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Tescopoly: How One Shop Came Out on Top and Why It Matters
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Customer Reviews:
Tescopoly: Open Your Eyes
I read this book primarily so that I might discover some damning evidence that would cause me to leave the employment of Tesco's (I work as a Customer Assistant for the firm). And there is lots of evidence to support my reasoning. There is a lot in this book to get you riled about the kind of operation Tesco's carry out. However, a recurring theme of the book seemed to be the authors subjectivity regarding Tesco which lessened the authority with which the author had the right to speak. This subjectivity became largely frustrating to read throughout the course of the book.
The book was not an easy read,took me a long time to finish it and I didn't understand all of it. As someone who works for Tesco on the shop floor, I was rather hoping for more insights from my position but could only find 2 quotes which were relevant to me. I also wondered throughout the book, how much of the information presented was entirely accurate and not overtly biased.
There was one question that for me the book didn't answer. If it had been answered straight away it would have given a stronger reference point from which to understand Tesco. I wanted to know what Tesco's motivation is to want to grow and grow so ruthlessly and branch out into several areas of retail?
I could understand what the author was highlighting about Tesco crushing other businesses. I spoke to the owner of my local corner shop and she told me that Tesco was killing her business - and that was something I did not like to hear. I also spoke to a worker at the local Post Office near where I work and she had plenty to say about the detrimental effects Tesco has had on her trade. Certainly, Tesco has done well in building on particular plots of land so that shoppers are persuaded by convenience over quality of food and quality of service. As a result of reading the book, my shopping habits have changed. I now try to shop locally as much as possible.
In the book, I found various cases of where Tesco had been the cause of injustice within it's operations and that is something I absolutely deplore. There are references to injustices in other countries, regarding pay and working conditions.
From personal experience I can say why Tesco fails-This is because they hire staff who do not care about Tesco's and as a result there is no love or passion from those who do all the physical work. From all the Tesco employee's I have spoken to, there is a common feeling that Tesco do not care about you as a person.
I never sympathised with Tesco's aims to begin with and from reading this book, I now advise customers to shop elsewhere if there is a product we do not sell. The only power consumers have against Tesco is to stop giving them money, and to stand firm on any convictions against Tesco.
Certainly I recommend this book if you want to know more about Tesco and the way that it works. Tesco is a big company but that does not mean it can't fall.
Abysmal waste of time 
I wanted to know about the rise of the supermarkets in general and Tesco in particular.
This writer waffles ceaslessly. He contradicts himself regularly, examples being that he bemoans Tesco's bland offerings and homegeneity; everything the same. Then he moans that they bring rare items from the world, such as the Himalyan Goji berry or pineapples.
He believes that global warming theories have been scientifically proven, yet the amount of carbon on earth now is precisely the same, to the gram, as when the earth was formed.
His grammar is appalling.
He tries to ridicule Tesco when they talk of "light levels that effect the growing of strawberries". In his poorly-educated mind he thinks they meant "affect" but he needs to learn that you can effect growth ie promote or propagate it.
Typical of how he tries to think he's intelligent but fails miserably.
Thankfully, I borrowed this book from the library.
He's a total waste of space and Tesco need have no worries from him.
Brilliant 
Brilliant read - we all need to know how the big supermarkets operate - should encourage everyone to think about the source of their purchases and shop local
Say no to Tesco!
We all know that there is something insidious about the way Tesco seems to be taking over the world. But this book will tell you exactly why you feel so uneasy about shopping there. All your worst fears about exploitation of workers and suppliers turn out to be true (and then some) and the author explains exactly how Tesco and co have managed to destroy the hearts of our towns and cities. Anyone with a conscience will have trouble shopping at Tesco again.
Tescopoly is a big long rant devoid of logical argument
I agree with all the other reviews about this being poorly written. I wanted to find out why people were so against there being new Tesco in my town, when I think it is a good idea. People even put up signs in their Windows. I was perplexed.
Andrew Simms writes about declines in community and society, lists all the things Tesco does (well) with an exclamation mark and then states it is Tesco's fault without any convincing logic. He even rants on about Tesco Orwellian aspirations?
He critisizes Tesco for using negotiation. He critisizes Tesco for collecting information to better serve its customers. He critisizes Tesco for being allowed to do well. It is not Tesco that has Orwellian thinking, it is Andrew Simms.
Andrew Simms wants us all to crowd our High Streets (which in most towns are usually one or two narrow roads with shops, main bus routes and a town's main traffic route) and then queue in many independant little shops to buy local, often poor quality, low selection stuff. He thinks this will generate a sense of community? He thinks that his idea is better for all of us without regard of what most people want (or do already). He sounds Orwellian again.
He seems to have an axe to grind against globalization, not Tesco or supermarkets in particular. He even blamed Tesco for him and his wife having a tiff. I suggest he joins a commune and grows his own food and makes his own clothes.
I am still perplexed - still none the wiser why people would oppose Tesco coming to my town. I like Tescos.
Nor does the book really explain "how one shop came out on top" - the subtitle.
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has anyone read the book [url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/tescopoly-how-shop-came-matters/dp/1845295110/ref=pd_sim_b_title_1/203-2433605-9299925]tescopoly[/url]? very interesting read.
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/forum/read/1/59246/84570#msg-84570
Economics Reading list | The Greenwell Society
Tescopoly (Andrew Simms): ISBN: 1845295110. The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing (Paul Collier): ISBN: 0195311450. The Dragon and the Elephant: China, India and the New World Order (David Smith) ISBN: 1861978154 ...
http://thegreenwellsociety.com/2008/02/17/economics-reading-list/comment-page-1/
tesco from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia tesco type public (lse ...
isbn 1845295110. humby, clive; hunt, terry & phillips, tim (2006). scoring points : how tesco continues to win customer loyalty. london & philadelphia: kogan page. isbn 9780749447526. nash, bethany (2006). fair-trade and the growth of ...
http://yoonyoungmo.blogspot.com/2008/06/tesco-from-wikipedia-free-encyclopedia.html
