Supermarket Wars

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Wed 07 May, 2014 1:46 pm

Most of my immediate family have shopped mainly at Morrison's for several years,mainly out of convenience.Their stores are practically on our doorsteps.However,this has all changed.....We tend to use ASDA now although it involves more travelling and inconvenience.I wonder if anyone else has noticed the fairly rapid decline in Morrison's fortunes ? I've been following it for a few years now and it looks like they've lost their way somewhat.Their share price has dropped like a stone and today is no better.ASDA,of course,are part of Walmart and as such,their fortunes are wrapped into the parent companies results.We've just found the choice,quality,price and overall experience better(not that I like shopping personally ).Morrison's have run a "talktomorrisons.co.uk" campaign for some time but do they listen ? I've contacted them several times online....the first time,a young lady rang back at an inopportune time so I said she could ring back the next day for feedback-didn't happen.Since then,I've contacted them 4 more times.Not once did they respond.I fed this back to the chief exec at Morrison's but only got a cursory acknowledgement thanking me for my feedback and that they were sad that I'd experienced any difficulties etc etc etc These large companies invariably use outside ad/PR agencies and I think they just report back minor issues and ignore the main problems facing their customers.Keeps things all nicey,nicey.I've tried to suggest practical improvements and not be just hyper critical.Still,it's their business and I'm no supermarket expert but we do choose where we spend the money.It's a very tough market out there and it's noticeable in certain stores with managers rushing around like headless chickens.I quite like using the Tesco Express,St,Pauls St when I'm in town.The staff are usually very cheerful and I can find most of what I need.There is a new ASDA opening at Middleton on 15th May which is reasonably close to us,all of which will probably see our shopping habits remain there for the forseeable future.I see only choppy waters ahead for Morrison's.Would be interesting to hear of other user's experiences in our area. p.s. just realised,apologies if not in correct forum.Admin please feel free to re-assign.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 07 May, 2014 3:59 pm

Hi somme1916.You say "I wonder if anyone else has noticed the fairly rapid decline in Morrison's fortunes ? I've been following it for a few years now and it looks like they've lost their way somewhat. Their share price has dropped like a stone and today is no better".I occasionally use the Morrisons in the Merrion Centre and have noticed for quite some time now that there seems to be fewer shopping there. I suspect that store will rely a lot on the University students. Morrisons in general was slow to respond to changes in shopping habits, such as online buying and home delivery. It will have to adapt or it will get taken over if the price continues to fall. Mind you, some of the fall so far today will be due to the shares going ex-dividend today which means anyone buying the shares will not be entitled to the final 9.16p dividend per share.

Lilysmum · Post by **Lilysmum** » Wed 07 May, 2014 6:44 pm

I have noticed for quite some time that the Guiseley Morrison's store is no where near as busy as it was. On a saturday afternoon it used to be mayhem in the car park, now you can get a parking spot near the front entrance. I think folk have cottoned on to shopping at places like Aldi and are prepared to shop around to save money. My brother looked down his nose at Aldi but after doing a shop there and saving a bomb he won't set foot in Morrisons now.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Wed 07 May, 2014 8:53 pm

As has been said, Morrisons lost their way and it seems to have hit them hard.Their target market was traditionally the cheaper end, but they tried to go upmarket at just the same time that their core shoppers were discovering Aldi and Lidl. Then all the upmarket shoppers discovered the discounters too.Let's be honest - how many typical Morrisons shoppers are interested in being able to choose one of 27 different types of radish exhibited on a very expensive bed of dry ice?They look to be aiming more for price again with their new TV adverts, which is important to most shoppers - how many of us are sick of seeing prices shooting up whilst hearing about so-called 'supermarket wars' that haven't brought us any benefits?There is an Aldi near where I live - when it first opened it was a great secret: good quality cheap food and friendly staff. Now everyone knows about it and the place is packed to the rafters from morning til night and they can't cope - the store is too small, the car park is always full and the staff are run ragged.

Post by **chameleon** » Wed 07 May, 2014 9:34 pm

Hi Somme - not sure it's even a Leeds thing - but as it' attracting some interest I think it can stay for now, but I'll move it to General Chat, seems like a better home, ( don't think Mrs C would say a supermarket visit would be her choice of a day out )

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Wed 07 May, 2014 10:39 pm

chameleon wrote: Hi Somme - not sure it's even a Leeds thing - but as it' attracting some interest I think it can stay for now, but I'll move it to General Chat, seems like a better home, ( don't think Mrs C would say a supermarket visit would be her choice of a day out ) Thanks chameleon,that made me Also Leo,i note your sentiments too and I agree wholeheartedly on that.I don't wish to do Morrison's down(Yorkshire company)....my observations were only personal.I wish them only well but I do fear for their future.The comments re:Aldi/Lidl are important too....we use Lidl to a reasonable degree.Aldi Middleton which opened recently seemed to have lost the plot from day one being full of plants.(I will avoid the obvious jokes)....point being,most of these smaller discount supermarkets are usually camped out very close by to the large nationals.No massive overheads,very few staff etc etc but if that can save you money ???? There is obviously a niche in the market for these types of outlet.Saw an advert in national press today comparing Aldi v Morrisons on a range of stuff £12odd v £30 odd.I know it's not that simple but looking at it objectively,they had a fair point.Suppose there are always winners/losers in this market but I just have an inkling that there may be a large player who will struggle in the near future.We won't even talk about the Co-op and their travails.Jon's apache comments were interesting..............never saw that,but did see a rather amazing bi-plane performing stunts the other day over East Ardsley,Robin Hood and Rothwell and M62/M1 junction....it was great to watch.Dunno if anybody else witnessed same.

