Website is misleading shoppers (From Gazette Series)

Website is misleading shoppers

SIR - I sent the following letter to Tesco this week:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for totally wasting my time this lovely Sunday morning.

My wife was away so I thought I would do her the honour of doing the weekly shop. I checked the Tesco website and to my delight it stated that the Thornbury Midland Way store was open 24 hours. So I drove the ten miles from Charfield to find the store is closed and does not open until 10am.

I have driven 20 miles, wasted half-an-hour of my time because the accuracy of information is pathetic. To say that I find this whole situation a little annoying would be a gross understatement, so would you be so kind as to correct this misinformation so as not to annoy any other innocent members of the public who foolishly believe that Tesco are a responsible, grown-up company.

Mark Davies, Wotton Road, Charfield

Editor's note: A Tesco head office spokesman said: "Most of our customers understand that 24-hour shopping does not apply to Sunday opening which by law is limited to six hours. However, we recognise Mr Davies's concerns and are looking at whether the information on our website needs to be clarified."