What benefits does the COOP bring?

Farway

My local one [Southern] is always dearer then the nearby Lidl [no surprise there], I do look in as I like the ethical stance, but refuse to buy stuff that is half the price 100 yards way, and no local produce that I can see

I use it more as a top up shop

PS have loyalty card, but not often used

jackyann

We have good Co-ops in the East Midlands too.
They are not especially dear, they are ethical about a lot of things (banned fox-hunting across their farms ages before the legal ban)
They have good wine & beer
Their banking is very good and withstood the "crunch"

I would have to agree that they are not the very cheapest, but they are not as expensive as "the big 4".

And to us true co-operative people: it's not a "loyalty" card, it's "membership" because it's a principle we we endorse (actually, in my case, grew up with)

I would have to say that we all do the best we can, and if every penny counts, maybe the Co-op is not for you, but if you are in a position to be as ethical as you can, the Co-op is good value.

Dazi

I only use my co op for top up shopping, it is quite handy as its on my walk home from work. I used to get about £10 a year back but not so much now as they decided that it was unethical to use loyalty card on cigarettes:embarasse I find things very expensive in there, although their offers are good, we also have a morrisons, aldi a very small netto which is going to turn into an equally small asda sometime in the future. Also in the future we are getting a sainsburys although I think they are still thrashing out the road scheme.

The only thing I really hate is that Friday seems to take them by surprise every week. Tonight 2 checkouts open, so I spy that one is manned by a young boy who would have to get someone to put a code in for my wine. I go to the older lady....she was a trainee and still had to get someone to put a code in, no one answered her bell and I felt really bad at holding the queue up, which was by now down to the back of the shop :eek:

Saying that, I do pick up a lot of whoopsies on my way home.

We have 2 'late shops' in our town that are run by the co op, they charge the same price as in the bigger stores and have some of the offers too, although expensive they are cheaper than your normal corner shop.

So all in all, I quite like the co op, I think its quaint, it hasn't really kept up with the times. Its handy for me and I would miss it if it went, but I would never do my main shop there to get the divi, what I got on the divi I would lose on the price of my groceries

Gracie_1827

The C0-0p still pays dividends @ 2p in the pound most have gone onto a plastic loyalty card. Ours is ok, some prices are a bit expensive but they always have offers on, some of them very good. I went to a members meeting on Monday and had a lovely buffet and a couple of glasses of wine. We were asked our opinions and what things we'd like to happen with the C0-0p...very democratic. They want to dramatically increase their membership so expect a big push in advertising.

Sunnyday

I seem to be using ours more often, its within walking distance and although its not the cheapest shop it is usually cheaper to walk to for the odd few items rather than getting the car out and paying for the petrol to shop further afield where the prices are lower.

I do go in for the offers though today i`ve got the finish dishwasher tabs - 56 for £5, 2x 16 triple velvet loo rolls at £5 each (£4.50 for me with a coupon) and the PG tips at 2x160 for £5

The lovely SA put one of the loo rolls through as a seperate transaction so that i could use both the coupons, i used my membership card for points and paid on my Co-op credit card so double bonus

I also use my CC for the bigger purchases so i`m very pleased.

We have a recently opened Te$co express which i`ve been in once and its minging, the Co-op always seems clean and well organised and i don`t think that the staff can be beaten for friendliness. Think i shall start visiting ours a bit more often.

SD

grizzly1911

Thanks for all your posts.

We have three locally.

1.) A forecourt which is obviously expensive 1/2 special offers. Almost brought £30 of luxury loo rolls (2x9 for a fiver) a couple of weeks ago to get the fuel discount. SWMBO said I needed certifying.

2.) A convenience store again expensive (always seem to have a trolley of bread and perishables reduced) - wonder why:think:

3.) A midi again expensive but does a a few good offers on which I pickup if passing and happen to need the odd thing.

Interesting to see prices tiered across all three going up from 3.) -1.) on a number of items. Plus 1.) Doesn't sell big bars of choccie any more which is a shame because it is the closest.

Can't moan though we do have a an Al and a W which cover most of the bases. Off up to the Lakes soon where you get Booths and there is another story. Like the guy from Scotland I don't know how some of these people make ends meet if they haven't got transport.

I am surprised there isn't an Al up there I am sure there must be a demand from locals.

The COOP in Keswick is depressing IMO but the one in Coniston is or was quaint very much old style.

Remember when I were a lad mum used ours quite a lot (midlands). It did electricals, TVs, furniture and such like. They used to do interest free credit (not HP she wouldn't touch that) which was quite novel then. They had vacumn tubes as well to wizz the money up off the tills:p

Reverbe

Gracie_1827 wrote: »

The C0-0p still pays dividends @ 2p in the pound most have gone onto a plastic loyalty card. Ours is ok, some prices are a bit expensive but they always have offers on, some of them very good. I went to a members meeting on Monday and had a lovely buffet and a couple of glasses of wine. We were asked our opinions and what things we'd like to happen with the C0-0p...very democratic. They want to dramatically increase their membership so expect a big push in advertising.

Perhaps you can suggest that they return to paying Britannia customers a decent loyalty bonus... I voted NO to the merger for just this reason.. ow instead of a coupla hundred quid a yr bonus I get a few pence..

Sunnyday

grizzly1911 wrote: »

Thanks for all your posts.

We have three locally.
Interesting to see prices tiered across all three going up from 3.) -1.) on a number of items. Plus 1.) Doesn't sell big bars of choccie any more which is a shame because it is the closest.

Can't moan though we do have a an Al and a W which cover most of the bases. Off up to the Lakes soon where you get Booths and there is another story. Like the guy from Scotland I don't know how some of these people make ends meet if they haven't got transport.

I wonder if the difference in prices is reflected by the difference in costs of running each store?

I do know that in the last two years we have lost both a local butchers shop and the greengrocers and both owners stated the running costs as reasons. Gas and electricity have risen hugely but the cost of rent increases were stated as the main reason behind both.

Some of the big supermarkets are now starting to charge different prices in different areas too :eek:

SD

lilac_lady

I use my local Co-op fairly regularly but watch what I buy as the prices are usually dear. They do have good offers though and I like the Fairtrade aspect of their goods. I don't rely on my "divi" as it's not too great compared to years gone by.

zippychick

As this has dropped down the Old style board ive moved it to shopping and groceries to see if you can get some more input over her

Zip