Abertillery Tesco

Marilyn · Abertillery Tesco

This evening I went to Abertillery Tesco to do my shopping as usual on Friday evening. I filled a trolley with shopping - around £80 to £100 worth - and went to the checkouts. The time was 8.40 pm. I was surprised to find that all the usual checkouts were closed, and only the self-service checkouts were open. I asked an assistant if there was a checkout operator available, and was told that they had all left and that it was self-service only. Based on past experience of putting a small number of items through the self-service checkouts, my trolley full of shopping would probably have taken me 20 minutes to put through the checkout, and additional time to pack each item. I wasn't prepared to do this, so I left the store without my shopping. It is the first time I have shopped in a supermarket, only to find no checkout operators available to check out shopping and help with packing. Needless to say, this is the last time I shall attempt to shop in Tesco. Sad

Saeson

Bad show Tesco. It`s all about meeting customer expectations and in this case it is not unreasonable to expect at least one manned checkout to be open. I`ve never been a fan of the Abertillery store; pokey and badly run. Thank God for Asda! If you`re feeling really flush try Waitrose in Abergavenny and make sure the neighbours see you unloading the car. Laughing

Ian

Although I use TESCO it's only ususally for bits and pieces like milk and bread.My biggest beef with them is that they tend to stop selling certain items without warning,you buy them there regurlarly and all of a sudden they don't sell them any more.I agree with the point that we've ended up with what reallly is a second rate store.It's a double whammy for Abertillery in my opinion,Tesco as it stands takes trade away from the town centre whilst at the same time because it's inferior to bigger stores of it 's own and other companies in the surrounding area it ends up driving trade away from Abertillery altogether. Mad

Carolyn

We very rarely use Tesco being non drivers, I pop down occassionally for items that they have stopped selling at Somerfield, again these are items that we have bought regularily and the have just disappeared without warning, but the same thing is now happening at Tesco and we are forced to go out of town occasionaly to look for these items elsewhere. Somerfield told us that the items were not popular but I don't see that being so, when they did stock them they sold out well before other items and were very often labeled out of stock.

More and more Somerfield 's own brands have also filled the shelves, one particular item was sold at 90P but there was a special offer on the same item sold a a lower cost alternative of 40p, they were identical in taste and quality but had different packaging. Within a few weeks it went up to 50p then 70p and then 90p and the orginal somerfield item disappeared. When the item was selling at 90p originally we only bought it occasionally when the same item appeared for 40p we included it every week until we noticed the con. The same thing happenes with many of their other items.

Often on searching for brand names that have disappeared from Somerfield we have found the same thing happening at Tesco.

Borracha

Totally agree. Tesco, Abertillery is a waste of time and Somerfield is just as bad. I've complained about the lack of variety on numerous occasions to Tesco and just get told that there's no demand for certain products in this area. If you go to Tesco in Ebbw Vale the choice is fantastic. My dad was told by someone that Tesco in Abertillery takes delivery of the products other stores have rejected so that explains why you can get stuff one week but not the next. If you notice they sell a lot of stuff marked up as "discontinued" when it hasn't even been for sale there in the first place!

Manawydan

Market forces !!!! Where's the Home and Colonial when you need them ??

mrh35

Well done Tesco you got fined for selling out of date products.....
judging by Abertillery its no wonder what you sell nobody wants and what everybody wants Tesco ABERTILLERY won't sell....
bad show again

Deano

Gawd stop moaning all of you, Tesco's has it's faults I agree but i've never had any problems with the place. I've always found the staff very helpful and have hardly ever had to wait long to pay for my goods, and as for the self service I think thats a breath of fresh air, far superior to the shambolic set up of Somerfield where you have to wait in that horrible queue!

Ian

Deano wrote'Gawd stop moaning all of you,'This board I believe allows everyone to express their opinions,this is afterall what free speech is about.You are quite entitled to have your say,but there is no need to complain about others doing the same. Surprised

martyn142

Deano

No Martyn I don't.

