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Original poster

Noticed Supermarkets feel glum?

247 replies

Neverendingdust · 03/08/2022 22:50

I don’t think I’m imagining this but I’ve started to notice over the last month or two an almost gloomy muted atmosphere in the supermarkets where I live. It’s pretty noticeable that people are now conscious of the rising prices, the mood is almost somber and tense as they’re shopping. Has anyone else noticed similar? M&S, Sainsburys, Tesco and Co Op all feel very different, you can tell people are worried about the prices they’re seeing.

That excitement of popping treats into the trolley has gone for so many, doing the weekly shop has now become a challenge to simply spend the least amount but make the shop last longer. Peoples behaviour has changed massively.

Does anyone work in any of the stores and noticed the same?

OP posts:
Thecatsatonthewalls · 04/08/2022 07:57

@Hopeandlove Yes our local Tesco chilled section was off for days when we had that hot weather, the next tesco was also off, it then took them a week to re stock, c/w a handy price rise on some meats too :(

they don't even tell you on their website so a waste of petrol too.

SqueakyShoe · 04/08/2022 08:00

I noticed this yesterday. Sainsburys was very quiet and miserable. Prices are rising and products are shrinking.

Lidl is definitely busier these days.

TullyApplebottom · 04/08/2022 08:06

TeachesOfPeaches · 04/08/2022 07:41

@happinessischocolate Tesco do this on purpose to keep costs down. Every Tesco is understaffed and the people that work there are miserable.

Must say have not noticed this. My local is well staffed and all are extremely polite and helpful. Much better than sainsbury’s

Original poster
Neverendingdust · 04/08/2022 08:18

Interesting to read a few different perspectives on this. I suppose where you live and shop would affect the mood levels and anxiety around prices so it’s no wonder some people haven’t noticed much difference, yet. For now the stores appear to be functioning under a guise of normality albeit with fewer staff and higher prices but there are subtle signs things aren’t what they seem. More people with lists, I was also wondering if people are leaving DC at home so there’s less risk of them wanting and asking for snacks and treats?

I was in Tesco last night and picked up on how many white price labels were on the shelves just showing the full(er) prices with very few offers to be found compared to say last year. Mars ice creams were 2 for £3.50 when I’m sure they used to be £1 per box on the offers, now it’s £1.75? Needless to say the shelf was relatively full and that was on a warm evening.

My local M&S Food seems to be having supply issues, lots of empty spaces in the fruit and veg sections which can go on for days, ready meals which were dear before are now ridiculously expensive so quite a few of them seem to be hanging around a lot longer than usual. What is funny is watching the Chinese students doing their shopping in there, trolleys full of steaks, dressed crab, lots of cakes and desserts 😅 shopping as though Dale Winton is at the tills waiting to add up the value to win the sweep 😂

The subtle signs are there, I guess as we move towards autumn and the reality of energy prices starts to bite it will become more noticeable. The supermarket business model was so finely tuned to be efficient and profitable that the manual on how to tempt and lure shoppers is going to have to be rewritten if they’re to keep customers onboard.

OP posts:
Scepticalwotsits · 04/08/2022 08:26

Enb76 · 04/08/2022 07:12

I honestly think that if you have the ability to shop outside of supermarkets, you should. All my veg and fruit comes from the local market where it’s considerably cheaper and fresher. Meat comes from the butcher and while not cheaper is excellent quality and ethical and has a £30 medley which could easily feed a family of four frugally for 2 weeks although I know that’s out of price range for many. I use supermarkets for dry good staples and dairy products.

I don’t think that you get best value from supermarkets but what you do get is convenience - but you are paying for that.

all the fruit and veg at the markets around here don’t last at all and are not that much cheaper if at all. The local farmers market while on a farm has absolutely no product from the farm and most of it comes from Spain.

The farm shops that actually sell their own produce while have good produce are exceedingly expensive. There isn’t a local butchers but the closest one is okay, but not worth the additional cost.

if I did my shopping at all of those places it would also be a heck of a lot of additional cost in fuel as well.

Most people won’t have the privilege to have a local butchers/grocers/quality market and those that may dont always have the financial ability to do so

BakewellGin1 · 04/08/2022 08:30

The usual here but our Tesco is a joyless depressing place always with overpriced goods and rubbish layout.

Much prefer Asda and Aldi.

Shelves have been full as always and Aldi particularly has had a good range of fruit/veg and meat.

Definately items which are more expensive then before but that's across the board.

I've never particularly 'enjoyed' a food shop so nothings changed much. When I'm back to work full time will be doing click and collect.

Scepticalwotsits · 04/08/2022 08:30

Thecatsatonthewalls · 04/08/2022 07:54

But it didn't use to take so long to get stuff here and its not just the condition, its the amounts, the stores around here have so many empty shelves.
I think this makes these places glum & the constant price increases, given the profits of supermarkets, its clearly profiteering too.

Having just recently got back from France, i was amazed at how well stocked their stores are, with a lot more choice, esp chocolate :)
Yes some things quite a bit dearer but many things far cheaper, on balance, it was costing us a similar amount.

Show quote history

It didn’t used to take so long to get here.

Think other than COVID what has happened in the past few years that may have hindered our cross border transit speeds........

France doesn’t have those issues. And yes when JIT logistics slow down you end up with gaps

georgarina · 04/08/2022 08:33

Haven't noticed this at all. Different shops have different vibes - the Morrisons near me has always been depressing and the Sainsburys not!