majorhoundii · Post by **majorhoundii** » Wed 07 May, 2014 11:39 pm

I agree with all the above. We've shopped mainly at Morrisons since they came to Morley in 1973 - over forty years. But we switched to Asda just before Christmas. We persevered with Morrisons, despite their not having the items we wanted, or discontinuing items we bought regularly, or their seeming indifference to customers. The straw that broke the camel's back? An offer on bread, buy 2 loaves @.75 for £1. They took the offer off just before Christmas. We haven't been back. ( ASDA have the same offer BTW) As someone says ASDA are run from the US and Morrisons are a Yorkshire company. However, I wonder how many people are aware that their financial management has been moved from Gain Lane to India recently. My lad's mate lost his job.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Wed 07 May, 2014 11:48 pm

majorhoundii wrote: I agree with all the above. We've shopped mainly at Morrisons since they came to Morley in 1973 - over forty years. But we switched to Asda just before Christmas. We persevered with Morrisons, despite their not having the items we wanted, or discontinuing items we bought regularly, or their seeming indifference to customers. The straw that broke the camel's back? An offer on bread, buy 2 loaves @.75 for £1. They took the offer off just before Christmas. We haven't been back. ( ASDA have the same offer BTW) As someone says ASDA are run from the US and Morrisons are a Yorkshire company. However, I wonder how many people are aware that their financial management has been moved from Gain Lane to India recently. My lad's mate lost his job. Oh majorhoundii,i'm sorry to hear that about your mate.I think the bread offer is "back on" but the last 3 times i tried to obtain a granary cob on same offer,it was a dismal fail.The young lad in the bakery dept said quite apologetically....we only make 6 a day ! (gospel truth)Lack of stock,obviously fed up staff,differing prices constantly....the signs are all there.ASDA aren't perfect....some of their stuff is a bit duff,but overall...a better experience.Perhaps it's all our(consumers) fault ? demanding ever increasing discounts at the expense of quality ??? Who knows...........I'd rather pay a few more coppers for something I could trust.The ridiculous thing is that the answer would be to shop around and use several supermarkets/discounters but who has the time to do all of that ?As in life,we have to compromise somewhere I guess.

majorhoundii · Post by **majorhoundii** » Thu 08 May, 2014 12:06 am

somme1916 wrote: Oh majorhoundii,i'm sorry to hear that about your mate.I think the bread offer is "back on" but the last 3 times i tried to obtain a granary cob on same offer,it was a dismal fail.The young lad in the bakery dept said quite apologetically....we only make 6 a day ! (gospel truth)Lack of stock,obviously fed up staff,differing prices constantly....the signs are all there.ASDA aren't perfect....some of their stuff is a bit duff,but overall...a better experience.Perhaps it's all our(consumers) fault ? demanding ever increasing discounts at the expense of quality ??? Who knows...........I'd rather pay a few more coppers for something I could trust.The ridiculous thing is that the answer would be to shop around and use several supermarkets/discounters but who has the time to do all of that ?As in life,we have to compromise somewhere I guess. Yes they've put the offer back, but they took it off for Christmas, the most expensive time for a lot of people. I know it sound petty, but that was just the last thing, there were loads of others, e.g. staff in the bakery refusing to acknowledge that I was standing there with a loaf to be sliced, and hearing one lad say "I'd go but I can't be bothered." It's not the staff it's the mangagement.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Thu 08 May, 2014 12:23 am

majorhoundii wrote: somme1916 wrote: Oh majorhoundii,i'm sorry to hear that about your mate.I think the bread offer is "back on" but the last 3 times i tried to obtain a granary cob on same offer,it was a dismal fail.The young lad in the bakery dept said quite apologetically....we only make 6 a day ! (gospel truth)Lack of stock,obviously fed up staff,differing prices constantly....the signs are all there.ASDA aren't perfect....some of their stuff is a bit duff,but overall...a better experience.Perhaps it's all our(consumers) fault ? demanding ever increasing discounts at the expense of quality ??? Who knows...........I'd rather pay a few more coppers for something I could trust.The ridiculous thing is that the answer would be to shop around and use several supermarkets/discounters but who has the time to do all of that ?As in life,we have to compromise somewhere I guess. Yes they've put the offer back, but they took it off for Christmas, the most expensive time for a lot of people. I know it sound petty, but that was just the last thing, there were loads of others, e.g. staff in the bakery refusing to acknowledge that I was standing there with a loaf to be sliced, and hearing one lad say "I'd go but I can't be bothered." It's not the staff it's the mangagement. Can only agree with that majorhoundii.I don't think it's just the supermarkets though.....has anyone else noticed the falling standards everywhere ? Some pretty [edited for content] management out there just now(not all)....younger brother is having a torrid time with a certain,leading bookmaker...........they just want underpaid kids behind their shop counters,not managers.You reap what you sow.