Finally, we've learned how to travel
Jun 2nd 2003, 2:30 am
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Finally, we've learned how to travel
"Miss L.Toe" wrote:
> But can be amazingly annoying, when you see how cheap some things are in
> some places compared to the UK, you can get really wound up about being
> ripped off, its probably cheaper to fly (on a Ryanair special) to do your
> weekly shopping outside the UK than it is to pop down to your local
> supermarket in the UK.
You could go to Torp (ObFR: Oslo) for food and Västerås (ObFR: Stockholm)
for alcohol. Then go to Esbjerg (ObFR: Esbjerg) or Ã…rhus (ObFR: Aarhus)
for cars.
> But can be amazingly annoying, when you see how cheap some things are in
> some places compared to the UK, you can get really wound up about being
> ripped off, its probably cheaper to fly (on a Ryanair special) to do your
> weekly shopping outside the UK than it is to pop down to your local
> supermarket in the UK.
You could go to Torp (ObFR: Oslo) for food and Västerås (ObFR: Stockholm)
for alcohol. Then go to Esbjerg (ObFR: Esbjerg) or Ã…rhus (ObFR: Aarhus)
for cars.
Jun 2nd 2003, 2:45 am
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Finally, we've learned how to travel
On Mon, 02 Jun 2003 12:41:08 +0100, "Les B. Avenue"
wrote:
>Remember "loss-leaders" at the supermarket?
>No such thing any more. I was laughed at during a Sainsbury training
>session - and that was 15 years ago!
Of course not, it's a ridiculous idea, both in marketing terms for the
company (it says "our prices are too high we need to tempt you into
buying stuff by selling stuff below cost") and it's bad for the
consumer.
>Supermarket margins are now around 20-25% here; 5-8% in France.
Cite... Then again consider the items now sold in supermarkets - the
move into clothes, DVD's electrical goods etc. is because they have
higher margins.
Jim.
wrote:
>Remember "loss-leaders" at the supermarket?
>No such thing any more. I was laughed at during a Sainsbury training
>session - and that was 15 years ago!
Of course not, it's a ridiculous idea, both in marketing terms for the
company (it says "our prices are too high we need to tempt you into
buying stuff by selling stuff below cost") and it's bad for the
consumer.
>Supermarket margins are now around 20-25% here; 5-8% in France.
Cite... Then again consider the items now sold in supermarkets - the
move into clothes, DVD's electrical goods etc. is because they have
higher margins.
Jim.
Jun 2nd 2003, 8:11 pm
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Finally, we've learned how to travel
Les B. Avenue wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Keith Anderson wrote:
> >
> > On Mon, 2 Jun 2003 11:44:43 +0100, "Miss L.Toe" wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >"Keith Anderson" wrote in message
> > >news:[email protected]...
> > >> On Mon, 2 Jun 2003 10:35:25 +0100, "Miss L.Toe" wrote:
> > >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Also, buying food in local markets is often an enjoyable activity
...
> > >> >
> > >> >But can be amazingly annoying, when you see how cheap some things
are in
> > >> >some places compared to the UK, you can get really wound up about
being
> > >> >ripped off, its probably cheaper to fly (on a Ryanair special) to do
your
> > >> >weekly shopping outside the UK than it is to pop down to your local
> > >> >supermarket in the UK.
> > >>
> > >> This site will make you feel even worse..................
> > >>
> > >> http://www.rip-off.co.uk/
> > >>
> > >
> > >I guess the theory is that we earn more than others, and its just an
> > >exchange rate issue ??
> >
> > I sometimes wonder. I had a French partner for some years, and even
> > when the pound was weak against the (then) French franc (at about7.50
> > FF to the £), it was still possible to go shopping for food in Paris
> > for less than it cost in Britain. Sure, as the pound strenghtened it
> > became even cheaper.
