53 replies to this topic

[blunt pencil]

Whilst preparing myself for the inevitable disappointment of the England- Germany match, I thought I would stock up on soft-drinks and choc ices from the CO-OP. As there was nowhere else open nearby.

As I entered the CO-OP I was almost overcome with heat stroke. The queue was just as long as ever.

The air con was claimed not to be working (or just not turned on). The ice-cream fridge was turned off (with the choc-ices crammed into the only freezer working). The staff were trying but flagging under the extreme heat.

It occurred to me, how much of the stock has actually part-melted, or been kept well above its recommended temperature.

Any why should the public be subject to being treated like animals.


What happened to the refit. What happened to the air con. Where was the duty manager (probably passed out in the back).

[blunt pencil]

Amazing - The plebs at the CO-OP have now put portable air conditioners in the store - with the exhaust pipes placed in the roofspace. Well thats going to make it even hotter, and the condensate will wreck the roof tiles - At least the upstairs flat has under floor heating now.


And to top it all, the customary sign stuck to the wall as you enter the CO-OP acknowledging that its crap i.e. it says we know there's a problem.

And when you get in, its hunt the produce - as its all over the place (Beer in the food fridge, fresh produce nowhere to be found).


At least this solves the queue problem - people go in and just walk out.


What a rubbish store, who dont seem to give squat about the local community

[weirdmusic]

I would have thought "Environmental Health" would have paid the Co-Op a visit by now.

Does someone have to make a formal complaint before the Environmental Health inspectors will act?

[Flas# #arry]

weirdmusic, on 08 August 2010 - 09:47 AM, said:

I would have thought "Environmental Health" would have paid the Co-Op a visit by now.

Does someone have to make a formal complaint before the Environmental Health inspectors will act?

Great idea!

I have my green ink at the ready!

Hang on though what is the basis of our complaint?

The shop smells of donner kebabs from the Spicey ranch next door?
The White wine isn't chilled because the person living above complained to EH about the bottles rattling in the fridge, disturbing his sleep?
The proximity of cans of beer to the food in the fridge?
Excessive queuing due to some old bat waiting for 5 minutes before the lottery deadline before paying for her weekly papers?
Carts of packaging being briefly left on the pavement outside?

The place doesn't inspire me to shop there as If I paying a tenner for a bottle of white wine, I'd like it to be cold, but I am seriously struggling to find the slightest reason why Enviromental Health might be interested in the place, what offence have they comitted?

Throw me a frickin bone here, I'm dying to know why you want my council tax wasted on a visit by Enviromental Health to Burley Co-op?

[Wharfedale]

‘The Co-operative is among the world’s leading businesses when it comes to taking up the challenge of tackling global climate change. Our approach to the issue is five-fold, focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy consumption and generation, carbon offsetting, the provision of finance and public policy lobbying.’

‘We have over 4,000 outlets powered by renewable energy, and have significantly cut the energy consumption in our buildings in recent years. An £18 million efficiency programme has been initiated to reduce electricity and gas consumption even further by 2012, by which time we also plan to be generating 15% of our energy from our own renewable sources.’*

Maybe thats why they turn off the fridges and air-conditioning?

* Source: http://www.co-operat...hange-projects/

[eileenb61]

Wharfedale, on 08 August 2010 - 12:33 PM, said:

‘The Co-operative is among the world’s leading businesses when it comes to taking up the challenge of tackling global climate change. Our approach to the issue is five-fold, focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy consumption and generation, carbon offsetting, the provision of finance and public policy lobbying.’

‘We have over 4,000 outlets powered by renewable energy, and have significantly cut the energy consumption in our buildings in recent years. An £18 million efficiency programme has been initiated to reduce electricity and gas consumption even further by 2012, by which time we also plan to be generating 15% of our energy from our own renewable sources.’*

Maybe thats why they turn off the fridges and air-conditioning?

* Source: http://www.co-operat...hange-projects/

My mum who lives in Burley,says that she'd heard that the fridges had broken down and weren't going to be repaired/replaced till october.
Has anyone asked to talk to the manager/ess about the situation to find out whats happening?

[spyglass]

On 27 April 2010 I reported on the "Empty Burley Shops" thread that I had received a reply in response to a complaint I sent to CO-OP HQ about the poor state of this shop. Their response read

"Thank you for contacting the Co-operative Careline regarding the store in Burley in Wharfdale.

Your comments were forwarded onto the Operations Manager who is aware of the condition of the store but has advised that a number of issues have held back any improvements. However these are well on the way to being resolved and we hope to refurbish the store towards the end of this year.

I can only thank you for your patience in the meantime.

