Dunnes Supermarket at the Beacon - opinions

outlooks

Hello,

I would like to know other people's thoughts about the Dunnes Supermarket at the Beacon in Sandyford.

I found it to be poorly stocked a lot of times, that being fruit, vegetables, fresh bread or any other item that people usually buy more.

For a supermarket that was probably opened to supply residents returning home at the end of the day, not sure if it's being managed to achieve that goal.

Thanks

coylemj

I'm sure that what they stock reflects the local demand, that's how supermarkets work when they have limited space. It sounds like they probably sell more convenience food than branches which are patronised by families with children where there would be more demand for fresh fruit & veg.

I've been in that store once and it reminded me of the new Tesco over in Park Pointe on the Upper Glenageary Road, they're both roughly the same size. They simply don't have the floor space to offer the same range of products that's available in the bigger stores.

tuisginideach

I find it great - do 95% of my shopping there - very nice staff (completely different to my experience of supervisory/management staff at local T**co) . Plenty of parking, plenty of tills manned, always supervisors/managers on the floor who'll help. I had one problem and when the manager insisted that I had to bring up the problem with their supplier rather than refunding me my €10, I advised him that I would walk out and leave my trolley with over €100 worth of goods (including frozen) in it, there at the till. He quickly refunded me my €10. I haven't seen him there in ages

I do have one major problem with Dunnes - they always put the problem back onto the supplier - they never take responsibility for it themselves. I expect good customer service - I am a good customer in every way and when I am disappointed, I inform people nicely - otherwise they cannot improve for others. I treated us to fresh strawberries ( I wouldn't generally) and one of the packs was just a mush - I complained (online I think) giving the reference no. on the package - a few days later, a very nice gentleman from keelings turned up at the door with a voucher for me. I apologized to him and said that if I had known Dunnes would make him do it, I would not have lodged the complaint, as I felt it was the storage was the problem rather than the product.

coylemj

tuisginideach wrote: »

I do have one major problem with Dunnes - they always put the problem back onto the supplier - they never take responsibility for it themselves.

That would be the Dunnes Stores 'ethos' that comes down from the top - make the supplier feel the pain and take the hit, it couldn't be our fault after all. They have the muscle to make the supplier jump when 'herself' says so.

Exclamation Marc

I have to say I love it. Very easy to shop there and I've never had any problems with stock levels or missed out on anything (apart from one time where they sold a mop but not the mop refills!).

I'm a resident there so generally do most of my shopping there and find the staff very helpful, never huge queues and its very clean.

whiskeyman

outlooks wrote: »

Hello,

I would like to know other people's thoughts about the Dunnes Supermarket at the Beacon in Sandyford.

I found it to be poorly stocked a lot of times, that being fruit, vegetables, fresh bread or any other item that people usually buy more.

For a supermarket that was probably opened to supply residents returning home at the end of the day, not sure if it's being managed to achieve that goal.

Thanks

Huge store with massive choice.
Many outlets suffer from poor stock in the evenings, especially with fruit and veg.
You've also Aldi just a few mins walk away if you need anything else

EricPraline

Stock levels in Dunnes Beacon have always seemed fine. On the other, prices always appear substantially higher than their competitors for most items (unless you do your weekly shop in M&S for some reason).

tuisginideach

Do you mean prices in Dunnes generally or only in the Beacon?

Dubl07

Dunnes in the Beacon is generally well-stocked. It's rare for them to have something oos. You don't have quite the same choice as Cornelscourt but parking is easier (although the carpark maintenance is a disgrace but I think that's down to Mazars). The Dunnes staff are great, but the kiosk/customer service can get overwhelmed at lunchtime.

Have they permanently removed the fresh meat counter? That's one thing I'll miss.

tuisginideach

tuisginideach wrote: »

Do you mean prices in Dunnes generally or only in the Beacon?

