Apparently, anyway:
Residents in Marston have vowed to boycott a new Tesco store set to open in a former pub.
Hundreds of people in the area, led by a local vicar, pledged to support the protest at a public meeting chaired by Oxford East MP Andrew Smith.
Residents are concerned about the store’s impact on existing shops and increased traffic.
Well, fine. You don’t shop there, it’ll close, right? As long as you’re all united…
The boycott idea was suggested by Rev Elaine Bardwell, of St Michael and All Angels Church in Marston Road.
She told the meeting: “One of the things we can do is just not shop there. Shopping is a moral issue and Tesco needs to understand the damage they are doing to the community.”
By opening a shop to sell them things. The
fiends.
Criticism of Tesco (or any supermarket) is by definition coded criticism of the people who shop there. Its middle class snobbery about lower class aesthetics and demand for cheap stuff. Because Tesco is built on on offering value for money - cheap food and tat to the masses. They wouldn't exist as they do if the masses didn't voluntarily walk through the door and part with cash.
ReplyDeleteSo criticise Tesco = criticise the choices that create and sustain it = criticise the people who make those choices.
Its the way the left leaning middle classes can articulate their dislike of the masses without obviously contradicting their 'working class' ideals.
So they'll all drive three miles to Waitrose instead? Result!
ReplyDeleteOr wait for "well, I don't really approve of the new Tesco, but it's so convenient when you've run out of milk".
If these idiots really did boycott everything that offended their delicate sensibilities, they'd have long ago starved to death in an open field.
ReplyDeleteAnd the rest of us would be getting some peace.
Taking over ex-pubs and annoying locals seems to be Tesco's new thing it appears
ReplyDeleteBoycotting is fine, but what if you don't go there and no one notices?
ReplyDeleteImagine the horror of just, you know, carrying on with life and not being praised for your resolute actions.
Pesky Tesky - good point!
ReplyDeleteI have, for many years, resolutely boycotted establishments selling diamonds, fur coats or caviar.
Three or four years back, Tesco opened a fairly large store in a local Sussex town which was dying on its arse. The High Street had a high number of charity shops and take always which is always a good sign of retail decline.
ReplyDeleteThe hand wringers were full of predictions of doom.
Tesco provided a large free car park which affords easy access to the High Street.
Being a nosy sod, I bother to ask small retailers "how are things going?". Footfall and money spent in the High Street has grown they tell me.
One retailer was near breathless when she told me that somebody was going to open a wine bar opposite her shop.
A "destination" retailer CAN make a whole area more prosperous.
Lastly, Jim's comment above is absolutely spot on IMHO. I know left leaning middle class people* who are the most awful snobs deep down. But, of course, they know what's best for the little people.
*"Card carrying" Guardian readers and lovers of the BBC's political output.
"They wouldn't exist as they do if the masses didn't voluntarily walk through the door and part with cash."
ReplyDeleteExactly! That's what they loathe, but as Curmudgeon points out, they'll make use of it once it's there.
"Taking over ex-pubs and annoying locals seems to be Tesco's new thing it appears"
And thanks to the smoking ban, there's lots to choose from! In fact, one near me has been converted.
"Imagine the horror of just, you know, carrying on with life and not being praised for your resolute actions."
The horror, the horror...
" Footfall and money spent in the High Street has grown they tell me."
And all that was needed was a car park! Why do local councillors not see that, when they are bemoaning the death of the high streets?
And if you don't like pornography you don't have to watch it.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you don't like motorways you don't have to drive in them.
And if you............
.... Sorry. Fell asleep there for a moment.
Markets are getting in on the act, careful that nearly 50 percent of customers say that helping local makers is their variety one shopping issue.
ReplyDeleteupc