Supermarkets discussion

[DelayRepay]

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.

It's the same at mine. There are six SmartShop only tills, of which three appear to be working at any one time. Then 20+ normal self service tills, which all have the SmartShop QR code on the screen. I've never had to queue behind more than one person for the SmartShop tills, even when the store's busy.

 

[david1212]

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.

All of the self-service checkouts at what was the Tesco Metro that has been rebadged as Express, with prices increased compared to the Superstore, are now card only. If you want to pay cash for a couple of items you have to use the staffed checkout - often only one open.

At the Superstore I thought all of the self-service checkouts too were only card only but maybe a couple out are still cash. Some of the staffed checkouts are card only too.

Using cash indeed makes it obvious if less change out of a certain amount in notes or if more has to be added.


Aldi was all staffed checkouts but recently cut out a couple and installed 8 self-service ones that are card only.

 

[Bletchleyite]

All of the self-service checkouts at what was the Tesco Metro that has been rebadged as Express, with prices increased compared to the Superstore, are now card only. If you want to pay cash for a couple of items you have to use the staffed checkout - often only one open.

Quite a lot of us like them and think cash is prehistoric. This is increasingly a prevailing view, particularly in areas with lots of young people.

 

[AM9]

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.

At our branch, with just four self service checkouts, following complaints by quick check customers (who are almost exclusively regulars), the store has now made one of them quick check only, giving those who have already scanned their purchases a choice of four and those who turn up with a basket or trolley full of unchecked goods just three. In busy times, quick check customers spend much less time at the checkout than self scan so their progress is much quicker than those who insist on spending much more time hand scanning than the experienced staff at regular checkout desks. C'est la vie.

 

[Mojo]

At our branch, with just four self service checkouts, following complaints by quick check customers (who are almost exclusively regulars), the store has now made one of them quick check only, giving those who have already scanned their purchases a choice of four and those who turn up with a basket or trolley full of unchecked goods just three. In busy times, quick check customers spend much less time at the checkout than self scan so their progress is much quicker than those who insist on spending much more time hand scanning than the experienced staff at regular checkout desks. C'est la vie.

That’s good, glad to hear they’re listening to customer feedback. I must admit it kind of puts me off using the QuickCheck system, as our Waitrose has the self checkouts that don’t have scales, so it isnt too much of a hassle to use the self service checkouts in Waitrose like it is in other shops, I normally just pick them.

 

[Busaholic]

Quite a lot of us like them and think cash is prehistoric. This is increasingly a prevailing view, particularly in areas with lots of young people.

Cash use has stabilised, according to the Bank of England, having declined a fair bit during the pandemic: indeed, they estimated 73% of the public had used cash at some time in January 2022, compared to about 50% in mid 2020 when the choice was probably more difficult. Also, there are more bank notes in circulation than ever before, make of that what you will!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Cash use has stabilised, according to the Bank of England, having declined a fair bit during the pandemic: indeed, they estimated 73% of the public had used cash at some time in January 2022, compared to about 50% in mid 2020 when the choice was probably more difficult. Also, there are more bank notes in circulation than ever before, make of that what you will!

I suppose we might want to avoid turning this into another cash debate, too

The reason I like them is that I can pack at my leisure and not at the speed stuff is thrown at me. This saves time when I get home, e.g. I put all the frozen stuff together. If at a staffed checkout I prefer the Aldi style "chuck it back in the trolley and go away and pack it" approach for the same reason, but non-German supermarkets are not laid out for doing this.

 

[GusB]

Quite a lot of us like them and think cash is prehistoric. This is increasingly a prevailing view, particularly in areas with lots of young people.

*Yawn*

Please, let's not turn this into another "payment methods" thread.

 

[D6968]

I was buying alcohol in my local Aldi recently, and the guy covering the self checkouts asked me if I had proof of age.

I took off my hat and said, "how many under 18s do you know who are going bald, and what little hair they have left has turned grey?"

He didn't have any answer to that.

