It is seen as the preserve of backstreet pawn shops and daytime TV adverts, but now selling your gold could become as commonplace as your weekly grocery shop. Tesco has added to its ever-increasing range of services by launching its own Gold Exchange and is seeking to take customers' unwanted trinkets off their hands.
Am I the only one who is fed up with fucking greedy supermarkets, of which Tescos is the worst? Don't get me wrong. That's where I do my shopping too. But, I'm embarrassed when I drive through my local town and see vacant premises where once there were thriving Butchers, Fishmongers, Newsagents, Fruit shops and small grocers. Don't tell me that Supermarkets are cheaper, because in many cases they're not. Of course they have greater buying power which also puts small farmers and companies out of business.
Not only are the greedy bastards content to have vast stores out of town, but now 'express' stores are popping up, which hit what trade there is for small shops that are left on the High Streets throughout the country. All this adds to their multi-billion wealth and now they'll have you bringing in your gold to buy some groceries to feed the family. It's fucking disgusting!
So what's the solution. Well, I see it as two fold. Firstly, we should shop more in small stores in the town centre. Now I know that is not always feasible for families with little time or inclination to shop around. But those of us with more time should make the effort. What is needed is some sort of national campaign. The problem is that the supermarkets have penetrated all the small shop federations and throw money about like confetti.
Secondly, our councils should be hammering the rates for out of town shopping centres until Tesco's pips squeak and stop them opening stores in town centres. But, I've no doubt a good many of the politicians will be in the supermarket's pockets as well, if not personally then for the money they pore into a town to get a store open, which I understand can amount to millions of pounds.
