**** CHANGE FROM A POUND - The Bargain joys of Christmas! ******** (The 99p Store)

Name: malibu_jenny

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Product:	The 99p Store
Date:	09.12.06 (6123 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Bargains, friendly staff, well stocked, quick queues.

Disadvantages: You sometimes get what you pay for.

Picture a typical winter scene. Not the snow filled and lamp-lit Victorian Christmas scene. Rather, The Boyfriend in a thin jumper and me in a Parka and hipsters combination which leaves an unpleasantly chilly gap, walking between 1960’s buildings in a freezing wind. Eyes down on the damp concrete to avoid grit in our faces and a general demeanour of determination.

I realise that I have been a bit stressed lately. Settling into a new job is difficult, as is the journey involved, Christmas is impending and I am still broke from my pan-European jaunt. Despite my denial of it all and my unswerving belief that I am capable of dealing with everything all of the time, I’ve seen this stress reflected in arguments with The Boyfriend (who co-incidentally is highly strung at the best of times) and in my increasingly irate Dooyoo offerings.

On Sunday, we both felt the need for a break, a little bit of together time and a trip out of our respective homes. Naturally, shopping is the best cure for stress. So, here is my opportunity to write a positive review of something that genuinely makes me happy. The 99p Store.

After something of a trek to get into town, we avoided The Oracle, Reading’s number one shopping centre for overpriced and overcrowded misery and headed along the blocked IDR to park in our secret spot. This was meant to be an ‘unstressful’ shop and we decided to drift round on a reconnaissance trip. Being on the less-than-rich side, I have announced my intention (to wails of disappointment) to give everyone ‘home-made’ gifts this year. Initially I didn’t mean it, but that little seed of an idea has blossomed into something.

While making my list I realised that The Boyfriend’s dad is nigh on impossible to buy for. Every present anyone has ever given him, regardless of thought or expense, remains unused beneath the coffee table. I wanted to give him something he would enjoy and use. Or something I wouldn’t be annoyed about if he didn’t. His chocolate consumption level knows no bounds and I eventually realised that the gift of a chocolate hamper would suit him down to the ground. Looking online, I soon came to think that these hampers were not all they were cracked up to be. For £40, they just looked like the result of PMT in a petrol station. I could do better…..

The first thing I needed was a basket as a basis for my hamper. Robert Dyas turned out to be more expensive than Tesco and the one member of Woolworths staff who spoke any English was exceptionally rude and surly. I was at a bit of a loose end. The Boyfriend and I sauntered through town trying to avoid snot from sneezing passers by and the possibility of being taken out by aggressive pushchair wielding pikeys. As we passed the 99p store, I said to The Boyfriend “Do you mind if we…” and for the first time that day I was met with total agreement.

In case you haven't experienced The 99p Store, everything in there is 99p. (There's not much adding up involved.)

We went to the cash point first because – and this is crucial if you ever plan to go there – the 99p store only accepts cash.

I didn’t take out a lot of cash because The 99p Store is in a fairly unsavoury part of town. While this cash-only policy probably takes a chunk out of their profit, it has the following advantages;

1) You are statistically more likely to be robbed in a discount store, at least you won’t have much on you.
2) If you are like me and cannot resist a ‘bargain’, you are happily limited to the money you have on you. As I withdrew my tenner, I said to The Boyfriend “It’s for the best, I get a bit funny in there sometimes.”
3) The queues for the till are much quicker to move as they don’t have to face the problem of stolen and declined credit cards or dodgy cheques. There are also less staff training requirements.

The first thing that greets you in The 99p Store is the overwhelming choice. Although, in Reading the Poundsaver, Poundstretcher and Everything’s-a-pound stores occupy equally rundown premises just spitting distance away, they soon fade from your memory. The 99p store has reasonably spacious aisles, a not too high ceiling and makes for surprisingly pleasant surroundings.

While the other discount stores seem to rely mainly on chemist goods and budget kitchenware, The 99p Store has an enormous range of groceries including catering size jars of pasta sauce, multipacks of Cadbury’s Crunchie, huge boxes of biscuits and racks of tinned vegetables and dog food. My favourite item was a huge slab of something called ‘pound cake’ the irony of which sent me into a hysterical fit of laughter. It does a reasonable selection of shampoo, an aisle of saucepans and tableware, lots of childrens toys and games and home furnishings. Stationery including ring binders and mega packs of staples is plentiful.

Not prepared to waste another minute looking for the basket I wanted, I asked a member of staff by the front door. Although she was busy stacking shelves, she took the time to tell me exactly where they were in the store. Her equally well presented colleague was waiting by the shelf and handed a packet of baskets down to save me reaching up. It was exactly what I wanted. Not only that but it was a pack of three. For 99 pence.

As usual, The Boyfriend and I dawdled round the aisles, marvelling at the unbeatable cheapness as we filled our basket. My initial idea of a chocolate hamper basket developed a little.
Not only does The Boyfriend’s dad like chocolate (I picked up a box of luxury mint dark chocolate)
but candles (I chose a Christmas design giant one from a range of scented and ordinary),
peanuts (a huge bag of brand name peanuts that would feed an army),
and coffee (I found a selection box of Nescafe Colombian Coffee) are all among his favourites.
Effectively, my present now looked like a personalised ration pack. Yep, just the sort of thing that he would use and appreciate.

The 99p store gives proper receipts and has a return policy – the staff on the tills are polite and efficient and despite the length, the queues move quickly. For all these reasons and more, it tops most other discount stores.

When our local 99p Store first opened, several people were hurt in a riot as everyone fought over 99p DVD players and TV’s. The bargains since haven’t equalled those of the opening day (just as well), but I think they’re pretty good. I found the perfect present within both minutes and my budget.

The note of caution I would sound is that sometimes you get what you pay for. Amongst plenty of perfectly acceptable items, The Boyfriend bought a chocolate Yuletide Log - no brand name - which tasted foul beyond belief. Even the Dog has ignored it. But then we're not going to haul ourselves into town to get our 99p back. Also, I wouldn't recommend buying shampoo etc in the 99p store for the first time. As in poundland, the ingedients and instructions are frequently listed in arabic etc, so you don't really know what you're using. In my opinion this is however, fine for things you buy all the time. And a warning - remember to keep your wits about you as you immerse yourself in the buying frenzy, not everything in the 99p store is a bargain, some things are cheaper elsewhere.

To find your nearest 99p store, check out the 99p store locator at http://www.99pstoresltd.com/. There is also a complete (and very long) list of all the different products they stock. They are owned by Whistlestop discount stores, which specialise in selling products for 99p and under.

According to a Virgin Money poll, a third of British people want a 99p coin to combat the £11m each year that is discarded in 1p coins. I oppose it as it might diminish the joy I feel in the 99p store, which I will forever look upon as Poundland With Change.

Summary: In for a Penny, in for a Pound.