The CO - OP and their prices.

[VVC-Geeza]

Originally Posted by Torqueofthedevil

Are you suggesting that Aldi and Lidl aren't greedy? I had no idea those companies were so marvellously altruistic!

Aldi and Lidl greedy,I think you are on your own with that one.Keen to offer the customer value for money in their quest to gain a larger share of the market.Yes.

[coolcat]

I'll happily use most grocery stores depending on what I might need.

We do tend to use Lidl for our "BIG' shop for it's value. M&S for those 'SPECIAL' items. Tesco's for online ordering and home delivery.
We use our local Co-op on a Saturday morning to pick up milk and a few other top up bits. We also use the Co-op in Acle village (where our boat is) A great store that especially promotes locally sourced products. Not the cheapest, but brilliantly convenient for us (and the locals) whilst up at the boat.

I think they all have a place along with the corner shops etc. The world would be poorer without the choice. Price isn't always the only factor to take into consideration

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by wraymond

There was a time, and I don’t know if it still applies, the Coop offered the ‘divi’ – dividend stamps on your card, read loyalty bonus. Used to be called ‘Cooperative and Wicks Society’ and was on nearly every corner. What a superb Socialist enigma. The days of those tram lines in the air, whizzing across the shop on wires on the way to the cashier sitting somewhere safe with the money.

I have no idea if it still applies or how it might work if it does. I don't remember stamps, but I do remember we had a number for the divi. I would be sent to collect odd items to the Coop and had to remember to say that divi number, it was the earliest series of numbers I ever learned to remember.


Where I live now and for decades, the local society had built a it's own large local shop/store. The impressive building is still there, still marked with the name, chiselled in stone, with the date, but the coop moved out long ago, to be replaced by take-aways etc..



Back then, each area had their own local societies. How those local societies became the national Coop I don't know.

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by SCP440

We also have a small Spar shop less than a 3 min walk from my house, most stuff in there is expensive but they also have a constant stream of customers from the time they open at 7am until they close at 8pm and I have seen people in there with what looks like a weekly shop. Personally I use it for milk and bread if we get low.

We don't have a very local shop, nearest are shops in the Main St a bit over half a mile away, or a Lidl + Tesco + Home Bargains a bit further away.



I tend to jump on the bus to Main St, L/T/HB need two buses, whereas Wendy likes to walk to all. We just go in the car for a major shop every few weeks. We have just 'lost' a shop from the Main St, Fultons which was a favourite for many things based on their prices, but you had to always check the BBD - some of their items would be expired. They tended to sell a lot of surplus stock cheap, what ever they could find cheap and sell cheap.



We generally buy the bulk of the food from Lidl, but not on price alone - we find much of it better and cheaper than the other sources.

[grivas]

Originally Posted by VVC-Geeza

It amazes me how they manage to survive with their sky high prices and constant increases in an era of Aldi and Lidl.I've noticed both Aldi and Lidl are now building stores in the suburbs where the CO - OP have had the manopoly for so long.Good,about time they were brought into line!

If it serves any comfort, our local Co-Op is the very same, high prices, zero service to speak of and set up to serve the local student community, as one of the main campuses is situated across the road.

[MSS]

Out of interest, what service do you need/expect in a little shop?

I go in, pick up what I need/want, the only service I require is for someone to scan the stuff and take payment which they always manage with a smile.

The co-op pays the adult wage even to youngsters and as a result the local stores are very popular with students seeking a part-time job.

[another_clean_sheet]

Originally Posted by MSS

The co-op pays the adult minimum wage even to youngsters and as a result the local stores are very popular with students seeking a part-time job.

Sorry to correct you but the Coop pays more than the adult minimum wage but as you right all the yougsters get the same as the adults.

[Southern Star]

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

I have no idea if it still applies or how it might work if it does. I don't remember stamps, but I do remember we had a number for the divi. I would be sent to collect odd items to the Coop and had to remember to say that divi number, it was the earliest series of numbers I ever learned to remember.

Me too... 343430. I'm sure stamps superseded the divi number.

[VVC-Geeza]

Originally Posted by MSS

The co-op pays the adult minimum wage even to youngsters and as a result the local stores are very popular with students seeking a part-time job.

Very noble but passed onto the customer with the high prices.If the company wants to show a truely altruistic concern for their staff let the shareholders carry the extra burden of 'fair' wages,not the customer.

[MSS]

Originally Posted by VVC-Geeza

Very noble but passed onto the customer with the high prices.If the company wants to show a truely altruistic concern for their staff let the shareholders carry the extra burden of 'fair' wages,not the customer.

Are we having a grumpy day, Mick?

Businesses would not exist without shareholders. The co-op also have fair-trading policies which I personally think are a really good idea. Another positive is that items which have reached their sell-by date are sold at very, very low prices unlike most supermarkets which lower the price by 10p to 25p for £2 of grapes on their sell-by date, for example.

Ultimately, you can choose not to shop at the co-op, but as shown by so many posts a lot of us are perfectly happy with our little local co-ops as they are.