Tesco..would you boycott them?.

Paddy Samurai

Mandate has warned that Tesco's plans to remove established terms and conditions for staff moving to a new store at the same location in Cork could have nationwide implications.
................................................Meanwhile, the world's number three retailer showed its resilience to the economic downturn with underlying annual profits of STG£3.128bn (€3.55bn) - a record for a British retailer.



http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0421/tesco.html




Is tesco a symbol of corporate greed?.3 billion in profits and they want to reduce workers conditions.Workers who are probably not on great wages in any case.I am not really a big union supporter but I am getting pissed off with this excessive greed among employers.Do employers have any obligations to treat their workers fairly,or is it only the stockholders that count?.
I would and could boycott them.It would be easy for me as I have lots of different shops nearby.How about you,could you or would boycott them?.

Rented Mule

My question is 'what exactly are the employees losing' in this deal ?

MoominPapa

I already boycott as my local Tescos, Dundrum, is sh1t

spank_inferno

I would love to ditch tesco in a heartbeat.

Their stores & car parks are filthy & managed by fools.
They constantly have expired stock on the shelves. The mark up most items to a shocking degree.

Unfortunately in my area I have a Lidl & Tesco only.

Lidl take up the bulk of my spend, but their stores are small by comparison so dont have certain items tesco have.

Quazzie

If they provide it cheaper than other places then I'll shop there. In times like these every little helps

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

what do you think corporations exist for if it isn't making money?

Lockstep

I'm still a Mandate member.

Tesco's is ****e anyway. Aldi is where it's at.

ibarelycare

Quazzie wrote: »

If they provide it cheaper than other places then I'll shop there. In times like these every little helps

+1

Sorry, but I'm thinking of my pocket at times like this! If the only other alternative is somewhere like Superquinn (rip off) then Tesco it is!

Hail 2 Da Chimp

RTE wrote:

A small number of workers, known as the pre-96ers, received letters on Good Friday telling them they had to sign the new terms by last Tuesday or face redundancy at the end of this month.

Pre-96ers are those who were working with Quinnsworth when it was taken over by Tesco in 1996.

This is the part I don't understand - maybe they are actually signing up to the same contract every other Tesco employee is on. Which would be fair enough I think.

Archeron

Ever tasted Tesco own brand chicken burgers?

I'll get the pitch forks if you get the flaming torches.

Tabnabs

Hate tesco and their corporate shite. Always spend my money elsewhere.

Boycotting Tesco, every little helps. :pac:

Jip

Imagine that, boycotting a company that's out to make profits ? What wild and crazy ideas will they come up with next ? The world is gone mad I tell you.

How about boycotting unions ? Sure they're only out to look after themselves and run by a bunch of idiot and fools also.

Hail 2 Da Chimp wrote: »

This is the part I don't understand - maybe they are actually signing up to the same contract every other Tesco employee is on. Which would be fair enough I think.

I imagine they are alright. At the moment they're just like civil servants, they can do as little as possible and get away with it due to their golden contracts, everytime they're asked to something new they go off whinging to the union, just as they have done here.
Dunnes Stores have the exact same thing, there's a cushy few in there on contracts given to them by Ben Dunne and are basically untouchable.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

I smell begrudgery...

Making a profit in a recession? Unheard off, they must be greedy bastards...

homerjay2005

would people boycott my company if they did something not nice to me? would they f8ck. im only interested in my own wellbeing when it comes to shopping and if tesco can save me money, then i will be there. i shop in dunnes, tesco and lidl with tesco being the closest, but i think dunnes have better value. and anyway, we have no idea what exactly they have done, they may not be actually be doing anything wrong.

Mr. Frost

Dyflin wrote: »

Hate tesco and their corporate shite.

Why? Because they turn a tidy profit? Because they're a large successful business who've achieved what they set out to do?

Why don't you boycott other corporations like Vodafone, O2, Sony, Apple whoever seeing as how you're so against them? :rolleyes:

m@cc@

The harsh reality is that no one really gives a s*** about Tesco workers' contracts (certainly not in these times anyway) and any boycotting will be minimal. Also, Tesco's 'corporate s***' is just more sucessful than Asda. Name me a brand that isn't involved in it.

Rented Mule

What exactly are the employees losing ??

There seems to be all sorts of comments not based on the reason for the question.

Jip

If the first few posts here is anything to go by it looks like the Socialist Party is going to have a good time of it come the local elections. God help us all.

