Shopping in Northern Ireland

machiavellianme wrote: »

Slightly OT but for those who buy up north, do you just use credit cards or do you have to convert euro to sterling? Not sure which works out cheaper.

Best way is to use credit card then you get the exchange rate of the day as shops are sometimes slower to respond to changes or use your cash card and take sterling out of the cash machine and again exchange rate of the day.

A lot of people have commented on the poor customer service in the south. I was in Tesco today and asked an assistant about a certain product that I couldnt see on the shelf. I was shocked by the unhelpfulness and rudeness of her. Such a difference from the north. I certainly won't be back there, to be ripped off and treated that way. :mad:

nevaeh-2die-4 wrote: »

i used to work in tesco as a teen and the amount of retards and lazy bastards that would be asking where stuff is.

you have 2 eyes & legs , yea? now piss off. (thats what i said to some customer on me last day)

Funny the way the same minimum wage staff doing similar jobs in the North have the wit to know where something might be, and if they don't, to point them in the direction of someone who will, all the while treating the customer with some respect, cursory manners, a smile and no attitude, all for less take home pay and in considerably busier stores.
Your attitude goes a long way to explaining what's wrong with the whole shopping experience in the south....how the hell do you expect to keep yourselves in work when you treat people who are ultimately providing your wages in that fashion?
Retards and lazy bastards? In my experience that's usually the staff, not the customers in any given Tesco.

Some updates- hopefully of use if you're travelling up:
Bangridge Outlet stores
Was travelling back on Sunday from Belfast- stopped off here at 12.30- approx 80 southern reg plates in the car park at that stage, all in having their coffee in Starbucks and Costa ..and waiting for the 1pm opening, so looking busy up there- carpark v.full by 2pm- hope this helps if you're thinking of travelling up.

2 for £10 on Linzt Easter eggs in the chocolate/coffee shop

Sainsburys have good value on Easter eggs- small cadburys- 3 for 5stg- however, they didn't have many large eggs in stock yet

saying that, southern supermarkets are making the effort this year (think they have 2 for 5 euro) which is much better value than the rip-off prices last year.

Sainsburys in lisburn- 'good steady stream of shoppers- mostly NI regs in the carpark but of course, mostly southerners in the wine section ' Saturday morning- good selection of everything but you could see the washing powers and razors starting to run low...

Wine: the're doing very good value on Oyster bay (white) wine- 5.71 (or very close to that) a bottle....the're selling off a lot of crap (IMO) Pinot Grigio brands though, so be beware..
I don't see the good deals on Cote Du Rhone that were there 6 months ago- in fact the French wine selection was poor in terms of choice..they have expanded their stock of new-world wines so if that's what your into, then you'll be pleased.

sweetie wrote: »

mainly white, sauvignon blancs not bothered as long as they are decent to drink and good value. thanks

Oyster Bay is your best bet at under £6 and a real bargain- they had boxes of the stuff in lisburn sainsburys (sorry I can't say what the Newry store had)

Loads of various Pinot Grigios at 1/3 to 50% off ranging from approx £4 - £6- the best of these (IMO) is Palastri...slightly more expensive than the others but at under at under £5, it's v.good value - don't go for the 'really cheap' pinot grigios-

Finally, I think it was about £5.50 (but definately under £6, Fish Hook sauv blanc from South Africa is also good

I'm afraid after that, I turned to the reds - just for anyone else, my favourite find was Zontes Footstep Shiraz/ Viognier 2007 (the 2006 was award winning) - at 7.99 stg, you won't go wrong