Low prices? More like low customer satisfaction (Tesco)

Member Name: chrisc92

Product:	Tesco
Date:	28/06/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Larger stores have a large range of food and other items available

Disadvantages: No longer low prices, and deals are not as attractive

This is one review I write with heavy heart, being once a Tesco fanatic

When I was younger, Tesco had a store in Taunton's High Street, which although popular closed in the late 70's/early 80's - but was not one we shopped in very often - if we could help it! My dad and gran both preferred other supermarkets (alas no longer in existence - Gateway and Liptons to name a few). It was one thing I must say I now feel proud happened in Taunton. All good things come to an end and Taunton regained Tesco's back in the late 90's just before I moved down to Plymouth.

I visited the store a number of times after it opened, but still preferred Asda.

In Plymouth there is a modest sized supermarket, a larger one and about 10 miles away a supersized one (well it used to seem that way), and in the city centre a Tesco Metro.

I think Plymouth has gone mad, as not only is there 4 Tesco's there's a modest sized Asda, modest Sainsburys and a much larger Sainsburys, and seemingly everywhere local coop's known as Plymco.

My first impression when I moved down to Plymouth was that Tesco was a very reasonably priced shop offering a number of offers and most of the items that I want. In recent years however, my impression has changed dramatically, they are no longer cheap, very rarely do they have offers that are worth buying (and those that are miraculously increase in price weeks later). In addition, we have purchased a number of electrical items from them that have broken down within months of buying them, but in view of cost we really couldn't be hassled to take them back - particularly toasters.

Personal circumstances have changed the way I shop, but despite being at the end of our road Asda is not our no.1 choice. We actually choose Sainsburys which suprisingly offers better quality and better value than any of the other chains.

The one advantage they offer is the clubcard which has some very good deals, but as it is linked to my credit card I don't feel as pushed to their stores as I used to.

My partner's right, in a few years time, Tesco is probably the only store you'll see on the High Street as they continually strangle the independents and smaller chains. Tesco is making huge profits but it is not us or their suppliers that are benefiting.

I certainly can no longer recommend this as my favourite supermarket, but it can sometimes be good for bargains - particularly clothing.

Summary: A shop I avoid like the plague