Comments on: In praise of Tesco http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/ Conservative Party Candidate for Wokingham Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:13:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Andrew Henderson http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-29508 Andrew Henderson Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:58:12 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-29508 In general, as a shareholder, and former employee, I would agree Tesco does a good job. However there are examples of petty, (less desirable moves ? ed) against their customers that should annoy us as they are ultimately self-defeating. e.g. persistent pricing of larger packs of the same product at higher prices by weight ( counter intuitive to the average shopper , not what they expect) and the same disguised by displaying the price per weight at different values ( per 100g and per kilo). This (seems like-ed) an attempt to mislead customers, and is environmentally unfriendly to boot. Take a look, John, in your local Tesco. The Tesco board should be made aware of this, the customers are starting to notice. In general, as a shareholder, and former employee, I would agree Tesco does a good job.

However there are examples of petty, (less desirable moves ? ed) against their customers that should annoy us as they are ultimately self-defeating.

e.g. persistent pricing of larger packs of the same product at higher prices by weight ( counter intuitive to the average shopper , not what they expect) and the same disguised by displaying the price per weight at different values ( per 100g and per kilo).

This (seems like-ed) an attempt to mislead customers, and is environmentally unfriendly to boot.

Take a look, John, in your local Tesco.

The Tesco board should be made aware of this, the customers are starting to notice.

]]> By: Frugal Dougal http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-23048 Frugal Dougal Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:40:16 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-23048 I've just discovered this website, and I think the comment is very incisive. In Cambridge, we have a problem in Mill Road, where Tesco's has planning permission to open a Metro branch, but are experiencing a great deal of opposition on the details. The anti-Tesco campaigners say that the "vibrant" nature of Mill Road would be threatened by Tesco, who merely want to open a small shop among small shops. Unless Tesco's plans to start selling wigs, Rosaries, cannabis seeds, hard-core porn or second-hand firearms, the small shops in Cambridge's Mill Road are safe. I’ve just discovered this website, and I think the comment is very incisive.

In Cambridge, we have a problem in Mill Road, where Tesco’s has planning permission to open a Metro branch, but are experiencing a great deal of opposition on the details. The anti-Tesco campaigners say that the “vibrant” nature of Mill Road would be threatened by Tesco, who merely want to open a small shop among small shops. Unless Tesco’s plans to start selling wigs, Rosaries, cannabis seeds, hard-core porn or second-hand firearms, the small shops in Cambridge’s Mill Road are safe.

]]> By: Bazman http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17388 Bazman Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:33:38 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17388 More of Lidl and Aldi fan myself. The products are very good and interesting few brand names though. Service is a little surly and scant, but at these prices you won't complain. You now have permission if you are posh! Use your old Harrods and Harvey Nicks bags to be green. http://www.talkingretail.com/news/7583/Waitrose-and-Aldi-shine-at-Qua.ehtml http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/01/07/cctesco107.xml More of Lidl and Aldi fan myself. The products are very good and interesting few brand names though. Service is a little surly and scant, but at these prices you won’t complain.
You now have permission if you are posh! Use your old Harrods and Harvey Nicks bags to be green.

http://www.talkingretail.com/news/7583/Waitrose-and-Aldi-shine-at-Qua.ehtml

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/01/07/cctesco107.xml

]]> By: Dave Sparrow http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17378 Dave Sparrow Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:32:41 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17378 @mikestallard I think the term you're looking for is "Lurker". @mikestallard

I think the term you’re looking for is “Lurker”.

]]> By: Matthew Reynolds http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17374 Matthew Reynolds Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:17:17 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17374 Dear John, Thanks very much for clearing that up ! I am enjoying reading your blog very much - please keep up the good work ! Kind regards Matthew Dear John,

Thanks very much for clearing that up ! I am enjoying reading your blog very much – please keep up the good work !

