| Author |
Message |
Bigjulie
Joined 09-04-2005
| | Posted on Monday, 21 May, 2007 - 11:47 pm: | |
Maybe Sainsburys can have their own thread about how good they are? |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 12:05 am: | |
Sycophantic moi?
Happy talkin', talkin Happy talk
Talk about things you'd like to do
You've got to have a dream
If you don't have a dream
How you gonna have a dream come true
(deleted the provocative comment) |
Johnc
Joined 09-01-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 10:29 am: | |
Don't get me started on Sainsbury's - Empty shelves, nothing fresh, nobody on the tills, lack of choice for anyone in a family smaller than 20. I could go on..... Grrr |
Evanick
Joined 29-09-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 11:10 am: | |
I would also mention lack of small trolleys. They only seem to have those big ones suitable for big families. |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 11:21 am: | |
Perhaps try one of those small blue ones with no wheels, but a handle |
Elizabeth25
Joined 04-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 04:04 pm: | |
Has anyone noticed how they no longer sell the 'Taste the Difference' Horseradish sauce. I feel like I am getting paranoid. Because Tesco has also stopped selling its Finest horseradish sauce, which was very similar. Maybe they both used the same manufacturer that has now gone out of business?
However, I do like the smaller, organic Sainsbury's bags. Perfect size for lunch or afterwork shopping.
It is also impossible to get any Austrailan Reisling in the Forest Hill branch. however, the Sydneham one has a better selection.
The whole entry way could be better thought out. There is too much conjestion at the opening when people are stopping to pick up baskets. Aslo people queing for the lottery hit the fruit and veg displays blocking people from getting out. It could be better organized.
However, the staff are always nice. |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 04:25 pm: | |
I do like the unusual, no, unique approach to merchandising, whereby the same type of product can be found in all sorts of places around the store, often where you might least expect it. They really do their best to shake off that fusty old Sainsbury image and show that it can be just like Kwik Save or Netto.
Putting the insecticide and weedkiller next to the Easter Eggs was truly inspired, almost installation art. |
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 05:10 pm: | |
For all the above reasons and more, we still shop in the East Dulwich branch as more choice and stock, especially now that its been refurbished and almost double in size. We go to the London Road one when feeling less adventurous and have the occasional purchase to make as the stock is not reliable. Its become little more that a ' Metro' with all the freezer foods, however their market research probably told them thats what people wanted in Se23. |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 05:17 pm: | |
I'm sure that was the reason; what is interesting is that they will have convinced themselves that there is only a local market for **** by only selling **** and running the store so badly that almost anyone with any choice (normally in the shape of a car) goes elsewhere.
So it's a kind of limited demographic. In which I'm included, I would add - and I don't buy the decent stuff (e.g. fresh meat and fish)... because they don't sell it. |
Toffeejim
Joined 27-11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 06:25 pm: | |
Shame on you all with your bourgeois titbits, your overpackaging, your airmiles and your factory farming. Break the convenience food circle of hell and get yourselves down to Lewisham market. Or any other market or other small retailer for that matter. |
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 07:15 pm: | |
Also use Abel and Cole for organic fruit and veg deliveries and delicious wholemeal bread. They do a huge range of other things and are quite competitive. Unlike Supermarket organic fodder, theirs does not arrive already wilted in plastic bags. |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 07:21 pm: | |
I mainly forage for roots and grubs |
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 10:09 pm: | |
Is that whats sticking out from your beard? |
Ooperlooper
Joined 28-06-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 10:14 pm: | |
About two years ago Mrs Ooperlooper and I realised we were very regularly being overcharged for 'false' special offers (by which I mean offers advertised on the shelves that didn't show up at the tills) at the Forest Hill Sainsbury's. This happened almost - and this is not an exaggeration - every time we shopped there even though we'd typically only have a couple of baskets full.
After this had gone on consistently for a couple of months or so, I wrote a complaint via the Sainsbury's website. A reply came back promptly, apologising but telling us that the problem was a well known issue with the computer systems and would be corrected in at some point in the future when the system were upgraded.
I wrote back a week later when we had again been overchanged for the very same fake special offer that we had complained about to staff in the store a week earlier, telling them not to be so blinking ridiculous - the problem was clearly caused by the staff at the Forest Hill branch not doing their jobs properly (whether through sheer laziness and incompetence or on the orders of the manager to inflate profits, I don't know).
Then suddenly and quite dramatically a couple of weeks or so later the fake offers more or less dried up, and they've stayed reasonably scarce ever since.
So there you go, it seems it is sometimes worth complaining, even to juggernauts like Sainsbury's. |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 22 May, 2007 - 11:33 pm: | |
How times change, not so long ago the main comments were how wonderful Sainsburys was and how lucky we all were.
You can contact our local MP if you have generic issues about the supermarkets. They only have small shops in villages in France due to state intervention (but then that is the French not playing the free market game!). As regards to small shops anyone planning to take over the hairdressers in Wood Vale and make it into something trendy - surely with all us posh people in Forest Hill heights there must be a market.
Did I see you in Borough market TJ, you poser - and it is people like you who stop me getting served in the Market Porter - much preferred it before you types discovered the area |
Toffeejim
Joined 27-11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, 23 May, 2007 - 12:15 am: | |
Baggydave - I suggest that an outlet of Dunn and Co would do good business up in the UDB retirement village. Or perhaps a salon that specialises in the hip. And no, I don't mean the contemporary.
