Scotmid customer feedback

[Guest]

I attended a Scotmid customer panel meeting this afternoon. About a dozen local shoppers were invited along to The Old Pier where a lady from Head Office asked us a series of questions regarding our views on Scotmid, Portobello.

As I increasingly find in these situations, I was probably the most outspoken. Although I think that big improvements were made during the refurbishment I still feel that Scotmid lags well behind the competition in several areas. In particular I am unhappy about the general tidiness and cleanliness. Immediately before the meeting I took a walk around the store. Almost every aisle was obstructed by ‘special offer’ bins and produce waiting to be stocked, along with various bits of associated packaging materials. Many items did not have prices, many items (including a pint of milk) had been picked up and then dumped elsewhere in the store by customers and not subsequently replaced.

I shop in Scotmid despite its faults because I want to support local traders, but there is HUGE room for improvement and I sincerely hope that our comments are taken on board and acted upon.

As this was a bit of a last-minute thing I didn’t have time to canvass the opinions of other forum members but I would be happy to pass on your views.

[ecm]

In particular I am unhappy about the general tidiness and cleanliness. Immediately before the meeting I took a walk around the store. Almost every aisle was obstructed by ‘special offer’ bins and produce waiting to be stocked, along with various bits of associated packaging materials.

These are my main grumps also, Bob. Along with the problem of not enough check-outs being open when the store is busy. Early doors sometimes no check-outs are open at all and you have to go to the cigarette kiosk.
And, Douwe Egberts Coffees, buy one, get one free and there's only ever one packet sitting on the shelf!! I can't tell you how many times I see that offer and that one bloody packet!!

[ifstar]

Generally when i go along the aisles are relatively clear of stock waiting to get put on the shelf (tends to be 6/7ish). As for stuff being out of place - blame the customers. I have worked in the co-op where i used to live (dalry, ayrshire) and it was exactly the same. I would say that there doesn't seem to be a great many people working the shop floor though which there was when i used to do it in the evenings so maybe this could be changed by adding another person in to make sure everything was in place and clear in the aisles. The staff are all friendly enough and helpful when i have needed to ask for anything.

[Beach Babe]

In particular I am unhappy about the general tidiness and cleanliness. Immediately before the meeting I took a walk around the store. Almost every aisle was obstructed by ‘special offer’ bins and produce waiting to be stocked, along with various bits of associated packaging materials. Many items did not have prices, many items (including a pint of milk) had been picked up and then dumped elsewhere in the store by customers and not subsequently replaced.

yip - this annoys me too. I probably didn't notice the obstructed aisles before I had a buggy, but now I find it quite irritating

re staffing levels, I've never been able to decide if there's not enough or whether there are enough but they're wrongly distributed

[Beach Babe]

4.32 am

lol

Emily woke an hour earlier than usual for her feed

but then she slept later this morning so I got a long-lie

[Porty]

As for stuff being out of place - blame the customers. I have worked in the co-op

If this thread goes on for years, I doubt there will be anything said that better captures the Scotmid/Coop shopping experience.

[Porty]

4.32 am

lol

Emily woke an hour earlier than usual for her feed

but then she slept later this morning so I got a long-lie

It just one white knuckle thrill after another for you, isn't it BB?

[Guest]

As for stuff being out of place - blame the customers. I have worked in the co-op

If this thread goes on for years, I doubt there will be anything said that better captures the Scotmid/Coop shopping experience.

This made me laugh as well. That's the trouble with trying to run a supermarket though isn't it? You get all the shelves stacked and the place looking nice and then people come in and take stuff off the shelves!

[ifstar]

As for stuff being out of place - blame the customers. I have worked in the co-op

If this thread goes on for years, I doubt there will be anything said that better captures the Scotmid/Coop shopping experience.

This made me laugh as well. That's the trouble with trying to run a supermarket though isn't it? You get all the shelves stacked and the place looking nice and then people come in and take stuff off the shelves!

