Asda showdown

Having only been to an Asda once before my move down to Oadby, I (retrospectively) erroneously presumed that they were all like the formentioned branch. This is like thus:

• thin aisles difficult for two people to pass through at the same time

• obnoxious customers who antagonise the already fraught situation

• retarded (actually) or otherwise rude and disinterested staff

• guilty until proven innocent on the ID front, not much nicer when proof is given

That is why me sojourn to the Darlington branch of Asda was such a pleasant surprise. The expected thin aisles were actually about double the size of it's sister, people were polite and well-mannered and did not cause you trouble when you tried to get past. A query was taken to a member of staff who could not have been more obliging or friendly. The checkout boy engaged in friendly conversation, and one did not resent showing him ID because he was so nice about it (nice meaning not being aggressive). Another customer made a friendly joke at a snippet of overheard conversation between me and my friends. Overall, it was actually a nice experience at the Darlo branch as opposed to the torrid chore of visiting the Oadby branch.

I actually think a good part of the difference is due to the public attitudes towards shopping in Asda. In The Midlands, Asda was seen as downmarket and not a desirable place to be. In The North, Asda is a homegrown business, and thrifty Northerners on the whole simply love bargains, regardless of class.