Anyone want a Lidl in Ledbury? |
Supermarket Debate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Written by A. Cyclist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monday, 15 April 2013 00:12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A cyclist had occasion to go to Hereford last week and took his bike on the train. After his appointment was over, there was enough time to visit Lidl before catching the train back to Ledbury. All items are those our cyclist would regularly buy there, so he knows what is worth buying in Lidl. A breakdown of his shopping bill makes interesting reading, especially when compared with the prices of similar items in Ledbury's two supermarkets which, as he is sure you all know, are part of the worst two supermarket chains in the country, according to a recent survey by Which?
Other interesting points: 1. Our two supermarkets (in common with most of their competitors) try to get you to stock up with a myriad of '3 for 2' and similar offers. Although Lidl sometimes uses this practice, none of the items our cyclist bought had this price incentive. However, to be as fair as possible in his comparison, prices quoted from Co-op and Tesco were their 'best' - ie. what a single item would have cost pro rata with the offer taken into account. 2. Is the stock control in our two supermarkets so bad that they're continually trying to flog items that are about to go out of date from a 'bargain' counter? Unless closing time is rapidly approaching, the discount is usually derisory - often you would still pay more for the 'reduced' item than you would if you had bought a fresher one in a '3 for 2' offer, let alone if you'd bought it in Lidl. Our cyclist does not recall many instances of 'nearing use by date' price reductions in Lidl (or Aldi for that matter). This does indicate they have a much better turnover of stock - hardly surprising since they're so much cheaper: see below. Items that don't sell at a 'reduced' price will probably be thrown away (but look here to see what some of them got up to in 2007). If they do as they should, the wastage must be considerable - and the cost will undoubtedly be passed on to the customer in a self-perpetuating spiral.
*1 Co-op and Tesco prices in this column are what they would be if the weight/quantity was the same as Lidl. *2 The two items not available from Tesco are priced as they might have been if available, assuming a pro rata price compared with the total of all other items from Co-op. *3 Co-op and Tesco - McVities with 25% extra 'free'. *4 Only Lidl quotes a weight (300g) - isn't quoting weight mandatory?
The saving in Lidl over Tesco without taking the tubes into account was £19.37. His train fare was £4.10. The worst part of the experience was having to take his full panniers over the bridge at Ledbury station and then go back for his bike because the laden bike was too heavy to carry - but that's another issue.... He wonders why on earth the Ledbury pro-supermarket lobby wants a bigger (better??? - it depends how you define that) Tesco or a Sainsbury when the likes of Lidl and Aldi can wipe the floor with them to such a massive extent on price, and often surpass on quality.
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Last Updated on Monday, 13 April 2015 21:33 |