Co-Op Forest Hill Road - thoughts

[susyp]

I can't bear going in the Co-Op- it's miserable and dirty and the service on the tills is unbearably slow. Once I heard a lady ask where the Yorkshire Puddings where and they took her to the "puddings" section. But i love the Turkish place - fantastic fruit and veg and the guy on the till is always so friendly and nice.

[jocelyn]

Yes big up the Turkish shop!!! Lovely fruit and veg and dirt cheap! Plus the staff are sooooo sweet. AND they stock more than 1 type of everything!!!

[Nero]

*Bob*

That made me laugh. Nero

Re-editing - Just rang the Coop HQ in Manchester, told them my complaints (and those of others - yes, I will pass on the *Bob* post and others,) and am now awaiting a phone call back sometime from the area manager. I am hoping it will happen. Nero

[MadWorld74]

I went into the co-op last night and bought a ?3.99 Co-Op Fairtrade bottle of Chillean Carmenere.

I poured it, brought it to my lips and braced myself for what I though would be truly horrid vino (I wasn't in the mood to trek to Green and Blue's last night, so made do with the co-op)...to be utterly amazed!!!!

Really really nice wine.

The co-op is so bad I never buy anything apart from bottled water, but NOW I will get more of their wine. Why not ay?

When I was a kid the local co-op in the Sussex village where I lived, was brillaint! I still have fond memories of their mint and chocolate ice cream cups, they used to do. Shame the one round the corner from me now is so poor. I mean blood flowing out of the pre-packed chickens at the front of the shop in the 'chiller'.....come on that is disgusting.

I doesn't matter how pleasant' the staff are or how low their wages. Is it is shop seeling produce, or not?

[macroban]

Looks like a possible investment opportunity.

The Co-op might be grateful to receive an offer for the premises and close the store.

One for karter?

[MadWorld74]

what would you have there instead? I like the idea of a co-op...it's like old times.

[virgopunk]

Well said Madworld74. It's a local shop for godsake not a branch of Waitrose. I can't believe the amount of bourgeois comments made about it. If you don't like it why don't you sell up your four bedroom achitect designed igloo and move back to Notting Hill. I can't believe that you don't all order your food and booze on-line anyway. Oh no! No fresh pasta what ever shall we do!

That particular branch of the Co-op may not be the best stocked or most salubrious but it's reasonable, it's Fairtrade, it's co-operatively run and despite what the more picky believe the veggies are usually much tastier that Sainsbury laboratory grown crud. I only wish there were more socially aware grocers who ran on the same principles. Yes, the Turkish shop has great veggies too but they also lack a number of essentials like fresh meat f'rinstance.

The staff are very, very friendly and I really don't think that commenting on their fluency in English should be any reason to criticise them.

Don't worry though I'm sure that with all the disposible income available in the area it'll only be a matter of time before you force the co-ey to close and for it be replaced with a shiny, new Tesco Express.

My only criticism of the co-op? The stupid mothers who insist on trying to drive their double buggies through it and then tut because us lesser mortals don't immediately clear the way.

Oh and by the way, the organic Tempranillo was bloody brilliant value!

[*Bob*]

MadWorld74 Wrote:

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> what would you have their instead? I like the idea

> of a co-op...it's like old times.

How about a good Co-Op, instead of a shit one?

I hope this comment isn't too bourgeois.

[susyp]

I normally support co-ops and was very pleased to see one when I moved nearby. However every time I go in there I get wound up by the bad service - long queues while staff stand around not doing very much at all - and completely offhand attitude to their customers. I can't even bear to buy a newspaper in there it takes so long. It's not a middle class thing - it's just a useless shop! And I think that someone who works in a British food store should know what Yorkshire puddings are.

[virgopunk]

susyp Wrote:

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>"...I think that someone who works in a British

> food store should know what Yorkshire puddings

> are."

Hmmm. You might want to consider rewording that comment. I can think of dozens of 'British' shops that might employ staff who haven't got the foggiest what a Yorkshire pudding is (some of them might even be British by birth!) And besides, couldn't you learn how to make them yourself?

[jocelyn]

Wow why is it so hostile on here!? Let people voice their opinions! Lets face it - the main problem with this shop is the fact it is so damn cramped. Knock a few aisles down and make it a bit more spacious and I am sure people would be more inclined to nip in there for their essentials.

[prdarling]

Virgopunk get off your high horse. No-one is saying it should be a Waitrose, just clean, tidy and containing food would suffice at the moment. I went in yesterday and they had no bloody bread or potatoes. The outside of the shop looks like the contents of a skip and the inside is like the last days on earth... but oh sorry it must make me a bit 'Notting Hill' not to want to live surrounded by crap.

I agree with susyp and bob - the service is poor and the queues are permanent. I love to support a local shop, but not a rubbish one.

I also take exception to being referred to as a stupid. Is it unreasonable to expect to shop locally now I have 2 children. It's bloody difficult to support your local stores when you can barely get in the door. Like it or not, this area is now populated largely by young families and there is not much on offer for us at this parade of shops ... a skanky bookies, a launderette (albeit quite snazzy) and some shops that have been dead for at least 4 years... brilliant. Surely it's not bourgeois to want a parade of shops that actually services the local residents?

[*Bob*]

As a loathesome pushchair-jockey, I'd say that the sliding door of the Co-Op is actually it's USP.

Or should that be it's OSP?