Just came back from my shopping and noticed that
(i) Liga Original €4 for 2 packs last week - today €4.50 for 2 packs
(ii) Galberts Large Pancake s- €3 last week - €3.35 today

more than 10% increase in one go ... I'm not happy Ms Dunne ...:mad:

ted1

tuisginideach wrote: »

Just came back from my shopping and noticed that
(i) Liga Original €4 for 2 packs last week - today €4.50 for 2 packs
(ii) Galberts Large Pancake s- €3 last week - €3.35 today

more than 10% increase in one go ... I'm not happy Ms Dunne ...:mad:

Why not just hop in ALDI around the corner? no point whinging about prices the prices whens there's a better/cheaper shop within walking distance

outlooks

ted1 wrote: »

Why not just hop in ALDI around the corner? no point whinging about prices the prices whens there's a better/cheaper shop within walking distance

I found Aldi to be quite good and cheaper. Fruit and vegetables are better and they have also introduced organic meat.

Stock goes in hours on saturdays and sundays. The only thing I need to go to Dunnes now is for bread, nappies, Glenisk yogurts and milk and frozen Salmon from Donegal Catch.

tuisginideach

Larbre34 wrote: »

My only and usual gripe is the entrance and area around. Its a poorly accessible, unsafe, badly lit kip of a job. I know they closed the original front entrance for security reasons but the side entrance and its environment is the worst bit of design I have ever seen, and I am in the planning game myself. Cars are able to abandon anywhere, the footways arent the proper widths, the kerbs and concourses are woeful for buggies, wheelchairs etc. Whoever a) designed it and b) approved it should be struck off their professional roster.

Are you talking about Dunnes at the Beacon????

outlooks

Dubl07 wrote: »

Dunnes in the Beacon is generally well-stocked. It's rare for them to have something oos. You don't have quite the same choice as Cornelscourt but parking is easier (although the carpark maintenance is a disgrace but I think that's down to Mazars). The Dunnes staff are great, but the kiosk/customer service can get overwhelmed at lunchtime.

Have they permanently removed the fresh meat counter? That's one thing I'll miss.

Lunch time is generally ok. Between 6pm and 7pm is generally when fresh bread, vegetables and fruit are almost gone. There were a couple of times where the shelves were actually empty.

EricPraline

tuisginideach wrote: »

Do you mean prices in Dunnes generally or only in the Beacon?

Can only comment on Dunnes in Beacon, but it is certainly more expensive than its competitors for similar products.

Curious, any particular reason why you're looking for customer feedback?

Dubl07

outlooks wrote: »

Lunch time is generally ok. Between 6pm and 7pm is generally when fresh bread, vegetables and fruit are almost gone. There were a couple of times where the shelves were actually empty.

I avoid most shops like the plague after 2pm or 3pm so you may well be right. :-)

tuisginideach

EricPraline wrote: »

Can only comment on Dunnes in Beacon, but it is certainly more expensive than its competitors for similar products.

Curious, any particular reason why you're looking for customer feedback?

If you're asking that question of me, I was only replying to your question further up where you said prices were higher - surely all Dunnes charge the same for goods at the same time? I feel T***o locally are more expensive than Dunnes.

EricPraline

tuisginideach wrote: »

If you're asking that question of me, I was only replying to your question further up where you said prices were higher - surely all Dunnes charge the same for goods at the same time? I feel T***o locally are more expensive than Dunnes.

Apologies, thought I was replying to the OP there. I meant Dunnes prices seem higher than Tesco, Lidl, Aldi etc. But would be good to quantify that.

tuisginideach

Lidl have increased their instore-baked choc chip cookie price - used to be 39, then jumped a yr or so ago to 49, this week 59 cent!

rubadub

outlooks wrote: »

I found Aldi to be quite good and cheaper..

If I was given a set shopping list I reckon aldi would probably be cheaper. If I go into dunnes I only buy what is on offer, or what is usually always cheaper there.

If you are not fussy about brands or what you want to eat then there are great bargains to be got in tesco & dunnes. I do not often see such huge reductions, possibly loss leaders, in aldi or lidl.

The people on the checkouts are a different breed too, absolute machines in aldi, and sloths in dunnes. I think both lidl and aldi have bonus systems on their speed, and it shows. Plenty on the checkouts in the beacon though.

dubguy2017

The on;y way to get real value now is to pick and mix where you go shopping. For the bulk I now try get as much as I can in Aldi, and then go to Dunnes for the bits and bobs I like. Dunnes in the Beacon South Quarter is good. They have a good range of products but I do find you can be waiting a long time at the tills, especially the express on where they sell the cigarettes. Once I recall 4 staff members behind having a chat and only one on the till with a line of 10 customers! Not good.