> >
> > Talking to my local newsagents (unscientific, perhaps, but never
> > mind), they reckon that wholesalers in the UK charge an 8% mark-up on
> > goods compared with around 3% in mainlandd Europe and the US.
> Remember "loss-leaders" at the supermarket?
> No such thing any more. I was laughed at during a Sainsbury training
> session - and that was 15 years ago!
> Supermarket margins are now around 20-25% here; 5-8% in France.
> The UK is being managed by the short term view company of Grabbitt and
> Runn.
> No long term plans - just stitch up who you can and make a fast profit.
UK supermarkets shoot themselves in the foot with their continual 'Buy one,
get one free' offers. If they can still make a profit on that .............
well!
Surreyman
news:[email protected]...
> Keith Anderson wrote:
> >
> > On Mon, 2 Jun 2003 11:44:43 +0100, "Miss L.Toe" wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >"Keith Anderson" wrote in message
> > >news:[email protected]...
> > >> On Mon, 2 Jun 2003 10:35:25 +0100, "Miss L.Toe" wrote:
> > >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Also, buying food in local markets is often an enjoyable activity
...
> > >> >
> > >> >But can be amazingly annoying, when you see how cheap some things
are in
> > >> >some places compared to the UK, you can get really wound up about
being
> > >> >ripped off, its probably cheaper to fly (on a Ryanair special) to do
your
> > >> >weekly shopping outside the UK than it is to pop down to your local
> > >> >supermarket in the UK.
> > >>
> > >> This site will make you feel even worse..................
> > >>
> > >> http://www.rip-off.co.uk/
> > >>
> > >
> > >I guess the theory is that we earn more than others, and its just an
> > >exchange rate issue ??
> >
> > I sometimes wonder. I had a French partner for some years, and even
> > when the pound was weak against the (then) French franc (at about7.50
> > FF to the £), it was still possible to go shopping for food in Paris
> > for less than it cost in Britain. Sure, as the pound strenghtened it
> > became even cheaper.
> >
> > Talking to my local newsagents (unscientific, perhaps, but never
> > mind), they reckon that wholesalers in the UK charge an 8% mark-up on
> > goods compared with around 3% in mainlandd Europe and the US.
> Remember "loss-leaders" at the supermarket?
> No such thing any more. I was laughed at during a Sainsbury training
> session - and that was 15 years ago!
> Supermarket margins are now around 20-25% here; 5-8% in France.
> The UK is being managed by the short term view company of Grabbitt and
> Runn.
> No long term plans - just stitch up who you can and make a fast profit.
UK supermarkets shoot themselves in the foot with their continual 'Buy one,
get one free' offers. If they can still make a profit on that .............
well!
Surreyman
Jun 3rd 2003, 3:26 am
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Finally, we've learned how to travel
Surreyman wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> UK supermarkets shoot themselves in the foot with their continual 'Buy
one,
> get one free' offers. If they can still make a profit on that
.............
> well!
US supermarkets do the same - buy one get one free.
However, the new thing is "shoppers cards"
The supermarket will only give discounts to those who possess the card,
which is scanned at the time of purchase.
The chains love this. It gives them direct point of sale marketing
information. They are able to focus marketing activities. This is similar to
the way on-line sellers (Amazon.com, for example) are able to do.
The joke in the situation. The "discount" price in many instances is the
equivalent to the non-discount price prior to implementation of the card.
Example, one local chain for years sold milk at $2.00 a gallon. In the year
prior to the introduction of cards, the price had risen to $3.00 per gallon.
Six months after cards have been put in place, the cardholder price - $2.00.
Surprise, Surprise!!!!
I love it
news:[email protected]...
> UK supermarkets shoot themselves in the foot with their continual 'Buy
one,
> get one free' offers. If they can still make a profit on that
.............
> well!
US supermarkets do the same - buy one get one free.
However, the new thing is "shoppers cards"
The supermarket will only give discounts to those who possess the card,
which is scanned at the time of purchase.
