# If I ever say "Hey, I think I'll shop at Sainsbury's this time", kick me in the head **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 9, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799 "2003-12-09T00:21:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/21 "2003-12-09T13:37:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary Kumquat \* > \*\*You’re all mad. > > Do a monthly shop off the internet for longlasting staples, then go to your local fishmonger/greengrocer/butchers for fresh, cheap produce as you need it. > > You get to support local shops, and you avoid having to spend an hour milling around trying to find stuff with another hour queuing! > > You can thank me later. \*\* Lidl is another option for bulk shopping. However, this plan only works if you have a flexible job and live in Little Macfuckston. Not if you work 10 hours a day in a city centre (and can’t be arsed to cook when you get home). ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/22 "2003-12-09T13:40:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*Does this mean that somewhere in deepest Kuala Lumpur there’s a supermarket staffed with 18-year old clueless, spotty, uncoordinated Herberts who spend most of their time gawping at soon-to-be-pregnant 17-year old check out girls and worrying about whether they need just a tad more hair gel ? \*\* There is in Bangkok! They have Tesco’s there. And there’s a Boots. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/23 "2003-12-09T13:43:38Z")
God, I despair. Farthest flung Tesco I’ve seen is Prague, and that nearly broke my heart. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/24 "2003-12-09T13:52:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*I’d like to bow to the culinary expertise of the Gordon Ramsey of Wigan fookin’ Pier but I’ve got to save the mushy peas from some hungry looking whippets . . . > > Morrisons recently got the ‘all-clear’ to take over a soft southern chain (who i can’t recall), so one of them is about to be ‘Morrisonised’ \*\* Wrong part of the North son. I never said I was a culinary expert, merely that its expensive enough for food in London without resorting to products made by Lloyd Grossman and “honestly priced”. Which if anything, is grounds to sue Waitfuckingrose under the Trade descriptions act. And I hate mushy peas. and Gordon Ramsey. And Wigan. ---
**Author:** ![Pergau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7c8e57/32.png) [@Pergau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pergau)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/25 "2003-12-09T13:54:06Z")
Mangetout, You don’t know you’re born. Try going to an Irish supermarket for chocolate spread and you will be lucky if you can find two varieties - whatever is being heavily advertised at the moment and the “Own Brand” crap. And that’s it. You might think that’s fine for chocolate spread but it’s very annoying when it happens with bread, or tea. The range of goods that you can get at a Sainsburys is phenomenal. Mind you I wouldn’t darken their door if at all possible, thanks to Lord Sainsbury. When I lived in the UK, I invented “Shopping in the wrong direction” to help relieve the tedium of the whole experience. Enter the shop and go immediately to the other end on the line of tills and start shopping from there and gradually work your way back to the entrance. That way you’ll get the fresh bread and expensive impulse stuff out of the way before you’re tired and hungry and you have the added bonus of looking at the perplexed faces of all the other shoppers as you shove your trolley up the aisle when everyone else is trying to go down. Another advantage is that as you near the end of the shop, the shoppers are increasingly good-natured, as they have just started whilst you are nearly finished. Try it it’s great fun and slightly subversive. ---
**Author:** ![Melandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Melandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melandry)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/26 "2003-12-09T13:54:19Z")
Dmmit, if they can have a Boots in Bangkok, why can’t I get one here! I love that store… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/27 "2003-12-09T13:56:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*However, this plan only works if you have a flexible job and live in Little Macfuckston. Not if you work 10 hours a day in a city centre (and can’t be arsed to cook when you get home). \*\* Well my other solution is the return to a class based society, and then I can just let cook and the butler sort it out. Damned welfare state, robbing me of my ability to hire the lower classes for a pittance. ---
**Author:** ![Beech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@Beech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beech)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/28 "2003-12-09T13:58:58Z")
When we moved from the ‘smoke’ 18 months ago we left the local sainsbury’s and said hello to the local Asda’s. I know that many of ‘them over there’ slate Wal-mart, but we have had to get used to their “strange” ways… For instance:- Special offers:- always in abundance, never empty “sorry sold out” stickers Fresh veg:- again always in abundance, very fresh, trimmed and prepared if you want. Meat: better than our local village butchers, the beef is especially good, never had a tough joint yet. Helpful friendly staff who will happily do anything to help (yes they do, honest!) Good range of ‘everyday’ clothing - very keen on price. Lastly, best of all, super-fast checkouts, total efficiency, their all open, and no matter how busy the store is, they work very hard and you check-out very quickly. Thanks… please send vouchers in post!😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/29 "2003-12-09T14:00:06Z")