Kind regards
Matthew

]]> By: david http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17372 david Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:32:51 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17372 I do hope Mr Redwood has cleared his praise of Tescos with Mr Cameron and his puppet meister Zac Goldsmith, if not he could be in trouble. I do hope Mr Redwood has cleared his praise of Tescos with Mr Cameron and his puppet meister Zac Goldsmith, if not he could be in trouble.

]]> By: Steven_L http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17366 Steven_L Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:27:41 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17366 I think Tesco is fantastic. I went there tonight and purchased a I think Tesco is fantastic. I went there tonight and purchased a

]]> By: Jonathan Sheppard http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17364 Jonathan Sheppard Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:02:26 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17364 One area I thing does need to be addressed is the Out Of Town area where superemarkets moved into during the 1980s. They set up shop (literally) and traded happily away. Then there was a clamp down where regulators and planners saw out of town developments as bad, as they were seen to damage town centre retail, and the local high street. The supermarkets moved out of selling mere groceries into clothes, toiletries electronics etc. They built their mezzanie levels adding 40-50% extra floor space into their existing Out and Edge of Town development - yet on many Out of town retail parks they have an effective monopoly because the planning system has in the past prevented the likes of Boots or say clothing retailers from getting sites. One area I thing does need to be addressed is the Out Of Town area where superemarkets moved into during the 1980s. They set up shop (literally) and traded happily away. Then there was a clamp down where regulators and planners saw out of town developments as bad, as they were seen to damage town centre retail, and the local high street.

The supermarkets moved out of selling mere groceries into clothes, toiletries electronics etc. They built their mezzanie levels adding 40-50% extra floor space into their existing Out and Edge of Town development – yet on many Out of town retail parks they have an effective monopoly because the planning system has in the past prevented the likes of Boots or say clothing retailers from getting sites.

]]> By: mikestallard http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17357 mikestallard Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:11:49 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17357 What is really interesting about this blog is the enormous number of readers who seem to read it and not contribute. There is, I am sure a technical name for them, but, to be truthful, I have forgotten it. Where did the Tesco and M&S champions suddenly spring from? And, by the bye, you are totally right about competition. Yesterday I went to the Vet. We were not kept waiting. The vet was Spanish and she knew all about the dog's problem. She apologised for the cost of the drugs. Altogether a nice experience. I couldn't help thinking of the terribly wasteful NHS which does the same thing for humans.... What is really interesting about this blog is the enormous number of readers who seem to read it and not contribute. There is, I am sure a technical name for them, but, to be truthful, I have forgotten it.
Where did the Tesco and M&S champions suddenly spring from?

And, by the bye, you are totally right about competition. Yesterday I went to the Vet. We were not kept waiting. The vet was Spanish and she knew all about the dog’s problem. She apologised for the cost of the drugs. Altogether a nice experience. I couldn’t help thinking of the terribly wasteful NHS which does the same thing for humans….

]]> By: Neil Craig http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17354 Neil Craig Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:52:42 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17354 Once the prime functions of local government were keeping the streets clean & repaired, rubbish collection, schools & sometimes water supplies. We have privatised the last, rubbish collection is being reduced to fortnoghtly & there is talk of additional charges for it. Scools could be better run on a voucher system & roads are no longer a particularly local matter since cars can travel more than a few miles. We must be getting close to the point where rates are down to zero because local government has nothing to do. Once the prime functions of local government were keeping the streets clean & repaired, rubbish collection, schools & sometimes water supplies. We have privatised the last, rubbish collection is being reduced to fortnoghtly & there is talk of additional charges for it. Scools could be better run on a voucher system & roads are no longer a particularly local matter since cars can travel more than a few miles. We must be getting close to the point where rates are down to zero because local government has nothing to do.

