AIBU to think Sainsbury's got really bad?

[Clandestino]

I'm from ROI but go "up North" shopping from time to time (it's almost over the corner so closer and easier to reach than some other big shopping centres). I used to love Sainsbury's because I used to buy good quality stuff there as a treat for Christmas.
I was there on Saturday and left disappointed. Even felt like local Lidl and Aldi provide better quality and selection of various delicacies than Sainsbury's.
AIBU to think Sainsbury's went down quality-wise or did other supermarkets simply improve and Sainsbury's just remain where they were 10 years ago?

Yes Sainsbury’s is very expensive.However have just got back from Asda and I am shocked at the price rises on food.They have added 30/40p on lots of items seemingly overnight.I could weep over Brexit and prices are probably going to get much worse!

I presume you're going to Newry? Then you're dead right it's gone way downhill. The Tesco in Newry is much, much better. The range and prices are infinitely better than any Tesco's in ROI which are invariably shitholes because Tesco doesn't give any fucks about Ireland

I have switched from Sainbury’s to Waitrose for delivery. Sainsbury’s don’t deliver lots of things any more and the quality has gone downhill.
Waitrose quality is much better and only marginally more expensive.

Tu used to be my go to for kids’ underwear etc. Have been trying to buy ds pants now for months, his size is never in stock.

No Waitrose in NI though

I could weep over Brexit and prices are probably going to get much worse!

Stop whinging, and just savour getting your country back.

Yeah it's rubbish and costs 1/3 more than Lidl at least. I don't want to spend £160 on a week's shopping instead of £120 just for the pleasure of having 25 types of baked beans to choose from. Also the other day they sold me meat that was actually out of date. And they have started running out of basic things again.

YANBU It was the beginning of the end when they messed up the meal deals last year.

Tunbridge Wells one here

I love it. Huge range of organic fruit and veg.

Oh yeah, the kids clothes are good but unless you spot something just as it has come in, the size you want will not be available. And they never restock. And I can no longer buy stuff for my 12 year old in there as they hardly ever have size 11-12 and the ladies clothes start at size 8. They need a range for age 8-14s, say.

Age 8-14s I meant.

Sainsbury's desperately needs a makeover. It's very expensive and even more dowdy. It hasn't kept up like the other grocery retailers have.

and just savour getting your country back

That's just meaningless words, doesn't mean squat in reality.

LaurieMarlow

post reported to the Brexit Belief Corps ... you will be assigned for re-education within the next 10 days ...

post reported to the Brexit Belief Corps ... you will be assigned for re-education within the next 10 days

Surely it depends on the local store, it's management and workforce? Having said that, I would never use Tesco anywhere, except in an emergency, because they all seem rather grubby to me.

I don't use Morrisons- the local one is dire and I've never used Asda. Our local Aldi is new, clean, with helpful staff and a good range. Sainsbury's for the few things we can't get in Aldi. There are a couple of M&S simply food stores locally, but way, way overpriced. Andcnot as good as they think they are.

Surely it depends on the local store, it's management and workforce?

Even 35 years ago, Sainsburys store layouts were set at Head Office.

Even Saturday I would open the post (for price changes) and the guy who set up the plinth displays would get the weeks displays. All laid out to the exact width, height depth, and what shelving units to use.

Sainsbury’s is okay. It’s Tesco that’s rank. I’m not even convinced that their own brand food is proper food. It’s like weird fake pretend food.

(Trump voice)

FAKE FOOD, FAKE FOOD !

Yes, Sainsbury's is going downhill, imho.

They usually have a pretty good section of specialty Greek things, like decent Kalamata Olives, giant beans, dolmades, roasted aubergines, olive paste etc.

However, recently they've stuck amidst the decent Greek produce some jars from a place calling itself "Macedonia" (i.e. not the Greek state for those who care). They look like they've been strategically placed as if to be passed off as part of the well made, authentic EU-regulated, Greek things.
On the reverse of the jar the label had "R. Macedonia". It turns out (from looking online), they do admit it is from F.Y.R.O.M but where the jars are placed, it looks like they are trying to fool the public into picking them up thinking they are buying quality Greek delicacies and not some jars of non-EU/unregulated rubbish.

This is pretty low!

incitatus that's generally true yes. But if the OP is talking about newry, the Sainsbury's is about 20 years old and hasn't really been refurbished in that time, whereas the Tesco is much newer and shinier.

They usually have a pretty good section of specialty Greek things, like decent Kalamata Olives, giant beans, dolmades, roasted aubergines, olive paste etc

At one time, their "Deli" was head and shoulders above every other supermarkets. Especially the "take a ticket" aspect of service.

Now, it's just as "meh", and the (few) punters can just fight it out amongst themselves.

I love Sainsbury's but it's become quite expensive imo. I mainly do my shopping at Aldi/Lidl but if I ever do go to Sainsbury's, I'm always at the prices.

I don't know: I'm single and therefore not permitted to go there

Sorry, I'm just being flippant, based on something from another thread.

Of the supermarkets available to me, I prefer sainsbury’s over all the rest. Tesco is closer, but worse (and always works out more expensive than a trip to sainsbury’s for me). I only go to tesco when I need to buy big bags of jasmine rice and soy sauce.

I’m not keen on either of the Morrisons in this city and I hate going to Asda. Lidl is inconvenient (and I hate going there). Aldi is convenient but also awful. Even the famed Aldi quick checkout thing never happens in the one near me. People pack their bags at the till, so it’s just the pits. (I do go occasionally for specific things).

I do the majority of my shopping at Lidl and use Saintsbury's as a corner shop. Our local Saintsbury's was shut yesterday so I walked on to a Tesco express. I was soon impressed it was clean and the staff cheerful and helpful.

I got my change thrown at me by the Saintsbury's cashier today, she was just so grumpy. So Tesco express will be visited by me more often.