As for Borough, us proper beer fans left the Market Porter to the pseuds and trick-cyclists many years back. There is better game to be had in the back streets further south. Perhaps it was your insistence on ordering Sainsbury's own brand "Can't Taste the Difference" cerveza that had you thrown out. |
Applespider
Joined 26-02-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 23 May, 2007 - 10:09 am: | |
Can't stand the Sainsbury's at Forest Hill. There are more empty shelves than ones with food and the fruit and veg is a disgrace. 10 pallets of avocados and not a courgette, broccoli head or spinach in sight. A row of 30 checkouts with 3 actually open in the evenings.
I do use market stalls on occasion but that can be tricky when I need to shop on the way home from the office at 7ish and they're closed. The only small shops I see open at that time are the ones on Rye Lane and having seen some of the meat/fish being handled on the way into those shops, I'm not entirely sure I trust their food hygiene standards. Then again, after watching the BBC last night, I can't trust Sainsburys either.
There's a Waitrose near the office and I now tend to pick stuff up from there during the week and go down to East Dulwich at the weekend for the butcher (or the one on Wood Vale)/ fishmonger/veg/deli stuff. I do like Borough Market but on a Friday when it's slightly less busy! Heavy stuff comes via Ocado every couple of months - don't go near Sainsburys any longer unless it's an emergency and even then, the Tesco Express sadly usually has a better selection. At least with Waitrose, I have some good feeling about their supplier contract standards and trading principles. |
Johnc
Joined 09-01-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, 23 May, 2007 - 10:24 am: | |
Since the refrubishment the whole store seems to based around stuff with very long shelf life (drinks, tins etc) or with high profit margin (ready meals). The selection of fresh produce is a joke.
I tend to shop early on a Saturday and if you looking for fresh bread or rolls you would be better off baking it yourself. The ability to keeps shelves replenished is so basic that it amazes me how they get it so wrong so often. I've been in there where the only fresh veg on show, apart from spuds, has been about a ton of carrots
As for the tills it is quite common to have to line up at the kiosk with quite large baskets of food because the main tills are unoccupied. I did query this once and was told that it was more convenient for the staff! |
Schumacher
Joined 08-05-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, 23 May, 2007 - 05:04 pm: | |
has anyone heard or seen. William Hill want to take over the block busters unit. Do we really want this?
Also i have had to start making my own pecan pie, as Sainsburys have stopped selling it!!! |
Jalapeno
Joined 13-10-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 23 May, 2007 - 05:18 pm: | |
When they first reopened after the refit, the baskets were kept well clear of the doorway, further in on the right. This was much easier and caused less congestion at the door. They soon got shifted to their current position. Now, the original position is much better used (in retail terms) to house palettes of promotions. |
Hoppy
Joined 05-12-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 24 May, 2007 - 07:43 am: | |
don't get me started on the car park |
Thomas
Joined 14-03-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, 24 May, 2007 - 08:16 am: | |
Schumacher - see the thread titled "Planning application: 6-8 London Road" re Blockbusters - you should find the necessary information. |
Evanick
Joined 29-09-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, 24 May, 2007 - 12:00 pm: | |
There is something good at Forest Hill Sainsbury's and although I agree with all the criticism above, I must admit I shop here because it is easier to get to. It is on the main road and you don't need to walk for miles thruogh the car park to get to the store and as a cyclist/pedestrian I prefer that and so reluctantly shop here. |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, 24 May, 2007 - 01:04 pm: | |
I love Sainsburys - it's on my way home and opens late so I can go there when I get home from work in West London. And the queues are really short for a supermarket. And the staff are very friendly. You'd miss it if it wasn't there, folks. Use it or lose it. Mind you, if it closed, then we could all have fun moaning about *another* empty shop in Forest Hill that we never used when it was open :) |
Haylands
Joined 29-09-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, 24 May, 2007 - 02:48 pm: | |
I prefer the Sainsbury's in town to either the Bell Green or any other large air craft hanger types, where you can spend weeks traipsing up and down the aisles. Either pop in through the front door (walking or cycling) or park round the back and straight in. I've never had to queue for more than a few minutes. Staff have always been very friendly. When it first opened i mentioned to the mananger about the pidgen droppings in the carpark. He was very courteous, he was aware of the issue and within a few days nets had been installed.
