The Death Of The High Street - Page 3

Keerin · 6th September 2007, 03:59 PM

there used to be one at mayfield too that my mum used.

Keerin · 6th September 2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiseAgainst

haha named and shamed son!

id say i was the same boat however, sometimes im just left with no choice but to use non-"traditional" methods, i visit Tesco at 3am after a night out to get food (haha riccicle binge!)

I was just wondering if there was anyone on UGS who boycotted places like Tesco etc and why they do so...

Some people do enjoy the fact they can go anywhere and get the same shops im sure, but i expect its the same amount who want diversity...

I'm hoping that soon I won't need to go to any supermarket at all. Fruit and Veg will be able to come from a local farm via vegetable box scheme. Arbroath has something called the HOPE project, just google it to find out more. There are still plenty of butchers in Arbroath and cthey have started displaying the names of the farsm where their meat has come from (usually angus farms). I need to think about other things such as toiletries etc but i can get them in convenience stores. Also, co-op is a very good place to shop if you are bothered about stuff like that!

GobbHayte · 6th September 2007, 04:04 PM

The less power is handed over to companies like walmart the better. It is never a good thing when a company gets so big they can wield political influence, which walmart already can in America. They can also force films/music/books/computer games that have already got past the censors to be re-cut by refusing to stock them. Fuck having that going on over here.

We buy as little as possible from supermarkets, especially tesco and asda, but they've already put most greengrocers out of business. We never, ever buy meat from them, as they simply cannot be trusted with it, asda were recently caught selling meat that was 30 DAYS out of date. We're lucky to have an award winning butcher just along the road, other people rely on supermarkets for their meat, and they can't even be trusted not to poison people.

The American sales target based business model, which is rapidly being introduced everywhere, basically stops anyone from doing their job properly. When it is introduced there is a short-term rapid increase in profits, but a serious long term drop in staff morale, which leads to a high staff turnover, so training is rushed and incomplete, absolutely noone from the cleaners right up to management gives a fuck about their job, that's how you end up, amongst other things, with dangerously out of date meat being re-labelled and put back on the shelf.

If we let the retail giants take over, they will put everyone else out of business, we will have no choice but to buy from them (and work for them) and they will be able to do whatever they want and get away with it, so support your local businesses now, rather than pissing and moaning about them dissapearing when it's already too late.

GobbHayte · 6th September 2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keerin

Also, co-op is a very good place to shop if you are bothered about stuff like that!

Their ethical standards don't extend to their staff, they're basically run the same way as any other retail chain is now. They get all these commendations for ethical retailer of the year and shit basically because they stock a handfull of fairtrade products. They're just as scummy as the biggies, just with less money/power/influence.

Rebelius · 6th September 2007, 05:22 PM

I've not read the whole thread yet, I'm about to go out to work (yes... Tesco)

I like the idea of buying groceries and meat from local small shops, but often you see stuff like that sitting out with flies all over it, surely that's less hygenic than the big stores?

And being a student, price comes into the equation too - all the small shops have to charge more - I know it's not their fault but I don't know if I could afford to buy from them all the time.

When I'm shopping in places like tesco I do try to buy things that have come from the UK at least, if not even closer - buying things that've flown half way round the world when the same thing's grown 10miles away seems a bit mad.

Also - on the 30days out of date meat, granted that's shocking but if you can't tell meat's off just by the look of it (and maybe the smell) surely something's wrong?

humndislocation · 6th September 2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keerin

There are alternatives for grocery shopping, but like Bryan has said, people are selfish and "too busy". The fact that they are too busy is something I want to look into more because I think that most people don;t need to be as busy as they are.

As some one that considers themselves "too busy", personally I view food shopping as a massive chore, and something that takes a chunk out of the time I can spend doing things I enjoy.

So really it comes down to the selfishness and convenience thing.

Having worked in jobs where I've had to a lot of overtime in the past, my leisure time is extremely important to me, and I'll do pretty much anything to maximise it.

That and the opening hours thing. I find it really convenient to be able to shop at any time.

I wouldn't know for a fact, but I'd have thought that some kinds of shops would be less likely to feel the pinch from online shopping. Music stores for example, you can't try out a guitar or amp when you're buying it online.

Keerin · 6th September 2007, 05:38 PM

Unbelieveably Rick, Tesco have a hold on UK politics too! I'll get the names later from that Tescopoly bookbut I'm sure people linked with Tesco are in government already.

humndislocation · 6th September 2007, 05:40 PM

I read a news article last year about how Tesco have a lot of political control, because they can decide to just stop stocking a particular newspaper, if the newspaper happens to piss them off.

Keerin · 6th September 2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebelius

I've not read the whole thread yet, I'm about to go out to work (yes... Tesco)

I like the idea of buying groceries and meat from local small shops, but often you see stuff like that sitting out with flies all over it, surely that's less hygenic than the big stores?

And being a student, price comes into the equation too - all the small shops have to charge more - I know it's not their fault but I don't know if I could afford to buy from them all the time.

When I'm shopping in places like tesco I do try to buy things that have come from the UK at least, if not even closer - buying things that've flown half way round the world when the same thing's grown 10miles away seems a bit mad.

Also - on the 30days out of date meat, granted that's shocking but if you can't tell meat's off just by the look of it (and maybe the smell) surely something's wrong?

I've never seen flies on any food in any shop, except sometimes at a market, which canny be helped.

