If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Read the community guidelines before posting ✨
Options
Essential support for under 25s
Essential support for under 25s
Take a look around and enjoy reading the discussions. If you'd like to join in, it's really easy to register and then you'll be able to post. If you'd like to learn what this place is all about, head here.
Comments
Tesco's business practises aren't any worse than any of the other supermarkets, they are just bigger than the other supermarkets. They rob both supplier and consumer, that isn't in doubt, but people choose to be robbed in nearly all cases. All big towns have a decent market which is cheaper and better quality, but people choose the convenience of the supermarket instead of shopping at a different store for each item of food.
And a significant minority of Tesco profits come from non-food items such as electricals or cosmetics, where they undercut high street stores by simply cutting profit margins. WHSmith, Boots and M&S all have the same (if not more) dubious attitude to suppliers, but aren't managed as well so make less money.
In terms of looking after staff Tesco are better than the other supermarkets, it should be noted too.
This seems a good time for this link........
Competition = good
Monopoly/monopsony = bad
Very very simple.
I would like to see a return to smaller businesses ruling the market but they can't compete any more. From what I've read even just in this thread, though, I do think that business practices in all major stores need examining.
Look around you, read up about the harm that pesticides cause, watch the news (the tragedy of the cocklers at Morecombe Bay for example), talk to people who've lived in a community for some time. Get out of your middle class ghetto for a bit.
You say this like you think "market forces" are a law of nature.
You keep banging on about "choice" as if we actually have any.
Any "political activism" that was aimed at the government had the effect of consolodating their power.
You have no idea what I have done and actually achieved in my own quiet way. I will keep on talking.
Blagsta the Revolutionary Activist...hmm...could actually picture that one!
fill me in please...
I've been involved in a bit of direct action in the past, yes.
so have i...well throwing stones and petrol bombs at the RUC and the army actually...i'm sure you knew what you were doing though...
that isnt the point, personally all the supermarkets, to be fair they are very convenient but its their treatment of suppliers thats the problem along with the other groups
id like to see an end to subsidised mass produced farming, which in the end make a lot of the supermarkets profits
and btw supermarkets arent cheap, even tohugh you keep saying it, for branded processed crap possibly they are, unless you know import places, but for anything that is remotely real like meat and veg and juice etc theyre far more expensive and lower quality than market stuff
the problem though about tescoes specifically is their ruthless treatment of small central london shops effectively giving them a complete monopoly by buying up all the small retailers who arent done by the mergers and monopolies commision
What tesco has is a near monopsony. Should be just as illegal as a monopoly but isn't. I wonder why........
And you're missing the point... :rolleyes:
All the supermarkets? There are big differences between the way M&S and Waitrose treat their suppliers and the way Tesco and Asda treat theirs.
I'm not saying M&S and Waitrose are perfect but I just don't think you can lump them together with the others and just label 'all' the supermarkets as being bad. That's pretty clumsy and doesn't really add much.
As for Tesco if you don't like their practices don't shop there. But that’s too greater sacrifice given that loads of people moan about how bad Tesco is yet will still do the weekly shop there.
like the nhs and prescription drugs for example
getcha!
anyway disilliioned, i didnt really mean waitrose, i meant the more classical form of the supermarket known as tescoes asda and sainsburys (which despite their advertising, are relatively bad too)
when i was in central london halls my only choice of shops was a sainsburys central which was quite big, and lots of tescos metros, not one small retailer around.....
they could charge what they want basically and get away with it, if that isnt a monopoly, what is?
I find that impossible to believe. I don’t believe for a second that the only shops within reasonable walking distance were Tesco metro and Sainsbury’s central. What about M&S? I know of several of their shops in central London. I also know of a Waitrose in central London...I guess you'll have to be more specific as to where in central London. I just don't see a monopoly there.
And what about rural villages with one local small retailer? In that village that retailer has a monopoly and can charge whatever they like and often get away with it.
Hmmm... I'm always amazed that the NHS doesn't drive a harder bargain on drugs.
Of course it's all about who's pockets you line first with the current regimes.
They are expensive. Although I don't think they are as expensive compared to Tesco and that as people think. But anyway they're still adding to the competition, they're another choice for people. And if you can afford it it's better quality stuff and in general the suppliers are probably being treated a bit better.
Although students who work there part time can afford to shop there...Very cheap date expired food and staff discount.