The Co-Op

[Caran]

What do you think of the co-op? In my town they have taken over the post office, the dry cleaners, the chemist and the travel agent. We have been trying to get another supermarket in town for years, everytime we get near they appeal. Asda had planing permission, the coop appealed. They won so started again.we have a department store Beales who rent a property from the coop, they have not renewed their lease so they have to go. They were the best store in town. We have about twelve cafes, takeaways,Indians, Chinese and the rest. Four charity shops, six hairdressers , in a town of 7000. What hope have we against the coop?

[Svejk]

Blimey, Caran makes a complaint & the chairman gets the push.
Must keep on the right side of.

[yogasun]

Same with here Mrs. O. Tesco opened 18 months ago but a lot of people are loyal to Co-op and won't even go into Tesco!
You are right about them being slave drivers with few staff. Can't believe my son's wages for the duty manager's responsibility that he has.
The hours suit him for his other activities so he sticks up with it.
Must go now - going for a nice walk.

[daffy654]

We only ever use our Co-Op for gas and electric top ups, everything else is way overpriced and the choice is poor. Luckily we have a Morrisons supermarket in the village so we can shop for other stuff there :)

[tonyav]

Right then B00, I will check the cake prices next time I I'm in the Co-Op. I have also found that like some of the other posters the staff levels are low, usually just one person on the check out until there is a que and then reinforcements appear !.

[emmie]

hopeless and expensive, visited any number and won't be doing so again

[Ratty2E]

I have 3 co op stores near me, 2 literally 5 mins walk ( in different directions) so they are very convenient. One is at the petrol station and so is the most expensive. The other nearby store is a little larger so has more choice so I tend to go there mostly when I need odd bits. Some things I know I will only get at the larger supermarket and I do use it frequently when I can't face the giant barns filled with screaming kids and people so busy on their mobiles that they cras their trolleys into you. I don't find it that expensive and I tend to get more reduced stuff there.

[Caran]

I live in Cinderford in the Forest of Dean. We do have a Lidl's where I do my main shop and have to top up at the co-op. for the last twenty years we have been fighting the coop to have another supermarket. Tesco's tried for years and were eventually worn away by them appealing time after time. Asda have had planning permission for the the two years but the coop keep taking it to higher level of appeal. Beales are a decent department store but because they sell electrical and household goods the coop will not renew their lease as they are in competition with them. They are strangling our town.

[tonyav]

I know what you mean Caran, there is a small town fairly close to me and they may as well call it Tesco town.

[mallyh]

i get my papers mags and milk etc everyday at the coop i have a membership card and last year got back £40 pound in vouchers .

[Sharingan]

All you can do is publicise the problem as much as possible locally and if you really do have the support of the town to get another supermarket act accordingly. This will involve petitions, representing local people's feelings by writing to the Co-op themselves, to planning committees and generally highlighting the problem. Depending on how far you would like to take ti, you could organise protest boycotts of the store and make a lot of fuss in the local media about doing so, so that it's a PR disaster for the Co-op and also a financial one. It would be a long haul, might not work but if you really feel they are destroying your community would be worthwhile to try. I can help you with a website if you like.

[albaqwerty]

We've a Co-op, a Morrisons and a Lidl (does Iceland count?)

Went to to Co to buy some things for FIL, more expensive than my corner shop.

[RATTER15]

We often go to our local Co Op, we get good deals there and the staff are very friendly, we have three major super markets in the nearest town i mile away.

[chrissa1]

Our local Co-Op, 5 minutes walk from me, is open from 8am until 11pm. The Club Card is good too. They are more expensive than our Morissons and Sansburys, but are handy for things you might have run out of etc.

[Caran]

We have all sorts of protest groups, petitions and banner waving groups but they are a law unto themselves . In the next town they have done the same things. We had a Somerfields, they bought them out, then found due to monopoly's act had to let Harry Tuffin supermarket take over. Now they have been told they have to sell it, haven't been able to so far, now the powers that behave saidifyhey cannot sell Harry Tuffins they will have to sell the Co-op in that town. Hurray!! That may teach them a lesson. They also have a Tesco's in that town and possibly a Sainsbury opening there unless the coop put their spoke in .

[MyBlackHen]

Sorry, but I "like" my Co-op.
I think some of their offers are fabulous.
Lots of toiletries on offer - buy one, get two free, never get my toiletries anywhere else.
The aisles are roomy, fruit and veg always looks nice.
I do have a mobile butcher, so I get most of my meat from him, the only thing I won't buy in the Co-op is fresh fish. Morrisons have my vote for fish.