I think we should be thankful that Sainsbury's decided to invest in area with a externally attractive refit. Obviously i'd prefer a High St with butchers, bakers and candle stick makers etc, however I understand Sainbury's have been on London Rd for some time judging by the doorstep of the Red Cross shop. |
Andy
Joined 23-02-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 24 May, 2007 - 03:01 pm: | |
Indeed, what the area really lacks is a good candlestick makers. Roz, if you are fan of proper bread, the East Dulwich Deli cannot be beaten in my opinion although it is of course ludicrously expensive. |
Michael
Joined 04-03-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 24 May, 2007 - 03:13 pm: | |
I think you will find that their bread is not as good as that baked by my fiancee! |
Haylands
Joined 29-09-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, 24 May, 2007 - 03:27 pm: | |
One never knows when the power will run out. Actually it's possible at any point in the day. Forget your coffee shop kid/dolphin friendly, comfy sofa, bar, eaterie, chilled, organic gaff, what FH really needs is an 'open 24 hr' candle stick maker! |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Friday, 25 May, 2007 - 06:59 pm: | |
Supermarket bread (as is modern life)is rubbish. All went wrong when they worked out how to freeze the dough so supermarkets could 'bake it' in house. Trouble is we all get used to their cheap prices (so Andy you get what you pay for). Slatters in Sydenham, wonderful. Shame they got rid of the Generation Game photos (they'd been on numerous programmes over the years). |
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Friday, 25 May, 2007 - 07:03 pm: | |
I've found Provenders selection of bread to be excellent- they will slice it for you, and it freezes and defrosts well. |
Bigjulie
Joined 09-04-2005
| | Posted on Friday, 25 May, 2007 - 09:14 pm: | |
I've given up buying Provenders bread - I have had to return too many loaves that aren't baked properly or are full of holes. Which is a shame. Baking is becoming a lost art. It is becoming harder and harder to buy decent bread. I'm going to learn to do it myself. |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, 27 May, 2007 - 06:34 pm: | |
Mr Sainsbury, I just wanted to say how excellent the Forest Hill branch is. Not just because its my local but in general its just a fantastic shop. I rave about the food to anyone who will listen. I went there yesterday and bought sea bass and my companion had organic single herd bufallo mozzarella salad and it came to under a fiver, an excellent deal: Aldi prices for Selfridges provisions. The cider, beer and spirits selection is excellent, with real care taken in stacking the shelves. A young family came in when I was in there and the staff made every effort to make sure they were welcome; giving the young child Kinder egg to play with and making sure they had a 'very trendy' trolley. I also love the adverts on the wall, my personal favourite is the two for one offer on balsamic vinegar. Well Done all the managers and the staff on an unpretentious good value, good quality supermarket.
Another reader responds "well done Baggy, this is supposed to be a web site to promote what is good in Forest Hil. The rest of you who bitch and moan shold go home, eat cold porridge and grumble about corner shops long gone".
Baggy replied to that warm comment: "Happy talkin talkin, happy talk..." |
Elizabeth25
Joined 04-03-2005
| | Posted on Monday, 28 May, 2007 - 11:01 am: | |
Thrrrrpppssss! |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Monday, 28 May, 2007 - 06:44 pm: | |
! |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Monday, 28 May, 2007 - 08:16 pm: | |
??? |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 29 May, 2007 - 01:06 pm: | |
Who is the rather large romany lady outside Sainsbury trying to flog Big Issue
I thought this publication was for British down and outs. Although I have never purchased a copy.
Is this lady British or one of our friends from Romania and Bulgaria.?? The Big Issue is what is she doing there. |
Bosco
Joined 16-07-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 29 May, 2007 - 02:08 pm: | |
What's your point Brian? |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 29 May, 2007 - 03:42 pm: | |
My point is surely she should not be waylaying the good citizens of Se 23 with her publication.
I am happy to put in for red cross and poppy date etc but this is just begging |
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 29 May, 2007 - 04:43 pm: | |
This person is as likely as not an EU citizen and hence entitled to live here. Even the UK has a romany population of its own so its possible she was born and bred here. Also the point of the Big Issue is that it is for sale and hence anyone flogging it, by definition cannot fall into the category of begging. |
Hoppy
Joined 05-12-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 29 May, 2007 - 06:27 pm: | |
Good on you Brian for your generosity. Why don't you try buying a copy, and perhaps talking to this lady? Bulgarian or not, I'm sure she wont bite |
Tersie
Joined 04-02-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, 29 May, 2007 - 11:42 pm: | |
Maybe some of the other good citizens of SE23 do not share your view Brian.... I think the big issue is a really good cause and one that should be welcomed or at least accepted by those not willing to get involved with the odd purchase (each to thier own tbf) These people have come from tough backgrounds and are trying to make a life for themselves, half of the money goes back into the publication / charty and the rest (70p or so) the seller can keep. It is against the rules for them to beg. Out of interest does anyone ever see the old black lady at London Bridge tube who sells the big issue??? Her name is Amily, quite a character, I enjoy stopping to have the odd chat and to pick up a copy now and then, would highly recommend it to those who pass her. |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 09:48 am: | |
The Big Issue seller (not the gypsy woman) did himself no favours by haranguing me for going into Sainsbury to buy a newspaper and saying he was "disappointed, mate".
Self-righteous twonk. I'll read what I want, thanks very much.
As for Amily, I have never encountered anyone with such an unpleasant voice. Every time she cackles, a kitten dies. |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 02:35 pm: | |
I anticipated the reaction of many to my comments. Firstly my work frequently takes me to The Bulgarian Embassy and know a lot of the people very well plus member of the British Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce. Most Bulgarians are lovely people and inhabit a lovely country.
I can however assure you that most of the Bulgarians I know would come out with much stronger comments than me about begging.
I have nothing against the lady personally and probably she is being operated by a big boss but I recall times when I was not stopped in the street every day for money. It is not just this lady but a general trend.
I was stopped 4 times last Sunday . |
Bosco
Joined 16-07-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 03:00 pm: | |
Ah yes, the old "some of my best friends..." argument - you gotta love it. Brian, she is selling the Big Issue, not begging, there is a world of difference. And no, the Big Issue is not a publication for British down and outs as you put it. It is a magazine sold by homeless people and it does not discriminate on the grounds of nationality. Do you assume that all Big Issue sellers are operated by a BIG BOSS, or is it just the Eastern European women?
