Terrific Tesco (Tesco)

Member Name: ChrisChoice

Product:	Tesco
Date:	09/08/09 (49 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Loyalty Card

Disadvantages: Not Much Competition

There isn't much I can write about Tesco that you don't already know or that hasn't already been said, but I want to give my opinion on it, so here goes.

I have been with Caroline for 8 years now and we have always shopped together at Tesco once a week...plus sometimes having to go back when an item has been forgotten, so I have been there over 400 times. I much prefer it to other well known supermarkets.

We have two 24 hour Tesco near us and tend to always go to the same one. I find that when we go to the other one it is laid out slightly different and so we end up forgetting quite a lot.

Anyway, Tesco are one of the biggest supermarket chains there is and the prices can reflect this. They stock loads of brand names alongside their own ranges. The brand names tend to be at eye level height, with the cheaper brands being beneath them. Quite a lot of our shopping is Tesco Value Range. Some of these products, like toilet rolls, cleaning items and dog food, I find to be okay to use. However, some of the food items are a bit of hit and miss. I think the basic items, such as tinned tomatoes and potatoes are okay, but the cereal and bread is awful. However this is a matter of taste so you should try and change one item each week and see how you like it.

Tesco do have a loyalty card where you get 1 point for each pound you spend. There is always offers on where you can get bonus points if you buy a certain item....maybe 200 extra points if you buy Colgate toothpaste. You also get extra points if you reuse you carrier bags, or recycle a mobile phone or ink cartridge. You can either choose to receive these points a few times a year or save them up and get them just before Christmas like we do. Each point has a value of 1p, so if you end up with 1000 points this is £10. Tesco will send you vouchers to spend instore or you can opt to buy vouchers for certain attractions, this gives you four times the value. So a £10 voucher will give you £40.

Tesco is well laid out and the aisles are wide enough for two trolleys to pass each other. The highest shelf is within reach, as long as the product is at the front of the shelf. The store that we visit always seems to have a good range of products in stock, with good buy one get one free offers.

Our local store stocks food, clothes, toys, magazines, books, DVD's, CD's, games, gardening supplies, stationery and then seasonal products at certain times of the year.

Some stores also have an opticians, photo developing and chemists. They also sell insurance for everything from pets and house to car and holiday. We have used the holiday insurance and had to make a claim for some lost luggage. It was dealt with very promptly.

Tescos also have a bank account and you can add funds to this at any cashier in store. They also offer credit cards where you can earn points on every purchase you make not just in Tesco but in any store.

Another little tip is one which Caroline found online, think it was on MoneySavingExpert, is that Tesco will take vouchers from you even if you haven't bought the item. For example it you have a voucher for 30p off cat food, you don't need to buy cat food and they will still take the voucher and give you 30p off your shopping. Our local Tesco will take any number of vouchers, but some do restrict you to 5 vouchers per transaction. They will only accept one of each voucher if you haven't bought the item. For example if you have three vouchers for money off cat food then you will only be able to use one, however if you buy one tin then you can use one for the purchase plus an extra one. I have to admit the first time Caroline tried this I stood to one side and pretended I was admiring the carrier bags, but every voucher she gave over was accepted with no fuss.

Our local Tesco also has self service tills, but I hate using these. I have used them a few times, but if you buy things with little weight, ie small packets of hot chocolate, the machine doesn't register that you have put it on the belt and a cashier has to clear the system using a code. However I do sometimes use them if I am buying a few items and have loads of change to get rid off. I put all my coppers and silver in and it gives me my change, so I get rid of a lot of coins.

If you are one of the very very very few that have never visited a Tesco then I recommend you do visit one soon.

Summary: Every Little Helps