Maddison

Definately would boycott tescos,their customer service is dire,only recently i left a full trolley at the checkouts because queues were huge and the staff around the store were too busy talking to pay any heed.

Joey the lips

Paddy

We will never boycott anybody that exists to provide a cheaper service read the undercover economist by tim harford. It will teach you how we are all standing on each others shoulders to get a better view rather than building a good foundation to support our kids.

WTF???

No i will not boycot tesco!

ScumLord

The 3 billion profit makes me wonder just how poor the quality of their own brand food is. They say the profit is coming from people switching to Tescos own cheaper brands. If they can make more profit of the cheaper food I'd wonder just how cheap they make it for.


I'm not a big Tesco shopper to begin with, I shop there for time to time but it wouldn't be my first choice.

homerjay2005

ScumLord wrote: »

The 3 billion profit makes me wonder just how poor the quality of their own brand food is. They say the profit is coming from people switching to Tescos own cheaper brands. If they can make more profit of the cheaper food I'd wonder just how cheap they make it for.


I'm not a big Tesco shopper to begin with, I shop there for time to time but it wouldn't be my first choice.

or maybe it just shows up how much the big brands are making as they are charging more

if your shipping large numbers, then the cost is less. their numbers must be huge. also, they can cut out the middlemen like wholesellers and indeed to producers themselves so theres probably an extra 30-40% margin there alone.

Fratton Fred

The profit is in the luxury range, not the cheap and cheerful stuff.

Personally, I'd rather boycott ESB, they have been taking the piss for years and no one seems to care.

hurdehur

I do most of my grocery shopping in Tescos but I would say "Sayonara Greedy Brit F*cks" in a heartbeat. Come on Superquinn, give me a reason! (Andrea Corr gave me that line...among other things I wish)

ScumLord

homerjay2005 wrote: »

or maybe it just shows up how much the big brands are making as they are charging more

if your shipping large numbers, then the cost is less. their numbers must be huge. also, they can cut out the middlemen like wholesellers and indeed to producers themselves so theres probably an extra 30-40% margin there alone.

They are also driving down the quality of the food to get cheaper. With branded goods a large chunk of the cost is down to advertising that brand. Tesco can spread their advertising costs across all their products but there would still be a large chunk of the rrp that goes towards advertising. Most the savings come from bulking up the food with cheaper materials.

John Mason

i already boycott my local tesco - clearwater

the rudest staff in the history of the world

ejmaztec

If we boycott all the robbers in the country, we'd never have to leave our homes.

Jip

hurdehur wrote: »

I do most of my grocery shopping in Tescos but I would say "Sayonara Greedy Brit F*cks" in a heartbeat. Come on Superquinn, give me a reason! (Andrea Corr gave me that line...among other things I wish)

You're a laugh. Can people still not get the idea, now it's not a new one mind you, that companys are out to make a profit ? Lets see if you can spot the common thread here. Tesco, Dunnes, Superquinn. Have you got it yet ? Yes, they're all out to make a profit. Surprising that isn't it ?

hurdehur

Jip wrote: »

You're a laugh. Can people still not get the idea, now it's not a new one mind you, that companys are out to make a profit ? Lets see if you can spot the common thread here. Tesco, Dunnes, Superquinn. Have you got it yet ? Yes, they're all out to make a profit. Surprising that isn't it ?

Jim Corr, izzat you? Dude, I will totally take whatever sis ya have left! The recessionary Corr sister, if ya will.

(Dear World, I like all Corr sisters, I'm just joking!)

RandolphEsq

The Tesco stores are disgustingly run down. It is like management at the stores only do their job half-assed and to the bare minimum. The floor always seems to be grubby, the off licence smells of stale beer, the bakery always has imminently stale pastries and breads, the layout of the stores feels like a cold, impersonal warehouse, the staff do not seem to be too happy when you wish them to entertain your queries etc. etc.

Is it because Tesco is not franchised that they have been allowed to go down the drain?

Latchy

If the feedback I get from local Tescos employees is anything to go by Tescos are a shyte company to work for .

holly1

I hate Tesco.They are dirty, staff who couldent care less,managers who couldent care less,produce very often out of date,empty shelves.I already boycott them.

Jip

Latchy wrote: »

If the feedback I get from local Tescos employees is anything to go by Tescos are a shyte company to work for .

I don't believe that for one second. I'll get this out first as I've been accused of it before, I don't work for Tescos or ever had but have had alot of dealings with all the major supermarkets and the general consensus being that Tesco are the best, apart from the old days of Superquinn when Fergal Quinn was still at the the helm, with Dunnes being by far the worse.