I did get asked (in a very good humoured fashion I must say) if I had any ID on me when I recently bought some booze, I then pulled out my licencee’s card (my license to sell booze) bless her she did get a little embarrassed then but we did find it rather amusing.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

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...

Yep. And I'm pretty sure I've often seen them being sold for even more than that (Just checked, and online, Sainsburys is selling them for £1.95 each)

On a side note, I'm pretty sure there was a time - a long time ago - when the Terrys Chocolate Oranges were something of a luxury item. The kind of thing you'd get for Xmas or special occasions. But with the almost permanent £1 offers, they seem to have become one of the cheapest chocolates you can buy if you measure it by price per unit weight. Makes me wonder if anything in the recipe/quality has changed?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Is it just me that hates the Lidl/Aldi middle aisles. I'm always wishing they replaced them with normal supermarket stuff

The bizarre range in the middle aisle is the only reason I go in to either store.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jan 2023 ==

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

Hopefully shouldn’t be like that for much longer. The Issa Brothers are introducing many variations and little quirky innovations to Asda stores by the day, such as gourmet sushi counters, in store LEON, and they’re hoping to open around 400 new ASDA Express by 2026.

All of the self-service checkouts at what was the Tesco Metro that has been rebadged as Express, with prices increased compared to the Superstore, are now card only. If you want to pay cash for a couple of items you have to use the staffed checkout - often only one open.

At the Superstore I thought all of the self-service checkouts too were only card only but maybe a couple out are still cash. Some of the staffed checkouts are card only too.

Using cash indeed makes it obvious if less change out of a certain amount in notes or if more has to be added.


Aldi was all staffed checkouts but recently cut out a couple and installed 8 self-service ones that are card only.

I was just going to say, my local Tesco Metro at uni became an Express last year, and they’ve since (as well as raising the prices and reducing the options) abandoned all but one of the main tills, which is a nightmare as the self service checkouts have the tiniest bagging area imaginable. Also, if they’re rebranded and priced as an Express, it should NOT still be closing at five on a Sunday

On a side note, I'm pretty sure there was a time - a long time ago - when the Terrys Chocolate Oranges were something of a luxury item. The kind of thing you'd get for Xmas or special occasions. But with the almost permanent £1 offers, they seem to have become one of the cheapest chocolates you can buy if you measure it by price per unit weight. Makes me wonder if anything in the recipe/quality has changed?

How very odd and funny that you should say that, when my housemate made the exact same comment last month - that chocolate oranges are suddenly very cheap.

I’ll tell you what has clearly had the recipe/quality changed and that’s Twiglets. Something’s different. They used to be salty, savoury and delicious. Within the past year I’ve noticed they now taste like marmite covered BRAN FLAKES.

 

[Russel]

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

They seem to open regardless as they normally open as you approach them.

I visited my local Morrisons again yesterday and they refused to open, this time there was a checkout attendant nearby who told me the barriers were temperamental and I'd have to wait for another customer for them to open, moments later another customer approached them and they opened, so it's possible it's facial recognition technology. Not sure why they don't recognize my face though, if that's the case.

 

[DelayRepay]

Also, if they’re rebranded and priced as an Express, it should NOT still be closing at five on a Sunday

That's probably due to the Sunday Trading laws. Shops in England and Wales with a floorspace of more than 280 square meters are only allowed to trade for six hours on a Sunday.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I just wish Aldi would adopt a delivery system similar to what Iceland were doing for years. Go in and make your purchases, pay for them and then ask for them to be delivered.

 

[MikeWM]

All of the self-service checkouts at what was the Tesco Metro that has been rebadged as Express, with prices increased compared to the Superstore, are now card only. If you want to pay cash for a couple of items you have to use the staffed checkout - often only one open.

...for which, in my experience, there is usually a queue, while the self-service machines sit there unused.

At the Superstore I thought all of the self-service checkouts too were only card only but maybe a couple out are still cash. Some of the staffed checkouts are card only too.