The chains love this. It gives them direct point of sale marketing
information. They are able to focus marketing activities. This is similar to
the way on-line sellers (Amazon.com, for example) are able to do.
The joke in the situation. The "discount" price in many instances is the
equivalent to the non-discount price prior to implementation of the card.
Example, one local chain for years sold milk at $2.00 a gallon. In the year
prior to the introduction of cards, the price had risen to $3.00 per gallon.
Six months after cards have been put in place, the cardholder price - $2.00.
Surprise, Surprise!!!!
I love it
Jun 3rd 2003, 5:00 am
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Finally, we've learned how to travel
Paul wrote:
> US supermarkets do the same - buy one get one free.
> However, the new thing is "shoppers cards"
> The supermarket will only give discounts to those who possess the card,
> which is scanned at the time of purchase.
> The chains love this. It gives them direct point of sale marketing
> information. They are able to focus marketing activities.
Sort of.
A bunch of us share the same card, which is registered to William Jefferson
Clinton of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
The local supermarket chain has deals where you can earn a month of 5%
discounts by spending a lot, so pooling on one card is good news for us.
Since you can type in the card number if you've "lost" your card, the
logistics are easy. They give you 4 cards anyway when you sign up.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Maldives, Dubai and Vietnam
> US supermarkets do the same - buy one get one free.
> However, the new thing is "shoppers cards"
> The supermarket will only give discounts to those who possess the card,
> which is scanned at the time of purchase.
> The chains love this. It gives them direct point of sale marketing
> information. They are able to focus marketing activities.
Sort of.
A bunch of us share the same card, which is registered to William Jefferson
Clinton of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
The local supermarket chain has deals where you can earn a month of 5%
discounts by spending a lot, so pooling on one card is good news for us.
Since you can type in the card number if you've "lost" your card, the
logistics are easy. They give you 4 cards anyway when you sign up.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Maldives, Dubai and Vietnam
Jun 6th 2003, 2:24 am
#21
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Finally, we've learned how to travel
Javaman wrote:
> It was challenging, however to discover that although both places had
> washing machines, neither had a dryer and had to hang laundry all over. I
> was told that this is common (no dryers in apartments). I don't know if it
> is true or not.
I can't speak for Germany, but in the Netherlands it is common for
apartments (and even homes) to have a clothes washer, but not a dryer.
And, though it is hardly a representative sample, an apartment I rented
in Budapest was the same: washer included, but no dryer.
--
greg byshenk - [email protected] - Leiden, NL
hate spam?
> It was challenging, however to discover that although both places had
> washing machines, neither had a dryer and had to hang laundry all over. I
> was told that this is common (no dryers in apartments). I don't know if it
> is true or not.
I can't speak for Germany, but in the Netherlands it is common for
apartments (and even homes) to have a clothes washer, but not a dryer.
And, though it is hardly a representative sample, an apartment I rented
in Budapest was the same: washer included, but no dryer.
--
greg byshenk - [email protected] - Leiden, NL
hate spam?
Jun 6th 2003, 2:31 am
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Finally, we've learned how to travel
greg byshenk wrote:
>
> Javaman wrote:
>
> > It was challenging, however to discover that although both places had
> > washing machines, neither had a dryer and had to hang laundry all over. I
> > was told that this is common (no dryers in apartments). I don't know if it
> > is true or not.
>
> I can't speak for Germany, but in the Netherlands it is common for
> apartments (and even homes) to have a clothes washer, but not a dryer.
>
That's due to two main reasons :-
1) People are not so wasteful of energy resouces and prefer to dry
clothes in "fresh" air.
2) Many clothes are made from materials unsuitable for tumble dryers.
D
>
> Javaman wrote:
>
> > It was challenging, however to discover that although both places had
> > washing machines, neither had a dryer and had to hang laundry all over. I
> > was told that this is common (no dryers in apartments). I don't know if it
> > is true or not.