Marilyn

As Ian said, everyone is entitled to express their own opinion of Tesco and many other matters (within the rules of the website, of course). Personally, after a long day in work, returning home to cook dinner for a family of five, and then treking around a supermarket to do the weekly shop on a Friday evening, I have no intention of scanning and packing my shopping - I think this is part of the service a supermarket should provide. Consequently, I have taken my custom to Asda (and occasionally Waitrose) where there are always checkout operators available to provide the service I expect. Smile

jools

Why are the petrol/d iesel prices so high in tescos aber...

I work in newport and so buy it there unless I am desperate and have no alternative but to go to tescos.

As for the disappearing food lines..I agree.

Whats happening to the old pioneer supermarker adjacent. Does tesco own that ?

Borracha

Do you mean the old Lo Cost building? If so yes, Tesco does own that. I heard that they were going to demolish it and move the petrol station on to the site so that the Tesco store can be extended to around about the same size as the Ebbw Vale one. Not holding my breath though! The sooner the better if you ask me though because that building is a real eyesore and a haunt for youngsters with nothing else to do but hang around causing trouble and lighting fires.

jools

yes - locost. Thanks.

I too heard that they are expanding the store to an 'extra' - that's suppose to be why they were digging in the carpark (to check the foundations).

caterina · Abertillery Tesco

What a miserable place! No bread when it snows! No products different from the norm. Check petrol station - do not jump waiting line because I need to go to to that particular pump. At the end of a busy day I have no patience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you haven't got the products - just let us go to one that has what we need and close down an d save us money

Iluvbatfink

I don't personally find the product range too bad at Abertilley, but it's the staff that really get my goat. When the self serve was put there I thought it was the best idea ever, as whenever you go to a cashier, they are too busy talking to their pals on the checkout next door to take any notice of you.....but low and behold it also goes wrong at the self serve, because if you need something authorised or if there is a problem, you can never find anyone to sort it out and you end up standing there like a lemon waiting for someone to come over. I was stuck there the other day and the self serve 'fix it' woman was scanning a blokes stuff through on one of the other self serve checkouts as it was busy......arrrgggghhhh.

But I have to say none of them in the store compare to the rudeness of the staff in the petrol station, I have been in to pay for my fuel on several occasions and one member of staff is so busy talking to her colleague she has not said one word to me in the whole time she is serving me, no please, no thank you, no clubcard?, it's unbelievably rude and I curse to myself when I see the Pay at Pump is not working. Rolling Eyes

martyn142

I too think the self-serve is a good idea although the only time I have used it a member of staff put my basket through for me. Laughing

I think what Marilyn was saying though is that it is wrong that it is the only choice you have, especially if you are doing the weekly shop.

Saeson

martyn142

Isn't this getting a bit personal?

It may be fair enough to criticise someone for providing bad service (although I'm not even sure about that really as could easily be abused) but I really don't think we should be discussing how attractive someone is/isn't.

Ian

I totally agree with you Martyn,I feel it's ok to complain in general terms about bad serviceWe don't need to name names,with the exception of elected politicians/Councillors who should accept being complained about and identified as part and parcel of their role.However there is no place on this forum for discussing things like whether or not you think someone is or isn't attractive.

Carolyn

I agree is maybe be fair enoughto criticise the company and poor service, but please leave personal remarks re their appearance out, it has nothing to do with the service provided by Tesco

Borracha

I totally agree with the comments regarding the Tesco garage (apart from the personal remarks). Whenever possible I try to use the Pay At The Pump as the staff in the shop are so rude it puts me off going in there. The other week there was a queue right out to the door and one lady serving. Another lady appeared and sat at the other till and when I went there to pay she almost bit my head off!