And if you believe that begging is a "trend" then truly I despair. I dislike seeing begging too and there are undoubtedly con merchants out there but I do not believe that anyone, anywhere wakes up one morning and thinks, I fancy a career change, I know, I think I'll beg. And if they do, well there is clearly something deeply deeply wrong. The vast majority of people living on the streets in this country are addicts, suffer from mental disorders and come from abusive backgrounds. Have a little compassion - there but for the grace and all that. |
Dave
Joined 11-01-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 03:15 pm: | |
Well said - you managed to articulate what I (and I am pretty sure I am not alone) was thinking in a clear, constructive and courteous manner. |
Haylands
Joined 29-09-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 03:29 pm: | |
Brian, because your 'friends' at the Bulgarian embassy endorse the systematic displacment of the Romany does not make it ok to use this site as a platform for a division of the Forest Hill Panzers. Those type of comments help no one, except the simple minded bigots of the BNP.
If we took more care of our less fortunate brethen, both inside the UK and outside. One wouldn't have to be reminded of the 'big issue' everytime you popped down the road to buy your under priced litre of milk! |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 06:14 pm: | |
Exactly. She's not begging. She's selling. And Brian. You don't have to buy :) |
Vipes
Joined 10-10-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 07:47 pm: | |
Every time I've bought the Big Issue it's been very rubbish journalistically. That's what needs addressing so buyers would approach sellers for their product as with any normal transaction. Just like all of them, the woman outside Sainsbury's gives me a little dose of guilt that makes me sometimes lie and say I already have a copy and then I carry on my day with one or two thoughts about inequality, injustice etc. Then (to bring it back to topic) I look for the non-Elsanta English strawberries. Which they just won't stock - even now as we enter June.
BTW Not sure if I am more irritated by Brian's attempts to wriggle out of his very thinly veiled raccism, Tersie's patronising guff or Nevermodern's overuse of smileys. |
Robwinton
Joined 07-06-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 08:54 pm: | |
cmon cmon cmon!!!
Is it just me, or has the beautiful discourse of SE23.com descended into a series of little pitch battles recently? I certainly feel a lot less like posting on this site at the moment.
As well as being a forum for us to meet similarly community-minded residents, this is supposed to be an advert for Forest Hill and all the great things about it, or at least the things we can do to improve it. Sainsbury's may need a little push to improve our local store (the point of this thread), but comments and reactions of the sort of the last two days are just plain wrong.
Does anyone here think that this is a fruitful discussion? I have my own rather strong views on the topic in question, but it is necessary to attack each other over it?
Can I politely suggest we draw a line under this and focus on the issue at hand?
Sainsbury's has just spent a small fortune refurbishing the store on London Road, yet the store is, be general agreement, very poor. The ultimate result is that fewer people will shop there, it might therefore eventually close and we will have a massive hole in the centre of the town. Nothing to do with demand, but everything to do with quality of service.
What can we do to change this? Does anyone know who the manager is and can we have words of encouragement with him/her? How about a mass visit to the store where we all write up our comments on the issues we faced, then we present them "en masse" to the manager and invite feedback? Politely! |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 09:50 pm: | |
The only problem I have with this branch of Sainsbury's is the length of the queues at the check-out. This suggests that it is very popular. Therefore, it would seem that they are attracting the customers. |
Tersie
Joined 04-02-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 10:16 pm: | |
Sounds good Rob - definately good to draw a line under all of this, snide remarks are not a positive way forward on the forum. Am happy to join in with giving any feedback needed to pass to Sainsbury's management. |
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 10:21 pm: | |
It would be a shame to lose this store however we do find Champion Hill a lot better with much more stock and choice hence we have never really returned to FH even though it is just around the corner. The FH branch has become like a Tesco metro with all the packaged food. The old store didn;t do too badly after all, despite the leaky roof and buckets underneath. Just shows that not all change is good. Perhaps the FHS could draft a letter to the manager requesting a meeting?
I have to say that despite our fondness forthe East Dulwich store this is the second week we have had mince go off well before its sell-by date, and 4th time since Xmas- ie gone green- all bought from the ED store. We keep getting a load of twaddle and apologies from the management but it seems that there is something really amiss with the way they store their food hence tomorrow we are making a formal complaint to Southwark Environmental Health as we feel that it is in the public interest to do so- and of course we don't want food poisoning. We've had a few other problems with their food, ie peppers which had gone mouldy inside so I think in general Sainsburys has some public health and service issues to deal with. |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 - 11:12 pm: | |
Roz, it sounds like you'll be shopping in aberdeen before the year's out! just kidding.
apologies for the previous use of smileys :( |
Haylands
Joined 29-09-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, 31 May, 2007 - 08:31 am: | |
Well intervened Rob.
Can I suggest that if there is something you are looking for and they don't stock, then ask the department manager and ask again and again and occasionlly get the duty/store mnanager out and ask him/her. I work in retail, and nothing annoys sales staff more than customers asking for something that is not stocked in their store, but stocked elsewhere. Particuarly as head office will be asking management why sales are not hitting target etc. Very often when a store opens the range on display will be based upon a format used in (what is thought to be) in similar store. After 3 to 6 months they should begin to adjust to the local requests and market. Size of the store is not an issue, it's size of the market that counts. If you don't get any joy, go straight to head office and the Buying and Merchandising dept. |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 31 May, 2007 - 08:44 am: | |
I cannot understand the comments that people do not appreciate our new store. I think it is excellent. Far better than saver centre .
Selection of products is very good in my humble opinion.
I agree sometimes not enough people on the tills but not a serious problem.
We are lucky Mr Sainsbury decided to replace the old store and not just walk away. With talk of Sainsbury being taken over by asset strippers that is always a posibilty.
Well done the staff at the present store. Usually polite and smiling. |
Dave
Joined 11-01-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, 31 May, 2007 - 08:52 am: | |
Excellent - back to Sainsbury's.