As for people complaining that the stores are run down and filthy, that's a bit of a generalisation. Yes, the older ones which used to be Crazy Prices or whatever maybe run down compared to the purpose built ones but afaik there's some form of regeneration program going on. If they were as filthy as people allege to be you'd be reading about it daily due to them being prosecuted because of it. In fact the last supermarket I know of that was closed by the FSAI was an Aldi in Blanchardstown.

Peteee

homerjay2005 wrote: »

or maybe it just shows up how much the big brands are making as they are charging more

On sales of 59.4 billion pounds they made 3.12 billion.

That a profit margin of 5.2%, its not a biblical profit margin by any means.

m@cc@

Jip wrote: »

I don't believe that for one second. I'll get this out first as I've been accused of it before, I don't work for Tescos or ever had but have had alot of dealings with all the major supermarkets and the general consensus being that Tesco are the best

I've heard that too. I mean, how high can your expectations be working for a supermarket?

holly1

Jip wrote: »

I don't believe that for one second. I'll get this out first as I've been accused of it before, I don't work for Tescos or ever had but have had alot of dealings with all the major supermarkets and the general consensus being that Tesco are the best, apart from the old days of Superquinn when Fergal Quinn was still at the the helm, with Dunnes being by far the worse.

As for people complaining that the stores are run down and filthy, that's a bit of a generalisation. Yes, the older ones which used to be Crazy Prices or whatever maybe run down compared to the purpose built ones but afaik there's some form of regeneration program going on. If they were as filthy as people allege to be you'd be reading about it daily due to them being prosecuted because of it. In fact the last supermarket I know of that was closed by the FSAI was an Aldi in Blanchardstown.

The one I am talking about is only four years here,new build.I stand by what I said in my post,it is as I said.:(

MoominPapa

Jip wrote: »

As for people complaining that the stores are run down and filthy, that's a bit of a generalisation. Yes, the older ones which used to be Crazy Prices or whatever maybe run down compared to the purpose built ones but afaik there's some form of regeneration program going on. If they were as filthy as people allege to be you'd be reading about it daily due to them being prosecuted because of it. In fact the last supermarket I know of that was closed by the FSAI was an Aldi in Blanchardstown.

Dundrum only open four year, grubby hole with half empty shelves most of the time, pathetic fish counter and a bakery which consists of a couple of bread trollies. They are the dominant player in the grocery market in this country and they are sh1te, if people boycott them for any reason, communistic or not, I'll be happy.

Jip

This whole notion of boycotting somewhere is just laughable. If I choose not to shop in Tesco, Dunnes or Supervalu it doesn't mean I'm boycotting the places, it just means that I'm choose to shop elsewhere.
Am I boycotting Budweiser my not drinking it or am I simply exercising my right to drink something else ?

m@cc@

Jip wrote: »

This whole notion of boycotting somewhere is just laughable. If I choose not to shop in Tesco, Dunnes or Supervalu it doesn't mean I'm boycotting the places, it just means that I'm choose to shop elsewhere.
Am I boycotting Budweiser my not drinking it or am I simply exercising my right to drink something else ?

How does that differ from boycotting?

Mossy Monk

I don't have a Tesco in my town so yeah **** them, I will boycott.

javaboy

Jip wrote: »

This whole notion of boycotting somewhere is just laughable. If I choose not to shop in Tesco, Dunnes or Supervalu it doesn't mean I'm boycotting the places, it just means that I'm choose to shop elsewhere.
Am I boycotting Budweiser my not drinking it or am I simply exercising my right to drink something else ?

That's not the same thing. If you choose Carlsberg over Bud due to taste or Supervalu over Superquinn due to prices, that's completely different to boycotting. Boycotting is a means to achieve change. It often means denying yourself the better option for some more noble long term goal.

Terry

Jip wrote: »

If the first few posts here is anything to go by it looks like the Socialist Party is going to have a good time of it come the local elections. God help us all.

If by Socialist party you mean FF, then yes, people will still be voting for whomever their daddy tells them to vote for.

ScumLord wrote: »

The 3 billion profit makes me wonder just how poor the quality of their own brand food is. They say the profit is coming from people switching to Tescos own cheaper brands. If they can make more profit of the cheaper food I'd wonder just how cheap they make it for.


I'm not a big Tesco shopper to begin with, I shop there for time to time but it wouldn't be my first choice.

