If, to Tesco, the numbers arriving for 9 a.m. were a disappointment, by 10.30, the car park was full and the checkouts in complete chaos. It stayed that way throughout the day. Where customers were all coming from, I know not. It really did surprise me how many people left with a trolley-load of groceries on a *Monday*. They all looked as if they’d shopped in Tesco all their life.
As for Co-op and Somerfield, you’d expect numbers to be down. Shoppers at Somerfield at 5 p.m. totalled 13; at Co-op it was just seven. Customer loyalty? What’s that? The two Co-op check out staff were talking among themselves. This from the company that invented supermarkets and once revolutionised Rhuthun/Ruthin shopping, more than a decade ago. Even Morrison’s car park at Dinbych/Denbigh had more gaps than was usual.
Rhuthun/Ruthin town centre seemed quieter than normal, even on a Monday.
Back at Tesco, there was a man in the car park with a big round “Space Here” sign, helping customers park. He’d find a space and up would shoot his arm. Cars were otherwise touring for a space. The so-called Briec roundabout outside the store was also in confusion, on some occasions.
Inside, “Satff announcement: a member of the Price Integrity team to Customer Services”. Who are “price integrity” when they’re not at home?
It didn’t take long to start to strip the shelves. Gaps appeared and in spite of staff assiduously straightening things out, theirs was a losing battle.
As for the non-grocery stock itself, the electrical goods were larger than expected, including vacuum cleaners, DVD/video combinations and tvs. Tesco seemed to have run out of the laptops it was selling earlier but replaced them with 2.8GHz Celeron desktop PCs by iQon (I con?), each at £300. Clothing was basic, but more extensive than first anticipated.
As for Co-op and Somerfield, you’d expect numbers to be down. Shoppers at Somerfield at 5 p.m. totalled 13; at Co-op it was just seven. Customer loyalty? What’s that? The two Co-op check out staff were talking among themselves. This from the company that invented supermarkets and once revolutionised Rhuthun/Ruthin shopping, more than a decade ago. Even Morrison’s car park at Dinbych/Denbigh had more gaps than was usual.
Rhuthun/Ruthin town centre seemed quieter than normal, even on a Monday.
Back at Tesco, there was a man in the car park with a big round “Space Here” sign, helping customers park. He’d find a space and up would shoot his arm. Cars were otherwise touring for a space. The so-called Briec roundabout outside the store was also in confusion, on some occasions.
Inside, “Satff announcement: a member of the Price Integrity team to Customer Services”. Who are “price integrity” when they’re not at home?
It didn’t take long to start to strip the shelves. Gaps appeared and in spite of staff assiduously straightening things out, theirs was a losing battle.
As for the non-grocery stock itself, the electrical goods were larger than expected, including vacuum cleaners, DVD/video combinations and tvs. Tesco seemed to have run out of the laptops it was selling earlier but replaced them with 2.8GHz Celeron desktop PCs by iQon (I con?), each at £300. Clothing was basic, but more extensive than first anticipated.
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Tesco