What is wrong with T***o?

[TheGoodEarth]

Being a newbie I don't understand why people refer to T***o as T***o, can someone please fill me in with background.

Cheers

[red]

the name is changed, along with other supermarket names etc, as the adverts that appear on this website (and help to fund it) are automatically generated, and the more the name is mentioned, the more likely an advert for them will appear here!

So - its treated like a swearword

many people here, including Andy the forum founder, dont like t***o on the grounds that the company is not good for the small independant traders, and its these small guys that tend to promote local produce etc etc


Personally, (ie not speaking as a mod) I don't feel so against them. Certainly its fashionable to not like t***o and that always puts my back up. My SIL vowed never to step into the store again. instead she is shopping at Lidls. now.... I dont see how that helps.. Lidls is not a British company, the food is largely imported, and of no benefit to the small independent shops either - squeezing them out with their cheap prices etc. I questioned SIL on her reasons and she was flumoxed. *this* is why I dont like the fashion for it....
However some people have personal experiences of the big stores bullying the farmers/ squeezing the smaller shops etc

Personally, rather than hating a company, I prefer a more positive approach to the companies I do like - so I support my local shops (made easier by the fact i can walk to them and would have to drive to anything else), buy local meat from local butchers etc. vote with your purse and all that.

So - I think that sums it up, but I'm sure others will be along soon to explain their viewpoints. more information the better eh?

[Green Aura]

I don't like them because of many of their practices - buying up prime land to prevent other supermarkets getting in; small businesses fold because they can't compete; growers have their prices forced down; they perpetuate practices like battery-farmed hens.....the list goes on.

My biggest problem is their virtual monopoly here in the Highlands - in a 100 mile radius there are only a couple of co-ops, M*rris*ns and one *sd*. In Inverness alone there are three T*sc*s and they've just been given planning permission for a fourth!

[Elizabeth]

as the adverts that appear on this website (and help to fund it) are automatically generated, and the more the name is mentioned, the more likely an advert for them will appear here!

Sorry if I'm being naive Red but are you saying that the owners of this website have no control over who advertise on this site?

[Annpan]

as the adverts that appear on this website (and help to fund it) are automatically generated, and the more the name is mentioned, the more likely an advert for them will appear here!

Sorry if I'm being naive Red but are you saying that the owners of this website have no control over who advertise on this site?

No, some of the adverts are (I don't know how you would say) 'approved' proper ads - the ciderpunk and the ish bible ones namely... but other banners are run by google ads - they find key words in the text and slot in appropriate ads (specific to country)....

eg, a thread about polytunnels is likely to bring up an ad for 'first tunnels', an thread about money saving seems to bring up some credit checking companies.... If you click on one of these ads it generates money for 'ish... which pays towards upkeep of the forum.
We can block ones that we don't like, but it takes a while, and usually they are perfectly legitimate and appropriate ads.




John or Andy can step in here if I got it wrong but that's how I understand it.

[Elizabeth]

as the adverts that appear on this website (and help to fund it) are automatically generated, and the more the name is mentioned, the more likely an advert for them will appear here!

Sorry if I'm being naive Red but are you saying that the owners of this website have no control over who advertise on this site?

No, some of the adverts are (I don't know how you would say) 'approved' proper ads - the ciderpunk and the ish bible ones namely... but other banners are run by google ads - they find key words in the text and slot in appropriate ads (specific to country)....

eg, a thread about polytunnels is likely to bring up an ad for 'first tunnels', an thread about money saving seems to bring up some credit checking companies.... If you click on one of these ads it generates money for 'ish... which pays towards upkeep of the forum.
We can block ones that we don't like, but it takes a while, and usually they are perfectly legitimate and appropriate ads.

John or Andy can step in here if I got it wrong but that's how I understand it.

Thanks Annpan.

Does that mean if we all clicked on an advert each day the owners of the site would get more money to run the site. As the site IS running and therefore doesn't need extra money would it be possible for extra money to go to a 'green' charity? Just a thought.

[Annpan]

Thanks Annpan.

Does that mean if we all clicked on an advert each day the owners of the site would get more money to run the site. As the site IS running and therefore doesn't need extra money would it be possible for extra money to go to a 'green' charity? Just a thought.

Yes if everyone clicked on the ads it would generate more income.... Andy has paid out of his own pocket the money for running this site (there are yearly fees to be paid, and it has on occasion been a great struggle) I can't speak for Andy and Dave regarding money to charity - I don't think the site makes much.... if any.

[invisiblepiper]

Just read this - and its very interesting - I had no idea about the ads either.

A word on t***o - they force local farmers into impossibly low deals for their produce - then threaten to drop them if they don't comply. With their monopoly - they are able to dominate the farming industry. Some of these practices are what we object to happening in the developing world - yet it happens right here on our doorstep.
(And don't even start me on their 'perfect fruit' rules!)

[prison break fan]

I don't think we have even begun to cover the sins of T***o!! pbf

[TheGoodEarth]

Thanks for the replies.

So it appears we are talking about a general dislike of big supermarkets rather than Tecso specifically?

I find this issue a difficult one. I can fully understand the dislike of big supermarkets and their practices of squeezing margin from their suppliers and undercutting smaller competition. As a nation we do not like to see the underdog getting battered and generally hate people/companies becoming too successful.

Probably over 95% of the country shop at T***o, Asda, Morrisson, Sainsbury, Waitrose, Lidl, Aldi, Iceland etc who are all big corporate giants focussed solely on delivering a profit for their shareholders. We could not survive without these companies.