Yours sincerely
Yvonne Hulmes
Customer Relations"

We are not at "the end of the year" yet but the design and planning of the refurbishment must (should) be under way if they are to meet that deadline. It might be worth a few people emailing Yvonne (the more the better) to complain again about the conditions and ask for the estimated start date.

Yvonnes email address is: Yvonne.Hulmes@co-operative.coop

[Bikerking]

spyglass, on 09 August 2010 - 11:43 AM, said:

On 27 April 2010 I reported on the "Empty Burley Shops" thread that I had received a reply in response to a complaint I sent to CO-OP HQ about the poor state of this shop. Their response read

"Thank you for contacting the Co-operative Careline regarding the store in Burley in Wharfdale.

Your comments were forwarded onto the Operations Manager who is aware of the condition of the store but has advised that a number of issues have held back any improvements. However these are well on the way to being resolved and we hope to refurbish the store towards the end of this year.

I can only thank you for your patience in the meantime.

Yours sincerely
Yvonne Hulmes
Customer Relations"

We are not at "the end of the year" yet but the design and planning of the refurbishment must (should) be under way if they are to meet that deadline. It might be worth a few people emailing Yvonne (the more the better) to complain again about the conditions and ask for the estimated start date.

Yvonnes email address is: Yvonne.Hulmes@co-operative.coop

Here's a copy of my email!!


Dear Yvonne,
You are probably aware of that a number of residence in our village are concerned about the state of our local store. As a customer and co-op member for many years, I'd just like to add my own concerns about the poor state of the store.
For years there seems to have been a real problem with the air conditioning and refrigeration in the store which does not seem to have been rectified. This together with the poor state of the floor (with holes often fixed with cardboard and tape) and poor design layout (to get in or out of the shop you have to push past queuing customers) our store is really overdue a big overhaul.
Only last week I was in the store wanting to buy some chocolate and there was none out because the store was so hot the chocolate was all melting. The staff had to get some out from the managers office in the rear of the store where the rear door was open to try and cool it, (hardly a good advert for hygiene).
Rather more worryingly is the conditions the staff were having to work under. It was so hot, I was glad I only had to stay in there for 5 minutes. The staff behind the counter must have been finding it very difficult indeed despite extra fans being used to cool them.
I gather from our local internet forum that you have stated that the store is due for refurbishment by the end of the year and I was wondering if you could confirm this as surly by now drawings and plans must be in place.
I look forward to a positive response that we shall be treated to a new store by the end of the year as you have promised so that we can be as proud of it as Menston and Ilkley are of their stores which have received significant improvements over the last few years.
Kind regards

[appropriatebridge]

Happy to add my support to the campaign. The text of my email to Co-op HQ reads:

"Yvonne

There have been many discussions on the Burley Village internet forum about the bad state of the Co-op in Burley. You can see some of these at http://www.wharfedal...y-burley-shops/

Conditions there seem to be going from bad to worse and in the hot weather, the temperatures have been unbearable. The floor is in a disgusting condition and there are issues about the fresh foods. Essentially, it is chaotic. I used to be a regular visitor to the shop but now mostly go elsewhere. Probably a boycot campaign should be organised until conditions improve but this is a useful amenity for some which they would not want put at risk and it would be a pity to perhaps cause staff to lose jobs through no fault of their own - although as you can see from the forum, some would not be missed!

Having said that, it is not surprising that some staff are grumpy given the conditions in which they have to work.

I believe you have given previous indication that refurbishment work was to start later this year and as we are now in August, planning work must have been started in order to complete tendering and evaluation in time to make a start this year. Can you please provide an update.

[Flas# #arry]

I think I'd be a bit sullen if I worked at the Co-op and found out that i'd been called a 'Pleb' on these forums.

[Wharfedale]

My understanding of the word ‘sullen’ is that it can mean ‘slow moving’ and given the temperature in there I can’t blame them if they are.

Many people have written to the Coop over the past years regarding the state of the shop and many of those people have been publicly attacked on this very forum for doing so.

There is a sign up at the moment that suggests that they are doing everything they can to fix the problems, but the problems have been there for years and they have been allowed to get worse for all this time.

The shop appears to blunder along with no decent management (I am talking about the area management and above here, not the store manager) and no respect for those who queue, and queue in the unacceptable humid heat in exchange for their hard earned money.

Burley deserves better than this!

[Wharfedale]

Any decent replies forthcoming?

[catbazza]

Wharfedale, on 13 August 2010 - 10:58 AM, said:

Any decent replies forthcoming?

The original co-op (original spelling) was created for the ordinary working class to do their weekly shopping for groceries & dry goods @ a reasonable price, their shops (now stores or mini-markets)were distinctive buildings throughout the country & one of such is still standing in Peel Place allthough not now owned by the Coop nor the Co-op butchers adjoining.