Fine if people take things - but its when they decide they don't want it anymore and put it back in any old place. Fair enough if its tinned or whatever but if its chilled or frozen and then its wasted. Sorry i never explained that point a little better although i thought it was common sense.

[wangi]

Thing is every other supermarket seems to cope, and the staff picks things up and put them back - with the coop they just lie around forever and it's the customers fault?!

[Guest]

I think we both knew what you meant. But this must happen in every supermarket and it just means that someone has to take responsibility for finding these items and replacing them. Blaming the customers is rather a pointless exercise. I think I need a copy of Virtual Supermarket to play with!

[ifstar]

Further down my post i did say that they could do with employing someone to go about and clear the aisles and put things back in place. The problem with the co-op is that it is a small shop compaired to Asda/Tesco/Safeway but bigger than a small independant shop - so they probably don't have the money to throw about or maybe they would just rather it shows as being more profitable. When i was working at my one, there was always 3/4/5 young ones in every night (co-op wages for under 18 weren't pretty in those days!) just working on putting stuff out and tidying up but this doesn't seem to happen at this one.

[Sandra]

I think the scotmid is ok if you run out of things - and its MUCH better than the branch in Gorgie - at least in Porty you can get things like tortillas and choc chip cookies. Its not a bad store just not as yummy as Sainsbury's.

Thought I saw COC today but wasn't sure..

[Porty]

at least in Porty you can get things like tortillas and choc chip cookies. .

Sometimes you can even gett hem from the same shelf!

I think Ifstar has potentially ruined her former employer. If someone from Tesco is watching POL then it can only be a matter of time before the strap line on the prunella scales advert is changed from "Every little helps" to another memorable 3 word phrase "Blame the Customers".

[Pal of Porty]

The thing I hate most about Scotmid is the atmosphere - it is so flat and depressing. It makes me want to get in and out as fast as possible rather than browse and spend more money.

P.S. With regard to staffing levels, there often appears to be more security guards than anything else.

[ifstar]

at least in Porty you can get things like tortillas and choc chip cookies. .

Sometimes you can even gett hem from the same shelf!

I think Ifstar has potentially ruined her former employer. If someone from Tesco is watching POL then it can only be a matter of time before the strap line on the prunella scales advert is changed from "Every little helps" to another memorable 3 word phrase "Blame the Customers".

Ifstar is male actually :p

[Porty]

Ifstar is male actually :p

Please accept my sincere apology for getting your gender wrong, your irrational thought process misled me

[ecm]

Ifstar is male actually :p

Please accept my sincere apology for getting your gender wrong, your irrational thought process misled me

[ifstar]

And you wonder why people are lurkers as opposed to posters?

[Porty]

And you wonder why people are lurkers as opposed to posters?

How do you know what I wonder?

[Porty]

Ifstar is male actually :p

Please accept my sincere apology for getting your gender wrong, your irrational thought process misled me

[ecm]

[Check-out_Chick]

The thing I hate most about Scotmid is the atmosphere - it is so flat and depressing. It makes me want to get in and out as fast as possible rather than browse and spend more money.

P.S. With regard to staffing levels, there often appears to be more security guards than anything else.

Hahaha yeah tell ma about it !! and as for things not beeing put back etc if we are on our checkouts when its busy aorund maybe 4/5/6 then we arent allowed to move from out seat then we need breaks and stuff n by the time we do all that its time to go home....sumtimes we jus dunt have enough time to go round the whole shop looking for things u lot have missplaced

[Porty]

Hahaha yeah tell ma about it !! and as for things not beeing put back etc if we are on our checkouts when its busy aorund maybe 4/5/6 then we arent allowed to move from out seat then we need breaks and stuff n by the time we do all that its time to go home....sumtimes we jus dunt have enough time to go round the whole shop looking for things u lot have missplaced

Maybe you are too busy but what about security Sam? He could put the stuff back. All he seems to do is walk about looking glaikit until its time for a smoke. Has he ever caught anyone COC? or is he just another misplaced item?

