Lordship Lane Co Op - still a shambles

[tomskip]

Really not a fan of M&S food and I hate that tiny new shop with a passion, so I try to remain loyal to the Co Op when doing my local food shopping.

But, seriously, are they running that shop down with a view to closing, or what?

The temperature in there has been arctic for weeks! Today I went in at 5pm and it wasn't specially busy. There were no trollies whatsoever and none of those slightly larger baskets you can wheel around. Dead flowers in a bucket just by the door. Dead chilli plants for sale on the shelf. Most shelves half empty. It looked like a store in serious decline but then it often has from time to time over the years.

Does anyone know how they are affected by the arrival of M&S?

[DulwichFox]

The Co-op is disgrace..

Aisles littered with rubbish. Clogged with Wire Cages.

Constant leaks and floods. Broken down Freezers.. Food on their best by date. Some past their Use By date.

Some reduced.

No evidence of management on site. No one to get help from.

No strong bags available at checkouts. Limited staff on reduced amount of checkouts.

Most Self Service checkouts Card Only. Often requiring Assistance.

Complete shambles. Not a pleasant shopping experience.

I now use M&S. Fresh Food. Better quality meat and other produce and now no longer more expensive than the Co-op.

DulwichFox

[georgeidd]

I'm a journalism student studying at London South Bank University. Would I be able to quote the two of you in a piece I'm writing on the retail competition in East Dulwich? If so, do you believe that the decline in the CO-OP is a result of other supermarkets opening? When was it opened and has it always had the problems mentioned above?

Thanks

[moondancer]

george, this is not the only thread bemoaning the parlous condition of the Coop, you need to search this site.

Surely if you are a journalism student you will have been taught/shown how to conduct your own research and

apply critical thinking? otherwise we will be doing your homework for you.

This advice allows for the difference between an objective and subjective viewpoint.

thanks

[moondancer]

tomskip Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Really not a fan of M&S food and I hate that tiny

> new shop with a passion, so I try to remain loyal

> to the Co Op when doing my local food shopping.

>

> But, seriously, are they running that shop down

> with a view to closing, or what?

>

> The temperature in there has been arctic for

> weeks! Today I went in at 5pm and it wasn't

> specially busy. There were no trollies whatsoever

> and none of those slightly larger baskets you can

> wheel around. Dead flowers in a bucket just by the

> door. Dead chilli plants for sale on the shelf.

> Most shelves half empty. It looked like a store in

> serious decline but then it often has from time to

> time over the years.

>

> Does anyone know how they are affected by the

> arrival of M&S?

tomskip, you have adroitly answered your own question

[moondancer]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The Co-op is disgrace..

>

> Aisles littered with rubbish. Clogged with Wire

> Cages.

>

> Constant leaks and floods. Broken down Freezers..

> Food on their best by date. Some past their Use By

> date.

> Some reduced.

>

> No evidence of management on site. No one to get

> help from.

>

> No strong bags available at checkouts. Limited

> staff on reduced amount of checkouts.

> Most Self Service checkouts Card Only. Often

> requiring Assistance.

>

> Complete shambles. Not a pleasant shopping

> experience.

>

> I now use M&S. Fresh Food. Better quality meat

> and other produce and now no longer more expensive

> than the Co-op.

>

> DulwichFox

M&S provides us with what we believe we deserve,

whilst

the Coop gives the locale it's heartfelt indifference.

[maxxi]

M&S has always been freezing (which was nice in the summer) and there are blocked aisles and overpriced stuff littering M&S too - a wise shopper will walk the few yards between the two and glean what each offers better than the other rather than feel they need to support one over t'other as though they were football teams.*

I like the co-op - it's a mess at times but co-ops have always been a bit like that.

*No, no! That's not the spirit of the forum! Rail against the disappearance of Iceland or plead for the advent of Waitrose or put forward the pros for a nice little Lidl at least!

[atrain82]

I can?t remember the last time I went in and didnt find rotting food. Sunday?s treat was Parmesan with mould spots.

[Jules-and-Boo]

I miss Rose who used to work in the Co-op. The staff have changed.

I only go in there every now and then but managed to stock up on basics the other day without noticing any mould, chill or other complaint.

[dbboy]

Last Two weeks ago on a Friday mid morning, NO in store baked bread on the shelves, I dispair, arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

It's a basic commodity, if they can't get that right what can they actually do???

[siousxiesue]

The manager apparently told my friend he can't get shelf stackers, he has stock going nowhere! Unbelievable tbh.

Lost all patience, got fed up explaining faults to the Facebook page (instant response) as they really don't get it.

[Robert Poste's Child]

Looks like M&S has done for them.

[Asset]

It was crap well before the M&as arrived.