The name brand stuff is always going to cost more.
Tesco (and all supermarkets) just cut out the middle man with their own brand.

My neighbour works for one of the big bakerys (Brennan's or Pat the baker. I can't remember). He told me that they make bread for one of the supermarkets and use the exact same ingredients as they use in their own brand.
They do a run of name brand first, then the supermarket one. It's just a different wrapper.

Morlar

I dont see what the fuss is about - what would be the sense in boycotting one of the few big employers who are making profit & retaining jobs (also apparently creating new jobs as well) ?

I would be more inclined to boycott them due the the lack of cashiers and reliance on self service aisles rather than the typical union nonsense in the above rte report.

SV

Already boycott it.

Jip

Any of you cranks phoning in to Joe Duffy at the moment ? How boring would your life have to be to ring in and complain about the prices of sausages or the fact that you could get a turkey cheaper elsewhere ?

ScumLord

Morlar wrote: »

I would be more inclined to boycott them due the the lack of cashiers and reliance on self service aisles rather than the typical union nonsense in the above rte report.

The automatic ones are great, they have loads of buy one get one free deals.

Sully

Let me get this right... boycott Tesco because..
1) They offer decent goods at decent prices compared to others,
2) They earn a profit in recession because they have a good business strategy and their aim is to assist those feeling the pinch,
3) A stores employees T&Cs are being changed, to what we havent been told, so it might be a bad thing.

Eh, no thanks. Ill spend my money which can offer me decent goods at decent rates. Iv yet to experience a poorly maintained Tesco (we have several down here, all very good bar one which plans are in motion to knock) with ****ty staff (well, lets face it - every store has a rotten apple).

Overheal

Aron Uptight Tribune wrote: »

I smell begrudgery...

Making a profit in a recession? Unheard off, they must be greedy bastards...

Why would I boycott Tesco? They provide it cheap.

I could see where youre coming from though - cutting back their 24 hour service, lowering working benefits. But perhaps they are looking to the next 24 months and not the next 6? A lot of these companies are going under because they don't have the retained capital to keep themselves floating when times get tough. When thing start to turn around, no doubt tesco will have the capital available to greatly upgrade their service. You almost get the feeling that in a few years they will get rid of all but a few cashiers and go with the self-checkout.

If you really have an issue with it, I highly reccomend an Executive Email Carpet Bomb. The tactic works wonders, especially with US Companies. The idea being that your complaint will reach the desk of CEOs themselves.

http://consumerist.com/consumer/complaint-letters/how-to-launch-an-executive-email-carpet-bomb-259713.php

javaboy

Overheal wrote: »

Why would I boycott Tesco? They provide it cheap.

I could see where youre coming from though - cutting back their 24 hour service, lowering working benefits. But perhaps they are looking to the next 24 months and not the next 6? A lot of these companies are going under because they don't have the retained capital to keep themselves floating when times get tough. When thing start to turn around, no doubt tesco will have the capital available to greatly upgrade their service. You almost get the feeling that in a few years they will get rid of all but a few cashiers and go with the self-checkout.

If you really have an issue with it, I highly reccomend an Executive Email Carpet Bomb. The tactic works wonders, especially with US Companies. The idea being that your complaint will reach the desk of CEOs themselves.

http://consumerist.com/consumer/complaint-letters/how-to-launch-an-executive-email-carpet-bomb-259713.php

I think you missed the sarcasm.

ejmaztec

Overheal wrote: »

Why would I boycott Tesco? They provide it cheap.

I could see where youre coming from though - cutting back their 24 hour service, lowering working benefits. But perhaps they are looking to the next 24 months and not the next 6? A lot of these companies are going under because they don't have the retained capital to keep themselves floating when times get tough. When thing start to turn around, no doubt tesco will have the capital available to greatly upgrade their service. You almost get the feeling that in a few years they will get rid of all but a few cashiers and go with the self-checkout.

If you really have an issue with it, I highly reccomend an Executive Email Carpet Bomb. The tactic works wonders, especially with US Companies. The idea being that your complaint will reach the desk of CEOs themselves.

http://consumerist.com/consumer/complaint-letters/how-to-launch-an-executive-email-carpet-bomb-259713.php

I see they made a loss in the US, so they must be providing it too cheap. You better get down there pronto - before they run out (although the nearest branch may be 1000 miles away).

ShooterSF

Why boycott? It's the staff that need to stand up for themselves. You have a contact with an employer and like any contract both parties have to agree to any changes. Redundancy is bull unless they aren't taking on staff to replace you.