Brithyll

If you don't like it don't use it - go elsewhere for your petrol, or walk.
Razz

Have you ever complained about their service or do you just put up with it like most of us. Rolling Eyes

I have found the staff to be alright, no different to staff anywhere that have to serve miserable customers and aren't able to complain themselves. Try it.
And, no, I don't work there, or shop there, except for minor items, the place is a disaster.
Rant over, I'm off home. Smile

Deano

When in work each individual is entitled to a break, and Tesco's garage is no exception. If you happen to visit the garage in that scenario then it is simply bad luck, I agree that there should be a system in place where a person could cover ones breaktime but you cannot blame the checkout girls for management shortsightedness, and as for having your head bit off, did you by any chance say something sarcastic stemming from the irritation of waiting in the queue?

Saeson

No customer should ever be rude to a member of staff but if I want to look miserable I will. Working with the public requires certain skills and attitudes - if you don`t have them work somewhere else. On another note (beep, beep, rant alert Smile

) have you noticed that you can buy your goods and not get a single "please" or "thank you". In fact the cashier will give you your receipt and card with a cheery "there you go" and you`re the one who says "thanks". Try it.

SonOfACynic

the consumer is entitled to choice......

shop there or don't
smile or don't
complain or don't

we are all consumers

CHOOSE

and that folks is my tuppence worth

Borracha

No Deano, I did not say something sarcastic to the lady on the till. All I did was move towards the other till and she snapped "she's not open" to which I sheepishly replied "Oh sorry". Having worked as a bank cashier for many years I know what it's like to be on the receiving end of rude customers so I always make a point of being as polite as possible. It doesn't cost anything to say please and thank you does it?

gajane · thank you deano

I have had to join this site, after reading the comments about the staff at tescos.

I have to say after having been a customer assistant myself (Not at Tescos) i have nothing but admiration for the staff that work in the abertillery store .and petrol filling station At most visits to both the store and petrol filling station i have received nothing but an excellent customer service, they always have a smile are polite and have always said please and thank you. I agree with deano in respect to breaks, they should have a system in which these are covered but this is down to management not the staff, they are entitled to their breaks as we all are during work hours. As for the personal comments I dont know as i missed these, maybe someone could fill me in. Unless you are on happy pills it is impossible to be happy 24/7.

For all the people out there who have complained maybe you should try to put yourselves in their shoes, they are under a great deal of pressure and do their best to offer a good service such as i have had and i hope they continue to do this.

So for all of you that work at tescos keep up the good work. WELL DONE Laughing

markpond

why is it that fuel costs 4p a litre more than asda in both newport and merthyr? Confused

lack of competition maybe? or possibly couldn't care less about their customers ,so long as they keep parting with their hard earned cash.
my advice ,get your fuel from anywhere except abertillery tesco until they make their prices a bit more competative

martyn142

snugz · moaners

Well read the comments tht everyone made about tescos so i had to join to reply. firstly i can underderstand and agree to many of them but please dont tar everyone with the same brush......and yes i do work for tesco which one i wont say but you should try retail and working for tesco before you all moan moan moan im sure your all so perfectly flawless at your jobs ......and believe me not all customers are well mannered either , and as for the range of products comparing aber to ebbw remember one is a superstore and the other a metro. A s someone commented earlier if you dont like it dont go there simple as that. Rolling Eyes

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jools

I went to Aber tescos this evening and everything I wanted had a use by date of 4 April - it's impossible to do a weekly shop with these product dates.

What's a metro ? a supermarket thats not a supermarket ?

Must add that I have had no problems with any member of Tescos staff

Ian

Jools wrote 'What's a metro ? a supermarket thats not a supermarket ? '

As I've said previously it's what Abertillery has ended up with a second rate Tesco.(that's nothing to do with the staff by the way)I'd like to see the criteria Tesco use to decide what size of store they put into a particular location and what products they think sell or don't sell there.

Basically they've shot themselves in the foot as far as I'm concerned,having attracted custom away from the town centre when they first opened,they then by not selling a full range of goods lost some of that custom firstly to there own store in Ebbw Vale but even more so lately to Asda in Brynmawr, who seem to have in my opinion better judged the size of store and product range required.