Some of the larger stores are indeed all card-only for self-service. Pontefract springs to mind for some reason, probably it was the first place I encountered that and was irritated by it. Ely however does still have two that take cash, which as I said above, are clearly in significant demand as there are almost always a queue for them while (again) card-only ones sit unused.

Yes, as you say, also card-only now for some of the staffed checkouts, usually with the sign 'it's easier and safer', which is infuriating for a number of reasons.

Tesco are very clearly trying to strongly nudge people away from paying in cash, even though it is clear that many people still would prefer to, for a whole host of reasons that have been discussed on here previously. If it wasn't for the fact that the Ely Tesco is so conveniently located for the railway station, I'd be boycotting them at this point.

--

The reason I like them is that I can pack at my leisure and not at the speed stuff is thrown at me.

I totally agree, that's the reason I prefer to use them over a staffed till too. That's why I want a number of them to continue to take cash so I can also pay using my preferred method. At the least there should be a number that take cash *proportionate to the number of people who pay with cash*, else they are not delivering what the customer wants. Tesco are clearly not doing that at this point.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I just wish Aldi would adopt a delivery system similar to what Iceland were doing for years. Go in and make your purchases, pay for them and then ask for them to be delivered.

Probably a fairly niche requirement, given that that still involves going to a supermarket and can be achieved from any shop by the use of a taxi. I can't really imagine having a use for such a service even if I didn't own a car.

 

[birchesgreen]

Probably a fairly niche requirement, given that that still involves going to a supermarket and can be achieved from any shop by the use of a taxi. I can't really imagine having a use for such a service even if I didn't own a car.

Maybe when you are 88 like my Mum you'll see the point of the Iceland delivery service.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Maybe when you are 88 like my Mum you'll see the point of the Iceland delivery service.

I think the issue there is that there are fewer and fewer of the generation who don't use the Internet left. Yes, it's nice to get out of the house, go for a bus ride, do your shopping etc as part of the simpler life of retirement, but you can do that by having staples delivered and going and shopping, trolley in tow, for the items where choosing them is more important, i.e. fresh fruit/veg, meat etc. I doubt anyone finds ragging round Iceland chucking ready meals and bags of fish fingers and chips in their trolley particularly enjoyable.

 

[philthetube]

So what happens if you've already just paid for the item(s), and then see from the receipt that the shelf price was wrong?

Surely it has to be illegal for businesses to display misleading prices?

Tesco used to give you the item, Asda gave a £2 gift card. No idea if this still applies.

 

[david1212]

... If at a staffed checkout I prefer the Aldi style "chuck it back in the trolley and go away and pack it" approach for the same reason, but non-German supermarkets are not laid out for doing this.

Indeed. What is annoying are the minority who try to big a big trolley load at the Aldi staffed checkouts where unlike Tesco etc there is only space for a couple of scanned items.

That's probably due to the Sunday Trading laws. Shops in England and Wales with a floorspace of more than 280 square meters metres are only allowed to trade for six hours on a Sunday.

While unsure of the store area I guess this was the reason. I wonder how many Tesco Express, Co-op etc have a public fllor space of 279 square metres ....

... the self service checkouts have the tiniest bagging area imaginable.

The same at the Tesco Metro Express I am referring to. Those at the Superstore and Aldi are not large. I only take a small trolley and do not fill it plus do not want soft items crushed or falling on the floor - yes I try to scan heavy items first - but only just enough space. The weighing systems of course prevent moving any item back to the trolley.

Hopefully shouldn’t be like that for much longer. The Issa Brothers are introducing many variations and little quirky innovations to Asda stores by the day, such as gourmet sushi counters, in store LEON, and they’re hoping to open around 400 new ASDA Express by 2026...

Interesting. I rarely use any Express store but new ranges at the ASDA superstore near work could make me go there more often as a change from Aldi and Tesco.

 

[MikeWM]

The same at the Tesco Metro Express I am referring to. Those at the Superstore and Aldi are not large. I only take a small trolley and do not fill it plus do not want soft items crushed or falling on the floor - yes I try to scan heavy items first - but only just enough space. The weighing systems of course prevent moving any item back to the trolley.