In line with what a lot of other people above have said, my main issues with this shop is that it doesn't actually meet the general supermarket aim of providing everything you might want under one roof. Maybe the whole thing is a clever front by anti-supermarket campaigners?
For example, try getting some fresh herbs - unless you want basil or parsley you are likely to be out of luck most of the time in my experience. They had a great selection of beer shortly after they reopened, but that seems to have been replaced with some random shelf-filling.
The massive bread section is often empty (notwithstanding the comments other have made on the quality of the products there, sometimes you just want something - anything - fresh). In the chilled aisles you can often find dozens of packs of the same meat/cut and large amounts of empty white space. Sometimes the mince there is an interesting grey/green colour which is not very alluring (chiming with your experience in ED/Dog Kennel Hill, Roz).
Some of the staff are great - some aren't - pretty much the same as most shops. From a management point of view I think it's pretty bad - as well as the stock issues, the checkouts never seem to have enough people working or any kind of even distribution and the aisle ends are too close to the checkouts to allow that to sort itself out. And every time I have walked past the stockroom/loading bay area on the shop floor level there has been a massive amount of rubbish just lying on the floor, which seems less than ideal - having worked in supermarkets when I was younger I know how easy this is for a manager to sort.
Am struggling to think of plus points, to be honest... I often find that the Sydenham (aircraft-hangar sized) shop is equally limited. ED seems like the best of a bad bunch. I suppose one positive thing is that it provides an incentive to go and find and support smaller local shops with more of a connection to the community and a better class of produce. But then again, I find myself driving to Greenwich or East Dulwich to visit a butcher, which seems wrong, somehow. |
Broadbeanster
Joined 12-02-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, 31 May, 2007 - 09:30 am: | |
I too like the FH Sainsbury's store and think it is vastly improved since refurbishment - although the layout took a bit of getting used to. To be fair it isn't a big superstore such as the savacentre or the East Dulwich store so it isn't going to stock nearly as much stuff... but as a local store to get the bare essential items I think it is fine... With regards to fruit & veg I pay through the nose to get a fruit/veg box delivered so as to ensure my asparagus hasn't been flown from Peru so again if I do need anything extra I find the FH store sufficient... I guess it all comes down to what the stores aims were in the first place and as a local store for local people I can't complain.
If you do want to post comments to them - I've found their website really efficient and they do respond very quickly in past experience.
And I must say the staff are the friendliest of any supermarket I've been in... |
Applespider
Joined 26-02-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, 31 May, 2007 - 09:34 am: | |
They do allegedly stock most of what I'm looking to buy - but sadly, it's usually indicated by an empty space on a shelf above the ticket.
The last excursion I made there was to buy veg for a stirfry (carrots, courgettes and some pak choi or spinach) - they had none of them. I went to option 2 for dinner - there was no fresh whole chickens and no broccoli or pretty much any other green vegetable. I finished up in the frozen section to pick up some good icecream - zip. There was one heavily frosted tub of Green & Black's which suggested temperature abuse and nothing else other than the aerated foam that gets passed off as icecream.
I do ask staff occasionally if they have got any of 'item x' waiting to go out but I've never yet had a successful response. I guess that suggests that it's not the local management screwing up filling up the shelves but central merchandising in getting stock to the shop in the first place. Where, of course, if they're basing their ordering on current sales, they'll always end up with empty spaces. After the trip mentioned above, I did send an email to customer services via the website but got no response.
Dave... during the day, the butcher in Wood Vale is well worth a visit rather than driving down to ED |
Bosco
Joined 16-07-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, 31 May, 2007 - 09:39 am: | |
Dave - no need to drive to East Dulwich or Greenwich for a butcher - there's an excellent one on Wood Vale. You do need to have time on your hands though as he cuts pretty much everything to order |
Evanick
Joined 29-09-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, 31 May, 2007 - 10:13 am: | |
I recently had a reason to complain to Sainsbury's and sent an email via their website. I received a reply next day and was thanked for my feedback and also they sent me a voucher for £10 to compensate which was way more than the actual query was about. I think it is worth writing to them as is it a form of valuable feedback to them. |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 31 May, 2007 - 10:20 am: | |
You could email their Chief Executive:
justin.king@sainsburys.co.uk |
Dave
Joined 11-01-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, 31 May, 2007 - 10:32 am: | |
Thanks for the butcher recommendation - I think I have seen it mentioned on here before. Shall get on my bike at the weekend and have a look... |
Robwinton
Joined 07-06-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, 23 June, 2007 - 08:53 pm: | |
I have heard, through the local grapevine, that this store faces closure.
Anyone else heard a rumour to this effect? |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, 23 June, 2007 - 09:04 pm: | |
Strange. It has only just recently been redeveloped and opened. |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, 24 June, 2007 - 12:37 pm: | |
I sincerley hope not. I try to buy most of my shopping there. I hate sava centre no easy task for me
I have no idea of their store profits and know multi nationals study the bottom line all the time. Please all locals use the store |
Renzon
Joined 03-06-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, 24 June, 2007 - 02:09 pm: | |
Same here. I pray that this this is just a rumour and nothing else!!!!! |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, 24 June, 2007 - 02:37 pm: | |
Yes. I'd really miss it.
I wish i was on a grapevine <sigh>
;) |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Monday, 25 June, 2007 - 09:39 am: | |
I asked one of the cashier workers this morning, and she didn't seem to know anything about it. Mind you, the workers are often the last to know! |
Fh1
Joined 01-04-2006
| | Posted on Monday, 25 June, 2007 - 10:48 am: | |
This is utter rubbish |
Robwinton
Joined 07-06-2006
| | Posted on Monday, 25 June, 2007 - 12:03 pm: | |
What is rubbish??
