Robbers!

[captainpugwash]

I'm really sick of getting ripped off in this place, yes "Ripped off"! Was in Lidl earlier and they'd run out of sugar (79p) so I pops into that Jim Bews place, takes the bag of sugar to the counter and the guy says £1.10

£1.10?? a few hundred yards down the road a German supermarket is selling the same sugar for 79 pence and this outfit want to charge me an additional 31 pence.

I then stops off in the petrol station next to Lidl and have to fork out £1.03 per litre, it wouldn't be so bad if the staff in that place said hello or at least smiled in your general direction but they just sit there staring into space like zombies.

It's a total rip off up here, they've got the ball at their foot and, boy, they take advantage of it and make sure you pay retail "plus". The guy in Jim Bews told me you'd pay 90p for 500 grams of sugar in Castletown and claimed that £1.10 for a kilo was "cheap".... yeh, pull the other one son, it's got bells on it. He must have thought I'd sailed down the Thames on a banana boat.

I'm anti "one stop shops" like Tesco but can appreciate why locals are so happy it's arrived. There is no excuse for charging people way over the odds for things, "location" my foot it's downright greed IMO.

[percy toboggan]

I'm not surprised an independent grocer far from distibution depots is charging just 30% more than a national chain (who are famed for low priced loss leaders).
Sounds as if you don't like it 'up there'
What did you expect?

[Ash]

i tend to do most of my shopping in lidl as its heap cheaper, somerfield, coop and tesco are awfully over expensive! i can buy everything i need in lidl for £40 yet when i do it in the other places its double that!!!!!!!1

[captainpugwash]

What did you expect?

Cheap petrol, certainly "not" the most expensive petrol in the UK. If all this hype about Scottish oil is true then you'd expect it to be marginally cheaper up here, or at the very least, in line with the rest of the UK but no it's more expensive.

Sounds as if you don't like it 'up there'

I love it up here, what makes you think me complaining about the price of a bag of sugar means I don't like the place? I also moan about the weather, doesn't mean I don't like the place.

I'm not surprised an independent grocer far from distibution depots is charging just 30% more than a national chain (who are famed for low priced loss leaders).

Oh not that same old tired excuse again, these guys could drive 500 yards down the road to Lidl buy sugar at 79 pence and still turn a profit selling it for 99p please don't try to suggest that the distributors charge more for their sugar because they have to deliver to Caithness. I can get 50 large jiffy bags shipped up to me next day for £10.45 (includes delivery) that's 20 pence per bag, these guys sell the same bags for £1.20 each (and they probably get them from the same place and get a price break so likely they pay 10p per bag) it's not just sugar, it's pretty much everything and "distribution / logistics" is a pretty lame excuse... a bottle of Bells whiskey doesn't cost 3 times the price down in Cornwall..... think about it

[bekisman]

Funny how the petrol stations in Wick are all still in business, in spite of Tesco, so they must still be making a profit. Thurso is about 5p a litre more that Wick (but you would not know that as they have ALL taken down their large price boards, get 'em to drive in off the road and park up against the pump before they realize they are about to get fleeced).
We live out west and bypass Thurso as it's such a rip-off, i.e. Co-op, Somerfield, fuel. Doing a weekly shop over in Wick easily covers our extra fuel costs. When in Wick we shop in Tesco, have a meal in Wheatherspoon, bit of shopping in Woolies, look around the charity shops, into the 99p shop then home - again bypassing Thurso. Councillor Saxon voted against Asda, we await the decision after the meeting in August to see if they will be permitted to build on Pennyland. Because of him there is no 'levelling' supermarket that would have encouraged shoppers to use Thurso - have you seen the exodus from there to Wick Saturdays? Whatever happened to Councillor Saxon at the last election?
"Should support your local shops" WHY!? Bottom line: the SHOPS are here for US, not us for the Shops. I want to watch my money and not subsidise locals, I will spend it where I get the best deal. We're buying a new electric Cooker, I can get it delivered from down the line for £150 Less than local.
W & D Ross in Thurso; went in there the other day, I understood that they had bought up the bankrupt stock from Bridge end Stores? the prices were too high for me so Homebase was a better bet. Got some MacGas LPG cylinders, rang W & D Ross, won't exchange, want £10 deposit for Calor. Went to Thurso Building Supplies; no such problems. We feed the birds so try and buy Black Sunflower seeds up here.. Get 40 kilos for £32 delivered overnight! Yes, for too long the 'we've got em trapped up here' mentality has prevailed - I'll shop where I get the best value, thank you very much.

[Dadie]

where do you get the black sunflower seeds and do they do a good deal on peanuts too?

[footie chick]

, bit of shopping in Woolies, .

