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Archive => Archived Boards => Recommended Businesses & Services => Topic started by: Razzle24 on January 07, 2016, 09:33:52 PM

Title: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: Razzle24 on January 07, 2016, 09:33:52 PM
Does anyone know why Raja Bros is shut?
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: Dizzy Penguin on January 08, 2016, 08:06:31 AM
They're closing up and it's becoming a Spar, opening mid to late Jan AFAIK.
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: marveld on January 09, 2016, 09:46:14 PM
They're closing up and it's becoming a Spar, opening mid to late Jan AFAIK.

I appreciate that business plans and personal circumstances can change, i.e. Raja/Premier's decision to sell up. However, on hearing this news, I can't help thinking of Mel and his family starting up as the Spar not that long ago. I'm not posting this message to rake up old wars between the stores on this forum. After all, business is business. I just find it a tad sad. Hey, it might be Mel coming back  ;)
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: marveld on January 09, 2016, 10:31:25 PM
Coming soon:  :D

http://rosehillmall.co.za/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MG_2846-1038x460.jpg (http://rosehillmall.co.za/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MG_2846-1038x460.jpg)
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: Middle wood on January 10, 2016, 04:43:54 PM
The shop has been closed for the last few days (possibly longer -I tried to buy milk there on Friday). Does anybody know if they are away or has the shop permanently closed?
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: chicken lady on January 10, 2016, 04:52:55 PM
Karma.
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: admin on January 11, 2016, 03:39:05 PM
The shop has been closed for the last few days (possibly longer -I tried to buy milk there on Friday). Does anybody know if they are away or has the shop permanently closed?

You may be dubious about the initial reply that it is becoming a Spar but there is a big sign on it today that says "Spar coming soon".

Ironic eh!
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: Middle wood on January 11, 2016, 05:20:04 PM
I must admit that I didn't think that the references to a new Spar were genuine.

As marveld says it's all rather sad.
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: ringi on January 12, 2016, 01:39:28 PM
The only way the new owner will get me into the shop often is to have Amazon Lockers, or join “Pass my Parcel”.    Once I am in there I may even buy something.....

(We only used Raj when we run out of milk, as the salad was not nice enough for when we run out of salad.)

If only both shops could be combined to give us something of real use like a Tesco Express, then I may drive less often when we needed a little shopping.
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: hollins on January 12, 2016, 02:55:20 PM
One thing that would definitely get me into the shop would be a Post-Office Counter - preferably with some decent opening hours on a Saturday. Amazon lockers - as suggested by Ringi - might be useful (although you do pay a premium for this service).

I was under the impression that Mel had actually stopped being part of the Spar franchise before the kerfuffle with Raja Brothers.

The shop is in an ideal location for anyone getting there on foot from the Rose Hill estate or commuters walking back from Rose Hill station or schoolchildren walking back from Marple Hall. If you were in a car I suspect you would be more likely to go for the extra choice (and parking spaces) at ASDA or the Co-op/garage.

Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: amazon on January 12, 2016, 08:22:22 PM
One thing that would definitely get me into the shop would be a Post-Office Counter - preferably with some decent opening hours on a Saturday. Amazon lockers - as suggested by Ringi - might be useful (although you do pay a premium for this service).

I was under the impression that Mel had actually stopped being part of the Spar franchise before the kerfuffle with Raja Brothers.

The shop is in an ideal location for anyone getting there on foot from the Rose Hill estate or commuters walking back from Rose Hill station or schoolchildren walking back from Marple Hall. If you were in a car I suspect you would be more likely to go for the extra choice (and parking spaces) at ASDA or the Co-op/garage.
Do they still do amazon lockers .if a post office counter goes in you wont have amazon lockers .
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: Middle wood on January 12, 2016, 11:11:00 PM
I'd only recently used the Hermes return courier service at Rajasthan which was very handy. These extra services do make a difference to tempt you into the smaller convenience store.
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: Marple Inside Trader on January 13, 2016, 09:05:27 AM
Raja Bros was excellent when it first opened and i didn't like the way Mel was with the chaps who ran Raja , on one occasion Mel came out and stood staring at me with an aggressive look because i went into Raja and not Spar ? That's not Great business practise.

However since spar closed , Raja Bros has declined greatly , its prices are much higher than supermarkets , for example at Christmas i went for a bottle of baileys 700ml and it was £18.99
i went to asda got 1 litre for £10 ....

I hope the new spar is a cheap alternative to Coop petrol station and opens later to accommodate the 10pm close throughout marple
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: Dizzy Penguin on January 13, 2016, 09:10:04 AM
They got a bad "press" on here for want of a better word, and I don't claim to know that much about the conflict with Mel, but I'm a supporter of local businesses over monopolising chains and suffice to say I was on Mel's side, albeit from a not-knowing-all-the-facts and reasonably distant distance.