I did say that it was a rumour only and wondered if anyone else had heard it. After all the criticism this thread has brought to light of their stock keeping, quality of service, etc. it is not impossible to believe that the store is not meeting head office targets and could be under threat.
It may all be 'rubbish' but that is why I asked the question. I certainly wouldn't want it to be true and close down before we had a chance to react. |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Monday, 25 June, 2007 - 12:43 pm: | |
Who do you normally ask if you want to know something? I suggest someone asks the caretaker or cleaner! |
Robwinton
Joined 07-06-2006
| | Posted on Monday, 25 June, 2007 - 01:08 pm: | |
Aren't we supposed to gather round a water cooler or coffee machine or something?
Actually the best gossip is usually from the smokers who all congregate regularly outside the office. I wonder what will happen to the informal communications when even this is banned? |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Monday, 25 June, 2007 - 02:30 pm: | |
Best way to ensure it is not closed is for us all to give it support |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Monday, 25 June, 2007 - 02:50 pm: | |
I would suggest the best way is for Sainsbury to ensure the store is managed properly and thus performs as expected, so is able to stand on its own two feet like any other business. |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Monday, 25 June, 2007 - 03:54 pm: | |
I think it's fine. Not great, but fine. And I shop there because it would be an *utter* shame if it closed and left a big hulking aicraft hangar unfilled and empty in forest hill. And as for some of the complaints... "They don't sell Australian Reisling..." "The trolleys are too big." Honest to Betsy. |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Monday, 25 June, 2007 - 04:27 pm: | |
Mine were more along the more basic lines of having run out of brown bread and potatoes. |
Robwinton
Joined 07-06-2006
| | Posted on Monday, 25 June, 2007 - 08:33 pm: | |
NO RIESLING???
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Monday, 25 June, 2007 - 09:08 pm: | |
Why's it so cold in there, what premium are they charging on their prices to over chill the place |
Toffeejim
Joined 27-11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, 25 June, 2007 - 10:43 pm: | |
With any luck it'll close down and Lidl will open up in its place so you can all save a fortune on your weekly shop. We will also be able to enjoy shopping among the much more socio-economically and ethnically diverse crowd that will attract and complement ourselves on being liberal enough to enjoy that kind of thing unlike, it is rumoured, certain lower/lower middle/middle middle/ mobile middle/fiddle-de-diddle classes of punter in certain outlying regions of London. Better still the council could open an old-fashioned fruit and veg market in the new-fashioned vacated space. Obviously with the odd organic cheese/cider/yoghurt-orientated workers co-operative to give it a contemporary slant. |
Fh1
Joined 01-04-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, 26 June, 2007 - 07:46 am: | |
Rob - ok, I'm will to retract my 'rubbish' statement, if you enlighten us with the source of your grapevine.......
I'm guessing you won't enlighten us, which leads me to believe that you may have started the roumour, which then leads to the final question - what do you know that we don't Rob? |
Robwinton
Joined 07-06-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, 26 June, 2007 - 08:31 am: | |
Why would I bother to do that? Have you been watching too many Oliver Stone conspiracy theory films?
I got it from a friend who lives locally and also has other family working in various shops and pubs in the area if you need to know, and of course I'm not going to give a name.
I only asked a question for goodness sake.
I must say that this sort of response to a genuine post is becoming all too regular on this site and I'm beginning to get a bit sick of it. I thought this place was somewhere we could discuss issues and find ways to help improve the area, but lately it seems to be full of negative posts and silly arguments. If it is meant as a joke, I guess I missed it.
As there seems to be no other reason to believe the rumour, I am happy to withdraw the suggestion.
Have a nice day! |
Ana
Joined 30-01-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, 26 June, 2007 - 09:01 am: | |
We are really lucky that a large corporate has decided to invest in Forest Hill, it employs local people and has invested considerable sums in improving the face of London Road. Everything is in degrees and it is a vast improvement to the shop fascias in London Road , have you all forgotton how the empty shops looked? We may not wish to shop there or pay the prices they charge, but surely, this in itself is an opportunity for Lidl or Aldi to invest, the answer isn't always to attack those willing to invest, but instead to voice opinion about what else you would like to see in Forest hill that meets all the community, whether it be the organic food lovers, Riesling gurus or your everyday mum trying to find the most convenient way (not necessarily the cheapest way) to meet her family's needs. I also think rubbishing people's posts is not a good way to represent SE23 to new readers, Rob was only seeking enlightenment..but then aren't we all? Anonimty is still a poor excuse for lack of courtesy. |
Vipes
Joined 10-10-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, 26 June, 2007 - 10:54 am: | |
Anonymity is also a conveniant mask behind which one can spread a bit of nonsensical gossip - just to see what comes back perhaps. Good on Fh1.
More generally, and forgive me for straying wildly off thread, it's embarrassing and dull to see the same old disagreements with this or that planning application etc. This forum needs more not less heterogeneity. The most interesting and lively posts on any forum are those that include dissent. Move to North Korea if you want repressed opinion for the sake of pretence at societal homogeneity. |
Ana
Joined 30-01-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, 26 June, 2007 - 11:10 am: | |
The above being a good example of encouraging diverse views and new contributors?I think a lot of people will be put off for fear of just such a rant being directed at them, fortunately I have a sense of humour! |
Hilltopgeneral
Joined 24-03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 26 June, 2007 - 11:35 am: | |
...but a poor memory!