[ecm]

Maybe you are too busy but what about security Sam? He could put the stuff back. All he seems to do is walk about looking glaikit until its time for a smoke. Has he ever caught anyone COC? or is he just another misplaced item?

That's very unfair, Porty.
SS man was most helpful yesterday morning when we looked (unsuccessfully) for cooked chickens. He kindly offered to go and find out when they'd be ready.

This left me ample time to leap over the barrier at the alcohol aisle and nab a couple of bottles and stick them up my jumper.

Just joking obviously!!

But that was nice of him, don't you think?

[bellybabe]

I have such a love-hate relationship with Scotmid. I love to hate it, and would hate it therefore to be replaced by a large, impersonal, customer-focused (ahem) superstore, where I could find everything I needed and actually get served on the same day... How terribly British of me.

I mean, we were hosting a meeting/social on Saturday afternoon, and I needed a couple of things. Midday on a Saturday - surely one of the busiest times in any supermarket, anywhere. And only two checkouts open. And no baskets by the doors because they were so busy. And lots of people standing around but nobody replacing the baskets or opening more checkouts.

Oh, I would miss it so much.

[Porty]

But that was nice of him, don't you think?

It was nice of him. He seems a nice guy I saw him helping an old lady yesterday when I was in. However, I have confession to make; ever since this thread started I have an overwhellming compulsion, when Im in Scotmid I get a barely resistable urge to pick things up and move them to another location. Don't know how much longer I can fight it.

[wangi]

However, I have confession to make; ever since this thread started I have an overwhellming compulsion, when Im in Scotmid I get a barely resistable urge to pick things up and move them to another location. Don't know how much longer I can fight it.

Well if you must, can you leave a nice bottle of NZ Sauv Blanc in the chiller - which is always full of £2.99 crap.

Ta.

[Porty]

However, I have confession to make; ever since this thread started I have an overwhellming compulsion, when Im in Scotmid I get a barely resistable urge to pick things up and move them to another location. Don't know how much longer I can fight it.

Well if you must, can you leave a nice bottle of NZ Sauv Blanc in the chiller - which is always full of £2.99 crap.

Ta.

You have a deal.

[bellybabe]

You'd better tell ecm that Porty's left it in the cooler and then she can smuggle it out for you. Mind you, it might get a bit warm under her jumper.
Now that definitely didn't come out quite right.

[ifstar]

Best thing about the co-op is the overspill car park at the back. Without it my street would be a total nightmare to park in.

[ecm]

You'd better tell ecm that Porty's left it in the cooler and then she can smuggle it out for you. Mind you, it might get a bit warm under her jumper.
Now that definitely didn't come out quite right.

[Pal of Porty]

He kindly offered to go and find out when they'd be ready.This left me ample time to leap over the barrier at the alcohol aisle and nab a couple of bottles and stick them up my jumper.

10/10

[Jay]

I attended a Scotmid customer panel meeting this afternoon. About a dozen local shoppers were invited along to The Old Pier where a lady from Head Office asked us a series of questions regarding our views on Scotmid, Portobello.

Just out of interest, Bob, how did they choose their customers to be on the panel? I did not see any notices up anyhwere .......

And I have to second (third?) how helpful the present security guard is. He's always willing to answer a query, find something for you. One of the managers is quite helpful too.

One of my gripes is the way that every NEW manager - and they seem to change quite regularly - feels the need to set HIS/HER mark on the store, by completely changing the layout. Suddenly, you don't know where anything is any more, and a swift trip for one or two items becomes a 'major treasure' hunt!

[Porty]

Supermarkets are geared up to encourage impulse purchases and Scotmid excel at placing items such as Washing machines and Fridge Freezers at the checkouts. And how about that handy Dining Set in the middle of fresh produce.