But I have to say, I only ever heard good things about the staff at Premier outside of this forum. For instance someone I know popped in on christmas day to offer the staff a mince pie, and someone (Cameron I think) was chuffed and gave them a decent bottle of red on the house as a thank-you.
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: Marple Inside Trader on January 13, 2016, 10:12:12 AM
I wonder if the new spar will be the same team ? (Not mel)

and also in regards to your previous post , i agree with most but am a little unsure of

 I'm a supporter of local businesses over monopolising chains

Isn't the spar a 'monopolising chain '???

Also i used to discuss the conflict with spar and mel with the Raja boys and from their account , the annoyance was Mel didn't like that ,a new shop, opened as competition to his . I tend to find this a believable account , mainly because of the incident i had and he had issues with my shopping elsewhere .
This is Business and in business you have to adapt and to market yourself  , for example Raja was open at 6.30am for the School and work rush , spar opened about 9am , and likewise raha closed at 10.30 vs 9.30 for spar .  Its about offering the community something they need , and spar offered me the same as Raja , only spar did it at a higher cost and with time implications .

Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: Dizzy Penguin on January 13, 2016, 10:17:32 AM
in regards to your previous post , i agree with most but am a little unsure of

 I'm a supporter of local businesses over monopolising chains

Isn't the spar a 'monopolising chain '???

I know it was a Spar previously, but to clarify, I was talking about Rose Hill Stores...... which as far as I know is not a chain  :P
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: ringi on January 13, 2016, 06:25:15 PM
One thing that would definitely get me into the shop would be a Post-Office Counter - preferably with some decent opening hours on a Saturday. Amazon lockers - as suggested by Ringi - might be useful (although you do pay a premium for this service).

Next day to the lockers are "free" with prime membership,  I think normal delivery is now free to the lockers if you spend enough.   (£20 none books, £10 books, but we have had prime for long enough that I may be wrong on this.)

"Pass the Parcel" is best:
"Items ordered with Evening Pickup will be available for collection from 20:00 that same day, if your order is completed before 11:45. Items ordered with Express Pickup will be available for collection from 09:00 (Monday to Friday) or 12:00 (Sunday) the next day, if your order is completed before 19:45."
free with prime, or normal delivery free if you spend enough.

"Pass the Parcel" is run by WHS and sends the amazon parcels on the vens with the news papers
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: ringi on January 13, 2016, 06:31:37 PM
Also being able to drop of dry cleaning and even ironing on the way to the station then pick it up a few days later on the way home would be great for some people.      Likewise nice coffee if they are quick.  But when I did once try to buy a news paper there was so many school kids that had just got off the train I was trying to catch, that I could not even get in!

Just don’t fill the space up with items like tins that keep forever and we buy from Tesco (when on offer) or CostCo in bulk.
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: Dizzy Penguin on January 14, 2016, 09:17:36 AM
Yes. Parcels, fresh coffee & laundry. It would also be handy if they could offer a creche service and look after the kids while we're at work. And maybe during the staffs lunch break they should do the rounds of everybodies houses and clean their ovens.

It's a newsagents for goodness sake.........
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: hollins on January 14, 2016, 11:42:57 AM
It's a newsagents for goodness sake.........
Ah, Dizzy Penguin, you would be amazed ...
http://www.spar.co.uk/services/in-store/post-office (http://www.spar.co.uk/services/in-store/post-office)
(Their website skills aren't very good, though.)
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: ringi on January 14, 2016, 03:33:16 PM
It's a newsagents for goodness sake.........

No its a way to make money! 

(And the time I wished to buy a newspaper both of them told me they did not stock the FT even on the day after the budget.)
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: Lily on January 14, 2016, 09:18:35 PM
Have done a bit googling and found this
http://stonespar.co.uk
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: ringi on January 15, 2016, 07:16:07 PM
So half the readers of the group will refuse to shop there as it is owned by a "company"......
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: Condate on January 15, 2016, 09:17:31 PM

Isn't the spar a 'monopolising chain '???


Err... Spar is a symbol group, not a chain.
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: sgk on January 16, 2016, 12:46:28 PM
Err... Spar is a symbol group, not a chain.


Indeed - http://www.spar.co.uk/about-spar (http://www.spar.co.uk/about-spar)
Our conveniently situated stores are owned and run by locals, for locals.
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: ringi on January 18, 2016, 09:46:30 AM
But stonespar.co.uk is a chain!
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: kerry452 on April 18, 2016, 07:15:59 PM
On the topic of Spar does anyone know the opening hours? Its says on their website 24hrs.
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: amazon on April 18, 2016, 07:40:59 PM
On the topic of Spar does anyone know the opening hours? Its says on their website 24hrs.
Do they have a phone no .
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: amazon on April 18, 2016, 07:42:17 PM
Do they have a phone no .

why have you put re Raj Bros .
Title: Re: Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)
Post by: admin on April 18, 2016, 07:56:14 PM
On the topic of Spar does anyone know the opening hours? Its says on their website 24hrs.

Their phone number is 0161 236 2230 and email info@stonespar.co.uk
If it says 24 hours on their website is there any reason why you think it's not that @kerry452 ?


why have you put re Raj Bros .

That was the name of the original thread when it was started - I've changed it to "Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)"