BWS "McDonaldising" our Pubs

**Charliewool** · 23-08-2006, 07:59 AM

Hey, has anyone noticed how so many of our local watering holes have suddenly sprouted the Orange & Black BWS (Woolworth) colours?
I know the Taverner group is one of many hotel chains that have been taken over by BWS in Woolies push to have a monopoly on all the pokie venues.
In doing this, they have standardised all their bistros in that every BWS menu is the same, the prices the same (AND way overpriced), the food the same AND very ordinary, and even having cut out bread rolls to save a few cents.
Drink prices (Bar & Bistro) have been made the same across the board in every BWS establishment! Happy hours also have been abolished.

I see this as the demise of the "corner pub"!... Your thoughts?

:

LTDHO · 23-08-2006, 08:07 AM

The corner pub or 'local' died the day Pokies were invented.

Scott · 23-08-2006, 08:27 AM

ooops.

BTTB · 23-08-2006, 08:11 AM

Woolworths the new plague of the century

BAFalconXT · 23-08-2006, 09:02 AM

We should remember that it is Woolworths that owns BWS. They have bought every bottle shop in Murray Bridge, including the Pub with a drive thru bottlo. Prices here are crazy, maximum rrp for everything. Its interesting Woolworths will screw people under the BWS name, but not their own....

melbzetec · 24-08-2006, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAFalconXT

We should remember that it is Woolworths that owns BWS. They have bought every bottle shop in Murray Bridge, including the Pub with a drive thru bottlo. Prices here are crazy, maximum rrp for everything. Its interesting Woolworths will screw people under the BWS name, but not their own....

If they have literally taken over every bottle shop in Murray Bridge and jacked up prices, sounds like a case for the ACCC. Write them a letter

Perana · 24-08-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melbzetec

If they have literally taken over every bottle shop in Murray Bridge and jacked up prices, sounds like a case for the ACCC. Write them a letter

I live in Muarry Bridge.. The bottle shops have always been very expensive here.. In my experiance they are now cheaper than they were but still too dear compared to the likes of Dan Murphys etc, but I have yet to compare prices to BWS stores in Adelaide.

4.9 EF Futura · 23-08-2006, 10:35 AM

Ah yes - the evils of large corporations!!!

Waiting to hear some ranting about what their doing to suppliers as well!!!

Australian Ford Forums - the heroes of cottage industry!

Lumpen Proletariat · 23-08-2006, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

Ah yes - the evils of large corporations!!!

Waiting to hear some ranting about what their doing to suppliers as well!!!

Australian Ford Forums - the heroes of cottage industry!

LOL...

Nah, it's better they eliminate all competition, screw people into the ground and then sell to a nice foreign company

:

Lumpy

sleep:

promina · 23-08-2006, 01:47 PM

they dont have standardised menues.

ALH were the ones that wanted to standardise the menues, woolworths serverly restrict what you can buy from suppliers, which makes it appear that the menues are the same. woolworths on a whole, are slightly better than alh... alh wanted to make the kitchens knifless.

woolworths dictates what suppliers you can use, it just so happens that they choose the worst ones.

as for happy hour, there is no realy point to it anymore. you cant get to drunk before its illigal to be servered. and those facilities that do have a happy hour are watched constantly by the authorities... and its a big risk to take by the manager who can get an 18k fine.

new2ford · 23-08-2006, 01:50 PM

Come on, this is big corporations. Coles is the same. I've seen one shopping centre with both Coles and BiLo. People probably think they're competing against each other. Target and K Mart are the same, so are Dick Smith and Tandy. Its all food for the gullible. Fortunately in NSW we have Franklins and Aldi and plenty of independent pubs still in the inner city. Service stations its another matter unfortunately. The logical answer is to for everybody to boycott Coles and Woolworths but every time I go past one its an ant's nest of people inside. Basically most people don't care and don't mind being ripped off.

I wonder if anybody buying a Mazda or Volvo congratulates themselves on staying away from buying a Ford!

max · 23-08-2006, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

Ah yes - the evils of large corporations!!!

Waiting to hear some ranting about what their doing to suppliers as well!!!

Australian Ford Forums - the heroes of cottage industry!

Well I guess Ajax Fasteners was a case in point.... but what did the big corporations do to make amends before they suffered the initial effects of having shot themselves in the foot? A rescue package! In the medium term cheaper than paying a kings ransome for nuts and bolts to be flown in from all aroud the planet. But getting back to booze outlets, I just can't go past Dan Murphy's. Seriously good prices. And corner pubs? I agree, they've gone to the dogs. Pokie parlours are the 21st century equivalent of opium dens. A disgrace to ALL who had a hand in their introduction.

4.9 EF Futura · 23-08-2006, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max

But getting back to booze outlets, I just can't go past Dan Murphy's. Seriously good prices

Yeah what's the go with dan murphys?? They're owned by woolies as well arent they? Or are they coles?

Its obscene how cheap they sell imported beer. If this is a by-product of a duopoly in the market then i say bring on the monopolies.

You should see what they charge for booze at my local non-corporate owned bottleo!!

And... large chains selling alcohol for the recommended retail price - how dare they?!?!?

