and always pass the time of day with you.
There are always carrier bags available at the checkouts,and Tesco offer an extra loyalty point if you reuse your carrier bags.
This suits me as im an avid Loyalty point collector and flash my clubcard at every opportunity!
They also have a carrier bag recycling facility.
The end of our shopping trip is a visit to the in store cafe,we have our favourite,a cream tea.
The cafe does a range of cooked food,sandwiches,cakes and toasted teacakes
Also a good range of coffee on offer,plus hot chocolate and cold drinks.
By the time we have eaten the Cream tea we are fit to burst!
The toilets are the final stop of the outing,and the part that let the whole store down.Usually there is at least one of the three toilets that is Out of order.
Often the cleanliness leaves a lot to be desired,but im sure the influx of schoolchildren that use them doesn't help the matter.
The parking is very good and there are recycling facilities ,the bottle bank,shoes,clothes and papers can all be taken there.
A good basic store ,with good prices and a wide range .

Summary: A store that has good discounts and well priced food .