# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/61 "2003-12-10T11:37:42Z")
For every Jamie’s kitchen episode, there are 5 Sainsbury’s adverts where his fat-tounged mockney tosspottery comes to the fore. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/62 "2003-12-10T11:40:18Z")
Hmmm, perhaps you’re right. “The mithuth Joolth ith out tho I’ve invited thome of my pretend mateth over for a pukka kneeth-up. Got to get down Thainthbury’th to get thome ready mealth innit geezer.” ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/63 "2003-12-10T12:16:45Z")
Like the Viz cartoon where Jamie Oliver & ‘chums’ get stranded after a plane crash in the Andes. They cook the pilot to survive, but first he goes to Sainsburys, on his fucking Vespa, to get “the makings”. Up in the Andes. Then he realises he’s not got the right wine to go with the pilot meal, so he scrapes it into the bin, and they all eat Jamies immense tongue instead. “Blhugga” 🙂 I hate Jamie Oliver and did you know: He’s directly responsible for the shitty layout of ALL sainsburyd ---
**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 10, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/64 "2003-12-10T12:40:42Z")
I liked Jamie Oliver before he went all commercial (he used to be a strong supporter of the concept of small, local specialist shops and delis). ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/65 "2003-12-10T12:52:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > You know what, I didn’t think I’d hear myself saying this, but - for me at least - _Jamie’s Kitchen_, really did rehabilitate the fat-tongued mockney tosspot. I’ll second that, and I think **Mangetout** started a thread in praise of his efforts as well. When he made that programme he admitted that he needed to repair the damage caused by his Sainsbury’s ads, but that hasn’t stopped him making them. ---
**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 10, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/66 "2003-12-10T12:54:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hvirfilvindr \* > Malaysian exchange student here, by the way. > > There are TWO Sainsbury’s here in Reading Reading ! Reading!!! They sent you to Reading ??? What on earth are you going to “exchange” in Reading, except some unfortunate disease with one of those dreadful checkout girls ? You poor sod, I hope you’re suing them for every pastas shell they’ve got. Btw, you don’t mention whether there’s a Tesco in Kuala Lumpur, aren’t you \*desperately \*envious of Bangkok ? p.s. - I suppose a Malay exchange student in Reading is just about the definitive Man U supporter. Please tell us you’re not _that_ predictable . . . ? ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/67 "2003-12-10T13:08:52Z")
I like Sainsbury’s!! And anyway, I’m collecting Nectar points - if we reach 147,000 points we can get a free ticket to Cape Town to go and visit the rellies!! We’ve been collecting for almost two years now and we’ve just cracked 10,000 - Christmas 2032 here we come!!! 🙂 Grim ---
**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 10, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/68 "2003-12-10T13:26:41Z")
Well, **Hvirfilvindr** , all I can say is, if you ever suffer a severe blow to the head and lose all your language skills, I know where you can get a job in Oxford … ---
**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 10, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/69 "2003-12-10T15:25:35Z")
Gaah! don’t get me started on store loyalty cards! ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/70 "2003-12-10T16:33:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*Reading ! > > Reading!!! > > They sent you to Reading ??? > > What on earth are you going to “exchange” in Reading, except some unfortunate disease with one of those dreadful checkout girls ? You poor sod, I hope you’re suing them for every pastas shell they’ve got. > > Btw, you don’t mention whether there’s a Tesco in Kuala Lumpur, aren’t you \*desperately \*envious of Bangkok ? > p.s. - I suppose a Malay exchange student in Reading is just about the definitive Man U supporter. Please tell us you’re not _that_ predictable . . . ? \*\* Thanks for that in no way snobbish depiction of my home town, **L\_C**. One day I hope to move to the paradise that is London, where the streets are paved with gold, carefree children play happily in the streets and nobody at all supports Manchester United. Until then my only escape from this cultureless, Sainsburys-infested provincial hellhole is the occasional day trip up to London to marvel at your “cinemas” and “art galleries” and exchange sophisticated banter with your charming, well-bred checkout girls. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/71 "2003-12-10T16:46:13Z")
Ah c’mon, I used to work in Reading. All that it really has going for it is that it’s not Slough. Actually, that bit by the river is quite nice. As is… er… Henley. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/72 "2003-12-10T17:02:32Z")
Not being Slough is a major plus, though. No, Reading is nothing special, but it’s just like everywhere else in southern England, including most parts of London. I laugh at the local council’s risible attempts to have the place upgraded to a city, though. They’ve started putting up “City Centre” road signs all over the place, perhaps thinking that if they say the word “city” often enough people will believe it. ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/73 "2003-12-10T17:30:59Z")
