Supermarkets discussion

[tbtc]

The gates might not impede exit but there’s a lot of psychology when it comes to “deterrents”… the cardboard policemen in shop windows for example…

You won’t deter the hardcore thieves of course but there are diminishing marginal returns when it comes to tackling them, just like the fare evasion on the railway - the point is to scare off other people who might be tempted - even so, presumably supermarkets have accepted a certain amount of additional losses in the context of the savings from staff costs - they just need to ensure that they don’t encourage too much of a light fingered culture amongst “ordinary” people

I was reading a Stuart MacBride book where a detective explained that cheese and bacon were the two most thieved things from supermarkets because they are a nice size to put in your pocket and easy to sell on (not too specialist), so I can understand the tagging… Not sure I’d buy second hand cheese. But then I’ve seen tags on nappies which look far too bulky to sneak out of the shop with, not exactly pocket sized!

As for “loyalty” cards… most people are happy to get online deliveries whereby companies get the home address/ email address/ can compile a list of what you buy and how often you buy it - people pass on all sorts of personal information on this site too - I don’t have sleepless nights worrying about Tesco knowing how unhealthy my diet is

 

[jon0844]

I suppose the fear is that with all that big data, if our Government ever manages to scrap the NHS as is and bring in more private healthcare, that sort of data can be sold to enable healthcare providers to look at your diet, or what tablets you may buy, and attempt to use that data to determine what cover to offer and the price.

Big data is what makes up a lot of value for a business these days, although I'm not suggesting this is imminent or that Tesco's data could be proven to mean all that junk food was consumer by the account holder and not another family member etc.

I still give up loads of personal information willingly though!

 

[malc-c]

Slightly off topic, I had to laugh the other day. One of the you tube channels I watch was sponsored by a VPN service to enable more privacy, yet when clicking the link the page opened and instantly want you to agree to a load of cookies and to allow the site to know my location.....

 

[Darandio]

Slightly off topic, I had to laugh the other day. One of the you tube channels I watch was sponsored by a VPN service to enable more privacy, yet when clicking the link the page opened and instantly want you to agree to a load of cookies and to allow the site to know my location.....

Because it's the law.

 

[david1212]

They seem to be cajoling people into paying by card or smartphone app these days, by making only one of two of the self service tills available for those who want to pay by cash.

Self-service tills that no longer take cash are a PITA - Tesco are you reading this ?

And don't get me started on those ghastly supermarkets like "Amazon Fresh", where you have to check in with a smartphone app.

Smartphone App + Bank account linked to phone. That is me excluded.


Back 5 years ago my main shop was Tesco. Aldi then opened on one route home from work. At first I went just occasionally then alternating weeks. Gradually I got more fed up with Tesco having no stock, short use by dates and fruit not still fresh a week later even if when still with the best before date while Aldi introduced more lines. March 2020 changed much out of the control of the store. From 2021 I alternated weekly Tesco and Aldi then it became 2 weeks Aldi & 1 week Tesco. From 2022 Aldi most weeks and Tesco occasionally, sometimes Tesco only if no stock in Aldi.

To supplement this while only going every 3-4 weeks I bought numerous lines from Iceland. Over the last year or so the price of many of their items has increased far more than average food inflation, as I have posted on the Food prices thread several times. Hence I buy far less there now.

Occasionally I use ASDA and Sainsburys for something different or if no stock at Aldi / Tesco.

There is a Lidl close to work and now another near Tesco. Compared to Aldi they have much less of what I buy at least in smaller packs.

I have not used Morrisons except for a meal deal & drinks for many years despite one near to work and another a couple of miles from home. There is a Waitrose 4 miles away and if in that town may wander in but rarely buy - the last I recall a non-food Christmas gift in 2020.

 

[birchesgreen]

Slightly off topic, I had to laugh the other day. One of the you tube channels I watch was sponsored by a VPN service to enable more privacy, yet when clicking the link the page opened and instantly want you to agree to a load of cookies and to allow the site to know my location.....

Was it Surfshark? They seem to sponsor a lot of Youtubers, including Saint Geoff.

 

[malc-c]

Was it Surfshark? They seem to sponsor a lot of Youtubers, including Saint Geoff.

I think it was "Nord VPN"

 

[davehsug]

No Gammon ham or Wiltshire ham available on the Morrisons deli counter at 9am on Friday morning. Just some very scraggy looking Yorkshire ham & the usual continental stuff that nobody ever buys! I noticed that the large offer hoarding over the grapes stated that they were £2.15 for 500g, when they've reduced the size to 400g. Of course, there was nobody around to point it out to. They really are reaching the pits now regarding price and stock availability.

 

[PaulMc7]

Aldi also must have a big problem with shoplifting at the moment as they warn at the door of not putting any items in bags until purchased and they may carry out random bag searches

This explains why my bag caused the door security to beep when I hadn't bought anything in the store then. Last weekend, I had been into a Home Bargains to buy a few things and my girlfriend needed Aldi for a few things so we went into there too. I hadn't bought anything yet the door beeped for me so I had to get my rucksack checked whereas my girlfriend bought stuff and hers didn't.

I had the same issue going into a Lidl too during the week where I had been to a Home Bargains prior to going to the Lidl and the door system beeped as I entered the store but it didn't when leaving the store. I ended up buying a few things in the Lidl so I guess that's why it didn't beep when leaving.

It makes using the stores when in a rush very off-putting unfortunately although the price rises in Aldi are also contributing to that.

 

[DannyMich2018]

This explains why my bag caused the door security to beep when I hadn't bought anything in the store then. Last weekend, I had been into a Home Bargains to buy a few things and my girlfriend needed Aldi for a few things so we went into there too. I hadn't bought anything yet the door beeped for me so I had to get my rucksack checked whereas my girlfriend bought stuff and hers didn't.

I had the same issue going into a Lidl too during the week where I had been to a Home Bargains prior to going to the Lidl and the door system beeped as I entered the store but it didn't when leaving the store. I ended up buying a few things in the Lidl so I guess that's why it didn't beep when leaving.

It makes using the stores when in a rush very off-putting unfortunately although the price rises in Aldi are also contributing to that.

We went to Asda yesterday and couldn't believe the prices. Fresh pizzas gone silly in prices, also seen some Terry's Chocolate oranges £1.50, sure they were a pound a few week's ago! Also frozen food section was quite sparse too.

 

[PaulMc7]

We went to Asda yesterday and couldn't believe the prices. Fresh pizzas gone silly in prices, also seen some Terry's Chocolate oranges £1.50, sure they were a pound a few week's ago! Also frozen food section was quite sparse too.

The one in Asda that shocked me was the 1kg bags of M&Ms. They were £7 last week but £8 yesterday.

 

[GusB]

We went to Asda yesterday and couldn't believe the prices. Fresh pizzas gone silly in prices, also seen some Terry's Chocolate oranges £1.50, sure they were a pound a few week's ago! Also frozen food section was quite sparse too.

I'm not sure if you're referring to pizzas made in-store or regular chilled pizzas, but I have certainly noticed an increase in the prices of the latter. I was in my local Scotmid (an independent co-operative) yesterday and was looking at the Co-op branded chilled pizzas; the prices were extortionate in comparison with the frozen pizzas that were a couple of metres away. Certainly, the frozen ones are slightly smaller, but it would have been cheaper to buy two of them than one chilled.

 

[birchesgreen]

I went to an Asda for a change earlier, a huge building but the choice was remarkably poor in many areas.

 

[nlogax]

But it does seem that thefts from supermarkets are on the rise, as this article about Tesco padlocking bacon and sausages shows.

My local Co-op (down south) has been doing this for some months. Same for steaks and premium burgers.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

seen some Terry's Chocolate oranges £1.50, sure they were a pound a few week's ago!

That's the normal price ( except in Co-op where it seems to be normally £2.50...!! ) but they're very often on a £1 offer in most of the major supermarkets. I just stock up when they are...

 

[duncanp]

The one in Asda that shocked me was the 1kg bags of M&Ms. They were £7 last week but £8 yesterday.

Iceland used to sell a packet of two steak bakes from Greggs for £1.

Now they cost £3.

 

[yorksrob]

Sainsburys seem to be having particular issues keeping their stocks replenished at the moment. I wonder if their computer systems up the spout again.

 

[PeterC]

I was reading a Stuart MacBride book where a detective explained that cheese and bacon were the two most thieved things from supermarkets because they are a nice size to put in your pocket and easy to sell on (not too specialist), so I can understand the tagging… Not sure I’d buy second hand cheese. But then I’ve seen tags on nappies which look far too bulky to sneak out of the shop with, not exactly pocket sized!

It was a long time ago now but one supermarket had a problem with somebody printing fake yellow discount labels. They got away with it as long as they stuck to high value perishables like sirloin steak. However they got greedy and one checkout operator was alert enough to spot that malt whisky isn't normally discounted like that.

These days they normally bardcode the stickers.

 

[DelayRepay]

It was a long time ago now but one supermarket had a problem with somebody printing fake yellow discount labels. They got away with it as long as they stuck to high value perishables like sirloin steak. However they got greedy and one checkout operator was alert enough to spot that malt whisky isn't normally discounted like that.

These days they normally bardcode the stickers.

Many years ago when I worked in Sainsburys, the reduction tickets were printed using an old-fashioned ink-stamper. It often broke so we'd have to use a pen. We had to guard the blank labels very carefully as they were like gold to a thief. And yes, we did get people adjusting the hand-written prices or carefully removing the label from one item to attach to another.

Now they use machines which print a barcode, and stronger 'glue' on the labels, I imagine this is less of a problem.

Our most stolen items were toiletries and razor blades. Small but generally high value items. We had a few regulars who tried to steal meat but we recognised most of them and kicked them out before they got near the fridges. I was once surprised when one of them approached me in a pub in the town centre offering me some steaks... that had been stolen from our shop!

 

[DannyMich2018]

I'm not sure if you're referring to pizzas made in-store or regular chilled pizzas, but I have certainly noticed an increase in the prices of the latter. I was in my local Scotmid (an independent co-operative) yesterday and was looking at the Co-op branded chilled pizzas; the prices were extortionate in comparison with the frozen pizzas that were a couple of metres away. Certainly, the frozen ones are slightly smaller, but it would have been cheaper to buy two of them than one chilled.

The regular chilled ones. Absolutely silly prices.prob not much more to have one made up from the pizza counter.

That's the normal price ( except in Co-op where it seems to be normally £2.50...!! ) but they're very often on a £1 offer in most of the major supermarkets. I just stock up when they are...

I remember getting a few before Christmas and were a pound, 99pin Aldi.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Re the Morrisons gates, are they using facial recognition or do they just open regardless?

 

[david1212]

Iceland used to sell a packet of two steak bakes from Greggs for £1.

Now they cost £3.

Last week if all the items I would have bought were both in stock and the prices not massive hiked compared to even autumn 2021 I would have spent around £15. I spent just £2.

I can see Iceland appearing in the Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon thread.

 

[MikeWM]

Self-service tills that no longer take cash are a PITA - Tesco are you reading this ?

Tesco Ely has 8 self-service tills. 4 took cash. Last spring, without any notice, they converted 2 of those into card-only.

Over the last few months in particular [1], what results is that there is almost always a queue for the 2 that take cash while, more often than not, some of the other 6 that are card-only are free. The queue isn't segregated in any way, so you end up having to try to move out of the way of people behind you and continually explain you're waiting for one of the two they've graciously kept that take cash. Every time you point out to the staff manning the tills that the queues show that they clearly are not providing what their customers actually want they say 'yes, we know, it's a nightmare'.

Clearly they are 'nudging' their customers away from paying with cash. The problem is that any more 'nudging' and I'll consider myself nudged out the door and take the quite considerable amount of money I spend there each year to somewhere that appears to actually want to take my money.


[1] My observation would be that the number of people paying in cash has risen quite a bit since the Autumn. Maybe due to the 'cost of lockdown' crisis making people be more careful with money.

 

[PeterC]

Waitrose always seem to have an adequate number of staffed checkouts. The self checkouts are card only and designed to be used by people using a handheld scanner or self scanning a few items at the till.

It's not at all uncommon to see somebody with a full trolley ignore vacant staffed checkouts and proceed to scan and pack the contents, inevitably making access to the checkouts on either side difficult.

 

[jon0844]

Waitrose always seem to have an adequate number of staffed checkouts. The self checkouts are card only and designed to be used by people using a handheld scanner or self scanning a few items at the till.

It's not at all uncommon to see somebody with a full trolley ignore vacant staffed checkouts and proceed to scan and pack the contents, inevitably making access to the checkouts on either side difficult.

I went to Waitrose a few months ago and there was actually a pretty long queue for the self checkouts. I don't recall how long the queues were for the manned checkouts, if there was even a queue at all.

That was the first time I've actually had to wait a few minutes to pay and leave. I can see them opting to do something like M&S and Sainsbury's where you can just pay on your phone and go (but I forgot to mention before, there are some limits on what you can buy this way - such as alcohol).

 

[AM9]

I went to Waitrose a few months ago and there was actually a pretty long queue for the self checkouts. I don't recall how long the queues were for the manned checkouts, if there was even a queue at all.

That was the first time I've actually had to wait a few minutes to pay and leave. I can see them opting to do something like M&S and Sainsbury's where you can just pay on your phone and go (but I forgot to mention before, there are some limits on what you can buy this way - such as alcohol).

Depends on which one. Our local was due for a refit in 2020, but the pandemic not only stopped that but it increased self scanning and quick check usage on the four elderly Windows XP kiosks. Now to avoid dinlos clogging up them all whilst they scan 50 odd items in a large trolley, at least one of them is set to do only quick scan.

 

[jon0844]

Our store had the new self scan machines moved to the far end some years back, and these are the ones that don't require you to put items in a special place to weigh them, and are also very close to each other so someone with a lot of shopping to scan is going to struggle. Ironically, they're all laid out with a very large circulation area in the centre that is very much dead space.

 

[DC1989]

On the self scans the Lidl near me seems to have a similar problem in that 2 of the machines are cash only - so there's always lots of confusion of people going to them then trying to rejoin the front of the queue etc. All a bit of a nightmare.

On the subject (it may have already been done) what supermarket do you think has the best self checkouts? I think Tesco started installing new ones a couple of years ago which scan much easier and are very quick. Sainsburys ones seem quite old and 'clunky' in comparison.

 

[Mojo]

Depends on which one. Our local was due for a refit in 2020, but the pandemic not only stopped that but it increased self scanning and quick check usage on the four elderly Windows XP kiosks. Now to avoid dinlos clogging up them all whilst they scan 50 odd items in a large trolley, at least one of them is set to do only quick scan.

Waitrose are quite annoying in that if you do scan as you shop, either via the phone App, or via the scanners (in the shops that have them) you have to pay at the self service checkouts that are used by everyone else (or at least that’s the case at the handful of branches that I visit). This means that when they are busy, which to be fair is normally only on the approach to Christmas or on weekend daytimes, you are often in a queue behind people at the self service.

The Sainsbury’s that have the scanners all seem to have a separate area purely reserved for SmartShop. To be fair the shops that don’t have the scanners don’t have a separate checkout, but unlike Waitrose they allow you to pay at manned checkouts.

 

[skyhigh]

I think Tesco started installing new ones a couple of years ago which scan much easier and are very quick. Sainsburys ones seem quite old and 'clunky' in comparison.

I think it very much depends on the store. My local Sainsbury's had all the self scans replaced with new models around 12 months ago and are much better. In comparison the local Tesco still has pretty old slow units installed.

The Sainsbury’s that have the scanners all seem to have a separate area purely reserved for SmartShop. To be fair the shops that don’t have the scanners don’t have a separate checkout, but unlike Waitrose they allow you to pay at manned checkouts.

The beauty of Sainsbury's set up (in my opinion at least) is that at the stores I use you can pay using SmartShop at any self-service checkout. It doesn't have to be one of the separate reserved ones.