[Nero]

Virgopunk,

I staunchly believe that working fluency in the language of the country in which you are working, especially when that work involves constant interaction with customers, is not an optional extra.

I'm a Coop supporter and am a member of its 'smile' bank and my family has used its insurance for years and years, as well as collecting its divvie stamps (ask your gran).

Don't turn this into a class thing. It's been done before and is boring as hell.

It's a decent sized shop that needs a revamp and a new manager and new staff. Being happy and smiley is not the be all and end all of customer service. I agree with prdarling that the parade of shops needs attention. The good ones are let down by the bad ones.

Nero

[prdarling]

OK Bob I'll take that back... I'm all over the sliding door, I just can't get any further with a double buggy and i'm not too keen on leaving my little boys alone by the entrance while i go in search of non existent basic necessities!

[Asset]

wow, virgopunk - second post and all guns blazing. fabulous new addition to the forum, welcome.

I'm with Nero, if you are serving the public in an English speaking country a rudimentary grasp of the language is essential.

[Growlybear]

susyp Wrote:

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> I can't bear going in the Co-Op- it's miserable

> and dirty and the service on the tills is

> unbearably slow. Once I heard a lady ask where

> the Yorkshire Puddings where and they took her to

> the "puddings" section. But i love the Turkish

> place - fantastic fruit and veg and the guy on the

> till is always so friendly and nice.

I couldn't agree with you more. But my heart sinks when I see people asking for 'more up market' shops. Forest Hill Road has always been a local parade of ordinary shops, and the last thing it needs is more trendy Lordship Lane-style shops with inflated prices. I also don't understand why on earth people would want to see the bookmakers closed down? This immediate area is gradually being changed beyond recognition - we have already seen pubs like the Moore PArk Hotel closed down and the Herne and Forest Hill Tavern changing from the nice traditional pubs they have been for decades to ghastly gastro-pubs; and the Herne in particular is now more like a mother and toddler group at times than a proper pub. Surely it's time to stop ruining the area and driving the people who have lived here for decades away?

[MadWorld74]

I'm affraid GB that it's inevitable that Forest Hill will go the way of LLane. I too like to see the old style shops remain.'Open All Hours' style get up.

I do like the fact that The Herne, FHT have had a revamp. I don't tend to go in because I find them souless and frankly quite boring.

Virgopunk, I love your style and welcome your honest thoughts to this forum. I have been known to be outspoken and get up the noses of many a forumite in the past for speaking my mind. Oh, how awful of me.

I say long live the Co-Ey, but please get it sorted asap, because it really is poor. I feel so bloody sorry for the people who work in there. They take shitloads of abuse of some arrogant w*nkers that come in and they still have the decency to say 'Sir' when they ask for the amount of the bill. And they always wish me a pleasant day/weekend etc.

[Growlybear]

I remember the days when we still had the wool shop and butcher in Forest Hill Road, not to mention the lovely Casa Natalina restaurant, which only lasted for a couple of years. I'm worried that even Anatolia will have been yuppified when it reopens after its facelift.

[MadWorld74]

move with the times...everything needs an update now and then

[Growlybear]

MadWorld74 Wrote:

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> move with the times...everything needs an update

> now and then

Why? there's a big difference between an update and ripping the heart out of an area. Is there really a need for people who move into an area to spoil the character that people who have lived there for decades have enjoyed?

[*Bob*]

Perhaps there's a way we could sympathetically update the Co-Op and keep everyone happy?

For the long-term residents who simply adore the place, it could continue to sell bread which is stale four days before it ought to be. And for the yuppies, they could sell new-fangled exotic delicacies like, say, garlic.

Now.. has anyone seen my filofax?

[Nero]

I don't want to extravagant, more-style-than-sunbstance shops and restaurants. I want good service, good prices, attractive but not stylised surroundings and, well, just a realistic and honest approach to doing business. I don't want recalcitrant shop assistants, ones that can't communicate with me, managers that don't get the idea of input from customers or who can't be bothered to, or worse still, don't understand that they might have to put their thinking caps on and change their business practices somewhat.

Change is hard for all, but the way around it is to keep good, friendly, no-nonsense service even if the exterior changes. Nero

[BJL]

Growlybear Wrote:

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> Surely it's time to stop ruining the area and driving the

> people who have lived here for decades away?

Are long-time residents really being "driven away" from the area because of some "nick-nack shops" and "gastro-pubs"? Surely most of those who leave do so for other reasons - mostly because they've decided to sell their houses or flats for a huge profit?

[urban-fox]

I love the CO-OP.. The staff are helpfull & very good at there Jobs.. I Like as it Its very traditional..

Its not dirty, Its just used. the produce Is ok.. the fruit & veg is always ripe & ready to use. Being a convinience store I think it does the job perfectly.. #My only complaint is the mess outside the front, the array of boxes & clutter really lets it down...

The Post office on the parade is really good too..

The hardwear store is ok as well...

Not to keen on the make over of the laundertte.. its very Pink & The fluffy seats tickle my bum, whilst I'm watching my sheets go around...

Never tried the resturants on the parade.. Not sure why?

Still, this parade of shops are ok.. Its a shame to see the antique place go, But on speaking to the barber The business rates along that strech are a bomb.. Its not lordship lane or north cross road... but it has a charm of its own...

As for opening a tile shop.. i reckon its a good enough idea.. cant see why not as it is better than empty shop fronts..