| Product: |
Tesco Mango & Passion Fruit Smoothie Dessert |
| Date: |
07/08/07 (274 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: It wasn't a multi pack. I made a 399% profit.
Disadvantages: Horrid, Expensive, Unsuitable for Vegetarians. Or anyone in my book.
It was Monday night, which in our house is pottery night. As usual, I’d rushed home from work, prepared the quick meal I’d planned and got Dad out the door (just a little on the late side) for his pottery class. The washing was in the dryer for work on Tuesday, the lunches for tomorrow were packed and Little Brother was on the computer.
Despite the fact that nothing worth watching was on any of our 300 odd channels, I pulled the blind down and settled into the sofa with the little treat I’d bought myself at Tesco on Sunday. Spoon in hand, I peeled the lid from my Tesco Mango & Passion Fruit Smoothie Dessert. Mango is said to be good for the skin and on one of the few warm nights we’ve had, it seemed a refreshing prospect.
‘Strange’ I thought as I dug the spoon in, ‘this is kind of hard’. Smoothie to me somehow implied it would be creamy, possibly runny. At most the texture of cheesecake. But this was like a jelly. I didn’t like the bitter and un-mango like smell either. Taking just the tiniest bit, I tried it…..
Thirty seconds later, I hurled it into the carrier bag we use as a bin and stormed up the stairs. “Get off the computer, I need it!” I cried, almost blind with rage. Faster than you could say the name of the offending product, I’d whipped up a steely letter of complaint.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ******
Tesco Stores Ltd,
Cheshunt,
EN8 9SL
Dear Sir/s,
I purchased a Tesco Mango & Passion Fruit Smoothie Dessert last Sunday and although the packaging does not bear the usual caveat that it can be returned should it prove unsatisfactory, it was so disgusting that I feel compelled to write.
From the outside, it looks a lovely deep mango colour, the packaging exudes an impression of healthy eating and the picture of the fresh fruit is tempting to say the least. However, the pudding itself is disgusting beyond belief with a bitter synthetic taste and a revolting solid texture like congealed gravy. Quite why you saw fit to put Beef Gelatine in it I will never know, upon finding this listed in the ingredients I threw it straight in the bin. The only reason I bought this is because, once again, the shelves in your Reading store were near empty and I had little choice when choosing my dessert.
Although I see that you have added the line “Not suitable for vegetarians” in the small print, I would ask that you label this clearly in bold letters on the front as no one expects to find a product made from the boiled bones, skins and tendons of animals in a fruit dessert.
Any customer purchasing this will be put off trying further Tesco own products, I would suggest you reconsider the sale of this substandard pudding. I look forward to your response and enclose the wrapper as proof of purchase.
Yours Sincerely,
Malibu Jenny.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ******
Why was I so enraged? Well, this ‘little treat’ had set me back 99p. I could have had eight yoghurts for that price (there was a two for one deal in the yoghurt aisle that week). Or a copy of First magazine which would have meant I didn’t need to watch reality tv. It was a ‘healthy living’ product, but under its deceptive veil of fruity goodness, it was packed with Beef Gelatine.
When Dad got back that night, he ran a calmer eye over the letter lying on top of the microwave and laughed. “Look” he said, “you’ve given away your true intentions in the final sentence.” And so I had. Enclosing the wrapper was my way of saying that I wanted recompense for my ‘ordeal’. And two weeks later it came.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ******
Dear Mrs Malibu Jenny,
Thank you for contacting us.
I’m sorry you feel the quality of your Tesco mango & [sic for the strange space] passion fruit smoothie dessert was not of the standard you expect from us. I can understand how disappointing this was for you.
We try very hard to provide products of the best possible quality. We only use suppliers that can meet our high standards and we regularly inspect them.
Please let me reassure you that I’ve told our supplier about your complaint. I’m sure they’ll make any changes to this product that they feel are required.
I’m sorry you’re unhappy with our product and I’ve enclosed a £5.00 Tesco Moneycard, with my compliments.
Thank you for taking the time to tell us about this.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ******
Where did the ‘Mrs’ come from then? Don’t single people complain? Probably not in all fairness. They’re almost certainly out drinking and dancing and too busy to eat this kind of thing, let alone write letters about it.
I wonder what the regular inspections are for, it’s not like I found a finger in it. Perhaps they just check back regularly to make sure this still tastes really nasty. The only fingers in this were mine as I prodded it about and watched it spring back. I think however, I would have been less upset to find the proverbial severed finger than the beef fat because that at least would have been a one off incident and a socially unacceptable ingredient for pudding.
But let’s be fair, it’s not a bad letter. I’d give them a 9 out of 10 because for once I actually feel that someone has read my letter and demonstrated genuine remorse, The Body Shop could take some customer service lessons from Tesco.
Am I pleased with the sentiment behind it? Personally, I think they should have ceased manufacture immediately, put out a recall alert and bought me someone’s head on a pike. But I’ll settle for the Moneycard now it’s here.
Summary: Foul, but at least I didn't find a finger in it.
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