[shazza76]

Co-op is obviously going through a difficult time.

Think about the staff who are working in those cold conditions. Shoppers pop in and do their shopping then leave, Most staff are in their all day. Yes, it is cold but they get on with their jobs.

Have found the staff helpful and friendly.

I have witnessed customers being so rude to the staff when I?ve been in shopping, it?s not their fault. Give them a break.

M&S have a small selection of store cupboard essentials, and are quite pricey, it?s always busy. Sometimes it?s handy popping into co-op getting the essentials.

Support your co-op!

[Lynne]

I would like to support the Co-Op as a local, convenient, reasonably priced ( unlike M&S), long established shop, and try and do so, but the last lot of meat I bought there was past it's sell by date, as I only noticed when I got home. So my support is a bit uncertain.

[Penguin68]

I?m sorry, but the LL Co-ops?s failure has nothing to do with the limited successes of the local M&S.

Not only has that shop been long notorious for failures (well before M&S opened) ? but competition does not create poor service, poor management, poor planning, poor? well you name it ? amongst those being competed with. The LL Co-op had every opportunity of re-positioning itself as the go-to shop for branded goods and staples. The brand reputation of the Co-op is value (as M&S?s is quality) ? and that could have been played into.

The shoppers who regretted the passing of Iceland locally could readily have been enticed into a store occupying a similar (value, people?s store) brand position. Instead of which a declining store simply chose to decline further and faster. This may be about the Head Office attitude to local decision making, of course, but this isn?t a worthy company suffering from unacceptable competition. This is suicide by neglect.

[Elphinstone's Army]

Excellent post !!!

[JohnL]

Hey Student researchers - try looking right back to the 70s for the boom time of the Co-op.

The Co-Op in Swansea was once THE place to go for meeting Santa at Christmas and it had the best cafe in Swansea too. Could we say the same about Co-ops in SE London.

Anyway I live in the Co-op on Rye Lane (or I assume one was here or the name makes no sense) maybe have a look.

[dbboy]

Yes, there was a HUGE non food coop on that site, it was massive years ago.

[Mick Mac]

georgeidd Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'm a journalism student studying at London South

> Bank University. Would I be able to quote the two

> of you in a piece I'm writing on the retail

> competition in East Dulwich? If so, do you believe

> that the decline in the CO-OP is a result of other

> supermarkets opening? When was it opened and has

> it always had the problems mentioned above?

> Thanks

This is an anonymous public forum, so I'd have though you could use what views you want. Good luck with your studies.

I would very much like to see the finished piece - I'm sure it would be an interesting read - although I suspect it's University copyright once submitted.....anyway - good luck.

[SpringTime]

Penguin68 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I?m sorry, but the LL Co-ops?s failure has nothing

> to do with the limited successes of the local M&S.

>

>

> Not only has that shop been long notorious for

> failures (well before M&S opened) ? but

> competition does not create poor service, poor

> management, poor planning, poor? well you name it

> ? amongst those being competed with. The LL Co-op

> had every opportunity of re-positioning itself as

> the go-to shop for branded goods and staples. The

> brand reputation of the Co-op is value (as M&S?s

> is quality) ? and that could have been played

> into.

>

> The shoppers who regretted the passing of Iceland

> locally could readily have been enticed into a

> store occupying a similar (value, people?s store)

> brand position. Instead of which a declining store

> simply chose to decline further and faster. This

> may be about the Head Office attitude to local

> decision making, of course, but this isn?t a

> worthy company suffering from unacceptable

> competition. This is suicide by neglect.

In a nutshell.

[ozzy]

Bring back Iceland !

[Louisa]

I now only use Iceland on the Old Kent Road for big shops. It?s not far, and parking is easy for me. It?s those that don?t drive I feel sorry for, forced to jump buses and lug shopping around. I also miss the convenience of Iceland for bread and milk, other essentials etc. The Co-op is a shambles. M&S is out of most people price bracket for a regular shop.

Louisa.

[Sue]

Louisa Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> M&S is out of most people price bracket

> for a regular shop.

>

I'm not sure that is necessarily true.

I have been very pleasantly surprised at M&S prices, and the quality is way better.

[Louisa]

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Louisa Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > M&S is out of most people price bracket

> > for a regular shop.

> >

>

> I'm not sure that is necessarily true.

>

> I have been very pleasantly surprised at M&S

> prices, and the quality is way better.

Certainly some bargains towards close of play, usually about one hour before. Lots of bakery, fresh produce, cakes and sandwiches are significantly reduced. I?d certainly agree it?s cheaper than co-op for many items and way superior in terms of quality. But then Iceland did some great deals which neither current option can match. Understandably so.

Louisa.