One of the reasons London Rd was such a tip before the store redevelopment was because Sainsbury bought all the other stores and them left them to rot for several years while it vacillated over the project. |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 26 June, 2007 - 12:34 pm: | |
TJ
Do you really want Lidl. I agree some of their German producrs are cheap and also good but their cheap UK products are rubbish and I would imagine very unhealthy.
Someone mentioned to me recently whether Lidl sold deoderents , because if the answer is yes they do not work. |
Toffeejim
Joined 27-11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, 26 June, 2007 - 10:09 pm: | |
Brian, I'd love to see a Lidl. Their products are excellent value and include a lot that is unexpected and interesting. I'm afraid I have to disagree rather with Ana: does Sainsbury's employ more local people than other shops would? And I think the new building looks absolutely heinous. It's entirely out of character with the rest of the area. I'm not attacking it for the sake of it. I genuinely believe that small is beautiful. But if we can't have the small let's at least avoid the kind of big monoliths like Sainsbury's that contribute to the destruction of everything around them.
Seems a bit mean of some of you folk plucking accusations at Rob out of the air. Plenty of the rest of us ahead of him in the queue for deserving grief! |
Haylands
Joined 29-09-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 27 June, 2007 - 08:18 am: | |
Very funny Toffeejim, I'm glad to see humour back on SE23. I'd like to see a few more Budgens and may be the odd Costcutter. He he!! |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, 27 June, 2007 - 09:37 am: | |
I'd love to see these non-behemoth wonderful local small shops opening sensible hours for working people. Or shall we go back to the good-old days of spending our entire Saturdays queueing up for a pound of mince and a plain white loaf? :) |
Ana
Joined 30-01-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, 27 June, 2007 - 03:39 pm: | |
Sainsbury's, is here to stay and there is not much point in crying over spilt milk, it is just how things stand and modern life is forever blighted with our constraints on time , money and the grip that large corporates have on the vast majority's spending habits, small quaint shops are 'a nice to have' but few independents would find the obsticles in Forest Hill easy to overcome.
Can anyone think of an example of a successful, town centre based on the kind of "T -junction / on bendy red route" foot print that we have in Forest Hill? |
Fh1
Joined 01-04-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 27 June, 2007 - 04:28 pm: | |
Ok maybe I was a little strong with Rob but that largely depends on your point of view. However, given that people both within Forest Hill and people potentially moving to Forest Hill (see where I'm going with this) read these posts it is paramount that on (very important)issues such as this i.e. is the priciple employer / largest retailer leaving the centre of town, we need to be a little careful. My assumptions on Sainsburys are based on its visual presence and standing in the hill not a like for like comparison of employee numbers with other companys.
Whilst I can understand the need to discuss roumour I would suggest that roumours on this sought of subject have a little more substance behind them. These roumours invariably lead to unease and scaremongering something which in my opinion is undesirable.
Like Rob I only want to see the best for Forest Hill and I certainly do not wish to see Sainsburys close (it's always busy when I go in there) and a huge void left in its place. Therefore on an issue such as this we all should have the right to enquire about the nature of the roumour. I do not think that this right should be taken away? |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, 27 June, 2007 - 04:41 pm: | |
I have emailed Sainsbury's Chief Executive for a comment on this rumour. I will let you know what he says. |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, 27 June, 2007 - 04:47 pm: | |
Ana, lots of town centres are incredibly busy traffic-wise, including East Dulwich. I don't think the T-junction makes it any worse. |
Haylands
Joined 29-09-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2007 - 08:43 am: | |
Forest Hill's natural high street is Dartmouth Road. This is not a Red route and has plenty of parking facilities. And with the exception of the gradiant, is pretty straight, with very few kinks! |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2007 - 09:10 am: | |
We could campaign for a bypass. But this would involve demolition and be in someone else's backyard! |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2007 - 09:31 am: | |
The shape of forest hill is actually one of the things that attracted me to the area - coming out of the train station, the retainer wall by the thai orchard following the old canal route, the way the two sides of dartmouth road sweep up into London Road towards the horniman.
Rolling hills...blah, blah, blah.