**Pergau** - I’m going to try it. Should I walk backwards as well ? ---
**Author:** ![Beech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@Beech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beech)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/30 "2003-12-09T14:07:00Z")
[H] Highjack [/H] Just realised that was my \*\*th post. 😉 STANDBY Mrs. Beech I’m coming home… sorry… carry on ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/31 "2003-12-09T15:03:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kyla \* > \*\*Ahhh, you like crunchy peanut butter. I award you the Kyla Seal of Approval™, **Mangetout**. Sorry about your shopping experience, but at least you’re not one of those pathetic souls who eats _creamy_ peanut butter. Take heart. \*\* I like both, actually. I tend to buy creamy, however, since the crunchy kind is awful on pancakes. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/32 "2003-12-09T15:15:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > **Little Macfuckston** I always wondered what the UK version of “East Bumfuck” was. Awwight, geezer? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/33 "2003-12-09T15:36:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*Does this mean that somewhere in deepest Kuala Lumpur there’s a supermarket staffed with 18-year old clueless, spotty, uncoordinated Herberts who spend most of their time gawping at soon-to-be-pregnant 17-year old check out girls and worrying about whether they need just a tad more hair gel ? \*\* How can you possibly doubt it? ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/34 "2003-12-09T15:40:00Z")
The supermarket chain that Morrisons is due to take over is Safeway. I am, like paul, a Morrisons evangelist. We recently got a branch in Barrow and it fucking rocks. Cheap things, and quality things - and sometimes, those things are one and the same. Shocker. Good butchers, good fish counter, wide selection of bread, good pie shop, decent wines for £2.99\*, more than enough tills. OK, this is a brand new store, and therefore had been designed to have more than enough tills, but I’d reckon that the guiding principles of Morrisons store layout would be carried over into the takeover of Safeway if and when it happens. The only advantage our Tescos has is that it’s 24 hour. \*yes, actually decent. Put my opinion through the Ignert Bumpkin filter as you wish, though. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/35 "2003-12-09T15:45:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Olentzero \* > \*\*I always wondered what the UK version of “East Bumfuck” was. Awwight, geezer? \*\* That was just my take on a Scottish one. For England I’d say _Nether Fuckington on the Arse_ perhaps. In Wales it’d be _Scantilly Clad_. In Ireland, it’s definitely _Ballybuttfuck_. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/36 "2003-12-09T15:48:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SJSB \* > It makes me wonder why Jamie Oliver looks so damn happy with himself. From [Lords of the aisles](http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/focus/story/0,13296,956562,00.html) > [@](#): > > [Oliver] is estimated to have generated £200m of Sainsbury’s £535m profits in the past two years. Mrs Oliver, meanwhile, has been snapped shopping in Waitrose. His facial rictus is down to the payment he receives for all those good works. Millions of pounds worth of smirking. That whole article is highly aposite, by the way. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > They’re the Hyacinth Bucket of supermarkets to me; somewhere between the **populist Tesco** and the gorgeously superior Waitrose. Plus, Sainsbury’s was big in Thatcher’s 80s Britain and that’s enough for me to detest everything about them - you don’t even need to mention Jamie awwight geezer Oliver. I’ve got three words for you – Dame Shirley Porter. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/37 "2003-12-09T15:57:22Z")
That bitch ! You’re quite right, **everton** ; More Thatcher than Thatcher and more bent than Archer. I’m sure she’s not in control now, though . . . else I would certainly boycott the gaff . . . _\>\>\> off to check_ ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/38 "2003-12-09T16:05:16Z")
I’ve just remembered that the Sainsbury heir and his yahoo friends once came to my town and trashed the best restaurant. Frisbee with antique plates was played. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/39 "2003-12-09T16:22:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Pergau \* > \*\*Mangetout, > > You don’t know you’re born. Try going to an Irish supermarket for chocolate spread and you will be lucky if you can find two varieties - whatever is being heavily advertised at the moment and the “Own Brand” crap. And that’s it. You might think that’s fine for chocolate spread but it’s very annoying when it happens with bread, or tea. The range of goods that you can get at a Sainsburys is phenomenal. \*\* I disagree; the kind of ‘variety’ they offer is a choice between woodland chickens fed on whole grains from a gold platter and woodland chickens fed on whole grains from a platinum platter; stoneground wholemeal bread milled from hand-scythed Macedonian wild wheat and stoneground multi-grain bread milled from peasant-gleaned Bulgarian water-rye. Seriously, last night there was not a single loaf of white sliced bread of any variety or brand; bread with sundried tomatoes, basil and pine nuts, yep!; bread with olives, walnuts and balsamic fucking vinegar, stacks of it!; sliced white? Nope. Asda rules. Quite aside from their sensible range, I can fill a trolley to overflowing for sixty quid in Asda; for the same amount in Sainsbury’s I’ll be lucky to get more than I can carry by hand. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/40 "2003-12-09T16:30:17Z")
One thing you can’t fault Sainsbury’s for – who else would have [modelled a supermarket on the Tellytubbies’ house](http://www.brookes.ac.uk/schools/rem/london/thumb_pages/sainsburys%20greenwich.htm)? It all about priorities. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799.md?page=3)