It's the extras that make the difference

I started the ball rolling when I described the service, I had received from a mobile phone company as sluggish. All of a sudden, it seemed important for the fates to show me that I had overdone it.

We visited the wonderful Harewood House this weekend. I had lived many of my formative years within three miles of this estate and did not visit it. Now, living around 100 miles away, I finally got around to it. We took our picnic, with a leafy salad, some sandwiches and the like. After our first visit of the day, to the bird house, we decided to lunch.

When it comes to eating salad, I'm more of the shovel-it-in type than the prong-each-leaf-individually sort. Today, however, I decided to be more refined and go for the latter behaviour. The salad was resplendent in its oil-free mustard-based dressing. We did not have any croutons, but we had lovely cucumber, tomato, radish and, what's this under the leaf here? ah yes, a slug...

Tesco, washed and ready to eat salad, with free slug.

We returned to Tesco Extra, Kingston Park Newcastle upon Tyne, today. We showed them the little extra gift in our, now partially eaten and partially returned to the bag, leafy salad.

To their credit, the two ladies who assisted us in handling this matter, were very sympathetic. In fact, I have no complaint about the role of Tesco apart from the fact that the product was... erm... tainted. They sorted out a refund and they will be returning the remains of my lunch to their head office for examination and a letter of explanation. Watch this space. Within four to six weeks, I'll have their letter of excuse... or whatever they decide to send in order to avoid a call to Watchdog.

In general, supermarkets are very good about product returns. I have no complaints about Tesco's handling - indeed, I have only praise for the staff in the store who dealt with me. I would always advise entering a store with a clear head if you have to return a product. Give them the chance to sort it out - often they will.

20 May 2001
Ashley Frieze