Being a student you can easily afford to buy from other places. That's no excuse. people need to change their eating habits, it's not just as easy as buysing the same stuff from different shops.

I get your point Bryan, but I'm one of the busiest people I know and I'm quite confident that I can shop as I plan. But yeah there will be quite a few shops which don;t feel the change in shopping patterns.

Keerin · 6th September 2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humndislocation

I read a news article last year about how Tesco have a lot of political control, because they can decide to just stop stocking a particular newspaper, if the newspaper happens to piss them off.

Aye, and that includes cd's, magazined, dvd's, books.

RiseAgainst · 6th September 2007, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GobbHayte

The less power is handed over to companies like walmart the better. It is never a good thing when a company gets so big they can wield political influence, which walmart already can in America. They can also force films/music/books/computer games that have already got past the censors to be re-cut by refusing to stock them. Fuck having that going on over here.

you maybe a bit late... Asda are owned by Wal*Mart and have been for a few years now!

EDIT : why the fuck do i keep typign walmart with a *? sorry

ubermensch · 7th September 2007, 12:31 AM

I haven't been for a walk down Arbroath high street for a while, but I remember when it went through a certain phase. Every time a shop closed down, a charity shop would appear in its place very, very quickly; it was almost as if some divine charity bestowing entity would magically whisk in a new store (brandishing goods that smell like cabbage and death) overnight.

Even then, that had more character than what I assume you're talking about now.

P.S. Is the Wimpy still there? I wouldn't be surprised if it's been nuked, seeing as they're solely reserved for motorway stop offs nowadays.

6th September 2007, 03:59 PM	#31 (permalink)
Keerin UGS Site Writer Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: probably work Posts: 6,670 Band: Welcome Home, Explorer; Vulsellum; Altruist	there used to be one at mayfield too that my mum used. __________________ Welcome Home, Explorer \|Vulsellum\|Scum Killer http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...6/scan0002.jpg

6th September 2007, 05:38 PM	#37 (permalink)
Keerin UGS Site Writer Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: probably work Posts: 6,670 Band: Welcome Home, Explorer; Vulsellum; Altruist	Unbelieveably Rick, Tesco have a hold on UK politics too! I'll get the names later from that Tescopoly bookbut I'm sure people linked with Tesco are in government already. __________________ Welcome Home, Explorer \|Vulsellum\|Scum Killer http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...6/scan0002.jpg

6th September 2007, 04:04 PM	#33 (permalink)
GobbHayte Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 84 Band: -Vulsellum, Gutwrench Facebuster	The less power is handed over to companies like walmart the better. It is never a good thing when a company gets so big they can wield political influence, which walmart already can in America. They can also force films/music/books/computer games that have already got past the censors to be re-cut by refusing to stock them. Fuck having that going on over here. We buy as little as possible from supermarkets, especially tesco and asda, but they've already put most greengrocers out of business. We never, ever buy meat from them, as they simply cannot be trusted with it, asda were recently caught selling meat that was 30 DAYS out of date. We're lucky to have an award winning butcher just along the road, other people rely on supermarkets for their meat, and they can't even be trusted not to poison people. The American sales target based business model, which is rapidly being introduced everywhere, basically stops anyone from doing their job properly. When it is introduced there is a short-term rapid increase in profits, but a serious long term drop in staff morale, which leads to a high staff turnover, so training is rushed and incomplete, absolutely noone from the cleaners right up to management gives a fuck about their job, that's how you end up, amongst other things, with dangerously out of date meat being re-labelled and put back on the shelf. If we let the retail giants take over, they will put everyone else out of business, we will have no choice but to buy from them (and work for them) and they will be able to do whatever they want and get away with it, so support your local businesses now, rather than pissing and moaning about them dissapearing when it's already too late.

6th September 2007, 05:22 PM	#35 (permalink)
Rebelius Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 7,220	I've not read the whole thread yet, I'm about to go out to work (yes... Tesco) I like the idea of buying groceries and meat from local small shops, but often you see stuff like that sitting out with flies all over it, surely that's less hygenic than the big stores? And being a student, price comes into the equation too - all the small shops have to charge more - I know it's not their fault but I don't know if I could afford to buy from them all the time. When I'm shopping in places like tesco I do try to buy things that have come from the UK at least, if not even closer - buying things that've flown half way round the world when the same thing's grown 10miles away seems a bit mad. Also - on the 30days out of date meat, granted that's shocking but if you can't tell meat's off just by the look of it (and maybe the smell) surely something's wrong?

6th September 2007, 05:40 PM	#38 (permalink)
humndislocation Hardcore is serious guys Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dundee Posts: 6,009 Band: Blasphemous Necrorapist	I read a news article last year about how Tesco have a lot of political control, because they can decide to just stop stocking a particular newspaper, if the newspaper happens to piss them off.

7th September 2007, 12:31 AM	#42 (permalink)
ubermensch Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pat Sharp's basement. Posts: 680 Band: Juliet Kilo	I haven't been for a walk down Arbroath high street for a while, but I remember when it went through a certain phase. Every time a shop closed down, a charity shop would appear in its place very, very quickly; it was almost as if some divine charity bestowing entity would magically whisk in a new store (brandishing goods that smell like cabbage and death) overnight. Even then, that had more character than what I assume you're talking about now. P.S. Is the Wimpy still there? I wouldn't be surprised if it's been nuked, seeing as they're solely reserved for motorway stop offs nowadays.