]]> By: Matthew Reynolds http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17353 Matthew Reynolds Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:19:48 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17353 Yes you are right about that John ! As an employee of the said company I was just trying to point out that just as TESCO do not deserve the criticism that is slung at it M&S deserve some credit for being progressive on things like global poverty & green issues that David Cameron has been addressing during the course of his leadership . Based on what you have said in terms of your praise of TESCO and then saying no ads on the site are you not guilty of advertising TESCO ? What is the difference between your pro - TESCO blog and my pro M&S response ? I am at a loss to see how you avoided offending the no advert policy while I apparently did ? Any clarification would be much appreciated ... What is the difference ? I feel like Chief Inspector Japp when Poirot explains how a crime was committed - utterly baffled ! Reply: I allowed both! Yes you are right about that John ! As an employee of the said company I was just trying to point out that just as TESCO do not deserve the criticism that is slung at it M&S deserve some credit for being progressive on things like global poverty & green issues that David Cameron has been addressing during the course of his leadership . Based on what you have said in terms of your praise of TESCO and then saying no ads on the site are you not guilty of advertising TESCO ? What is the difference between your pro – TESCO blog and my pro M&S response ? I am at a loss to see how you avoided offending the no advert policy while I apparently did ?
Any clarification would be much appreciated …
What is the difference ?
I feel like Chief Inspector Japp when Poirot explains how a crime was committed – utterly baffled !
Reply: I allowed both!

]]> By: Curly http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17352 Curly Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:13:54 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17352 It's high time that the government and it's quangos just learned to keep their wretched fingers out of private businesses. They need to recognise that consumers will decide, by their own choices, how a retailer is run and how successful or not it will be. At the end of the day, there will always be some sort of market led agreement between retailers and their suppliers that will satisfy the customer, without the need for any interference from outside regulators. It’s high time that the government and it’s quangos just learned to keep their wretched fingers out of private businesses. They need to recognise that consumers will decide, by their own choices, how a retailer is run and how successful or not it will be.
At the end of the day, there will always be some sort of market led agreement between retailers and their suppliers that will satisfy the customer, without the need for any interference from outside regulators.

]]> By: Cliff http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17350 Cliff Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:55:09 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17350 The British as a people seem to have an inbuilt hatred of success. People seem to enjoy knocking Tesco but, Tesco only grew because people chose to buy from them as they offered a service that people wanted. We seem to enjoy building people up and then kicking them back down again. I think of Mr and Mrs Beckham as an example of this, but there are many more. We see a nice car or a beautiful home and we seem to have to slag off the owners. We can't say that we will do such and such so that we too could afford the same. Tescos run an efficient business and market themselves very well. They react to trends, often before the change. I would like to see Tesco's senior management run the country; at least we may see the end of the headline grabbing, knee jerk legislation that we have become accustomed to under this government. Tesco's managers would also give the majority of the people what they wanted, rather than feeding their own egos. I agree John, we do have little choice in relation to rubbish collections etc....I think though, in terms of rubbish collection, it could be a lot worse....I think of our neighbours, the people's republic of Bracknell and their council's policy for rubbish collection dis-services as a prime example....The scary thing is, the same company (SEETA) operates both ours and Bracknell's rubbish services. My final thought, what is the main difference between Tescos and our public services sector?.... Tescos provide a service that is value for money and what people want. The public sector provides, in general terms, the exact opposite. The British as a people seem to have an inbuilt hatred of success. People seem to enjoy knocking Tesco but, Tesco only grew because people chose to buy from them as they offered a service that people wanted.
We seem to enjoy building people up and then kicking them back down again. I think of Mr and Mrs Beckham as an example of this, but there are many more.
We see a nice car or a beautiful home and we seem to have to slag off the owners. We can’t say that we will do such and such so that we too could afford the same.

Tescos run an efficient business and market themselves very well. They react to trends, often before the change. I would like to see Tesco’s senior management run the country; at least we may see the end of the headline grabbing, knee jerk legislation that we have become accustomed to under this government. Tesco’s managers would also give the majority of the people what they wanted, rather than feeding their own egos.

