RM67

Thereyet - I agree 100% about the self-service tills - I boycott them, even when open. Bloomin' cheek factoring in the cost of staff to goods, then getting us to do our own scanning and packing! That'll learn 'em!!

Dukey

There actually are times when doing self check-out is faster than waiting in a regular check out line.

RM67

Not very often though - since in general it takes twice as long to scan, then pack your own stuff afterwards as it does for two people to be doing scanning and packing simultaneously.

Also, on principle, I don't like the feeling that I'm not valued enough by the supermarket to get a scanner because I've only bought a small basket of stuff and I can b*gg*r off and scan and pack my own things. So I queue up at the manned tills just to make a point!

wojazz3

At the supermarkets I frequent, generally I can walk right up to the self scan and can scan pretty quickly and be gone. There are usually lines at the manned ones. I don't take it personally that I don't have someone there to exchange pleasantries with and have them ask about my choices of boxed meals or how delicious my fruit looks ... hmmmm

I also fill my own tank with petroleum and (yikes) pay at the pump. Perhaps I'm anti-social.

thereyet

Besides, a little que time teaches one patiences and tolerence of others. Always a good lesson. thereyet

ps I just have a problem with the elimination of descent jobs just to improve the profit margin. especially with no added benefit to the consumer.

thereyet

wojazz3, havn't had anyone in California pump my gas in decades. Don't think you could find a filling station that provides that service any more. thereyet

RM67

Pretty much everyone fills their own car in the UK, so I don't have a problem with that. And believe it or not I have plenty of patience too.....I just don't see why I should be charged for the cost of staff to help scan and pack goods, then not actually get that service.

flanneruk

Tesco Bishopsgate is a "Metro". Tesco Curzon Street is an "Express". The big Sainsbury Holborn is a "Central": the little one a "Local" (there are more words for "we rip you off" in British grocerese than there are for "snow" in Eskimo). The nearest non rip off Tesco to the centre really is Kennington.

But W9's right about the Stratton Street (behind Green Park tube) Sainsbury, and she's right to remind us of Somerfield (though more Beirutis and Saudis shop at the Edgware Rd branch than Londonders) And I was wrong about the Victoria St Sainsbury, which now charges normal prices.

thereyet

I doubt anyone would see a drop in the cost of anything if suddenly the staff were replaced by SS checkout. The stock holders may see an increase in dividends though. thereyet

alanRow

I remember the 1st SS checkouts about 10 years ago. They were a disaster & I don't think the current generation are much better - I always find that I can never get things to scan the first time and the "skip bag packing" and "there is an object in the bag area" messages drives me up the wall. The ruddy things are just too slow. I suspect the throughput is about 25-50% of a normal checkout

Dorothy01

We have frequently stayed in the South Kensington/Glouchester Road area. We shop at Sainsburys instead of Waiterose because items are cheaper. After you exit the GR underground station, walk past Waiterose and continue on that street. A huge Sainsburys is located about three blocks away.

I purchase sunblock in London because I can get sunblock with mexoryl; the USDA has approved the sale of sunblock with mexoryl but options are limited and expensive.

I purchased my sunblock with mexoryl at Boots. There is a Boots in the same shopping arcade as Waitrose at GR. Boots are located everywhere throughout London (Victoria Station, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Gatwick Airport, Heathrow Airport). The last time that I purchased sunblock at Boots, there were having a buy one get one free.

BTW at Boots you can purchase snacks, toiletries, bottled water (I drink tap water in London), and over-the-counter medications that require a prescription in the US. You do have to confer with the pharmacist.

chartley

There are two sorts of self-scan checkout. With one sort (in the U.K. at some branches of Marks and Spencer, and seen in the U.S. recently at a Swift market in Moab, Utah), you scan everything as you exit the store. The Waitrose version in the U.K. requires you to scan each item as you put it in your basket while you go round. That means you can pack items in the way which suits you, and paying when you leave is a quick process.

We always use the self-scan and quick-pay at our local Waitrose, because it is so much quicker. We can also use long-life square carriers, rather than floppy plastic bags which break if you buy too many bottles of wine.

Waitrose may be more expensive than other stores, but the range is more upmarket and the staff better trained. The store does not have shareholders, and profits are distributed to staff as a percentage bonus - this year, I think it was 18%. Despite the apparent bureaucracy of its management (I am told it is like the Civil Service used to be) it has been highly successful in recent years, and middle-class towns plead to have a branch of Waitrose, while they protest against Tesco.

RM67

Waitrose also have the best wine buyers of any supermarket.....and they have Green and Blacks Toffee ice cream! 8-)

audere_est_facere

Americans can't shop in Waitrose because it's a communist organisation.

Like Cuba with better cheese.

thereyet

My favorite pizzaria just turned communist and the service is still great. they are personally invested so they have a good reason maintain high quality goods and service. Otherwise it is kind of like shooting yourself in the foot. thereyet

walkinaround

>>>>
Americans can't shop in Waitrose because it's a communist organisation.
>>>>

america has many employee owned companies. for example, publix supermarkets are very popular.

additionally, partial employee ownership through share ownership programmes, compensation with options, etc is much more common in the US as compared to the UK.

i assume employee ownership is what you are referring to when you say that waitrose/john lewis is a communist organisation.

ubergeek64

I think you'll find that London really isn't as expensive as you might think it is. I've lived here for over a year now, moving from Canada, and prices seem to be comparable, if not cheaper.

Newspaper - just grab a Metro in the morning found at all tube stations, those are free and provide the daily news, but another newspaper will be less than a pound.

Bottled water - At a tesco express, 35p up to £1.

Cup of coffee (not the fancy type)- 60p+ ,but a Starbucks coffee will set you back £2-5 depending on what you get and how big. My tall white mocha sets me back 2.35.

Cigs - Again, depending on the brand, my bf's Marbolo cigs cost him £5.10, but there are cheaper brands.

Candy bar, pack of gum - No more than 40 p.

Pay phone call (local)- This is now 40p, it has just risen, and you can only speak for a minute or so, only for short phonecalls.

Sunscreen - Dont know actually, but you'll need some! It's been super warm.

Small bag of crisps - 30p +

These prices are fairly accurate. I work around Tower Bridge, so its a fairly central area and these are the prices I pay on a daily basis.

Hope this helps, and enjoy your trip!

margyb

Thereyet,

If I were you, I'd pack my own cigarettes and sunscreen. You'll most likely need to check luggage anyways because of the limited carry-on allowance.

Margy

walkinaround

however derided, the wetherspoons pub chain has good, cheap coffee...they are always doing different promotions on it so i don't know the price of a cup today. they use only lavazza coffee and use proper machines. much better deal than starbucks (and better coffee anyway) or nero.

thereyet

Definitely bringing my own smokes and sunscreen (funny no one new the price of that one). By the way, my wife says that sunscreen here in Norcal is 3.50-4.99/bottle. thereyet