Avoiding supermarkets; what are the alternatives?

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Avoiding supermarkets; what are the alternatives?
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Katieowl

Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 4317
Location: West Wales

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 6:35 pm Post subject:
Good Point Rob. All my nearby Bookers are an hour away, but I had intended to check them out anyway. I did gather together some paperwork from OH's business to join, as I don't have stuff for the B&B yet, but never happened My current best buy is 9 rolls for ï¿½1.99 from Aldi. They are good quality and tightly rolled. Which ones do you get from Booker? the 40's or the 24's? Kate

Duckhead

Joined: 24 Oct 2009
Posts: 2069
Location: Up the hill, Italy

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 6:41 pm Post subject: Re: Avoiding supermarkets; what are the alternatives?

Rob R wrote:

sfolati wrote:

Bringing back the barter system would help a lot.

That's one thing I do like about small shops - they'll knock a few pence off if you haven't got enough money, whereas supermarkets make you put something back.

We have Lidl here, I think its more an Italian thing than policy but they don't bother with coppers. If I'm 4 cents short they don't care, if they can't give me 4 cents change they don't care either.

I do like this country.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 6:48 pm Post subject:

Katieowl wrote:

Good Point Rob.

All my nearby Bookers are an hour away, but I had intended to check them out anyway. I did gather together some paperwork from OH's business to join, as I don't have stuff for the B&B yet, but never happened

My current best buy is 9 rolls for ï¿½1.99 from Aldi. They are good quality and tightly rolled. Which ones do you get from Booker? the 40's or the 24's?

Kate

The 12 x 4 ones, they work out at about 12p a roll.

Booker is the other side of York to us, so we try to either combine it with a hospital trip or other such errands, and we go up to about six times a year. Though I must add, we don't get toilet rolls every time!

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22790
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: Avoiding supermarkets; what are the alternatives?

Treacodactyl wrote:

I'd also like practical suggestions for buying small quantities of meat where you don't have a local butcher and direct delivery isn't suitable for various reasons.

Keep looking around.
There are two garden centres near me with shops attached that do very good meat. The little Spar supermarkets also seem to have a policy of selling locally-sourced produce, with quite an impressive meat selection. There is a garage with shop attached on the way to Shrewsbury with an impressive deli meat selection from local producers and a fine range of beers. And there are others - there must be some similar shops near you.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 9:00 pm Post subject: Re: Avoiding supermarkets; what are the alternatives?

Treacodactyl wrote:

If you have the same issues with toilet roll than bulk meat then I suggest you stop keeping it in the freezer.

You say that now, but you've never had my chilli.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 9:10 pm Post subject:

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 9:23 pm Post subject:
As far as farm shops go, I keep discovering new farm shops in the area - we went for a meal at one a few months ago and I'd driven past loads of times but never noticed it. And we happened upon Roots Farm Shop near Northallerton while out delivering pigs one day, just from seeing a direction sign at the side of the road - that was a lucky find.

T.G

Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Posts: 7280
Location: Somewhere you're not

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 9:29 pm Post subject:

You'd imagine we'd have more farm shops than we do. The ones we do have seem to be very much higher than the high street let alone the supermarkets and seem to aim for the tourist element - the farmers markets are avoided like the plague by locals for that very reason, prices rocket over the summer tourist season.

I don't mind paying a fair price for a fair product but I do mind someone having my pants down over the price of a cabbage

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 9:48 pm Post subject:

T.G wrote:

I don't mind paying a fair price for a fair product but I do mind someone having my pants down over the price of a cabbage

Please can I swipe that as my new sig?

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35126
Location: Devon

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 9:50 pm Post subject:

Must admit, I'm rarely very impressed with "farm shops" or "farmer's markets". They seem to be overpriced and poor quality for the main part.

The pannier markets some of the towns have here are better, but generally, the butchers and the greengrocers seem to be best.

I have tried Suma for bog roll etc - but the bulk quantities make it a pain.

So for now I'll stick to the local shops for 90% of stuff and use the supermarkets for the odds and ends.

Bernie66

Joined: 14 Jan 2005
Posts: 13967
Location: Eastoft

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 9:51 pm Post subject:
cabbage aint cheap up my way, think it's a reasonable offer myself We don't pay enough for our food, well not usually............

T.G

Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Posts: 7280
Location: Somewhere you're not

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 9:56 pm Post subject:

Chez wrote:

T.G wrote:

I don't mind paying a fair price for a fair product but I do mind someone having my pants down over the price of a cabbage

Please can I swipe that as my new sig?

feel free

Duckhead

Joined: 24 Oct 2009
Posts: 2069
Location: Up the hill, Italy

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 9:58 pm Post subject:

T.G wrote:

I don't mind paying a fair price for a fair product but I do mind someone having my pants down over the price of a cabbage

That reminds me of the time when my wife jokingly said to a farming type bloke... " do you take credit cards?" he said yes.. as long as I can swipe your ar8e

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 10 10:42 pm Post subject:
I prefer "I'll take it, but you won't get it back".

lassemista

Joined: 28 Sep 2006
Posts: 608
Location: suffolk

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 10 1:38 pm Post subject:

Re small quantities of meat-
Do you have any like minded friends who you could split an order with?
On another front, I have recently tried the Elanthy olive oil I came across on here - it is really good, and by buying a number of cans with friends it is cheaper than the supermarket. They give a 10% discount on the first order.
For breadmaking I have bought flour from a local windmill - may be worth the research for others. My main problem is planning well enough ahead, so a rush to Waitrose isn't needed!
Andrea.

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