I agree John, we do have little choice in relation to rubbish collections etc….I think though, in terms of rubbish collection, it could be a lot worse….I think of our neighbours, the people’s republic of Bracknell and their council’s policy for rubbish collection dis-services as a prime example….The scary thing is, the same company (SEETA) operates both ours and Bracknell’s rubbish services.

My final thought, what is the main difference between Tescos and our public services sector?…. Tescos provide a service that is value for money and what people want. The public sector provides, in general terms, the exact opposite.

]]> By: Matthew Reynolds http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17348 Matthew Reynolds Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:27:49 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17348 Well said John ! Those idiots on the left never fail to amaze me with their economic ignorance ! One point though is that Marks & Spencer have been having a lot of sucess with Plan A whereby they are doing their bit for the enviroment by offering more organic food & drink , selling more fairtrade products , cutting down on packaging as well as reducing energy & water usage , curbing carbon miles , helping charities to a greater extent , boosting recycling / cutting paper usage and begining to charge for plastic bags as well as having healthy eating advisers in store . Money from charging for carrier bags will go to an enviromental charity Groundforce UK . Each store has its Plan A Champion who is in charge of driving this agenda through - I should know I am the Plan A Champ at our M&S branch in Summertown , Oxford ! If we want to talk about ethical capitalism going full steam ahead then I think a few kind words about the nations favourite grocer might not be a bad idea . We have slashed the salt & preservatives in our foods and have said that if you donate any old M&S clothing to Oxfam then you get a Well said John ! Those idiots on the left never fail to amaze me with their economic ignorance ! One point though is that Marks & Spencer have been having a lot of sucess with Plan A whereby they are doing their bit for the enviroment by offering more organic food & drink , selling more fairtrade products , cutting down on packaging as well as reducing energy & water usage , curbing carbon miles , helping charities to a greater extent , boosting recycling / cutting paper usage and begining to charge for plastic bags as well as having healthy eating advisers in store . Money from charging for carrier bags will go to an enviromental charity Groundforce UK . Each store has its Plan A Champion who is in charge of driving this agenda through – I should know I am the Plan A Champ at our M&S branch in Summertown , Oxford ! If we want to talk about ethical capitalism going full steam ahead then I think a few kind words about the nations favourite grocer might not be a bad idea . We have slashed the salt & preservatives in our foods and have said that if you donate any old M&S clothing to Oxfam then you get a

]]> By: Bazman http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17346 Bazman Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:09:25 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/02/15/in-praise-of-tesco/#comment-17346 The next scam will be the compulsory fitting of water meters and the alignment of gas to somewhere near electricity prices. Using green issues and unfairness to people without access to a gas supply. Writes itself. In these monopolised and other industries such as the ones selling thing we cannot go without, such as milk, fuel, and so on. The profits these companies seem to be a form of tax on the public much like any other tax. The government being complacent towards any price control because of the tax it receives and pressure from these companies. While the public just keeps on paying. You can't deny the increases in the costs of raw materials and energy, but wages are low. Check the job papers all you economists! You don't see the same price inflation in electronic goods, coffee, clothes and many other things just keep getting lower. Beer the same. The main increases seem to be in necessities not luxuries. I use the term luxuries very loosely to mean anything you could do without. I know you could do without beer. Is wrestling fixed? The next scam will be the compulsory fitting of water meters and the alignment of gas to somewhere near electricity prices. Using green issues and unfairness to people without access to a gas supply. Writes itself.
In these monopolised and other industries such as the ones selling thing we cannot go without, such as milk, fuel, and so on. The profits these companies seem to be a form of tax on the public much like any other tax. The government being complacent towards any price control because of the tax it receives and pressure from these companies. While the public just keeps on paying.
You can’t deny the increases in the costs of raw materials and energy, but wages are low. Check the job papers all you economists! You don’t see the same price inflation in electronic goods, coffee, clothes and many other things just keep getting lower. Beer the same.
The main increases seem to be in necessities not luxuries. I use the term luxuries very loosely to mean anything you could do without. I know you could do without beer.
Is wrestling fixed?

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