Or is the australian-cobber-mate-fair go-egalitarian way to sell items at a discount?

max · 23-08-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

Yeah what's the go with dan murphys?? They're owned by woolies as well arent they? Or are they coles?

Its obscene how cheap they sell imported beer. If this is a by-product of a duopoly in the market then i say bring on the monopolies.

You should see what they charge for booze at my local non-corporate owned bottleo!!

And... large chains selling alcohol for the recommended retail price - how dare they?!?!?

Or is the australian-cobber-mate-fair go-egalitarian way to sell items at a discount?

Are they(owned by Woollies)? Well I'll be shiggered. I would estimate that I could spend about an hour a week there just looking, choosing. I like me reds so my favorites are up to 25% cheaper than the 'bottlo'. Still got to stroll over to Woollies for my cheaper ciggies (and cheese & pate to go with the wine). Still its all under the one wonderful roof at Westfield Marion.
Got to love living down this neck of the woods. Who cares the monopolies/duopolies. Still the best place to shop around, save and enjoy in ol' Adelaide!

4.9 EF Futura · 23-08-2006, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max

Are they(owned by Woollies)? Well I'll be shiggered. I would estimate that I could spend about an hour a week there just looking, choosing. I like me reds so my favorites are up to 25% cheaper than the 'bottlo'. Still got to stroll over to Woollies for my cheaper ciggies (and cheese & pate to go with the wine). Still its all under the one wonderful roof at Westfield Marion.
Got to love living down this neck of the woods. Who cares the monopolies/duopolies. Still the best place to shop around, save and enjoy in ol' Adelaide!

http://www.woolworthslimited.com.au/

It is indeed one hell of a liquor store!! Long live woolies

MethodX · 23-08-2006, 05:16 PM

the big companies are lobbying to have pharmacies in supermarkets now.

bad idea
Privacy wise at least.

XRchic · 23-08-2006, 12:20 PM

Woolworths must be buying the pubs etc off someone! Perhaps if people dont want to lose their pubs, then stand up against the large corporations and refuse to sell... hard I know, if offered enough money.

If its that bad, people will talk with their feet and wont come to places like that and they will be forced to improve their game and the market will right itself - we hope.

I hate pokies, I loathe them. They are a completely unncecessary, evil thing.

BlueRaven · 23-08-2006, 01:28 PM

I had forseen this happen.

One day, everything you buy will be bought from a shopping centre. Anything you can't buy from there would be hardware or some food places. The idea of shopping in another city is what kind of 'range' they have in different states.

All Hardware will be Bunnings. All alchohol will be BWS. All food will be the same chains, over and over again.

People get way to comfortable with 'who they know'.

parawolf · 23-08-2006, 02:18 PM

i guess thats why I like living where I do. There is one BWS location nearby, but it is almost empty nowadays.

The proper 'locals' now have signs out the front saying "Pokie free since 1889". Far better food, table service, atmosphere and cheaper drinks. I prefer to buy my liquour at the drive through liquorland than the BWS too - even though the BWS is closer.

BlueRaven · 23-08-2006, 02:23 PM

I'm all for barracking for the little guy or the underdog.

promina · 23-08-2006, 02:30 PM

^ lol

says he with the ronald mcdonald avatar

BlueRaven · 23-08-2006, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by promina

^ lol

says he with the ronald mcdonald avatar

How many times i've wished I was Ronald in that photo :P

Fairlane · 23-08-2006, 03:55 PM

Ahh the joys of living near Newcaslte. The local corner pub is still alive and well.

Though this trend of Supermarkets buying pubs is really worrying. In fact the trend of Supermarkets buying everything is scary.

Outbackjack · 23-08-2006, 04:06 PM

The local pubs out here are alive a thriving. Gotta love the tod tavern...

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MO · 23-08-2006, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outbackjack

The local pubs out here are alive a thriving. Gotta love the tod tavern...

:

Thats ...Todd Tavern..Outbackjack your a wimp..and full of it!!!!!!!!!!

MO · 24-08-2006, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO

Thats ...Todd Tavern..Outbackjack your a wimp..and full of it!!!!!!!!!!

Go on, make the Animal bar your watering hole...............LOL.

Sorry outbackjack...could'nt resist.

csv8 · 23-08-2006, 04:45 PM

Wait until WALMART takes over COLES,you ain't seen nothing yet!!!

opto · 23-08-2006, 06:53 PM

You forgot the relationship with Caltex also.

Woolworths are very dictatorial to their suppliers, they tell them what prices they want to purchase stuff at, especially the fruit and veg growers, they get a small pittance of the shelf selling price, Woolworths profits, I think they just made more than a billion dollars in profit this financial year.

new2ford · 23-08-2006, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opto

You forgot the relationship with Caltex also.

and Coles with Shell

and the taking over of independent servos to reduce competition in petrol retailing.

And as csv8 said, you ain't seen nothing until when Walmart buys into it.

Smoked · 23-08-2006, 09:17 PM

Buy grog from Dan Murphy's (might be wollies, but its cheap)
Meats from local Butcher
Veg from local Grocery market
Fuel from BP

Try and avoid giving the Monopolys my money where possible.