Frances wrote on Dec 11^th, 2013 at 8:25pm:


variable?

agreed..

We have 3 IGA stores within 10 kms approx of each other. One is terrible, I do not like going in there at all. The other two, are much better, but the best one is the one that has upgraded and expanded in Seville, and lo and behold, they will be up against so stiff comp, because, I think it's Woolworths, is building a giant supermarket, concrete prefab falls are up, and quite frankly, I don't think we needed another supermarket, not in a country town like Seville. This will be interesting to see what happens now. But it ruins the look of the village type township it was. Now, as far as Coles goes, in Lilydale, they upgraded something unbelievable, but at the same time, the old Lilydale Marke place shopping centre truly did upgrade amazingly, with underground parking, Dick Smith store, cafes, food court, Aldis, Woolies, fresh fish (all Australian), expensive as all hell, but absolutely beautiful fish, Millers, Sanity, cake shops, donut king, ANZ bank just shifted there last week, new Bank of Melbourne just opened up today by the looks of it, Spec savers, Big W, reject, so you get the drift of some of these shops how amazing this place has become, well, this Coles supermarket that upgraded is struggling, it is the best priced supermarket with markdowns you would not believe. I took my friend there, and she was amazed, I said, "It's one of my best kept secrets about Lilydale and where to shop cheaply, coz they are struggling".....she said she saved at least $60 from shopping there compared to Woolies (or is it Safeways) in Monbulk. Now their prices are a bit horrendous. So it's not all Coles that are expensive, this one is doing me huge favours by being so cheap. I am so happy about it, for a change! (pardon the pun  )

I'm surprised to hear buzz, given your vociferous condemnation of Aldi over a long period, that you have visited it twice & only a month apart.

Hope you saved a motza.

IGA is so expensive and disgusting.

Obviously, IGA stores are owned individually, depending on the owner, the frame of mind, reflects the store's appearance and quality. The best one for me is in Seville, absolutely upmarket and classy with a variety of gourmet stuff that is locally made, a little pricey, but fresh and so unique, the others are either dingy, or just average.
It is probably much the same with McDonalds, as we travelled a lot, driving between Victoria and Queensland, we always stopped at Maccas for a coffee, and I can tell you, the difference is noticeable there too, depending on whom is managing it. One I can't remember where it was now, somewhere in NSW, was the pits, dirty floors, and the toilet looked as if it wasn't cleaned in a month! I just could not get over it. And their drink had black things floating in it, I had to go up and ask what it was, they said it was bits of oreo that must have accidentally gone in there. Really? Never had it happened before in a Maccas store, ever! When we stopped at another one along the way a few hours later, the difference was so noticeable, I had to say to the manager, how beautifully clean it was and commendable. Fancy that, me noticing the different McDonalds for their cleanliness. One thing I truly dislike about some of them, their toilet doors are in line with the coffee area, and if you walk in a straight line, could almost land in the kitchen part. Bad design idea me thinks. Toilets too close to a kichen area.