My local Tesco's doesn't value cyclists

[Ghost Donkey]

There are some excellent cycle stands at my local tesco store.They are next to the cafe and have glass windows next to them so they are in full view and are also covered from all but the most diagonal rain. It also helps there is a shared cyclepath/footpath on the road leadingup to the carpark as well as two bike shops within walking distance. Handy when I needed a wheel truing and I just parked at tesco on a busy saturday morning and ran up to a shop to drop my wheel off Aldi are good too where I live.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Hmmm - my local Tescos are excellent. The big 24-hour one has six bike stands, and the local Tesco Express not only lets me take my trike inside the store, but the security guard stands guard over it while I do my shop. :-)

 

[John the Monkey]

This does, with respect, strike me as a bizarre idea. It's a very roundabout way to make a point.

what if I put a fridge door in the panniers though, could that work?

 

[BrumJim]

Remember that BOGOFs are by definition a loss leader. Tesco's or anyone else will lose money on the customer who comes in and snaps up the BOGOFs and nothing else. So they really ought to be encouraging customers like us who shop to a pattern and have regular needs. And always know exactly how much is four panniers-worth (usually around £50-£60).

Remember hearing something about these Tesco special offers. Whilst it may appear that you are grabbing money from their pockets by utilising as many of these specials as possible, in fact Tesco tell their suppliers what special offers they are going to put on, and adjust their buying price accordingly.
i.e. "Hello, Mr Walkers, we are having a special on your multi-crisp bags next month - buy one, get one free."
Mr Walkers "Ah, brilliant - will you be looking for an increase in your delivery quantities."
Tesco "Certainly - 50% extra, at a 50% price reduction, hence 25% reduction in our usual invoice."
Mr Walkers "No, you can have them at the usual price, or not at all."
Tesco "Do you want to see your products sold in our supermarkets or not?"
Mr Walkers "Erm, OK, whatever you say. 50% unit price reduction for the next month, then."

OK, probably more accurate for the smaller producers rather than PepsiCo, but Tescos are not being as generous as you think.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I think the truth is somewhere between the two: they may not make any money on BOGOFs, but they don't lose any either.

Their actual loss-leaders are the handful of products shoppers know the competitor prices for. From memory, this is about 14 items and includes milk, bread, eggs, cheese, baked beans and conflakes.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

This whole thread makes me realise how lucky I am not to have to use supermarkets. I can walk into Ross every day and there's a fine selection of small independent shops - two grocers (all local produce), two good butchers (ditto) a baker and a small general store. We even have an old fashioned hardware store, despite a Focus DIY (hawk, spit) just outside town.

 

[John the Monkey]

We have a fantastic bakery at the end of the road, and a (new) greengrocers right next door to them. Being able to get fresh stuff locally is fantastic, I agree.

 

[summerdays]

There are good local shops too - fantastic bakery further down the Gloucester Road (you get queues on the pavement on a Saturday morning), and I try to get to the farmers markets too - but other than the supermarkets there aren't really any good independent grocery stores - too many supermarkets really within a few miles there are 2 large Tesco's, 1 Waitrose, 1 large Sainsburys, couple of Somerfields, 3 smaller Tesco's, and a small Sainsburys, a Co-op and some I've forgotten. The green grocers, bakerys and butchers that do survive have built up their customer base.

 

[Weegie]

My local Teco (not a particularly big store) is quite cycle-friendly, 6 covered Sheffield stands, and right in front of the main checkouts so very visible secure. Clearly local policy is king with these people.

One that made me laugh was the new Decathlon in Glasgow. Massive store with a massive bike section. Outside were 4 sheffield stands. And every single one had a shop bike chained to it with a "SALE!" price tag. The staff had to chain their bikes to an 18" high wooden fence that you could break by standing on. I made my views known :?:

 

[summerdays]

OK - so I needed to pop in there this afternoon - and thought I would give the parking the bike at an angle a try ... it didn't quite reach the windows unfortunately (especially as they were particularly muddy wheels)

Also noted that of the other bikes there - one was in the proper racks - middle usable position the other 3 bikes where attached to the trolley stands.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Um, is it not just a case of putting the bike in facing outwards? It looks to me like that's what the design intends.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Um, is it not just a case of putting the bike in facing outwards? It looks to me like that's what the design intends.

Now you mention it, I think you might be right.

 

[summerdays]

If you have the bike facing outwards then it will get hit by passing people (and trolleys).

 

[marinyork]

Um, is it not just a case of putting the bike in facing outwards? It looks to me like that's what the design intends.

Doubt it. Tescos are pretty lax with parking at many stores they do have. A lot of the stands featured in this photo that are common to tescos stores aren't even fixed to the floor.

I'm slightly puzzled why some people stand up for tescos as we've had several brand spanking new stores in this bit of the world and zero cycle parking at most of them.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I'm slightly puzzled why some people stand up for tescos as we've had several brand spanking new stores in this bit of the world and zero cycle parking at most of them.

I'm guessing people criticise or praise Tescos depending on how bad or good their local stores are. Only a guess, mind.