I'm the same Woolies in Wick is miles better than Thurso along with Mackays and DE' Shoes at least you get service with a smile in Wick.
I have found myself making my way to Wick more regularlly not just for Tescos I also like the Coop {better than Thurso also}.
The fuel prices in Wick does influence my decision why are they soo much cheaper when the fuel is shipped into Thurso????

[bekisman]

Dadie: "where do you get the black sunflower seeds and do they do a good deal on peanuts too?"

Not sure I can advertise company on the forum? so have sent you a PM with the contact details..

[Dadie]

ta
bird food going cheep is always good

my mum likes feeding the birds that visit the garden and i need a pressie to say thank you for her work in taking the dog and Lauren while we paint..etc..

on another note these caithness is expensive threads get thrashed out ever so often cant people see that wages are average, houses are cheap, consumables are dearer ... cant have everything... shop around .. life is to short!

[captainpugwash]

why are they soo much cheaper when the fuel is shipped into Thurso????

Possibly there are more passing tourists in Thurso so the garages hike up their prices to coin in a few more pence per litre, remember that station next to Lidl is prime time for all the tourists filling up before they take the ferry over to the Orkneys. There is no other reason than all out greed and taking advantage of people, I'm sure if they could they would also doctor the pumps so you only got 10 litres when the pump says 15 litres.... thankfully (hopefully) these things are checked.

My local shop (only shop) charges 34 pence for a packet of Rizla fag papers, these are 20 - 22p anywhere else. I asked the guy why they were so expensive and he told me it was due to the location and the "added expense" of getting them delivered to his shop........ what a load of grade A tripe! Truth is they're that price as he has the ball at his foot and can charge whatever he likes knowing that 9 times out of ten customers will just pay up.

He's service with a smile personified with all the banter and jokes but the second you're out of the shop and look in the window his face is looking directly into the till with the expression "another mug making me richer" you soon see through the false smiles and see the real person behind the mask.

Another thing I've noticed about these small shops..... they never price tag anything, you buy a couple of pounds of potatoes, a loaf of bread and a pint of milk and "that'll be £17.97 please" If I ever go into that shop I only come out with items that are marked by the manufacturer (ie: frozen peas 99p) no way would I waltz around gayly filling a basket full of potentially exorbitant priced goods.... maybe I'm a cheapskate, I dunno, but I always shout out "excuse me mate, how much is this" when I'm in one of these licensed robbers premises and when they shout back some ridiculous amount I reply with "how much?!! you got to be having a laugh mate!" (you can tell I'm not from these parts ) "£2.07 for a cucumber?! You gotta be joking mate I wouldn't pay that if it came from soil fertilised with her Maj the Queen's droppings!"

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people who frequent that shop and come out with bags full of over-priced rotting fruit... they either don't have cars, have more money than sense or are just plain stoopid.... it has quite a healthy turnover of local knuckleheads parting with their hard earned big style.... I'm all for supporting the local village shop but I'm totally against supporting a greedy shopkeeper who would gladly sell you a 9 year past its sell by date pot noodle as soon as look at you. No way am I saying where this shop is (I don't want to be tarred and feathered and then birched for good measure) but does it sound familiar?

[captainpugwash]

cant have everything... shop around .. life is to short!

The thing is you really "can't" shop around here, that's my point, and the shopkeepers know it and take advantage of that fact.......

You caught my drift yet?

[seren]

i was born and bred in a tourist area of the uk and it was amazing how the prices in the local shops used to jump up in the summer, and always on the essentials

[Foxy]

Village shops are usually more expensive than the supermarkets as there turn over is not so big, but no one forces anyone to shop in them that is up to the individual, many people who don't have there own transport are grateful that they have a wee shop in there area. I come from an community that had a local shop but it closed a number of years ago and is greatly missed, not only was it handy for papers, milk, bread, etc. but we used to meet other members of the community and catch up on what was happening in the area. Unfortunately if i run out of anything now i have to go 10 miles into town to buy it.

[Rheghead]

Thurso is about 5p a litre more that Wick (but you would not know that as they have ALL taken down their large price boards, get 'em to drive in off the road and park up against the pump before they realize they are about to get fleeced)

I've noticed that as well and I also seem to remember a petrol seller in England telling me years ago that it is a requirement of the trading laws to show the price clearly from the road.

[fandango]

cap'npuggie, yer talkin pennies here....pennies....compared to supporting your local businesses. Fine if that's what you want to whine about, but you'll be whinin louder when your cheep ways have helped close the local shops and the only choice betwenn here and inverness is Lidls.
What then if LIdls doesnt stock what you want, or worse, if they raise there prices to what the local shops used to charge....oh that would be fun. Might be fun to see you have a fit over 10p more for yer stinkin fag papers. I'll be watchin.

[captainpugwash]

...........................

