What’s actually wrong with ASDA?

[Stopitjuststopit2018]

I never knew that it was seen as “low end” until recently, escalated by the merger news. I think they have nice own brand stuff, are good value, and their stores are well presented with lots of variety . I find the George clothing nice as well and it doesn’t rip or bobble as much as some of the other supermarket brand clothes.

Is the view that it’s chavvy a southern thing?

Well, up North where some of my family are, it’s considered a ‘good’ supermarket and up there all the ones I’ve been in are good.

Down South it’s generally considered ‘down market’, they’re situated in less affluent areas and attract the ‘shop in your Pj’s while screaming at ya brat’ type. The nearest one is about a 30 minute drive from me, passing every other supermarket known to mankind on the way, so I wouldn’t really go there anyway, but when I have been I just get irritated by the customer base so it’s best for my blood pressure not to bother.

I like Asda for the home stuff and clothes, locally ours is bigger than the Tesco so I like a nosey round as they have more BUT the customer service is horrendous, Iv never been in and not though a member of staff had been rude, they truly are awful (in our local store) I'm guessing their company policy on customer service isn't a big thing

I have no loyalty to any supermarket and I don't find any difference between Asda/Tesco/Sainsbury's. Meat, fruit and veg all a similar quality. Haven't tried Aldi or Lidl, keep meaning to.

Worst supermarket by far is Iceland, a lot of their frozen food is worse than pig swill.Really nasty,poor quality food.

The staff in our ASDA are fine - some of them very pleasant.

Our Asda staff are lovely. Very helpful and friendly.

I hate my local ASDA as it’s just too big and the choice feels utterly overwhelming. Plus the layout of the car park/traffic flow in and out is dreadful. If I can overcome those issues then the food itself is fine.

I much prefer Aldi or Sainsbury.

We've got a really massive one right next to where I work. I go in for the odd thing but I don't do my big shop there - they don't cater for single shoppers; 95% of their fruit and veg is prepacked so I waste loads - ditto with the meat. They also don't sell single packs of normal sized crisps with the sandwiches, it's all grab bags. I don't want a massive bag of Walkers. They seem to give you no option but to buy the large size of what you need, it's just any opportunity to take more money off you.

I think it seems to focus all it's rollbacks on junk food which is maybe why it's seen as lower class.

I agree with this. I'm not very loyal to one supermarket, but will wander around Asda when I venture that way. Prefer Aldi for prices and Lidl for deli stuff.

I loose the will to live every time I enter an Asda

I like Asda, but it is a lower end supermarket similar grade wise to Morrisons.

From my university days I remember a lecture on their demographic targeting and how they generally bought retail space in lower income/working class towns.

My nearest ASDA gives me mixed feelings. I’m aware of its reputation as the Lower end of the supermarket scale but on the positive side it is definitely cheaper. However they don’t help themselves by making people run the gauntlet between six foot high walls of donuts and other fatty things on the way in. Dirt cheap too. I hope I don’t come across as judgmental by saying this but all my local friends agree that people who shop in this particular Asda are definitely fatter and more likely to at least look on the surface like they’re unemployed (shopping in the daytime, wearing tracksuits etc) than the people in the nearby Sainsbury’s. Maybe because it is cheaper. However the Asda in the north I used to go to when visiting family was great. A mix of people and a perfectly nice experience.

They have some great kids' clothes, the staff are always friendly and our local one does phlebotomy!

rudgie you've clearly never been into farmfoods I went in once to fill my freezer with frozen veg. There were rows and rows of crappy breaded junk food and half an aisle of frozen veg. I do agree about Iceland too though!

I use Asda Tesco and M&S I am veggie and try to be vegan as much as I can so I use all three. I don't think there is anything wrong with Asda and they have just introduced a new vegan range which has more selection than Marks and Tesco so I'm warming to them again. I don't really care if it's down market. The one In my town is quite nice and it's rare to see anyone in their pjs.

I think it depends on the area where the store is located to a certain extent. There’s a huge Asda about 5 miles away from us in an area full of very expensive houses (think premier league footballer and company director expensive) and it’s packed to the rafters with olives and good wine. The Sainsbury’s in a much poorer area has a lot of own and value brands. I shop at both, and Waitrose, Tesco, Lidl and Aldi, depending on what I need and how close it is to the end of the month 😁

I always thought it went:

Harrods/Harvey Nics/Fortnums
M&S
Waitrose
Booths
Sainsbury's
Tesco
Asda
Morrisons
Co-op
Aldi
Lidl
Netto

I go Asda for sugar / wine / junk shop. End of the month.
Waitrose and Sainsbury for healthier goods . Start of the month.
Tesco for cleaning / odd and sods. Anytime when needed.
Morrison’s - now and again.
Lidl for the weird aisle / difference / nuts
I’m not a loyal shopper really!

DH doesn’t like shopping at Asda because it attracts a certain element. However, our local Sainsbury’s doesn’t stock every brand I need. And their fruit and veg and bakery stuff needs to be checked for out of date items. Unless, I buy a bakery item, I usually only buy branded food in supermarkets ( except M&S mmm) and I don’t buy supermarket clothes or eat meat. So branded food is the same everywhere! I have no issue with shopping in Tescos, Iceland or Morrisons either, if I’m in the area. I personally don’t get the snob appeal about Waitrose.

I don't have one near me so never use it apart from once on holiday in N Ireland when I was amazed at the amount of food we bought for so little money. Wish they open one here.

@WeWere0nABreak you missed out WholeFoods Market above M&S but below Harvey Nics

Well I think Asda is a shithole and I live in Sunderland so it's definitely not a southern/posh thing

I'm surprised people find it comparable to Morrison's. I find Morrison's much more pleasant