However you look at it trade is being taken away from Abertillery,it will be interesting to see if Tesco are going to as rumored a year or so back increase the size of the Abertillery store. Rolling Eyes

Saeson · Re: moaners

Doodlebug

I wonder what happened to service, at least you do get served in Tesco's some to the smaller shops are a disgrace, the complain about the loss of trade but I have been in a few and had to wait for them to finish their mobile phone conversations before getting served

jools

Talking of small local shops, I made a conscious decision to get my mothers day flowers from the flower shop down from woolworths instead of Tescos or morrisons this year - I won't bother again..

I chose the flowers and asked for them to be wrapped...the girl wrapped them in what looked like chip paper. I said to her, can I have them wrapped in that patterned transparent cellophane please and I'll pay the extra. NO she said, only bouqets over £20 get that wrapping. I'll pay the extra I said again. It's still no she replied.

I then pointed out to her that the two bunches she had wrapped had the (very faint) pattern facing inside not the outside. Can you re-wrap I asked, pointng out her error. She did, but used the same paper. At that point I gave up. Bought more wrapping paper from the card shop and decided never to go there again!!!!!!!

Carolyn

It will have to be Tesco or veg shop if you want red onions Somerfield don't do them anymore Rolling Eyes

I know they have stopped stocking several products and brands but I wonder what they have against the humble red onion Laughing

snugz

I think someone misunderstood what i wrote now where did i say i didnt like dealing with the public otherwise i would get a job else where and the job would be boring if everyone was nice, and once again comparing us to asdas up the road as you did with ebbw vales its diffrnt size store if abertillery had the same floor space as those mentioned course there would be more choice its commom sense. stores come in sizes.....express, metro, super, then exrtas. I suppose theres swings and roundabouts concerning most things.

Ian

From my point of view,the question would be why do we need to compare Abertillery Tesco's to the Ebbw Vale branch and to Asda.The answer is we shouldn't have to and that there should be a store of the same size here selling the same range of products.Who decided it should be otherwise in the first place,what criteria did they use?Given that who decided Ebbw Vale and Pontypool should get the size of store they did.Like it or not and once again and for clarity this has nothing to do with the staff or service(even though I've had isssue with these,in general I find both as good as other places)Abertillery in effect has a second rate store due to it's size and the range of products it sells.Therefore perhaps someone in the know might like to tell us if Tesco intend expanding the size and product range at this site.

Tchambuli9

DavePower

Some interesting views here on the problems with the store, for what its worth here are my opinions:

Although I live less than 1 mile from the store most of my shopping is bought from Morrisons/Asda for the reasons stated below.

Customer Service, or lack of it. People who work in the retail industry have to have a certain level of people skills. Allot of the staff at the Abertillery store fail this basic requirement (most are the younger employees but it is not exclusive) Examples of this failure include the following:

Grumpy staff, I don't care whether YOU are having a bad day, your job is to SERVE (the clue is in the name people) your job requires you to present a pleasant front for the customers of your employer.

Rude staff, it is NOT ok for you to continue to chit chat with your mate while you are serving me about how Rat Arsed you got last night and how many times you fell over on the way home. I don't care and I don't want to hear about it. Save it till the next time you're swilling back double Vodka's on your nightly visits to the local.

Untrained staff, your job requires you to HELP customers with queries regarding the products your employer sells, it is NOT ok for you to shrug your shoulders and continue whatever you were doing before you were asked.

Untrained staff (again) it is NOT ok for you to walk away from a queue of customers at the cigarette counter to deal with a returned item, photocopier query or telephone call when the customers in the queue were there first. This really boils my blood, the purpose of a queue should be self evident even to the most dim witted individual, FIRST COME FIRST SERVED !!!

The above list of issues is by no means exhaustive.

Unfortunately, Tesco's Abertillery seem to have recruited SOME of its staff from the very bottom of the gene pool. This may be a result of extremely poor pay and conditions, I don't know but looking at the overall consensus of the opinions in this thread I think Tesco as a company would do well to bring in workers from outside the area regardless of cost as they would see a large increase in product turnover by making the shopping experience more pleasant.