Like Red says, I think we should use the British based supermarkets but be selective about what we buy. I have a problem with Lidl and Aldi because the majoriy of their food is shipped from Europe. I know that they are cheap but the other UK supermarkets all now do discount lines so are competitive. I also have a problem with the quality of their produce.

It is difficult to beat the value and choice offered by the big stores. I think they are getting better helped by campaigns like the chicken one by Huge Fernley Whitingwhatshisname and co. I shop carefully and do think about food miles etc and I am comfortable in the knowledge that a lot of the stuff I buy is local! I can buy Scottish potatoes, swede, broccoli, carrots, herbs, rasps, strawbs, etc all grown within 20 miles. I can also buy Scottish cheese, chicken, beef, bacon, haggis, butter, bread, jam, youghurt, ice cream, etc.

These supermarkets need us to let them know what we prefer to buy from them and they will soon change to cater for our needs.

Our lives are controlled by big corporates and I think we have to accept that. They are not about to go away. However these corporates are there to provide us with what we need rather than dictate to us what we should have. It is up to us to tell them what we want.

[prison break fan]

I absolutely agree with you, but I think too many people think they want what the big supermarkets are selling. They don't understand about good food. pbf

[Annpan]

Our lives are controlled by big corporates and I think we have to accept that. They are not about to go away. However these corporates are there to provide us with what we need rather than dictate to us what we should have. It is up to us to tell them what we want.

'Our' lives are only controlled by the big corporations if we choose them to be - it is a choice. There are other options.

But I do kind of agree that it is our job to tell these companies what we want, in a way. We have to encourage the supermarkets to stock organic and fairtrade products.... otherwise the whole store revolves around turkey twisslers and micro chips.

And.... the potatoes, strawberries, etc that were grown within 20 miles could well have had a 1000mile round trip to the packing plant (for which the farmer pays)

I buy quite a bit from the supermarket - especially this time of year when the garden is empty, but I have been reducing my dependence on them for a few years.

For me the hatred of T***o is that they are just so huge, they don't give any other businesses a chance... I mean they sell EVERYTHING... and you could fit my whole village in one of their shops. I favour Sainsburgs because they seem to do a wider range of organic and fairtrade and their staff are better. But during the summer it was 6 - 8 weeks between visits, now it is every week

[TheGoodEarth]

'Our' lives are only controlled by the big corporations if we choose them to be - it is a choice. There are other options.

Ann, I really don't think we have much of a choice unfortunately!

My typical working day may go something like this.

Wake in house owned by RBS (mortgage company)
Drive to train station in car bought from Mazda.
Catch train to work. First Group
Buy coffee from Café Nero.
Work on computer made by Compaq.
Use software developed by Microsoft
Buy soup and sandwich from Greggs
Buy new toothbrush at Boots
Return home to warm house heated by Scottish Hydro.
Listen to radio made by Samsung.
Cook with electric provided by Scottish Power.
Eat some nice organic food bought from T***o.
Have a beer provided by Stella Artois.
Watch news on telly. Phillips

It is very difficult to escape from the corporates.

Now if I didn’t work then I would be able to avoid some of these corporates but even if I spend all my day in the garden I would still be using tools bought from B&Q, Homebase etc. Your pots and seeds come from corporates, your water comes from a corporate.

I don’t think we can easily escape the corporates even if we live a sustainable life. Large corporates create economies of scale which help to reduce prices which is important.

What we need to do is ensure that they act responsibly, ethically and in a sustainable way.

[Big Al]

'Our' lives are only controlled by the big corporations if we choose them to be - it is a choice. There are other options.

What we need to do is ensure that they act responsibly, ethically and in a sustainable way.

If you think you can get Te&*o to act responsibly, ethically and in a sustainable way then good luck.

[Annpan]

'Our' lives are only controlled by the big corporations if we choose them to be - it is a choice. There are other options.

Ann, I really don't think we have much of a choice unfortunately!

My typical working day may go something like this.

Wake in house owned by RBS (mortgage company)
Drive to train station in car bought from Mazda.
Catch train to work. First Group
Buy coffee from Café Nero.
Work on computer made by Compaq.
Use software developed by Microsoft
Buy soup and sandwich from Greggs
Buy new toothbrush at Boots
Return home to warm house heated by Scottish Hydro.
Listen to radio made by Samsung.
Cook with electric provided by Scottish Power.
Eat some nice organic food bought from T***o.
Have a beer provided by Stella Artois.
Watch news on telly. Phillips

It is very difficult to escape from the corporates.

Now if I didn’t work then I would be able to avoid some of these corporates but even if I spend all my day in the garden I would still be using tools bought from B&Q, Homebase etc. Your pots and seeds come from corporates, your water comes from a corporate.

I don’t think we can easily escape the corporates even if we live a sustainable life. Large corporates create economies of scale which help to reduce prices which is important.

What we need to do is ensure that they act responsibly, ethically and in a sustainable way.

I find it very sad that you don't think that any of this is a 'choice'.... even in the most basic of cases you could be a toothbrush from a green store (there are type with replaceable heads and you can even get wooden ones that are compostable after use) No-one twisted your arm to buy a cafe nero coffee I am sure.

You cold of course source your tools online and find handcrafted ones or made by environmentally conscious smaller companies. I bought seeds from 'the real seed company' this year. You can by organic fruit and veg from a box scheme. Yo can harvest rain water and even process it for drinking. You can use alternative energy for cooking, lighting and heating your home.

You cold even live in a yurt if you want too.


My point is you DO have a choice, it might not be the easy, mainstream choice but it is yours to make.



For the record I am not claiming to be perfect, but I am aware that is my choice where to buy a toothbrush, or where to live....

and this was typed on a EEE pc with all opensource software..... sticking it to the microsoft man.