[jay]

Funny how the petrol stations in Wick are all still in business, in spite of Tesco, so they must still be making a profit. Thurso is about 5p a litre more that Wick (but you would not know that as they have ALL taken down their large price boards, get 'em to drive in off the road and park up against the pump before they realize they are about to get fleeced).
We live out west and bypass Thurso as it's such a rip-off, i.e. Co-op, Somerfield, fuel. Doing a weekly shop over in Wick easily covers our extra fuel costs. When in Wick we shop in Tesco, have a meal in Wheatherspoon, bit of shopping in Woolies, look around the charity shops, into the 99p shop then home - again bypassing Thurso. Councillor Saxon voted against Asda, we await the decision after the meeting in August to see if they will be permitted to build on Pennyland. Because of him there is no 'levelling' supermarket that would have encouraged shoppers to use Thurso - have you seen the exodus from there to Wick Saturdays? Whatever happened to Councillor Saxon at the last election?
"Should support your local shops" WHY!? Bottom line: the SHOPS are here for US, not us for the Shops. I want to watch my money and not subsidise locals, I will spend it where I get the best deal. We're buying a new electric Cooker, I can get it delivered from down the line for £150 Less than local.
W & D Ross in Thurso; went in there the other day, I understood that they had bought up the bankrupt stock from Bridge end Stores? the prices were too high for me so Homebase was a better bet. Got some MacGas LPG cylinders, rang W & D Ross, won't exchange, want £10 deposit for Calor. Went to Thurso Building Supplies; no such problems. We feed the birds so try and buy Black Sunflower seeds up here.. Get 40 kilos for £32 delivered overnight! Yes, for too long the 'we've got em trapped up here' mentality has prevailed - I'll shop where I get the best value, thank you very much.

JUst to keep the record straight - ALL THREE COUNCILLORS for the Thurso area voted - not against ASDA but against the proposed building which went against the local plan, Councillor Saxon tried to get Asda to look at other pieces of ground - give the guy a break! and incidentally if you do a price check between Somerfield/Co-op and Tesco you will actually find that in a lot of cases Tesco is more expensive - their prices seem to have gone up considerable since they opened and as a point of interest their official price check in the store is against Morrisons and Sainsbury's(I think) not against any other local supermarket - yes they do have more choice but no they are not cheaper on all named brands

[Ricco]

Interesting thread and responses here. I would have thought the best option would be to vote with your feet - shop where you get the best deal. I am all for supporting your local traders but if they are maximising their profits at the expense of their supporters then this is taking the 'mick' somewhat, isn't it!

Local traders do need to make a living and they do not always have the bulk-purchasing power of the big names but they can still make a decent living without over-charging. Scotland may had its oil fields but it is piped to English refineries who then charge for it to be shipped back to Scotland. By the way, I agree with Rheghead (this is becoming too regular a thing, Rheg) that the petrol stations are supposed to advertise their proces on roadside signs that can be read from the road.

Local traders can be much better for local produce. We do not have a wet fish shop anywhere around here and the supermarkets are the only source - the quality is extremely poor so we do not have fish on our table these days. At least the North has excellent facilities in this case.

I have noticed that our last shop at Asda was considerably more expensive than usual - something is afoot!

[Dadie]

I agree with you Ricco food may be cheaper in the supermarkets but the best meat comes from the butchers it may be slightly more expensive but not always...but it is local, cut how you want it , sausages are better!

fish is better at the local fish shops too...

J.O.G tatties are good too more taste..

supermarkets for bread, milk, loo roll though!

[jimbews]

I'm really sick of getting ripped off in this place, yes "Ripped off"! Was in Lidl earlier and they'd run out of sugar (79p) so I pops into that Jim Bews place, takes the bag of sugar to the counter and the guy says £1.10

Just for the record - I have nothing to do with the shop mentioned (although I may be a very distant cousin), but I remember similar stories from the time (over 40 years ago) when supermarkets first became common.

My uncle had a couple of shops in Aberdeen, and in an attempt to compete with the supermarkets organised the Aberdeen Grocers Buying Group. They bought in bulk from suppliers, bypassing some of the wholesalers, but still could not compete with the supermarkets. In fact it would still have been cheaper for them to buy the likes of sugar from their local supermarket. Especially at this time of year when people make jam and supermarkets may actually sell the likes of sugar at a loss: a "loss leader" to get you into the store.

Why do you think there are all these stories about food suppliers getting ripped off by the supermarkets? They deal directly with suppliers in volumes that enable them to dictate terms. Did you never hear the stories of how supermarkets will actually TELL their suppliers that there are to be special offers and that the SUPPLIERS will actually subsidise these, not the supermarket?

OK, I admit I shop at the likes of Tesco. And so here in St Andrews the local shops are fast disappearing and we are left with a town centre which mainly seems populated by charity shops. Independent petrol stations closed. Newsagents, clothes, electrical goods, etc, etc. Sound familiar?

So, in the future, when Lidl runs out of sugar you likely won't be able to find somewhere else to buy it.

JimBews