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Goodbye ASDA?

(76 Posts)
Margs Wed 14-Aug-24 09:34:30

It's getting a really bad press in the media Business columns - has such a long established retailer had it's day?

The branch nearest to me was pretty well OK when it was under the Wallmart banner. Then the Issa Brothers came along and the nosedive began, on all levels.

Shabby, gaps on the shelves, harrassed looking staff and I'd swear that the stock in the household and soft furnishings dept. has been chucked at the shelves.

But we do have a lovely Aldi just half a mile up the road.....

Cagsy Fri 16-Aug-24 15:01:45

I haven't shopped in Asda for maybe 20 years or more, I just never thought their fresh fruit and veg were very good, my husband often pops in there though if we're short of anything.
I shop online too, Ocado one week Waitrose the next and use Morrison's if I need anything in between. I had read that the company owning Asda had some problems, feel sorry for staff in those situations, they must feel so powerless.

Maggiemaybe Fri 16-Aug-24 08:34:43

Oh, poor old Asda, I hope it’s not on a downward slide. I don’t use it much these days, as our nearest isn’t very near at all, but it used to be my go to shop when we had one opposite where I worked, and it never disappointed.

But I needed some baking ingredients yesterday and we called at a large Asda we happened to be passing. They had a very poor selection, a tiny display of flours, sugars and just a few basics at the end of a full row of ready made cakes, etc. No ground almonds, almond essence, dried yeast, glycerine, dark brown sugar. We’d to carry on to a Tesco, which had everything.

MissInterpreted Fri 16-Aug-24 08:08:39

MissAdventure

I like Asda clothes.
I remember happily the two bras for six pounds I got, which lasted about seven years. smile

I actually like their clothes too and they've always seemed relatively decent quality to me. I don't really mind where I shop, to be honest, as long as I feel I'm getting value for money and everything is of reasonable quality. It's just unfortunate that the last few times I've been in our local Asda, I've come out without many things that I wanted because there were so many gaps on the shelves.

bobbydog24 Fri 16-Aug-24 06:23:53

I’ve shopped in Asda for years and have got to know some members of staff quite well. I remarked how empty some shelves were and that the fruit and veg sell by dates were very short. I wasn’t aware Asda was no longer owned by Walmart. I was told this by a member of staff when I remarked how Asda wasn’t as good as it used to be. She said it has got worse since the two brothers fell out. I use shop and go and half the time the handsets stop working half way round or I get to the end and it won’t load into the machine so I have to go through a till. So frustrating. I’d use Aldi but they don’t stock a number of things I want.

MissAdventure Thu 15-Aug-24 22:43:08

These are all the same things that were said about aldi and lidl, before it became acceptable to shop there.

Ailsa43 Thu 15-Aug-24 21:47:11

There's no Asda in my town but here's one each in the town south and the one north of me both within 5 miles of my town, and they both have always been a disgrace truth be told. They've always looked grubby and poorly stocked.. I've always wondered why people buy food from there.

Frogs Thu 15-Aug-24 21:29:42

I’m waiting for the Christmas tree to go up in Asda - they had one on display in the Asda by me in August last year 🫣

Lemontart Thu 15-Aug-24 20:23:56

I will never shop online with Asda since they failed to show up at our holiday flat with our week's worth of shopping then lied about the reason.
Fortunately Sainsbury's had a slot for 12.00 the next day and the food was nicer.

RosiesMaw2 Thu 15-Aug-24 20:15:43

I don’t actually shop in Asda anyway mostly because there isn’t one near and I’m a bit of a Waitrose/Aldi addict but I do resent the snooty superiority of anybody who thinks those who disagree with her are deficient in basic standards.

SquirrelSue Thu 15-Aug-24 19:40:47

I do not shop at Asda. Some of the chicken is from Thailand. I dread to think what conditions the chickens were living in. Also how old is the meat? About 4 years ago, I purchased a bag of flour. Got it home, undid the packaging to make a cake, and there were live insects crawling inside the wrapper. I have never been in an Asda since.

