The Asda Thread

Lorns · Tue 31 Jul, 2007 15.04

From my back garden gate i am within spitting distance of Lidyl. I have never shopped there yet and it's been open 2 years now, i normally use Tesco Express which is a stones throw from my front door.
However now i am currently single and penny pinching just to pay the mortage, i may have to rub shoulders with those single chavvy mums in Lidyl.

For the big shop i will have to sacrifice Sainsburys and M&S For Morrisons.

I need a sugar daddy in my life.

Ronnie Rowlands · Tue 31 Jul, 2007 15.33

miss hellfire wrote:
I need a sugar daddy in my life.

I'm sure Mr.Nick would be more than happy to give you unlimited sugar. I bet if you payed cash you could get even more.

Pete · Tue 31 Jul, 2007 18.42

I have to say I've taken a liking to Asda for its prices. Back home, they've opened a very plush new store in Galashiels which has much nicer fixtures and fittings and all the laynards have "Asda Gala" on them. A new store concept methinks.

Meanwhile in Dundee we have two of them, both in rough areas. To visit the larger one always involves negotiating the terrifying car park and having to suffer the undesirables (although occasionally there's a nice bit-o-rough to eye up).

Tesco Extra is my most hated store however. The lack of suspended ceiling makes it unpleasantly high and despite it being huge its very cramped in places and the layout of products is utterly dreadful. It is impossible to do food shopping in it, unlike the utterly flawless Tesco Riverside. With its vast carpark, tins at the start (because they stack and are the things you have on your list), and the nonfood at the end where you can browse pleasantly unlike Extra where you have to swim through it to get a snack.

Waitrose in Edinburgh is my favourite shop of all time though. So pleasant, and posh. Even the tannoy is classy "Mr Hewitt to checkouts please" - lovely.

Katnap · Tue 31 Jul, 2007 18.49

Lidl isn't that bad - at least, the one nearest me is okay. They do some very yummy peppered steaks and also have a fine range of nice biscuits. It's fine for odd bits and bobs. I've never seen any chavs in it, though I'm probably in well before they've got out of bed.

Lorns · Tue 31 Jul, 2007 19.04

And there is the snob in me. I should know there is no Y in Lidl as i see it everyday. It looks scary in there. It is huge - i could get lost. I should try it one day soon, as a pub has just been built next door and is now open for business ( to ease the burden). She said it has all sorts of nick naks and the wine is dirt cheap.

Ronnie Rowlands · Tue 31 Jul, 2007 19.11

Does anyone else's Asda have this "self checkout" thing? Which is basically an easy way for underage roughies to buy their own alcohol.

The Asda in Llanduno is pleasant enough, my only complaint is that some stupid ignorant people like to stand right in the middle of the aisles and chat. also, there is a checkout guy with an oddly shaped alien head. I sometimes think that the humming from the fridges is actually a secret machine he uses to keep in touch with his mates.

Jamez · Tue 31 Jul, 2007 21.09

I have yet to use a self-serve checkout in any supermarket.

I was in Asda yesterday afternoon, and I only had about 6 items. The queues were long and full of peasant riff-raff, so I did contemplate the self-serve checkout for a moment. I glared at it, admiring the complicated-looking variety of buttons, touch-screens and flickering lasers. However, noticing that the cigarette counter was vacant of other minions, I made a beeline for that and charmed the nice, but slightly geeky looking young girl behind into letting me get away with having three items too many.

I don't mind Asda. It's Tesco I have issues with. There are lots of reasons for my dislike of the company; but the main one is that Tesco staff (especially in their stores in south west Wales) are all miserable, unhelpful and often rude and bad tempered. Also, Tesco Car Insurance caused me huge headaches when I was stupid enough to use them back in 2004. More information about my dealings with Tesco Finance here

Sput · Tue 31 Jul, 2007 21.30

Does anyone else notice foreign-looking checkout operators seem to get shorter queues than english looking ones when it's not a peak time? Sainsbury's in manchester seems to have that, there's queues of 2 or 3 at most tills then an empty one when the guy has a turban. I take full advantage.

jrothwell97 · Tue 31 Jul, 2007 21.37

Sput wrote:Does anyone else notice foreign-looking checkout operators seem to get shorter queues than english looking ones when it's not a peak time? Sainsbury's in manchester seems to have that, there's queues of 2 or 3 at most tills then an empty one when the guy has a turban. I take full advantage.

Subconscious racism is still around (sadly). If I remember correctly, BBC South did an experiment a few months ago when two women - one of British origin and one of Middle Eastern descent - asked passers-by if they could swap a 20p coin for two 10ps. Unsurprisingly, the Asian lady was ignored a lot more.

Square Eyes · Tue 31 Jul, 2007 21.45

I tend to seek out the checkout old dears, they are the ones that call you "duck" and "lovey" and don't hurl the goods too quickly at you whilst trying to pack.

I however, absolutely refuse to accept assistance with my packing. Besides, I reckon it's an empty question anyway, there never appears to be anyone on stand by to help, or does she mean she'll do it all for me ?

Lorns · Tue 31 Jul, 2007 21.48

Thats what i like about tesco express. They automatically pack your bags for you, you don't get a choice. The girls glare at me if i dare try to do it myself.