People justify their use of Tesco by saying they are near the bread line and have to shop as cheaply as possible.
If people are so strapped for cash - why are there so many blackberries in the hedgerows of highly frequented places? (Just returned from Chittery Lane, one of the main routes up Hoad)
This reinforces my provocative view that people who shop at Tesco are hypocrites. Nothing wrong with that - we're all hypocrites in one way or another - but Tesco shoppers won't like to admit it! They aren't that short of cash - they just go for the unthinking option when if they must buy their blackberries, there is the Coop down the road.
Showing posts with label shops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shops. Show all posts
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Insurance - Swintons, replacement for Armstrongs
Not impressed!
A right pushy, hard sell outfit!
Gone elsewhere!
A right pushy, hard sell outfit!
Gone elsewhere!
Monday, 23 March 2009
An encouraging trend
Shops opening on Sunday.
Great.
Support them!
Well, stick your head in and say "Well Done !"
And now, Councillors, let's get free car parking on Sunday - it makes a lot of sense.
Great.
Support them!
Well, stick your head in and say "Well Done !"
And now, Councillors, let's get free car parking on Sunday - it makes a lot of sense.
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Tesco is coming!
If you like this leaflet, feel free to download it (below) and print off all the copies you want; we're waiving the copyright!Many will be welcoming Tesco and can't wait for it to open.
Personally I would have preferred to see Sainsbury or Booths here for those not satisfied with the service The Coop offer. Failing this then a host of small units occupied under an umbella organisation a bit like the indoor market but with really go ahead firms and organisations taking spaces. But this is not to be, because Tesco got there first.
So, let's show Tesco what we really think of them- by avoiding them!
First be well informed and download the above leaflet.
Here's the front
And here's the back.
If you think it's worth passing on to others tell them about this or print your own copies off for those without computers!
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Tourism disappointment
The news that the North East is getting a big influx of tourists is a Wake-up Call to Ulverston.
They are benefiting from overseas visitors thanks to the weak pound and a steady effort in promoting their area over the last five years.
By contrast our Town Council and Jayne Kendall have really let us down with a poor web site from a tourism point of view.
Thanks to Jayne we have great events here but we are sadly lacking in the skill to promote them over the Internet.
The Town Council's web site was a great disappointment from a tourism point of view, though good at informing us about the workings of the council itself.
GoUlverston, though an excellent service for local people, informing about businesses in the town, is not primarily aimed at promoting Ulverston abroad.The Town is really missing out and the empty shops reflect this.
The sad state of our streets does little to help, with the local Councillors not standing up to the County to get better service.
Ralph Spours, chairman of the Ulverston Traders Association, is out of touch, making a statement just a week ago that:
“Ulverston has become a thriving little town with the small shops and businesses."
He leads a divided group of shopkeepers.
The town is sadly showing signs of dying on its feet.
.
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Tesco - financial background
Here from Wikipedia:
See also Criticism of Tesco
Also the story in Inverness referred to as Tesco Town where it is claimed 51p in £1 spent on food is in a Tesco and an application for a fourth store has been defeated by local councillors 8 to 4 who are concerned about the effect on local shops. How I ask are Morecambe/Heysham getting on with three stores ?
Article in the Guardian - May 2008
"In May 2007 it was revealed that Tesco had moved the head office of its online operations to the tax haven of Switzerland. This allows it to sell CDs, DVDs and electronic games through its web site without charging VAT.[32] The operation had previously been run out of the tax haven of Jersey, but had been closed by authorities who feared damage to the islands' reputation.[32]
In February 2008 a six month investigation by The Guardian revealed that Tesco had developed a complex taxation structure involving offshore bank accounts in the tax haven of the Cayman Islands.[33] Tesco is in the process of selling its UK stores, worth an estimated £6 billion, to Cayman Island based companies set up by Tesco. These companies then lease the stores back to Tesco. At the time The Guardian claimed that this arrangement would enable Tesco to avoid an estimated £1 billion tax on profits from the property sales, and also to avoid paying any tax on continuing operation of the stores, as the rate of corporation tax in the Cayman Islands is zero. Tesco defended this arrangement, saying it has a duty to organise its affairs in a tax-efficient manner, and pointing out that the corporation already pays a lot of tax, including VAT on behalf of its customers, and PAYE and national insurance contributions on behalf of its employees.