ElaineI Thu 15-Aug-24 15:53:03

Our Asda is fine too as is the bigger one further away. I do my big shop at Tesco though as it's closer.

Greciangirl Thu 15-Aug-24 15:45:02

My Asda has definitely gone down hill and I no longer shop there.

Empty shelves, dirty floors, poorly stocked. I could go on.

The last time I visited, I swore I will never go back.
The till operator was miserable as sin. She practically threw my receipt at me. Talk about rude!

It’s a shame as I always shopped there before covid and it was ok.

As someone else mentioned.
It’s gone down the pan since those brothers took over.

HeavenLeigh Thu 15-Aug-24 14:22:18

Our local Asda is really nice always well stocked clean tidy

MissAdventure Thu 15-Aug-24 14:07:40

I like Asda clothes.
I remember happily the two bras for six pounds I got, which lasted about seven years. smile

TiggyW Thu 15-Aug-24 14:05:42

I rarely shop in our local Asda. The clothes are poor quality and the store is just too big to be bothered walking around. It has a useful optician, chemist and photo booth at the entrance though.

jocork Thu 15-Aug-24 14:02:37

I used to shop there more often as I worked near the store. Now I only really go there when I need to fill up the car as their fuel is the cheapest locally. I don't use as much since retirement either, so my visits are fairly infrequent. However I do use their optician. They do have a few things that are better value but mostly I prefer Sainsbury's.

semperfidelis Thu 15-Aug-24 13:33:30

The Asda superstore near me is well organised and cheaper than many of its rivals. The staff are helpful. Some of the basic clothing is OK and it's the cheapest place in the area for good quality bedding plants. Our local Morrisons is dirty and disorganised. Maybe some store managers are much more efficient than others?

Casdon Thu 15-Aug-24 12:50:12

Maybe that is the issue icanhandthemback, handling and storage at store level. I guess they all buy from different wholesalers too, but you would think they all store in similar ways.

icanhandthemback Thu 15-Aug-24 12:10:58

Casdon, it seems all the stores are variable. I ordered from Ocado too but some of the fruit was beautiful, others didn't last. However, even when in date, I often find that Asda has the most rotten fruit within. I don't think it is handled very well. I think it depends how careful the staff are too.

Babamaman Thu 15-Aug-24 12:01:42

Only good for petrol?

Frogs Thu 15-Aug-24 11:53:00

I have an Asda within easy walking distance of my house. I haven’t noticed any drop in standards recently but I don’t shop there every week as it’s so huge I feel exhausted after walking round trying to find everything. I much prefer to do my shopping at the smaller Aldi or sometimes Sainsbury’s.

Casdon Thu 15-Aug-24 11:52:06

icanhandthemback

We have stopped buying fruit and veg in Asda, it just doesn't last. It has really become awful since the take over. I wouldn't buy anything in there but my DH buys certain things in there before heading to Aldi's and Tesco's.

I never buy fruit and veg from Aldi, for exactly the same reason. I don’t know why it would be the case, but Sainsburys and Waitrose last the best, it must be to do with their storage and display times - I think they must keep fresh produce in refrigeration at the back of the store, and restock the shelves more frequently?

georgia101 Thu 15-Aug-24 11:40:45

I only shop online and Asda has always been excellent for quality, expiry dates, and cheerful helpful drivers. Our son works nights shelf filling and he 's very happy there. I suppose if the management is good, then the store will be good. Long time staff say it has gone downhill since the takeover though.

Bessieb Thu 15-Aug-24 11:40:40

I have been doing online shopping from Asda for a few years. Just lately there has been a lot of substitutions, out of date or short date items and damaged items.

icanhandthemback Thu 15-Aug-24 11:19:34

We have stopped buying fruit and veg in Asda, it just doesn't last. It has really become awful since the take over. I wouldn't buy anything in there but my DH buys certain things in there before heading to Aldi's and Tesco's.