I like :) |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2007 - 09:41 am: | |
Southend Lane was built with two lanes in order that the South Circular road could be diverted from Forest Hill through Sydenham. Think of the difference this would have made if it had been implemented. |
Ana
Joined 30-01-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2007 - 10:16 am: | |
If Forest Hill has a natural High Street (not obvious to me) why can't it thrive? I ask the question again... can anyone think of another high street that is successful that has a similar layout to Forest Hill. Hight Streets are usually based around one stretch of road or a central plazza. I also disagree about the parking, it's not good. |
Ana
Joined 30-01-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2007 - 10:18 am: | |
Also, Highstreets tend to have shops on both sides of the road, Dartmouth Road does not for most of the stretch |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2007 - 11:40 am: | |
Well, we're assuming here of course that forest hill isn't successful retail-wise. I don't, of course, have profit figures for shops, but by the fact that they're there and trading, and in some cases expanding, suggests that many of the businesses make a living for the people that own them. Also, I'm assuming the road layout has been thus for many years and that shops were situated where they are because they were a good location from a retail point of view. At some point, therefore, they worked with the current road layout. Retail centres are as often made up of several streets are they are made up of one, Ana. I'd be as interested as any as to reasons why forest hill isn't as successful as it could be, but having a T-junction is low on its list of negatives, in my opinion. |
Bosco
Joined 16-07-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2007 - 11:41 am: | |
People go on and on about how bad the parking is in FH, which, frankly, is nonsense. What is bad is the signage for available parking. Unless you know your way around the area you simply wouldn't know where you can park easily. The Sainsbury's car park is adequate enough and then there is a great big car park on Perry Vale but neither of these are well signed. Okay, you may have to pay for it but it really isn't that expensive, certainly not in comparison with parking in other London boroughs. |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2007 - 11:41 am: | |
Apart from anything else, we're stuck with it. So there's no point in wondering how better things would be if it were gone! |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2007 - 12:14 pm: | |
The T-junction...I meant..not the parking :) |
Haylands
Joined 29-09-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2007 - 01:18 pm: | |
Anyone who has a background in retail can tell you that the success of a high street has less to do with design of road (Greenwich), volume of non-stopping traffic (Kensington High St), shops on one side and not the other (Westbourne Terrace) etc etc. The biggest obstacle is matching the supply with demand and entrepreneurs taking the gamble to introduce something that has never been done before and excuting it well. Thus giving confidence to those entrepreneurs who following, and creating a sphere of influence to draw additional demand (who wants to shop on a high st with only two shops you're interested in visiting??)
In my opinion, Forest Hill is currently at a cross roads (no pun intended, if you include the little street that's adjacent to William Hill). The population dynamics are changing, particuarly with the new build flats, renovations and ELL coming to the area. Timing is the important factor. To be able to establish your business, and exploit the changing socio-economic groups and keeping a healthy cash flow. |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2007 - 01:27 pm: | |
Succinctly put, Haylands. |
Ana
Joined 30-01-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, 28 June, 2007 - 03:31 pm: | |
I do hope Forest Hill continues to attract good independent investors, I agree there is plenty of parking, but I personally find that if I park in Sainsbury's (the oneway system a pain) I can't be bothered to walk to Dartmouth Rd (where I have to do a dodgy U-turn to get back to the centre)and vice versa. Going to Forest hill just takes so long and before I opened Visual Eyes, the only reason to visit was the dvd shop and maybe the DIY shop. I look forward to more interesting businesses in Forest Hill. Unfortunately i don't bank with Barclays either so that's another reason I end up elsewhere. |
Perryman
Joined 12-12-2006
| | Posted on Friday, 29 June, 2007 - 02:20 am: | |
Things change. The main Forest Hill shopping Rd was Perry Vale a few years ago as I understand it.
All gone now (xpt for the shops around the corner (in)/towards Waldram Pk Rd).
I guess people had to shop locally 100 yrs ago.
When the oil runs out, they'll have no choice again. |
Renzon
Joined 03-06-2007
| | Posted on Friday, 29 June, 2007 - 09:13 am: | |
I have great confidence in the future of Forest Hill. The reason my wife and I moved here 6 months ago is because we believe that Forest Hill has a lot of potential and is good place to invest in. I think that places undergoing change are more interesting than places where the market is already saturated and prices are sky-high.
While people have every right to express their opinions, I feel that it would perhaps be more constructive to focus on all the good things that Forest Hill has and maximising them.
For example: I would like to lobby LBC for trees to be planted on the London Road pavement adjacent to the shops. The pavement is wide enough to accomodate them. LBC is quite happy sawing down trees in Davids Road and Taymount Rise, so why don't they make it up and plant some trees in the obvious place?? |
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, 01 July, 2007 - 10:44 am: | |
I agree totally, Renzon. Isn't there some 'forest hill specific money' that is allocated each year from the Lewisham budget, and that the residents have a say on how it's spent? I think part of it last time round spent sending some schoolkids on holiday. Maybe next time round, the planting of London Road might be something that it could be spent on. It really is a shame to waste those wide pavements. |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, 01 July, 2007 - 02:38 pm: | |
But don't plant the trees near lampposts. The trees on Stanstead Road obscure the streetlights. |
Pvp
Joined 17-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 03 July, 2007 - 08:09 am: | |
Good point Haylands. An example: Honour Oak had at one point, I believe, 3 gourmet burger places. Forest Hill, none. Perhaps the first was a success so other food outlets imitated, rather than looking elsewhere locally to open in a yet to be tapped market. |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 03 July, 2007 - 12:31 pm: | |
I am not sure what a lot of the latter comments have to do with Sainsbury |
Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, 17 July, 2007 - 05:15 pm: | |
I have received the following reply from Justin King, Sainsbury's Chief Executive:
"Thank you for your email. I am sorry that you have heard that our Forest Hill store will be closing.
I am pleased to tell you that we have no plans to close this store. Please feel free to pass this information on via the local forum.
Thank you again for writing to me and allowing me to put your mind at ease.
Yours sincerely
Justin King" |
Londondrz
Joined 09-04-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, 18 July, 2007 - 08:03 am: | |
That said Sherwood they are looking at a £12bill takeover bid from the Middle East so who knows?? |
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, 18 July, 2007 - 10:27 pm: | |
Was that THE Jason King - wondered what Peter Winguard was doing since the unfortunate incident in the toilet. |
Brian
Joined 18-04-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, 19 July, 2007 - 07:35 am: | |
Great news that our great local Sainsbury not to close. Maybe we will be buying Quatari delicacies very soon.
I was very impressed with the revamped Sainsbury in Dog Kennel Hill. Very nice Starbucks.
Compared to Sainsbury in Bell Green rather like comparing Lidl to Waitrose. |