They gave you a return thankyou yearly payment of Divi in return along with the usual courtious service in a clean environment & if I remember correctly a sawdusted floor.

Now Oh Dear! what a contrast as you walk into the Station Road store , where there was in the old building a patient queue having a good old chinwag until it was your turn to be served now that has turned into an angry unsettled queue being slowly served by unsettled shopstaff without even many a time a thankyou as apposed to thank you said with sincerety & will there be any else sir/madam. Oh Dear!.

Having said all that I do agree that it is the environment that that staff have to work in but I am sure that a little more finesse could be used by the staff in serving people would encourage people to return to the store, & where-else would you find a convenience store so convenient to the Burley shopper than in central Burley.

[Wharfedale]

I suppose that over time the number of people who know each other has fallen and also peoples pace of life and expectations have changed so now people want to be in and out ASAP.

The temperature and general condition of the place goes no way to improving the mood of the shoppers or the motivation of the staff. I really do wonder how they mange in that heat... Indeed, I installed air-con in one of my offices for the staff and the temperature was a lot less (now they moan because it's too cold!!!)

The grime really does put me off buying much from there and I tend to go next door.

[mtricks]

Hi

i agree wiht some of the pionts raised here, The Co op is a large company way is a shop like this that is alwasy busy aloud to get in sucha state in the first place.

[Raz]

Hi guys,
i dont know if you've visited the store within the past week or so but we have finally had new air-con fitted and now have staff wearing jackets because of the temperatures. the new fridges are soon to follow, however the wine/beer will still not be switched on. Planning permission posters are fitted outside the store about the proposed plans so have a look I'd also like to say that in a way i am pleased that some people have actually felt sorry for us having to work in the heat that we did as other customers said that WE (staff) were to blame and it doesn't make us feel all that great. We know the store needs ALOT of help but at the end of the day its all the bosses at head office that have a say. We are only there to do our jobs and satisfy customers, and given the state of the store we do as best we can. we can't work miracles

[appropriatebridge]

appropriatebridge, on 10 August 2010 - 01:44 PM, said:

Happy to add my support to the campaign. The text of my email to Co-op HQ reads:

"Yvonne

There have been many discussions on the Burley Village internet forum about the bad state of the Co-op in Burley. You can see some of these at http://www.wharfedal...y-burley-shops/

Conditions there seem to be going from bad to worse and in the hot weather, the temperatures have been unbearable. The floor is in a disgusting condition and there are issues about the fresh foods. Essentially, it is chaotic. I used to be a regular visitor to the shop but now mostly go elsewhere. Probably a boycot campaign should be organised until conditions improve but this is a useful amenity for some which they would not want put at risk and it would be a pity to perhaps cause staff to lose jobs through no fault of their own - although as you can see from the forum, some would not be missed!

Having said that, it is not surprising that some staff are grumpy given the conditions in which they have to work.

I believe you have given previous indication that refurbishment work was to start later this year and as we are now in August, planning work must have been started in order to complete tendering and evaluation in time to make a start this year. Can you please provide an update.

Reply received which states:

"Thank you for contacting the Co-operative Careline regarding the store in Burley in Wharfdale.

We are aware that the store is in need of improvement, however the refurbishment has been put on hold at the moment whilst we try to source another site.

In the meantime we have installed new air conditioning units and hope to have some new chiller cabinets in place over the next few weeks.

We can only thank you for your patience whilst the matter is resolved.

Yours sincerely
Yvonne Hulmes
Customer Relations"

[Wharfedale]

Another site! Ex-carpet shop?

[LEE122]

Wharfedale, on 20 August 2010 - 06:05 AM, said:

Another site! Ex-carpet shop?

It has to be the obvious choice, not big enough to cram in too much and affect the little shops, greengrocers etc but big enough to provide what is needed, including parking, ...do the powers that be at co-op HQ even know its available though?

personally I think it would be a shame if it moved from its current location, I think I would rather see it renovated where it is although the parking is rubbish and delivery access...hmm maybe not!

only trouble is what would become of the current store?...another take away/restaraunt maybe?

[spyglass]

Wharfedale, on 20 August 2010 - 06:05 AM, said:

Another site! Ex-carpet shop?

From the co-ops point ov view I can see the carpet shop would be a better bet but in a way I hope they dont go there. At the moment some people will go to the co-op and buy a few things then maybe use some of the other shops for other stuff. If the co-op goes to the carpet shop this will be a long way (yes I know its not really far but lots of people are idle)from the other shops and as it will probably have more stock people will do more of their shopping there to the detriment of the other shops.

Alternatively because it has parking more will use the carpet shop by car. If they still want to use the other shops they wont walk so we might have even more cars around than usual.