Let me be clear, I don't like Tesco. It doesn't use its scale for good, it's bland and it's not as good value as makes out. But that's a very subjective view based some very personal values.
Still, every now and and again I've paid a visit under duress. It's close to where I work and time is precious. And you know what? It's just too much.
Tesco has got very good at selling everything, but I find it totally overwhelming. TV's, DVD's, clothes, furniture, food, books, Ipods - there's just so much to do it's hard to decide where to start. It's a bit like breathless first day of the family holiday where the kids will explode if they don't do something, but there's so much to do they can't decide what to do first.
This always happens to me when I have an evening in to myself. This is a rare things and is invariably filled with the things I'm not allowed when we're both in. Clean your mind up at the back. What it really means is something very hot and spicy that Mrs Np doesn't like, and a film she usually refuses to watch. But the problem is, with all that choice I get very stressed about what to actually settle on. The food is easier,. but as for the films......will even be a film when I can watch old Curb Your Enthusiasm or Seinfeld? By the time I've chosen it's too late to watch it anyway.
Tesco is a bit like that for me.
And bizarely despite this paradox of choice, the options when you come to the food bit, which is the reason most people visit, are there's actually less interesting than other places.
Which is interesting, as choice (particularly meeting the needs of high-cost, middle-cost and low-cost consumers all at once by introducing basics and premium lines) has played a huge part in its rapid growth.
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | December 10, 2007 at 03:45 PM
Is that feeling of stressful indecision when confronted with lots of different choice and options a 'plannery' trait.. i get the same thing when decided what and where to eat..... hm.
Posted by: Tony | December 11, 2007 at 05:20 PM