I concur with **Usram**. Reading is a lot better than it was five years ago. I’m aware that’s damning with faint praise, but still. It really isn’t the shithole everyone says it is. ---
**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 10, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/74 "2003-12-10T17:38:39Z")
I’ve nothing particularly against Reading … it’s more fun than Basingstoke, that’s for certain. It does, however, have the worst hotel in England in it … ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/75 "2003-12-11T00:29:26Z")
This thread is amusing the hell out of this American. I think I see a town motto, FRANCESCA: “Reading: It really isn’t the shithole everyone says it is.” 🙂 That’s a motto I could hang a a couple (dozen) (hundred) American towns as well. But am I correct to gather that there’s really only two of three big supermarket chains in Britian? Because over here there’s tons. Albertson’s, Safeway, QVC, Ralph’s, Tops, A&P, Buttrey, etc. etc. ad nauseam. This doesn’t include the whole food stores or the cooperatives or the gourmet food “emporiums” or the local supermarkets. But, yes, the Seasonal Useless Items are all up front, in case you decide you need a plastic Santa more than you need milk. And most of them now use those spawn-of-satan “shoppers’ club” cards that “allow” you to buy over-priced items at a “sale” price (meaning, the amount they should have been priced at in the first place). Do you have self-checkout yet, where you scan and bag your own stuff and then pay by putting your money/card in an automated machine? It’s kind of fun, though the machines can’t tell if you’ve scanned two cases of Diet Coke because you’ve actually bought two, or if you’ve scanned one case of Diet Coke twice because you’re retarded. So then you have to wait for a living breathing human to come over . . . okay, so not that much fun. But what’s chocolate spread? And is it truly a breakfast food? Because it sounds good but rather dessert-y. ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/76 "2003-12-11T00:36:26Z")
**Jodi** - there The Big Four - Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury, and Safeway. Or Asda. Or Morrisons. And Lidl and Netto. But that’s it. We have self-checkout in our local Waitrose. But I have never, ever seen anyone use it. We fear change. Chocolate spread is just what it sounds. Chocolate in a jar that you spread on sandwiches and/or toast, much as you would peanut butter. Nutella is particularly popular. I don’t hold much truck with it myself, not being a chocolate fan. But I understand it’s popular with The Kids. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/77 "2003-12-11T02:01:00Z")
Nutella is delicious. It also has almonds in it. My daughter is not allergic to nuts in any clinical way, and loves Nutella. Her bowels, however, don’t. I mis-recommend this as a treat for any babysitting godparent or aunt or uncle or whatever, even if the child isn’t supposed to be allergic to nuts. WYS really is WYG. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/78 "2003-12-11T08:53:33Z")
You lot ought to get down on your knees and thank whichever deity it pleases you to thank that you don’t live in Oz where we have 3 supermarket chains which sell identical products. I live in Sydney - a town of 4 million people - and we have bugger all choice in the supermarket. There are a couple of smaller chains which have even less variety than the big three. ---
**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 11, 2003, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/79 "2003-12-11T09:27:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jodi \* > \*\*Do you have self-checkout yet, where you scan and bag your own stuff and then pay by putting your money/card in an automated machine? \*\*Sainsburys have this system where you can take around a little handheld scanner and scan stuff into your trolley; some of the other supermarkets have trialled similar systems and introduced them in limited areas. > [@](#): > > \*\*But what’s chocolate spread? And is it truly a breakfast food? Because it sounds good but rather dessert-y. \*\* It’s a soft chocolate paste, intended for spreading on bread products, most commonly used on toast at the breakfast table, but also in sandwiches etc at any time. Nutella is a continental European version that includes hazelnuts - most chocolate spreads are bought in glass jars with plastic screw tops, but Nutella (and occasionally other brands) is often offered for sale in a glass tumbler with a pop-off plastic lid - when the spread is fully consumed, you’re left with a household drinking glass (although not of the highest quality). ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ever-say-hey-i-think-ill-shop-at-sainsburys-this-time-kick-me-in-the-head/217799/80 "2003-12-11T10:55:55Z")
mmm, the Waitrose near me has those scanner things. doesn’t really work when all you buy from there is this weeks special offer on beer (last night: 8 kronenbourg for £5.98) and cigs. and bread. does anyone else remember Leo’s, the supermarket? it may have been a northern chain, but it got bought out by Tesco in the 80’s. It was alright. I blame Jamie Oliver. Bastard. and Lloyd Grossman. [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=3) [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=5)