Save money and nerves

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 7:38 am

blue eyes wrote:What a cheek to talk about how high prices are at Intermache from the tourist especially english as their wages are a lot higher than they get here.

So in your opinion it is OK to rip people off because they earn more?

I am sorry if I misunderstood what you meant, but I feel that the average income of Portuguese workers has nothing at all to do with the price structuring of restaurants and supermarkets along the Algarve coastline - they do orient themselves on what northern europeans earn and are able to spend but do not supply the quality that this kind of price tag implies. In my eyes that gives tourists just as much right to complain as the residents.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 7:50 am

Have to disagree Gamb about the supermarket pricing/quality. Intermarche is as good and as inexpensive as any multinational food retailer throughout Northern Europe. They are positioning themselves in the market place to attract a certain clientele, and this they obviously do very successfully. Poorer people cannot afford to shop there, fine, there are other places for them. Every area should have a range of outlets geared to peoples aspirations and tastes, they should not all have to cater for the lowest common denominator

You know the best way for you to protest is to stay away! You don't have to shop there, as you have said there are many alternatives open to you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 7:57 am

The Intermarche is actually an asset to the area. How often are there queries on here from people wanting to know if there is a supermarket in the area. One stop shopping saves time. Perhaps not money, but on holiday people want to spend time on leisure pursuits, rather than visiting a multitude of small shops of dubious quality and hygiene

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:05 am

I am not sure Intermarché can meet international standards as say Apolónia in Almancil does.
Intermarché serves bog standard products with a few extras for the foreigners and a few promotions (which you can also find in Continente or Modelo). I do not mind them charging a few cents more for branston pickle (sp), but I see no reason to up prices on detergents, cat food or snacks and beverages just because they are moving into a peak season where there are more clients. The products are the same, cost them the same to purchase and their service does not improve either(on the contrary).

So aside from forcing residents to go elsewhere (which I am thankful to be able to do, unlike some residents of Poço Patido who can't afford a vehicle) they are giving the tourists the distinct impression, that the Algarve is no longer an affordable holiday destination...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:27 am

Well I'm not sure where else you've visited but really, working for a company which supplies every major retail group in Europe I believe that the Intermarche group would be counted, internationally, as being of acceptable quality.

So because the residents of Poco Partido cant aford to shop there they should lower their prices? Unfortunately no, but there are a couple of small shops around there anyway, aren't there?

Seasonal price variations. Why not? Airlines/holiday companies do it . It is very uncommon though for across-the-board-increases, more common to increase the cost of must-have seasonal products like e.g charcoal. And this is how supermarkets maintain their overall margin. Price promos are in the main paid for by suppliers, but slow moving, close to sell by date products have to be price cut to move off shelf, with a resulting loss of margin

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 9:18 am

Anonymous wrote:...but there are a couple of small shops around there anyway, aren't there?

No, only in the town itself.

I see your point and as you noted previously, everyone is free to go where they please. Related to the airtravel costs, this results in the Algarve and Spain loosing out to destinations like Greece, Morroco and even Dubai (4* hotel, Hp and flights € 660 per person/week - seen on Lturs in June04)

If the rates, fares and prices for the Algarve continue to rise as they have done, we are not going anywhere but down.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:25 am

As far as supermarkets are concerned I think in this instance we are going to have to agree to differ, as we are coming from different angles- you from a resident and me from an infrequent visitor point of view.

Think perhaps people will get bored with this debate soon so perhaps time to move on . I certainly agree with you regarding restaurants and CVO in general as my previous posts will bear out.
Might be interesting as an exercise to carry out an internal and external marketing SWOT audit on CVO. Hmmm - might just do that, or better still involve the forum members

Rod

lazyliz · Post by **lazyliz** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 1:48 pm

Im finding this debate about as interesting as standing in a supermarket queue

But being a very lazy creature---I prefer to 'eat out' and simply shop locally for milk, bread, eggs--the fridge essentials--
Yawn ahhhhh-off for a siesta now

x

Gerry Cullen · Post by **Gerry Cullen** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 2:33 pm

Have to agre with g one voice is never too small...quick story...a pub in dublin was sold about 6 years ago for about 2.5million punts ..new owners wanted trendy crowd..so subtly started giving old timers the cold shoulder ..raising prices etc...no pensioner discounts......guess what ..the pub started to go into decline..there was no concerted or ordered bycott ,people just stopped going there it got so bad that the new owners of this well known busy public house(the yellow house in rathfarnam)had to put a full page ad in a national paper apolligesing to its former costomers and inviting them back for a free party

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 4:39 pm

Me thinks Gambo had a bad

experiance in Intermaché and now wants to get back at them. The service in Intermache is equal to every other supermarket in the area, the prices, as someone mentioned, are virtually the same (except Leclerque) some things more some things less AND when you take into account how long it takes and how far you drive I don't really think it compensates. Lidle and Plus are completly different so have to be excluded from the group as they sell a different type of product. Just buy what you really need and stay away from the exported products, there is usually a nacional product that is the same. Pinkie

I once spoke to a gentleman who was off to Gibralter to buy cream because "you can't get it here". Boy was that expensive cream

lazyliz · Post by **lazyliz** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 9:32 pm

Just done a quick survey of this topic with quite surprising results
Seems you blokes are more interested in the shopping than us girls

are you all 'new men' on here? Looks like it

just booked lunch date tomorrow with girl mate-sohappy shopping fellas

Yawwwn-Im so sleepy-its thinking of all that shopping,Im not gonna do

Nite

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:51 pm

Oh Lazy Liz..... No No....We are not all like THAT lot ....some of us (Like ME ....(Showing my chest) are old fashioned enough to understand....understand.....?????......Sod the bloody supermarkets..how about a date ??

Oh..that bad news....I'm short / fat and balding.......How did we get of Intermarche ..???

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 7:23 am

Anonymous wrote:Me thinks Gambo had a bad experiance in Intermaché and now wants to get back at them.

Just one bad experience? No, m8 - I usually write off the first 5 bad experiences on having a bad day or celestial constallations or something - this has been going on for ages.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:55 pm

has it passed through your mind that you may be one of those customers that everyone goes "Oh no, I can't stand him/her, they're always complaining/in a bad mood/never say good morning/rude (the list is endless)" try being nice or polite, go in with a smile not expecting bad service.

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 7:48 am

Guest, my word, you've got it....oooooh, thank you so much!! I had never realized what a royal class ars*hole I am untill I read your post! I will do my best to improve my attitude...

In the meantime could we leave this off the personal level and concentrate on the facts

Intermarche is just another example that something is amiss in Carvoeiro and all I am trying to do is call some attention and maybe do a small part to improve the town.

Save money and nerves

Re: save money and nerves