Spend your money wisely (Tesco)

Member Name: Blurbubble

Product:	Tesco
Date:	15/06/01 (52 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good range and prices

Disadvantages: Store too busy

Every little helps – so they say – but in the case of my very large local superstore branch of Tesco a lot more might help!

True, like most supermarkets these days they have an extensive range of offers – bulk buys, 3 for the price of 2, buy one get one free (known charmingly as “BOGOF”), buy one get another half price etc. All valuable possible savings. In addition they have their very good “Value” range – an alternative to name brands can be found in most departments in its trademark blue and white striped simple packaging at a fraction of the price – bread, beans, toiletries, tea, coffee, crisps, soft drinks – you name it there is usually a “Value” alternative. (Though sadly they haven’t bought out “Value” white wine yet which I would be willing to try at their bargain prices!!)

My local store has branched out recently into stocking electrical products as well as other non-traditional supermarket items such as CDs, videos, magazines, kitchenware and toys. Unfortunately these additions often reduce the space for their range of day-to-day groceries but at least it gives the consumer more choice in other areas at reasonable prices.

There is also an in-store dispensing pharmacist at my local branch which is a valuable addition although we lost out local independent pharmacist as a result – but it does make it truly a one-stop store in many respects.

I find their prices much lower and more competitive than my other local supermarket, Sainsburys, which is much smaller too so Tesco is my first choice despite their lacking in customer service skills (especially when faced with an army of Saturday only staff who don’t know their way around the store any better than you do!)

Another plus point is their loyalty “Clubcard” which gives one point for each pounds worth of eligible shopping (excludes tobacco products,
pharmacy products and stamps for example) and these points can add up if you are a regular shopper which results in some useful money-off coupons every three months as well as other possible benefits if you are a big shopper.

My local branch could benefit from taking on more staff as off their approximately 20 checkouts usually a good one third to half of these are closed at any one time resulting in horrendous queues which stretch round the store and make a complete joke of their supposed “one in front “ policy where they claim they will open another checkout if there is more than one person queuing in front of you. I have rarely ever seen this happen.

All in all I find them a very good store as far as prices and value for money goes and they have an extensive range of goods but I wonder if these superstores are too large for their own good as the customer service suffers as a result (not enough knowledgable staff) and the store becomes far too busy for them to cope with at the checkouts.

Summary: