Tesco stores to close.

[Abpj17]

But watch this space for card charges, the interchange regulations potentially change everything.

See http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/697f18b0-8646-11e4-b248-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3OWYPJIZB for more information

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Fees to process debit and credit card transactions are to be capped under an EU law that attempts to wrap-up a protracted battle with payment groups such as Visa Europe and MasterCard.

...

It's probably an urban myth about Tesco. And the bank and the retailer are generally managed as separate businesses.

 

[Kite159]

Tesco used to have a notice by the checkouts saying what payment methods they accept etc at the bottom used to be something along the lines of when you pay by Credit Card, 97.5% goes to Tesco Stores Ltd with 2.5% going to another Tesco Ltd company.

I need to check out if such signs exist with the wording at the bottom.

---

When Tesco expanded the local store to turn it into an Extra, they did it without the store closing, just moving items around out of the area being expanded. There is a local Lidl which has been closed for 8 months whilst it's being expanded, with no sight of when (or if) it will reopen. (they could have saved time in knocking the old store down and rebuilding it from the ground up)

 

[jon0844]

That was to save some VAT. If you asked for a VAT receipt they had to charge you differently. A loophole that was quickly changed as most retailers did it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Tesco used to have a notice by the checkouts saying what payment methods they accept etc at the bottom used to be something along the lines of when you pay by Credit Card, 97.5% goes to Tesco Stores Ltd with 2.5% going to another Tesco Ltd company.

I haven't seen those anywhere in a while, so maybe the loophole was closed, but that was some kind of VAT dodge as payment services were VAT exempted, or whatever.

Neil

 

[Kite159]

Ah, that might explain it. It just come to me as a memory remembering reading that about card & cheque payments (old random memories seem to surface at times).

I tend to pay via Credit Card, not for cashback (although I do have an Asda Card which does give cashback, but has a stupid statement date with payments due the 28th of the month), but that my current account pays interest so it makes sense for me to keep money in current account earning interest and paying the CCs off in full every month.

 

[Aldaniti]

I think they[1] are all the same as each other, so you might as well choose the cheapest or nearest, as is your preference.

[1] I suppose you could argue Waitrose, Booths and the Co-op win on ethical grounds.

Neil

I certainly agree re: Waitrose and Booths Neil. When it comes to food, quality and provenance is what is important to me, and I find I'm increasingly buying more organic products such as milk, butter etc. Personally I tend to do small but regular shops at my local high street M&S. Everything else and I'll scour the shelves of Home Bargains, B&M et al.

 

[Y961 XBU]

I feel sorry for the people of Kirkby (near Liverpool) People had to be moved out of their homes so Tesco could Build a store in the town, some people at first refused to move and now they are told that they are no longer getting their Tesco will of angered them massively

Looking at St Helens and i can see a local Tesco that could be shut easily, they Built a Tesco Local in a former Pub in Haydock however theres a Big Tesco less than a Mile from it, Theres nothing thats competing with the Local Tesco (even the Petrol Station nearby has Closed Down) so if this remains open i would be shocked. Theres also a Big Tescos in St Helens that recently moved to a new location by Langtree Park (Saints Rugby Ground) and i know people of St Helens where not happy about that and with a new Aldi on the way plus Asda, Lidl and Morrisons close by This store could be under threat aswell.

 

[Butts]

But watch this space for card charges, the interchange regulations potentially change everything.

See http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/697f18b0-8646-11e4-b248-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3OWYPJIZB for more information


It's probably an urban myth about Tesco. And the bank and the retailer are generally managed as separate businesses.

Well I was in Tesco Bank in Glasgow just before Christmas when the new boss Dave Lewis "paid a Royal visit"

 

[Starmill]

My credit card has really only one useful attribute - I know it will work on the train. My debit card's ability to do that remains unknown.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31023136
I took the list from BBC, I am priotising the larger stores.
But be warned, BBC's list includes "Morecomb" so is not reliable.

The list of Tesco store closes has been published.
Superstores are to close in:
Doncaster.
Kirkcaldy.
Belfast.
Bedlington.
Chatham.
Connswater.
Wrexham.
Homeplus stores are to close in:
Edinburgh.
Bristol.
Chester.
Chelmsford.
Staines.
Southampton.
The list of other stores is quite extensive and includes many town centre stores which I would have thought profitable.

 

[gordonthemoron]

none in Milton Keynes I see (we have 10 or 11)

 

[Mojo]

I always thought the Homeplus format was a bit of an odd one. It doesn't have the convenience of a "one stop shop" like the Extra stores, and when I did want something they would sell it was never the first place I would consider to go.

I've been into the one at Cribbs Causeway a few times just to browse and for the novelty, and it was never really that busy; probably not helped by being across the road from an Asda Walmart Supercentre as well as other more specialist retailers nearby. It was also very frustrating to shop in, because they only had self-service checkouts, which for a shop that sells a greater range of security-tagged or abnormally sized items than an ordinary supermarket was a bit bizarre. I don't think I ever got through the checkouts there without requiring a humanoid to assist me.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

none in Milton Keynes I see (we have 10 or 11)

That's odd, I would have assumed store closes would be dedigmed so people have am alternative. They are shutting the last store in some towns but leaving loads in others, very odd.

 

[Johnuk123]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31023136
I took the list from BBC, I am priotising the larger stores.
But be warned, BBC's list includes "Morecomb" so is not reliable.

The list of Tesco store closes has been published.
Superstores are to close in:
Doncaster.
Kirkcaldy.
Belfast.
Bedlington.
Chatham.
Connswater.
Wrexham.
Homeplus stores are to close in:
Edinburgh.
Bristol.
Chester.
Chelmsford.
Staines.
Southampton.
The list of other stores is quite extensive and includes many town centre stores which I would have thought profitable.

I go past a brand new Tesco In Chatteris most days which has just cost £22m to build and is now boarded up having never sold a bean.
A proper white elephant if ever there was one.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

That's odd, I would have assumed store closes would be dedigmed so people have am alternative. They are shutting the last store in some towns but leaving loads in others, very odd.

It is odd but no doubt profit margins are the reason.

 

[Antman]

I heard something on the radio about several Tesco Express's closing in Liverpool

 

[Blindtraveler]

Well i am unsurprised by many of these however I do think wel see more in future

 

[fgwrich]

None in Basingstoke on that list either - We have at least 7 - 8 around the town. And around here most of the town is I think happy with the decision to stop building and opening new stores as well, as there is a large plot of former industrial land - Incidentally a Railway connection as the former Smiths industries site - has been bought by Tesco with 2 now rejected plans for a Tesco Express on the site, less than a mile from a large Asda and Morrisons store, Co-op, One Stop and a row of local independent retailers. Another plot of land up in Tadley bought by Tesco several years ago had all buildings demolished on it in preparation to build another mid sized store, but Tesco did nothing with it and the local long established (and better) Sainsbury's rebuilt and expanded their store.

Something I've always wondered though - Why did Tesco feel the need to rival the One Stop Chain - A shop that is owned by themselves? Certainly around here there's been a few years of Tesco v One Stop rivalry.

As for the Homeplus stores - that never surprised me and always seemed like an odd choice - The Southampton one is almost backed by the West Quay, M&S, John Lewis and Ikea for example. And remembering the flop that M&S had when they opened their own Home store a few years ago, the Tesco business always seemed well, odd.

I think one thing I've always felt against Tesco, and one reason why I've disliked them for a long time is the feeling of Too many fingers in the pies perhaps? The local big store includes a Tesco Pharmacy - Which caused the closure of 2 local stores, Tesco Opticians - another closure of another local store. You can also do Banking in this store, pick up a mobile, go clothes shopping, pick up your medications, get some new specs, order some furniture all in the same place as picking up your loaf of bread.

 

[gordonthemoron]

Here is the list of Express & Metros:

Bearwood Express
Belvedere Express
Church Street Ballymena Express
Heaton Chapel Express
Heybridge Essex Express
Houghton Regis Express
Liverpool Kensington Express
Longbridge Road Barking Express
Northfield Birmingham Express
Raymouth Lane Worksop Express
Sheffield Manor Express
South Tottenham High Road Express
Tredegar Express
Troon Express
Walsall Wood Express
Wealdstone Express
Whitley Bay Express
York Road Hartlepool Express
Bicester Metro
Bootle Metro
Caerphilly Metro
Crossgates Metro
Devizes Metro
Grangemouth Metro
Mexborough Metro
Morecombe Metro
Ormskirk Metro
Runcorn Metro
Smethwick Metro
Woodseats Metro

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

I go past a brand new Tesco In Chatteris most days which has just cost £22m to build and is now boarded up having never sold a bean.
A proper white elephant if ever there was one.

It's the same in Immingham. The old Kenedy Way shopping centre was knocked down so Tesco could regenerate the town. The new store was built but not opened, I think spending money to open a store and to mothball it is disgusting waste of investment.

 

[GatwickDepress]

I'm not surprised to see Bicester on the list. It's so oversaturated with supermarkets!

 

[Clip]

I think one thing I've always felt against Tesco, and one reason why I've disliked them for a long time is the feeling of Too many fingers in the pies perhaps? The local big store includes a Tesco Pharmacy - Which caused the closure of 2 local stores, Tesco Opticians - another closure of another local store. You can also do Banking in this store, pick up a mobile, go clothes shopping, pick up your medications, get some new specs, order some furniture all in the same place as picking up your loaf of bread.

I don't think you can put the full blame on Tesco for the stores closing - they never forced people to leave the others to come shop with them.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm not surprised to see Bicester on the list. It's so oversaturated with supermarkets!

Tesco were first, but I'd imagine (as Bicester is not a very big place, but does have a big new town centre even so!) that the new Sainsbury's has stolen all the business.

