Too Big for their Boots (Tesco)

Member Name: BlaEm

Product:	Tesco
Date:	11/11/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, not hard to find one

Disadvantages: Too busy, questionable service, poor quality fruit & veg

When I was at University, we used to do midnight shopping trips to the massive Tesco Extra a few junctions up the motorway. Now I live somewhere in between a huge Tesco Extra and a not-so-huge normal one.

The late-night shopping was by far the better experience for me. I know supermarkets on the weekends are never going to be a barrel of laughs, but I literally leave Tesco with a pounding headache of frustration whenever I venture in during daylight.

I don't think it's very useful to just provide a damning tirade, so I'll try to be constructive in the rest of this review, using my own experiences.

Atmosphere
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I don't know if it's just me and my people-hating (:D), but the customers who shop at Tesco seem to be more miserable, impatient and selfish than anywhere else - and I should know, as I used to work there in the home shopping department! The last few times I've been, I've been rammed, endured a loud tourettes-like rant, had to dodge through a sea of abandoned trolleys, and those using there's like an aimless battering-ram as they tried to force their way through the clothing aisles.

It makes the whole experience of shopping extremely unpleasant. I am aware that it isn't Tesco's fault if the locals are a nightmare - but why is it that I've never seen any of this at my local Sainsbury's?

Customer Service
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With the customer service, it seems like I can't win. In one particular store (*cough* Guildford), I've had to literally walk up and down the length of the store, just to find someone to ask where something is. When I do find that person, rarely will they 'show me to the product' (as is their customer-service requirement) or half the time even know what I'm going on about. And don't even get me started on the cashiers who would rather have a natter with each other then serve you.

At Horsham the staff are more competant and helpful, despite it being a far bigger store. On the shop floor there is a much greater presence of staff, the majority of whom seem familiar with the layout and are happy to help.

It does seem a shame that a business as large as Tesco can allow certain stores to get away with a bad service, as in my case it has left me not wanting to shop at *any* Tesco, rather than just avoiding my closest one.

Products
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Well, I can avoid a rubbish atmosphere and potentially rubbish service by online shopping. In this case, it's what they sell that is important.

We all know that Tesco is cheap; we're reminded of various polls and price cuts every day. For the most part I would agree that Tesco has some great offers and will normally match the offers of their rivals - i.e. if something is BOGOF somewhere else, you can count on Tesco already knowing about it. Often as well the Tesco Value range is of a reasonable quality for the price that you pay - and some things you just don't need a brand for, such as tinned tomatos.

The main area where I would definitely avoid Tesco is for their fresh fruit and veg. Sometimes it is clearly of a poorer quality, and often fruit that looks fine on the shelf will start to rot long before it's use-by date. I know of a few people who will do all their shopping in Tesco but buy their fruit and veg elsewhere.

Summary
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Tesco always seems to promise great things, but in this case a brand so big struggles to actually implement its 'visions' in the regions.

Also, they never give me any green clubcard points when I reuse my bags... :0

Summary: I have defected - this isn't my supermarket of choice.