>
> I can't speak for Germany, but in the Netherlands it is common for
> apartments (and even homes) to have a clothes washer, but not a dryer.
>
That's due to two main reasons :-
1) People are not so wasteful of energy resouces and prefer to dry
clothes in "fresh" air.
2) Many clothes are made from materials unsuitable for tumble dryers.
D
Jun 7th 2003, 2:12 am
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Finally, we've learned how to travel
"DF" wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> greg byshenk wrote:
> >
> > Javaman wrote:
> >
> > > It was challenging, however to discover that although both places had
> > > washing machines, neither had a dryer and had to hang laundry all
over. I
> > > was told that this is common (no dryers in apartments). I don't know
if it
> > > is true or not.
> >
> > I can't speak for Germany, but in the Netherlands it is common for
> > apartments (and even homes) to have a clothes washer, but not a dryer.
> >
> That's due to two main reasons :-
> 1) People are not so wasteful of energy resouces and prefer to dry
> clothes in "fresh" air.
> 2) Many clothes are made from materials unsuitable for tumble dryers.
And I certainly respect those reasons, as well as the difference in
custom/culture.
It only becomes a challenge when you are travelling and have only a limited
number
of clothing articles and not much time. It's just an opportunity to be more
creative!
If we could have found a laundromat ("wash salon") we would have gone there,
but I understand that they are not too common.
> greg byshenk wrote:
> >
> > Javaman wrote:
> >
> > > It was challenging, however to discover that although both places had
> > > washing machines, neither had a dryer and had to hang laundry all
over. I
> > > was told that this is common (no dryers in apartments). I don't know
if it
> > > is true or not.
> >
> > I can't speak for Germany, but in the Netherlands it is common for
> > apartments (and even homes) to have a clothes washer, but not a dryer.
> >
> That's due to two main reasons :-
> 1) People are not so wasteful of energy resouces and prefer to dry
> clothes in "fresh" air.
> 2) Many clothes are made from materials unsuitable for tumble dryers.
And I certainly respect those reasons, as well as the difference in
custom/culture.
It only becomes a challenge when you are travelling and have only a limited
number
of clothing articles and not much time. It's just an opportunity to be more
creative!
If we could have found a laundromat ("wash salon") we would have gone there,
but I understand that they are not too common.
Jun 10th 2003, 12:37 am
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Finally, we've learned how to travel
Javaman wrote:
> > greg byshenk wrote:
> > > Javaman wrote:
> > > > It was challenging, however to discover that although both places had
> > > > washing machines, neither had a dryer and had to hang laundry all over. I
> > > > was told that this is common (no dryers in apartments). I don't know if it
> > > > is true or not.
> > > I can't speak for Germany, but in the Netherlands it is common for
> > > apartments (and even homes) to have a clothes washer, but not a dryer.
[...]
> If we could have found a laundromat ("wash salon") we would have gone there,
> but I understand that they are not too common.
Again, I can't speak for Germany, but laundries are relatively common in
the Netherlands, as there are plenty of people who have neither washer
nor dryer in their homes.
--
greg byshenk - [email protected] - Leiden, NL
hate spam?
> > greg byshenk wrote:
> > > Javaman wrote:
> > > > It was challenging, however to discover that although both places had
> > > > washing machines, neither had a dryer and had to hang laundry all over. I
> > > > was told that this is common (no dryers in apartments). I don't know if it
> > > > is true or not.
> > > I can't speak for Germany, but in the Netherlands it is common for
> > > apartments (and even homes) to have a clothes washer, but not a dryer.
[...]
> If we could have found a laundromat ("wash salon") we would have gone there,
> but I understand that they are not too common.
Again, I can't speak for Germany, but laundries are relatively common in
the Netherlands, as there are plenty of people who have neither washer
nor dryer in their homes.
--
greg byshenk - [email protected] - Leiden, NL
hate spam?