Neil

 

[cf111]

On a railway-related note, Tesco bought the land next to Thurso station more than five years ago and reduced what was there to rubble, then did nothing more with it.

It's a complete eyesore but I suppose they're not going to do much with it now are they!

 

[Greenback]

It's a complete eyesore but I suppose they're not going to do much with it now are they!

They could sell it to Lidl or Aldi

Seriously, I knew someone who used to work for one of them (i forget which). Her job was to identify suitable pieces of land which could be redeveloped and a store built on it.

She never said much about it, but from the scraps that she did say, it seemed that they had a definite business model of keeping the stores smaller, and making sure that they were close to areas of housing.

There were other criteria, I;m sure, but it's interesting how this approach (10-12 years ago now) seems to have been successful in anticipating changes in consumer demand for more local shopping facilities on a smaller scale, along with the increased demand for cheap prices due tot he economic climate post 2007.

I'm even more interested to see if this will continue, or whether customers will increasingly revert back to out of town superstores.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Or to deliveries, now evenings/weekends are possible and one-hour slots are available at some supermarkets. That's by far my preference, and it would of course allow the number of large stores to be reduced substantially.

Neil

 

[Greenback]

We are currently using deliveries plus click and collect more than we previously did. But we still continue to physically visit a store for food more often than not.

Delivery and collecting pre ordered items works for us with bulky and heavy purchases, not fresh items, which we prefer to choose ourselves.

 

[Busaholic]

Tesco were first, but I'd imagine (as Bicester is not a very big place, but does have a big new town centre even so!) that the new Sainsbury's has stolen all the business.

Neil

When Tesco announced that stores would close but before naming them, BBC TV news went to Bicester and showed the SIX Tesco stores that operated in that town so I doubt that Sainsbury's did any more than prove the straw that broke....Incidentally, how many of these were there in Terry Leahy's days as he is intent on trying to say it was all his successor's fault?
In Penzance, we had a town centre store which Tesco announced would stay open when they built a larger (but not huge) supermarket out of town in the early 1990s. In consequence few, if any, staff applied to transfer. A month after opening the new store the town centre one closed with all staff losing their jobs! The new store did provide a cafe which was well patronised, in part because you could sit and wait there for the free bus service to appear, but after a few years the signs went up that a 'new, improved cafe' would be opening after rebuilding work - in practice, it went for good and, I believe, they lost some custom which has never returned. All on Mr Leahy's watch!

 

[cf111]

They could sell it to Lidl or Aldi

Seriously, I knew someone who used to work for one of them (i forget which). Her job was to identify suitable pieces of land which could be redeveloped and a store built on it.

She never said much about it, but from the scraps that she did say, it seemed that they had a definite business model of keeping the stores smaller, and making sure that they were close to areas of housing.

There were other criteria, I;m sure, but it's interesting how this approach (10-12 years ago now) seems to have been successful in anticipating changes in consumer demand for more local shopping facilities on a smaller scale, along with the increased demand for cheap prices due tot he economic climate post 2007.

I'm even more interested to see if this will continue, or whether customers will increasingly revert back to out of town superstores.

Our Lidl is currently being expanded, wouldn't mind an Aldi though! I'm fairly convinced they bought the land to stop ASDA getting their hands on it, there is already a Tesco in Thurso which I used to work in when I was younger and a bigger one in Wick.

 

[jon0844]

On a railway-related note, Tesco bought the land next to Thurso station more than five years ago and reduced what was there to rubble, then did nothing more with it.

It's a complete eyesore but I suppose they're not going to do much with it now are they!

Same as in Welwyn Garden City. Bought a load of land, then sat on it for years. Then came up with plans that were quite outrageous.

All mostly built around a new superstore and some promises of doing up a listed factory into a swimming pool (a nice idea, except they wouldn't be responsible for maintaining it after, so the council would end up paying a fortune to keep the building and pool going).

Most people were against the proposals, but Tesco got a group of people to join a forum within a very short space of time to say how wonderful it would be etc - they were quickly found out and disappeared as fast as they came.

They failed with the plans, so then pretty much said 'fine, we'll leave it as an eyesore until you reconsider' which Tesco/Spenhill can do as it knows how to play the long game and get what it wants.

After all, nobody wants a desolate wasteland so they'll likely give in to Tesco in the end. I also think that given its location near Tesco's UK and soon to be world HQ, they'll be even more keen to get their own way. No doubt having 'invested' in WGC by moving its HQ, the council planners will be a bit more forgiving next time too.

 

[LLivery]

I have 15, yes 15 in a 2.7 mile radius of my house! Most of them are the useless Express stores, and none are on the list either. The thing is, most people in South London prefer Sainsburys, Lidl and Waitrose (I shop in all three) so why Tesco thought swamping the market was a good idea is baffling. I think many more Tesco branches will close, I feel sorry for the staff but closing 43 of apparently 3,700 is hardly a drop in the ocean.

As for Chatteris, a huge store in a town of 9,000 was just a strange idea.