How the individuals concerned managed to obtain a job in the retail sector is beyond by comprehension and I am sure that if the store closed I would be dealing with a few more long term JSA claims.

You may think this post is harsh, yes it is but unfortunately for Tesco it is a true and fair assessment of the service issues surrounding the store.

You may think the post is a little personal but I have refrained from naming names in an attempt to keep it from identifying the worst offenders.

And YES I HAVE COMPLAINED on a number of occasions, unfortunately the Senior Management (and I use the word 'Management' only to identify the individuals job title not available skills) are not much better than the unskilled, untrained, uninterested staff they somehow continue to get away with employing.

I have recently written a rather long letter to Tesco Head Office in an attempt to highlight my (and clearly others) issues with the store, the outcome of which is pending.

I now only shop at Tesco Abertillery when I have to and when I do I ALWAYS use the Self Service tills as I find that they offer a far improved level of customer service, so please don't bother posting replies suggesting that 'If I Don't Like It, Don't Shop There'

As mentioned in my 3rd paragraph, these issues DO NOT relate to all staff and I would like to offer my apologies to any of the workforce who take pride in their jobs who may read this.

Dave Power

Saeson

Wow! And I thought I was grumpy Smile

I agree with the sentiment although I would have put it a bit gentler. I think it is a reflection of our society that this kind of customer care is considered OK by many (and I include those who will no doubt be posting to defend the staff). To be fair, it`s not just this store - you find it everywhere - but I do agree that Abertillery is particularly bad and I too only shop there if I have to. I think you have to blame the manager(s); that`s where the buck has to stop. If they think it`s OK to treat customers this way then so will the staff. The truth is they (the managers) probably don`t care; it`s a small store in the back-of-beyond so they`re either trying to keep their heads down until they get a better posting or they`re not good enough for anywhere bigger.

martyn142

Leaving aside whether Tesco's service is as bad as portrayed and worse than other local shops, I agree absolutely that the attitude of staff at shops in this area (south Wales valleys) is GENERALLY worse than other areas. Because of work I use the shops in Clifton normally and it is rare for the assistant or cashier not to say hello and smile when serving.

Now it maybe that they are just nicer, more polite people. But I think Saeson is right and it is in fact down to expectation. I suspect that if the local Sainsbury's employed a grumpy cashier who chatted instead of serving and looked anywhere but at the customer then two things would happen. Firstly, the customers would not accept it without complaining. Secondly, I think the management would ensure that they were very soon ex-cashiers.

In Abertillery, in our shopping experience as in other areas of life we are used to and pretty much expect to get third rate service. I'm not suggesting we can get rid of all our ills by simply demanding better, but I am certain tht if we don't demand better in all aspects of life and make a fuss in doing so we won't get any better.

jaybe

What about people who are too lazy to check there own lottery tickets? that annoys me when in the queue on the cigarette counter, they come in with ten tickets and ask the girl to check if they have won or not. And while we are on this subject what about trying to get served in Woolworths on a saturday, queues stretching back to the door and two staff serving.

Ian

From the clues in your initial posting,a lottery win even 3 no's amounts to a better pay rise than can be expected,so I hope you've won.Otherwise Tesco's employment might not seem too bad in the near future,I look forward to your customer service,of course I'll probably be there with you anyway.Let's keep these postings in perspective,there's good and bad examples of anything you care to mention out there. Rolling Eyes

mrh35

I think it's high time this posting was taken off the site as its complete childish nonsense and offending to some people.
For the people concerned if you can't contibute with a post of consisting of a mature content then please go and find a website that can accomodate you.

DavePower

Carolyn

Your reply to Ian contained quotes taken from the other posts. I deleted the posts after I recieved a number of complaints from members via e mail and PM. If you have any issues please take them up with admin.

DavePower

Carolyn

Well I am sorry I was busy at the time and replying to complaints made so just deleted the last what appeared to be a private argument which was getting a little out of control and did not stop to read through all of them.

