Raj Bros (Now Stone Spar)

[Marple Inside Trader]

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 .

[Dizzy Penguin]

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.

[Marple Inside Trader]

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

[Middle wood]

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.

[amazon]

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 .

[hollins]

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.

[ringi]

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.

[Middle wood]

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.

[admin]

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!

[chicken lady]

Karma.

[Middle wood]

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?

[marveld]

Coming soon: 

http://rosehillmall.co.za/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MG_2846-1038x460.jpg

[marveld]

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 

[Dizzy Penguin]

They're closing up and it's becoming a Spar, opening mid to late Jan AFAIK.

[Razzle24]

Does anyone know why Raja Bros is shut?