The Co-operative

I wouldn’t usual review a chain store let alone one that’s a supermarket, however I think the service provided in my local co-​op is exceptional and worth a mention.
The staff in the shop are so friendly and helpful it’s always a pleasure being served there, always inviting a chat about how your day’s been and helping if you can’t find something. I’ve seen them help older customers a number of times carry their groceries out of the shop as well if they’ve got a heavy load.
Good service goes a long way in my opinion and I can’t stand rudeness in supermarkets. It’s very unlikely you’d find rudeness here, quite the opposite. Co-​op Fishponds I solute you!

The bakery section is nice. The way it’s laid out is pretty cool, and attractive. The only thing is, I personally wouldn’t put it right by the door. But generally, it’s good and often you’ll find reduced items there.
Staff are very, very variable. Some are polite, helpful and nice. Some of them are so rude and unhelpful that I wonder how they are still employed there. Once I picked up a sandwich that wasn’t part of the meal deal (though it was on the meal deal shelf). When I pointed this out (politely), the member of staff was incredibly rude and disrespectful, just repeating over and over ‘it’s not in the meal deal’. Rude, and also a bit weird…
Most of the goods in the shop are, in my opinion, overpriced. They always, always have a massive bit of the fridge piled high with reduced items near the use by date. This is because their stuff is too expensive to begin with, so it doesn’t seem to sell.
Even reduced items are often a bit too pricey to be worth it!
I like the ethos of Co-​op, but the quality, cost and service have been going downhill in general for a while now. Don’t bother.
To be honest, if you’re down this way, you may as well just go down to Morrisons.

I wouldn’t usually bother reviewing a chain such as the coop, but my local Coop is a cut above the rest in eyes. This is all down to the lovely staff working there, there are a few staff in particular who are so friendly, always taking the time to ask how you are, how’s your weekend, what’s your plans for the evening etc. This might not sound much but it can make all the difference to some ones day.
There’s also a Post Office attached to it, for all your postage needs.
But really if your feeling glum buy your pint of milk from here and your sure to leave with a smile.

I’m a big fan of the Co-​op food stores, and as they go this one is OK. It has the post office in the back room (see separate entry for that).
They have a good bakery section — especially the croissants and rolls — which is delivered every morning. They have a fair range of fruit and veg (not packaged either, good eco points). They have the basics for the rest of the groceries — my only sticking point is that their baking section is a bit titchy and since the Co-​op in Staple Hill has changed to a Tesco (but Co-​op is technically next door with a Somerfield, keep up at the back) my baking needs are now having to be fulfilled all the way at the bottom of Fishponds in none other than Morrisons!
Anyway, open really late even on a Sunday, got a good range of items, sometimes the tills are a little slow but I think it is just because they are understaffed. Oh I should mention the staff — at the weekend almost entirely run by emos. Fantastic. And they are ever so polite.