By Gemma Simpson, 6 November 2006 15:15
NEWS
Asda has announced plans to expand its internet services in a bid to take on rivals Sainsbury's and Tesco, having originally been slow to embrace ecommerce.
The Wal-Mart owned supermarket chain said the new online service will create 1,800 jobs for drivers, back-office staff and people delivering goods to customers' homes.
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An Asda spokeswoman said 157 out of the total 310 stores will offer online shopping by October next year, compared with just 91 at present, giving Asda a similar level of geographic coverage to Sainsbury's and Tesco.
But the store has some ground to make up on its largest rival. Tesco's online sales soared to almost £1bn earlier this year, with the online profit increasing by 54.9 per cent to £56.2m.
The Asda online service will offer food, health and beauty items, bedding, lighting, domestic appliances and electrical goods.
Comments
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1. Jane Brent
I started shopping online with ASDA and had trouble free deliveries for a while until the quality of the fruit and vegeatbles declined rapidly. I had to complain bitterly following one delivery when the salad bags I had order were 2 days out of date and the contents obviously well past their best. The customer services are very nearly unobtainable, unfriendly and have a do not care less attitude. They also overcharged me despite advertising the fact that my deliveries were free if I paid with an ASDA card. It has taken 2 months to get this sorted out,numerous telephone calls and not one line of apology. ASDA have a long long way to go to rival sainsbury/tesco where I now order from.
2. anonymous
I find it rather amusing when Asda say they are going to have a shopping war with Tesco and the likes. It would appear that the Walmart giant can't even get it right on their own shop floor. Things like Kingsmill bread has suddenly declined in its variety stakes at Asda, to a degree where in most stores you can only get one variety of Kingsmill bread. You don't seem to get single packets of crisps unless you spend hours looking for them. The so called fresh taste of Asda fruit and veg. is only so if you eat it on the day. (Mind you Tesco's Toasted tea cakes are only good if you make sure you eat them one day before the use by date.) If you mention these sort of things to Asda management they either ignore your request,or give you some patronising answer. Like , yes it is on order or the delivery lorry has delivered it but it hasn't been put on the shelf yet. The "price war " is already on but it is with the manufacturers of certain articles, that is going on . Leaving the customer thinking,well if they haven't got it here , blow them I will go to Tesco's or the Co-op.