Sainsburys in Ely recently split their self-service into two sections, one with 'normal size' self-service machines intended for baskets, and one with much larger space for bagging intended for trollies. It actually works rather well, except that they aren't signed very well so you have to work out yourself which is which. (50% of the machines still take cash, too, a big improvement over Tesco).

 

[Gloster]

While unsure of the store area I guess this was the reason. I wonder how many Tesco Express, Co-op etc have a public fllor space of 279 square metres ....

Indeed. When our local Tesco Express was rebuilt around ten years ago, they were very careful to ensure that the floor area was just under 3000 square feet, which is effectively the same.

 

[Hadders]

I wonder how many Tesco Express, Co-op etc have a public fllor space of 279 square metres ....

The overwhelming majority of Tesco Express stores are below 280 square metres. There are a few larger stores, mainly ex Tesco Metro stores that are larger

Co-op has a significant number of larger stores but the vast majority are below 280 square metres.

In a former life I spent many a store refit reducing the size of stores that were a little larger than 280 square metres.

 

[Russel]

The overwhelming majority of Tesco Express stores are below 280 square metres. There are a few larger stores, mainly ex Tesco Metro stores that are larger

Co-op has a significant number of larger stores but the vast majority are below 280 square metres.

In a former life I spent many a store refit reducing the size of stores that were a little larger than 280 square metres.

Is 280 square meters for the whole shop, so including warehouse space, office space etc or just the shop floor area accessible by customers?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Is 280 square meters for the whole shop, so including warehouse space, office space etc or just the shop floor area accessible by customers?

It's all the parts of the shop which are used to display goods and serve customers.

(Restrictions can't be circumvented by closing off parts of the shop on certain days).

Various exemptions, including railway station outlets.

 

[philthetube]

Back to Asda, started shopping there again since they introduced the £1 offer for soup and a roll with unlimited tera/coffee, over 60's only, sorry.

 

[Acey]

I’ll tell you what has clearly had the recipe/quality changed and that’s Twiglets. Something’s different. They used to be salty, savoury and delicious. Within the past year I’ve noticed they now taste like marmite covered BRAN FLAKES.

Indeed,noticed something different at Christmas when I opened a tub,tasted bitter and burnt so I checked and apparently they changed the recipe last year to comply with new regs ,totally ruined them in my opinion !

 

[Howardh]

Back to Asda, started shopping there again since they introduced the £1 offer for soup and a roll with unlimited tera/coffee, over 60's only, sorry.

Do stores offering such offers check people's ages? I've never been checked going through a concessionary turnstile at the footy! Sadly they must think I look my age now, grrr.

But although I've never been to Asda for years, I might take that offer up if the cold weather continues. My local's doing soup + roll for £2 and getting decent take-up.

 

[Hadders]

Do stores offering such offers check people's ages? I've never been checked going through a concessionary turnstile at the footy! Sadly they must think I look my age now, grrr.

But although I've never been to Asda for years, I might take that offer up if the cold weather continues. My local's doing soup + roll for £2 and getting decent take-up.

Given how tricky it is to check someone’s age when they’re buying a legally age restricted product I doubt anyone at Asda is going to be too officious about checking someone’s age in the in store cafe.

Then again, there’s always someone…

 

[johntea]

We just got suspected of shoplifting at Asda

Went through the self checkout and got bleeped exiting, member of staff asked for receipts which we didn’t have (if you want receipts don’t make the ‘do you want a receipt’ optional!)

They printed the last receipt but that was no good as we had scanned our shopping seperate so that was my receipt

Eventually the staff checked with the security who checked the cameras and gave us the all clear, only to get stopped again at the exit by the security who questioned us again until we convinced them we weren’t trying to nick a few quids worth of shopping!

If we were actual shoplifters we would have just done a runner out of the store…

EDIT : Found out my partner had a make up item with a security tag on it that they had bought from Amazon which is obviously what set it off!