Following these revelations, several MPs called for an inquiry into Tesco's tax avoidance schemes.[34]
Tesco issued a libel writ against the Guardian five weeks later. Tesco denied that it had avoided paying £1 billion corporation tax, but refused to answer further questions, or to clarify the purpose of the complex artificial tax structure they had created. Further investigations by the Guardian discovered that the tax structures were aimed at avoiding Stamp Duty Land Tax, and not corporation tax as originally thought. SDLT is leveled at 4%, and corporate tax at around 30%, so the figure of £1 billion tax avoided by Tesco has been revised to an estimated £90-£100 million.[35] According to the Guardian "Tesco has been involved in a game of cat and mouse with HM Revenue & Customs since 2003. On three occasions when the government has closed a loophole to prevent avoidance, Tesco has taken advantage of ingenious schemes to get around it. Tesco still has 36 stores wrapped up in UK limited partnerships - with Cayman Islands registered partners - which were established in 2006 before the latest loophole was closed."[35]
In June 2008 the government announced that it was closing another tax loophole being used by Tesco.[36] The scheme, identified by British magazine Private Eye, utilises offshore holding companies in Luxembourg and partnership agreements to avoid a corporation tax liability of up to £50 million a year.[36] Another scheme previously identified by Private Eye involved depositing £1 billion in a Swiss partnership, and then loaning out that money to overseas Tesco stores, so that profit can be transferred indirectly through interest payments. This scheme is still in operation and is estimated to be costing the UK exchequer up to £20 million a year in corporation tax.[36] Tax expert Richard Murphy has provided an analysis of this avoidance structure.[37] "
See also Criticism of Tesco
Also the story in Inverness referred to as Tesco Town where it is claimed 51p in £1 spent on food is in a Tesco and an application for a fourth store has been defeated by local councillors 8 to 4 who are concerned about the effect on local shops. How I ask are Morecambe/Heysham getting on with three stores ?
Article in the Guardian - May 2008
"In May 2007 it was revealed that Tesco had moved the head office of its online operations to the tax haven of Switzerland. This allows it to sell CDs, DVDs and electronic games through its web site without charging VAT.[32] The operation had previously been run out of the tax haven of Jersey, but had been closed by authorities who feared damage to the islands' reputation.[32]
In February 2008 a six month investigation by The Guardian revealed that Tesco had developed a complex taxation structure involving offshore bank accounts in the tax haven of the Cayman Islands.[33] Tesco is in the process of selling its UK stores, worth an estimated £6 billion, to Cayman Island based companies set up by Tesco. These companies then lease the stores back to Tesco. At the time The Guardian claimed that this arrangement would enable Tesco to avoid an estimated £1 billion tax on profits from the property sales, and also to avoid paying any tax on continuing operation of the stores, as the rate of corporation tax in the Cayman Islands is zero. Tesco defended this arrangement, saying it has a duty to organise its affairs in a tax-efficient manner, and pointing out that the corporation already pays a lot of tax, including VAT on behalf of its customers, and PAYE and national insurance contributions on behalf of its employees.
Following these revelations, several MPs called for an inquiry into Tesco's tax avoidance schemes.[34]
Tesco issued a libel writ against the Guardian five weeks later. Tesco denied that it had avoided paying £1 billion corporation tax, but refused to answer further questions, or to clarify the purpose of the complex artificial tax structure they had created. Further investigations by the Guardian discovered that the tax structures were aimed at avoiding Stamp Duty Land Tax, and not corporation tax as originally thought. SDLT is leveled at 4%, and corporate tax at around 30%, so the figure of £1 billion tax avoided by Tesco has been revised to an estimated £90-£100 million.[35] According to the Guardian "Tesco has been involved in a game of cat and mouse with HM Revenue & Customs since 2003. On three occasions when the government has closed a loophole to prevent avoidance, Tesco has taken advantage of ingenious schemes to get around it. Tesco still has 36 stores wrapped up in UK limited partnerships - with Cayman Islands registered partners - which were established in 2006 before the latest loophole was closed."[35]
In June 2008 the government announced that it was closing another tax loophole being used by Tesco.[36] The scheme, identified by British magazine Private Eye, utilises offshore holding companies in Luxembourg and partnership agreements to avoid a corporation tax liability of up to £50 million a year.[36] Another scheme previously identified by Private Eye involved depositing £1 billion in a Swiss partnership, and then loaning out that money to overseas Tesco stores, so that profit can be transferred indirectly through interest payments. This scheme is still in operation and is estimated to be costing the UK exchequer up to £20 million a year in corporation tax.[36] Tax expert Richard Murphy has provided an analysis of this avoidance structure.[37] "
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