One-Stop Shop (OneStop Stores)

Member Name: cazkins

Product:	OneStop Stores
Date:	07/07/09 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good range of products for a convenience store, seems to be improving and expanding

Disadvantages: Not the cheapest priced compared to large supermarkets/discount stores

My local convenience store has changed ownership a few times now, though has most recently become a One-Stop branch for the last 2 years. At first, I didn't much like it because everything was at least slightly more expensive than Tesco, which is just 5 minutes up the road, but I've noticed they do have their moments in terms of bargain buys.

I think your opinion of convenience stores such as One-Stop probably depends where you live and what's available to you locally. If you have other alternatives, like a larger supermarket, you'll probably prefer the larger supermarket as they're more competitive with lower prices. If, however, it's the only shop near you, it's probably one of the best convenience stores in terms of its range and monthly offers.

I tend to associate One-Stop with the blue & red colour co-ordinated scheme, from their advertising and their website, to the staff uniforms. This helps to form a stable image, and you can spot a One-Stop store quite easily and know roughly what to expect.

Their website has a locator so you can find your nearest One-Stop and look at their latest offers, which are also sent out as flyers in local papers. According to their webiste, their mission is to provide 'customers with great services, an unrivalled range of products and great promotions'. In my opinion, I've definitely noticed changes to their price range and offers to make me think that One-Stop is growing and moving in the right direction.

One-Stop is a convenience store, and so as you'd expect, they have all the bits and bobs you'd probably need in between your main supermarket shops. They tend to sections for milk and chilled products, a small freezer section, cakes and bread, and tinned & cupboard products (including meal items like rice & pasta sauces, as well as crisps). Confectionary products are usually in good supply, and my local has a good range of chocolates and sweets, in share-sizes and mutlipacks, though most predominantly individual bars/packets. There's a range of drinks, cans and bottles, plus alcohol, and usually individual drinks in the chilled section. One-Stop also has a few of your everyday home items, from dustbin bags to air fresheners. My local also has a few stands dedicated to cards, along with the Post Office area at the back. There are also areas for newspapers, magazines, and the lottery is available at the main tills, along with tobacco products.

The range is therefore pretty varied for a convenience store, and so there's a good choice of branded products to choose from. The shelves usually seem well-stocked, unless of course there's something you desperately need, in which case it depends how lucky or unlucky you are! (Or maybe that's just my bad luck!)

On the end of each shelf there's usually a display which promotes their latest offers. These can bequite good sometimes, so it's worth popping in when you next go past.

The layout is usually pretty easy to navigate as they're not overly large stores. Generally speaking, the stores tend to be well-kept, clean, organised, and products clearly priced. This is a big positive in my opinon, because I don't think I've come across anything in there that hasn't been labelled and priced.

The prices themselves aren't the cheapest when compared to competitive supermarkets or discount stores, but they're not the worst either. I think even their prices have improved to challenge the supermarkets, as they no longer appear to be that much more expensive.

The staff, obviously, will vary from place to place, but I've tended to find them friendly. The general feel to One-Stop is average, nothing special but nothing 'bad' about it either. I like a nosey around One-Stop, and feel comfortable in doing so without feeling pressured by staff and my local isn't usually that busy so I don't have to fight for a loaf of bread like I do in Tesco!

Overall, it's a decent convenience store with a good range, which seems to be improving and expanding, so it can come in very handy for all sorts of purchases.

Summary: Worth popping in & checking out their latest offers :o)