Sainsburys in Ripley is a good sized store, not one of the largest but big enough for the area. They have a good range of products including clothing, electrical, housewares etc as well as food. The store is normally well presented and clean.
Prices are often more reasonable than people expect, no more expensive than Tesco. Basics items are great value as most are very good quality and on a par with more mainstream lines rather than budget lines. The prices on some of the Basics lines do seem to be rising steeply and catching up with the next level though.
The store does however seem to be constantly understaffed with very few staff around when needed. Aisles are often clogged up with several of the online shopping staff and their trolleys of blue boxes for online deliveries, most of them seem more concerned with picking the items listed than helping or even leaving room for customers.
The instore tannoy system is one of the most annoying I've encountered anywhere. Not only do most of the staff shout down the mic in an unnecessary and unproffessional manner but they also seem to be calling out constantly. It can seem like all the store staff are forever being called to checkouts, maybe that's why there no staff left on the shop floor. Add all the tannoy sales announcements and it makes for a very loud and headache inducing experience.
During the afternoon or early evening there are always many empty shelves and out of stock items, milk, fruit, veg are not replenished. Much of the bread has very low dates, either same day or next day so not worth buying unless you intend to use a full loaf in that time.
At least the carpark is still free and not ruled by carpark cowboy cameras yet. read more