As I said if you have an issue with this then please contact admin maybe he has a back up of the forum and can restore any posts that he thinks is okay or all of them if he wishes to, alternatley you can re post yourself if you wish to respond to Ian's message. I don't have this facility and simply responded to complaints.

DavePower

I am happy for the thread to stay as it is but I will add the comments below:

Whilst Forum Moderation is not necassarily an easy task, for it to be effective threads and posts Must be read as a whole to establish the purpose of their content and deleting content Just because someone complains cannot be classed as effective.

Regards

Dave Power

martyn142

Go and stand on the naughty step Carolyn.

Carolyn

I would but there is no room it is full of self interested people. Laughing

DavePower

Credit where Credit's Due...

During my most recent trip to Tesco I encountered a staff member I hadn't seen before who was very helpful and thoroughly pleasant.

Clearly knew her stuff

Well done, keep up the good work.

Dave Power

.

Saeson

Ian

I think everyone's gone down with election fever Wink

SonOfACynic

Aaaaaaaaaanyways.

I agree Marilyn, Tesco's service can be a little shoddy in the evenings but i suppose at least they are open.

Razz

DavePower

Manawydan

It's not only Abertillery that have a problem Tesco. This morning at 07:15 I ventured into the local Tesco to do a little shopping... About 15 staff around the store (which had been open since 06:00) busy 'socialising' and generally catching up on the events of the day/evening before, Shelves empty and fill trolleys still blocking the aisles from the 'night' shift... 12 checkouts, 1 'open', I use this term with a little trepidation as you were able to pass through.. but not before the person in front who was obviously a Tesco night shift worker did her shopping and had her before bedtime chat with her 'oppo on the till. Result.. about 8 people behind me !! Do you think this is an attribute required to work for Tesco !! Smile

Marilyn

To update my original posting on my experience at Abertillery Tesco, I have been in there recently during the evening for small numbers of items and found checkout operators available, so it appears that the problem I experienced - which I assume was the result of a management decision - has been resolved. On the issue of Tesco staff, which some people have commented on, I must say that 99% of the time I have found Tesco staff to be polite, helpful and friendly. Smile

Morris Minor

It is all down to bad practice management everytime, this can be said of organisations too Wink

Doodlebug

It was very cheeky and rude of him to pick on all the tesco staff there is good and bad everywhere you go

martyn142

Just wanted to say I popped in after work today. There were plenty of people on the checkouts, the lady who served me smiled and asked if I needed help packing and said goodbye when I left. So it can happen! Maybe because it is Friday everyone is in a better mood! Very Happy

Carolyn

Maybe they are all Manchester United supporters, worked for me Laughing

martyn142

Sousuke

Ok ... This is my first time on this forum (Just read up about SF & Tesco)

And can i say that at the moment Somerfield is getting better, They just had a new till in, and theyve redone quite alot instore.
To be honist some people only shop in somerfield for the Home Delivery Service that only Iceland and Somerfield do (In the way of that you can shop instore then get it sent to you) If Tesco started to do that themselves i could see Somerfield Abertillery going down hill.
Also the best way to avoid the Quies is to not come on a thursday/friday because they are the buisiest times of the week (Thursday due to the market)

Also i think its time that some people stop confusing Staff and price managerment, Staff members do not have any control over the prices that head office give them, Sure they can reduce them in price when the date is low but thats all they can realy do.

But this is my oppion, tbh the staff are quite over streched due to "Work Force Management" Which is puting our shifts on a computer and it will allocate hours not people, so sometimes you will find that their is nearly no staff when you need them and staff in when you dont realy need them. ITs like it will give them some 10hr shifts witch are quite hard then other times 2hr shifts which arent even good enough to rewin one day to work for £10.

Also SF Abertillery has not has a Store Manager since .... March and they have only just gotten one in and with the whole Co-Op has bought us out well their confused as you are.

Abertillery Tesco

Abertillery Tesco

thank you deano

moaners

Re: moaners