Sparklingbrook · 04/08/2022 08:34

Ukelele101 · 03/08/2022 22:58

I was in Morrisons today and there was a lady putting the reduced to clear stuff out. There were barriers around her which I have never seen before. I wanted to have a nosy at what was there but thought I’d return in a bit…I went down the next aisle to look at some other stuff and returned to it…..five full shelves cleared in a minute! I’ve not seen that before.

DH said the same at our Morrisons and people were reaching around the barrier and she was having to tell them to pack it in, she told one person twice.Shock
I think it's a combination on high prices/short staffing and supply issues causing any gloom, plus since Covid I still adopt the get in and get out asap shopping style.
That said, whoever is in charge at my local Morrisons is a huge 80s music fan which certainly improves the experience for me.

Sparklingbrook · 04/08/2022 08:35

georgarina · 04/08/2022 08:33

Haven't noticed this at all. Different shops have different vibes - the Morrisons near me has always been depressing and the Sainsburys not!

Other way around here. The Sainsburys has been in need of a refit for about 10 years and is dark, quiet and soulless. 80s disco style at Morrisons. Grin

MomwasCasual · 04/08/2022 08:36

I mainly shop online. Gutted to realise I may be missing out on bonding opportunities with randoms over Bon Jovi.

Sparklingbrook · 04/08/2022 08:39

MomwasCasual · 04/08/2022 08:36

I mainly shop online. Gutted to realise I may be missing out on bonding opportunities with randoms over Bon Jovi.

Oh I don't actually speak to anyone. I'm not insane. Grin Top up shop-straight to serve yourself till. Main shop is a Waitrose click and collect.

Pedallleur · 04/08/2022 08:42

I've never seen those shops on Sloane St busy. But people aren't queuing to buy a 5k handbag from Chanel. Different clientele. Last time I bought a 30k steamer trunk from Vuitton I was the only one there 😉

jammiewhammie65 · 04/08/2022 08:43

I don't think anyone in m and s would be worrying about prices no !

generalh · 04/08/2022 08:43

karomakulture · 03/08/2022 23:49

@Davros really? I was in Sloane Square and Chelsea and most of the shops were empty. Salespeople sat around, this was on Sunday afternoon.

I was there yesterday. Only Peter Jones was busy (ish). We looked at the shops ie window shopping but didn't buy anything around Sloane Square.

00100001 · 04/08/2022 08:46

Ukelele101 · 03/08/2022 22:58

I was in Morrisons today and there was a lady putting the reduced to clear stuff out. There were barriers around her which I have never seen before. I wanted to have a nosy at what was there but thought I’d return in a bit…I went down the next aisle to look at some other stuff and returned to it…..five full shelves cleared in a minute! I’ve not seen that before.

Pretty standard where i am.

Reducing now happens behind the scenes, and the trolley is "escorted" to the area.

And then carnage 😬

pastypirate · 04/08/2022 08:52

I don't doubt the pp accounts but it's normal here - south west. I always check the yellow sticker veg shelf because I buy my rabbits reduced herbs when I can. There's no scrum or anything.

Shelves have had gaps for a year or so though.

Atmosphere is no different

ofwarren · 04/08/2022 08:57

Wishihadanalgorithm · 03/08/2022 23:11

I’ve noticed that all of the cheaper brands are missing from the shelves with only the more expensive ones available. This was in Morrisons late afternoon.

I've noticed lots of this.
I've started shopping at Lidl and it's even like that in there. Lots and lots of gaps on the shelves where the cheaper brands should be.

WeAreTheHeroes · 04/08/2022 09:01

The Tesco near us is being refurbed and is full of people trying to find things as they've also decided to change the layout.

We've become used to things being out of stock and what is out of stock varies daily. We're conditioned to this now.

Davros · 04/08/2022 09:03

karomakulture · 03/08/2022 23:49

@Davros really? I was in Sloane Square and Chelsea and most of the shops were empty. Salespeople sat around, this was on Sunday afternoon.

I'm going to Sloane Square tomorrow (for the Tiffany exhibition), I'll have a look. As others have said, the shops round there are hardly typical and the population will largely be away somewhere exotic. I was in Soho last week and I have never seen it so busy, Carnaby Street was rammed as was Old Compton Street and everywhere in between. I had to take a break in Liberty which was also busy but civilised

RampantIvy · 04/08/2022 09:05

I don't recognise any of the issues complained on this thread where I live, except for a few gaps on shelves.

Our local small market town has three butchers, a fruit and veg shop and twice weekly markets, plus a Tesco, Co-op and Spar. I also buy most of my veg from a local farm shop who grow some of the vegetables on the farm. The shop isn't a fancy shop, but a shed full of vegetables.

The staff in Tesco are polite and helpful.

Comedycook · 04/08/2022 09:06

I find myself often having to buy more expensive versions of a product because the own brand or cheaper ones aren't on the shelf. I buy own brand ketchup for example..less than £1 for a bottle...but it's often sold out so I have to buy heinz which is more than double.

Nugg · 04/08/2022 09:08

Not noticed but I don't really do a proper shop ever. However I've been unable to buy bags for my kitchen bin for weeeeeeks!?

Galadali · 04/08/2022 09:09

I'm in France at the moment and it's really made me notice how my supermarket shopping experience at home has dived in recent months. French supermarkets are a cornucopia of beautifully fresh fruit and veg. Deli, meat, fish and bakery counters all busy (our local Sainsbury's has closed all of their counters). No gaps on the shelves, and everything seems to be a reasonable price so far. Even my kids remarked on the difference and they never notice anything.

Oblomov22 · 04/08/2022 09:19

I have definitely noticed. All a bit more more gloomy and depressing. Yes people are still buying. But it's just s bit glum, I've noticed it in supermarkets particularly since ? the hottest day dramas.