Waste of money- just tipped a load of fresh berries into the bin

Xenomorhic

I TRY to inspect what I'm buying. But when they're in such small square plastic containers and on a pad and you can't see all of them... to cut a long story short on unpacking some blueberries, raspberries and blackberries to wash and eat I discovered that the lower layer of each was a mass of mould. Hardly any could be saved. Can't believe I blew about 4 quid today on all this and about 3 quid of that has gone straight into the bin.

That's the thanks I get for using a local grocer- inflated prices and a shoddy product. Who complains about supermarkets? At least I get to EAT what I buy there!

If I'd had a receipt I would have marched right down there today and hit the roof!!! Anyway, just wanted a good vent.

:mad:

Bossyboots

You didn't need a receipt. The retailer is not obliged to give you one and therefore cannot expect one as proof of purchase. If you only bought them today wouldn't they remember you? You certainly should have taken them back and at least caused a fuss in the shop to warn others, even if you didn't win the argument although legally you were entitled to a refund or replacement.

gibby

my other half used to work for asda and wont buy fruit n veg in a supermarket as she knows it stays on the shelf or in the store wharehouse for ages
and it never tastes as nice as the fresh stuff we buy.


The best way to get fresh fruit n veg is to find a wholesaler who has a retail outlet. The prices are usually a third of the supermarket prices and all the local ones near us are busy - you can see the stuff moving so quickly

also - if you get together with a few mates you can get it even cheaper direct from the wholsaler

boxes of apples/pears - usually 70 -80 apples £5
boxes of 10 punnets of grapes £2.50
melons - 5 of £3
100 satsumas £4
carrots - enough for 2 months £5

its much fresher and dosent have that sprayed on stuff to stop it going off -
shellac - I think its called.

G

calleyw

And buying fruit and veg in a supermarket is so much better than buying a greengrocers.

I would say the items in a supermarket are more shoddy than a greengrocers. Anyway if buying fresh berries you would be in the same situation as they all come in little packets with a layer of bubble wrap on the bottom.

Fruit and veg is normally a couple of days younger than in a supermarket. As it tends to be bought straight back from the wholesalers. Unlike a supermarket where it has go off to be re-packed.

I find the fruit and veg I buy from a greengrocers last longers then a supermarket. And had more mouldy fruit from a supermarket than a greengrocers.

And also buying from my local greengrocers helps keep a bit more money in the local area.


Yours


Calley

hollydays

what about farmers markets,think there is prob a website for them,more pricey maybe?going to try one this week.

gibby

farmers markets are cheaper than supermarkets - much cheaper for fruit n veg
not sure on meat as I never look

I know farmers get paid peanuts by the supermarkets and cant do anything about it - another reason not to by from the big guys

G

RAMBLER

Although when I buy from a supermarket, I ALWAYS keep the receipt and if there's anything wrong with it, I take it back.

Saying that if you haven't got a receipt, I'd still take it back as long as it was an own brand item with the label on.

competitionscafe

Xenomorhic wrote:

That's the thanks I get for using a local grocer- inflated prices and a shoddy product. Who complains about supermarkets? At least I get to EAT what I buy there! :mad:

I think that's a bit unfair to tar all local greengrocers with the same brush - some of my local ones are excellent (eg; Tattie Shaws on Leith Walk)

Exactly the same thing which happened to you happened to me with a punnet of cherries - however these were from the local Tesco as was a tub of ice cream which had some missing where somebody had stuck in their finger and eaten it!
In fact I have had fruit from Tesco a few times which has been off/mouldy when I opened it - and a few days before the use-by date as well - which is why I no longer buy my fruit and veg (or much else) from there.

Debt_Free_Chick

The problem is that none of those products could possibly have been "fresh" as they aren't currently growing in this country. So ... they have spent some time in transit from some other part of the world ... deteriorating throughout their journey.

I've stopped buying out of season fruit & veg as it's not fresh and bloomin expensive! But if you can't resist, you really do need to look closely at what you're buying. Turn the plastic punnets over and see what the bottom of the tray looks like. Too much running juice is generally a sign that they're rotting!

Wig

I know you're venting, and that's fine, but I'm only commenting.......You have no right to vent unless you have gone back and asked for a refund/replacement.

Buying fruit at a supermarket does not guarantee freshness either, I've had to take innumerable items back to tesco. As someone else said your product has probably come from the mediteranean anyway, throughout its journey it's been going off. I try to buy British only. But if I fancy a strawberry (or whatever), I'll make sure it's not from Israel then I'll check it for mould/juice.

RAMBLER

Wig wrote:

I know you're venting, and that's fine, but I'm only commenting.......You have no right to vent unless you have gone back and asked for a refund/replacement.

Buying fruit at a supermarket does not guarantee freshness either, I've had to take innumerable items back to tesco. As someone else said your product has probably come from the mediteranean anyway, throughout its journey it's been going off. I try to buy British only. But if I fancy a strawberry (or whatever), I'll make sure it's not from Israel then I'll check it for mould/juice.

Very true Wig, I used to buy fresh spinach from my Asda. Never lasted until the use by date so I kept returning it and they always exchanged. Just a tip though - phone up the store before hand and get them to log it in their complaints book - it makes it easier when you go in.