Another Tesco deception

I don't see how we can complain about the big supermarkets. Obviously enough of us shop in them or we wouldn't have them. Do you want to go back to the era of small corner shops where the choice was very limited? The demand for cheap food is what drives supermarkets. Personally I prefer to buy less and better quality and cook everything myself rather than use convenience foods but that is my choice.

And it wasn't so long ago that Tesco was criticised for paying such low wages that the workers were forced to claim benefits again at the taxpayers' expense.

These marvellous community works that these big companies get involved in are assisted by certain tax breaks - I think that's worth pointing out.

The only reason Tesco do all those community minded things is because they know they are guilty of closing down so many small grocers shops throughout the country. They have NO soul. They ruin high streets, and take the character out of small communities.

Good for you Goldfinch.

Btw, it's a myth that Waitrose are dearer than Tesco. (Just saying)

I went into Tesco this morning to deliver my letter to the manager to find the Doritos in the same place under the Specials banner but this time the price was marked up at £1reduced from£1.99.Honour is satisfied!

We too live in a town where Tesco is the only reasonably-sized supermarket. We have a couple of local Spars, but they don't have a great range. Like yours, pompa, our Tesco is involved in a lot of local activity, and they deserve credit for that. They also employ a lot of local people and the local butchers, bakers and deli have survived and seem to be doing as well as possible in a small town where there isn't much money about.

I know that Tesco is a big, heartless, money-making machine, but that's what we've got. (The only alternative here for deliveries would be Asda, and I wouldn't want to support Walmart at all.) I will continue to shop at Tesco and use what intelligence I have to work out whether I want to take advantage of their offers, however genuine, or not.

Nelliemoser, re.Yorkshire teabags , do you have a Home Bargains near you,?they always have Y.Tea on sale at £3.99 for 240teabags, I have seen these so called special offers in Asda, in my mind they are just conning us,

Totally agree with you Thatbags, it is very patronising assuming that shoppers don't understand advertising and are easily duped by it.

Not everyone cares if they are not getting the very best deal (or if the product is ethical). When I buy coffee, I buy the one I like the taste of and just pay the price on the day. I CBA to shop around to save a few pence, I have better things to do.
On the other hand, those that do need to ensure they get the lowest price probably need the buying power of the big companies to manage their budgets. We would all like to buy high quality ethical products, but not everyone is in that position.

I guess I'm saying cut down on the outrage and think. Maybe, like sensible, intelligent shoppers (i.e. most people), next time you see a sign saying Special you could just do what the rest of us do and think "Aye, right." I'm advocating scepticism towards advertising. Yes, advertising is full of dubiousness. So treat it with disdain.

Which is not to say we don't need any legislation to prevent outright lies in advertising. We have and we use a system to deal with that.

The Doritos in question could easily have been a 'special' purchase by a particular branch of the supermarket in question. It's not wrong or deceptive to say so if the definition of "special" is not defined. The assumption that the word special refers to price is an assumption.

And shoppers don't need defending either. Sure it's an opinion openly expressed. I've nothing against that. I'm just arguing with it and saying that the idea that most people cannot deal with advertising wiles and need 'protecting’ from it is very patronising.

People are, of course, very used to using supermarkets now and it would take an enormous change in culture - and much more assistance given to small shops - to alter that. But that doesn't mean we have to just shut up about everything they do - surely it's only by highlighting and complaining about bad practices that businesses receive a firm push towards adopting more above board and ethical standards of trading?

We have had suppliers bullied into accepting very low prices, being forced to pay to have their goods displayed, and being kept waiting for months for payment. On top of that, the bullying of councils to permit them the building of supermarkets even when there is strong local opposition, misleading sales tactics, the scandal of food containing completely different ingredients from those listed on the packet, etc. etc. etc.

These large supermarkets have vast amounts of money to employ large marketing and legal teams. They are well able to look after their own interests - they don't need us to defend them.

Hardly a vindictive vendetta.Just an expression of what has been experienced openly expressed.

Spot on Thatbags.

There is one shop locally where I found the staff rude and unhelpful, I no longer use that shop and travel several miles to use another shop. If I felt the way some GNers do about Supermarkets, I would have to do the same rather than use them.

Others can speak for themselves about being misled. One doesn't have to be. That's another thing one has a choice about if one puts one's mind to it.

I presume those who are so anti-supermarket don't shop at them. Ever. If they do they are hypocrites.

Greenfinch, you do have a choice, Lidl and Tesco are very different supermarkets, you have far more choice than many. There is also the option of home delivery available from other supermarkets.
I don't look on them kindly, I am realistic, most people want value for money and supermarkets offer that, if they did not, they would not be in business.
Greenfinch, if two supermarkets have driven other businesses out, they must have offered lesser value or quality than the supermarkets. None of the shops in our village went out of bushiness because of Tesco, quite the opposite, the additional footfall that Tesco brought has enabled several of them to extend their business, especially the butcher and baker.

This thread appears to be a vindictive vendetta against a single supermarket. I will be interested to see what action Tesco may take when they review it. I think GN are treading a dangerous path allowing it, but that is their choice.

I'm still trying to work out the manager's logic greenfinch Perhaps it's something George Osborne could use?

You might look on supermarkets kindly pompa but most of us can see them for what they are. Shops with huge marketing budgets aimed at misleading the public. The one you mention has been the worst offender. I'm sorry, but the good deeds don't outweigh the bad.

I find our little village store has very few things I want. It's handy for milk.

Indeed, but there is choice between supermarkets. And they are still shops.

But they are both supermarkets!

Anyway, do let us know what response you get, greenfinch

So you have Lidl and Tesco, greenfinch? That means you have a choice.

I still maintain that educating oneself against the wiles of marketeers of any kind is the best way of foiling their tricks and what I would call sales pitch rather than insidiousness. Education is always a good weapon.

This view does not mean I support illegal or really deceptive marketing. I don't. But shoving a bunch of Doritos that you want to sell off quickly under a sign that says Specials does not strike me as falling into criminality any more than the way estate agents use fancy, 'decpetive' language to try and sell houses.

Some of us don't have a choice. There are only supermarkets in this area. The smaller shops have all been forced to close. At least we have Lidl.