Another day I went in to get rid of change... 10 euros of 20 cents and 50 cents. Even though I go there regularly and assured I had the money counted.. the girl counted it all out in... and the silly lady behind me looked at me like I was after handing in bits of dog faeces! One of the managers was rude as well. Asked one day if I could take a pack of cigarettes and pay at the main cashiers... she rolled the eyes.. I asked for 2 packs she brought me one.. I repeated that I wanted two.. she snapped at me '' u didn't ask for 2'' rolled the eyes again and then marched me over to the main cashiers. Very unprofessional.

It is a nice store tough but one of convenience... in, out...

Glencarraig

If you want sh1te service in a sh1te store, try Tesco in Stillorgan !!!

dubguy2017

Glencarraig wrote: »

If you want sh1te service in a sh1te store, try Tesco in Stillorgan !!!

Cant disagree with you there. Place should be bulldozed. Talk about stepping back into the 80's!!!! Place seems dirty too!

EricPraline

Glencarraig wrote: »

If you want sh1te service in a sh1te store, try Tesco in Stillorgan !!!

Agreed. I actually like the Stillorgan SC itself, it's a quaint throwback and has far more charm than Dundrum SC.

But Tesco Stillorgan is awful in every way - poor in terms of customer service, staff attitude, cleanliness, layout, selection of products, and prices. Have never heard anybody say anything positive about it.

tobdom

dubguy2017 wrote: »

The on;y way to get real value now is to pick and mix where you go shopping. For the bulk I now try get as much as I can in Aldi, and then go to Dunnes for the bits and bobs I like. Dunnes in the Beacon South Quarter is good. They have a good range of products but I do find you can be waiting a long time at the tills, especially the express on where they sell the cigarettes. Once I recall 4 staff members behind having a chat and only one on the till with a line of 10 customers! Not good.

Another day I went in to get rid of change... 10 euros of 20 cents and 50 cents. Even though I go there regularly and assured I had the money counted.. the girl counted it all out in... and the silly lady behind me looked at me like I was after handing in bits of dog faeces! One of the managers was rude as well. Asked one day if I could take a pack of cigarettes and pay at the main cashiers... she rolled the eyes.. I asked for 2 packs she brought me one.. I repeated that I wanted two.. she snapped at me '' u didn't ask for 2'' rolled the eyes again and then marched me over to the main cashiers. Very unprofessional.

It is a nice store tough but one of convenience... in, out...

'tuts' instead of eye-rolling...... https://youtu.be/nCOBbwcKeXA?t=17s

sy_flembeck

EricPraline wrote: »

But Tesco Stillorgan is awful in every way - poor in terms of customer service, staff attitude, cleanliness, layout, selection of products, and prices. Have never heard anybody say anything positive about it.

Agreed, a complete and utter dump-but very, very handy

coylemj

EricPraline wrote: »

But Tesco Stillorgan is awful in every way - poor in terms of customer service, staff attitude, cleanliness, layout, selection of products, and prices. Have never heard anybody say anything positive about it.

I'm very surprised to hear that - it definitely was a dump up to a couple of years ago, you could hear the clapped out fridges and freezers struggling to work and making all sorts of weird noises.

This was when there was uncertainty about whether the SC would get PP for a total revamp so places like Tesco held off on investing in new equipment but when the SC revamp plan was shelved, Tesco closed down for a whole weekend and did a big refit, sounds like they didn't achieve much.

tuisginideach

coylemj wrote: »

I'm very surprised to hear that - it definitely was a dump up to a couple of years ago, you could hear the clapped out fridges and freezers struggling to work and making all sorts of weird noises.

This was when there was uncertainty about whether the SC would get PP for a total revamp so places like Tesco held off on investing in new equipment but when the SC revamp plan was shelved, Tesco closed down for a whole weekend and did a big refit, sounds like they didn't achieve much.

If they refitted it, it must have been with the oldest clapped out materials they could find from other stores .... grotty and some staff members need a lot of extra training ...

EricPraline

coylemj wrote: »

This was when there was uncertainty about whether the SC would get PP for a total revamp so places like Tesco held off on investing in new equipment but when the SC revamp plan was shelved, Tesco closed down for a whole weekend and did a big refit, sounds like they didn't achieve much.

They re-arranged the aisles and gave the place a lick of paint, but the changes were very much cosmetic. And the issues with staff certainly remain.