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Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster. PA Images

Northern Ireland: People told not to make Easter plans as lockdown is extended to April

Primary school pupils in the first three class years will return to face-to-face learning on 8 March.

LAST UPDATE | 18 Feb 2021

PEOPLE IN NORTHERN Ireland are being asked not to plan or book anything for Easter as the lockdown there has been extended until April. 

The Stormont Executive confirmed this afternoon that the lockdown is being extended until 1 April but people are being advised that this “won’t be the date that everything opens up”. 

This year, 1 April is Holy Thursday with Easter Sunday three days later on 4 April. 

Northern Ireland’s lockdown had been due to expire on 5 March but most of the elements are to be extended.

Some primary school pupils will return to class on 8 March and restrictions on outdoor socialising is to be eased slightly.

Click-and-collect will be also allowed for some retailers that were previously categorised as non-essential retailers. 

Speaking this afternoon, First Minister Arlene Foster said that “a full lifting of these restrictions is not possible at this point”. 

“We’re now at a time for patience and persistence, we believe the best way to win this stage of our battle against Covid-19 is to dig in, to secure the position we hold, and then to slowly move forward,” she told a press conference in Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

We understand and absolutely realise that people would like us to move in a faster manner in lifting the restrictions. But when you’re in a leadership position and when you realise the risks that come with that, sometimes you have to deliver that you have to go a little bit slower in relation to the restrictions.

The easing of restrictions on outdoor meetings means that from 8 March up to 10 people from no more than two households will be able to meet up in a park or public space. 

The measures are to be reviewed again on 18 March with Foster saying that the Executive will also “give direction” around Easter on that date. 

“We do obviously understand that Easter is a very important time for many families, and so will want to give advice at that time, so 18 March is the next date that will be reviewing all of the restrictions,” she said. 

Foster said the executive would publish a “decision making framework” for the executive’s exit from lockdown strategy on 1 March.

Northern Ireland Finance Minister Conor Murphy emphasised that “small and gradual steps are crucial” to easing restrictions and said that he too was concerned about Easter. 

“The advice would be not to be doing anything or booking anything for the Easter weekend, there will be a review as Arlene has said 18 of March. But I think the way the advice has been given today in that all of the numbers are going in the right direction,” he said. 

It’s a very gradual pace, there’s no rapid reduction and then obviously the vaccination progress process is rolling out very well, but this is going to be a slow re-entry into a more normal life. And I don’t think that this side of Easter there would be any serious easing of restrictions.

Murphy said inpatient numbers were still “very high” and that the lockdown exit strategy would provide more detail on how the region would chart a path back to normality.

The minister said: “While it’s not possible to provide the certainty that many people are undoubtedly seeking we do want to give people an indication of the sequencing of how the restrictions could be lifted when the time is right to do so and we hope next week to finalise our pathway out of the restrictions, which we will bring forward to the Assembly and the public as soon as possible.”

Schools 

The plan for the resumption of education will see primary school pupils in the first three class years (P1 – P3) return to face-to-face learning on 8 March.

Only vulnerable children and those of key workers have been in classrooms since January.

On 22 March, secondary pupils in key exam years – year groups 12 to 14 – will return to school.

P1-P3 pupils will revert to remote learning for a week on that date – for the week prior to the Easter holidays – to minimise the impact on infection rates of years 12-14 returning.

No decisions have been taken on whether other year groups will return to class after the Easter holidays.

Foster said during today’s briefing that it was important to have exam years returning: 

We took a balanced view that given that these young people in years 12 to 14 were not going to be able to sit exams we needed to have some sort of objective assessment of their ability. And in order to do that in the time period that’s available, then we did have to bring them back before Easter. 

Click and collect

At today’s Executive meeting, ministers also agreed to make relaxations to allow “click and collect” shopping from some outlets previously categorised as non-essential retailers.

From 8 March, click and collect will be permitted for shops selling baby equipment, clothing and footwear, and electrical goods.

Since Christmas, people in Northern Ireland have only been able to leave home for essential purposes such as work or exercise.

The deaths of another six people diagnosed with Covid-19 were announced by Stormont’s Department of Health today along with an additional 342 confirmed cases of the virus.

A total of 418 coronavirus hospital inpatients were recorded at midnight, 51 of whom were in intensive care.

- With reporting by Press Association

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    Mute Áine G
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    Apr 15th 2023, 10:18 AM

    One would definitely need a clubcard if you venture into Tesco, Dunnes recoup the savings on their voucher scheme if your not a savvy shopper. Lidl, a big fan, not because of their app but they are genuinely good value.

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    Mute Peter
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    Apr 15th 2023, 10:48 AM

    @Áine G:

    Dunnes will print the vouchers on your receipt if you’re not signed up for (or don’t scan) a club card

    148
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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Apr 15th 2023, 4:19 PM

    @Áine G: I prefer Aldi, but same logic. Just good value.

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    Mute Olive Whyte
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    Apr 15th 2023, 4:59 PM

    @Áine G: Dunnes don’t sell their data and you don’t need a Clubcard to get the discounts.

    36
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    Mute Carm(Orange Vampire)
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    Apr 15th 2023, 10:08 PM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: I think it’s interesting that TESCO and Supervalu advertise that they match Aldi prices. None of them say they match Lidl because Lidl is cheaper than Aldi. It used not be the case.

    12
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    Mute Richard Barrett
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    Apr 15th 2023, 10:53 AM

    I think Tesco are being too aggressive with their club card discounts, and they are applying them to alcohol, which I think is a very debatable policy. Personally, I want the freedom to shop affordably without handing over my data to a corporation like Tesco, and I think that legislation in this area is overdue.

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    Mute Fi Wyse
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    Apr 15th 2023, 1:01 PM

    @Richard Barrett: being an occasional drinker it’s nice to know that you can get savings on the alcohol with Clubcard rather than being forced to pay full price. That would make me go to Tesco.

    124
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    Mute bazhealy
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    Apr 15th 2023, 1:33 PM

    @Richard Barrett: you have the freedom to shop anywhere you like. Don’t like Tesco go shop in Lidl, Aldi, SuperValu. Take your pick. All these people giving out about Tesco, at least they are using the info to help decide what stock etc is needed in a particular store and what demographics they are catering too which ultimately is a good thing for the people who shop their regularly as they’ll find more of the things they like/need in their local shop.

    Wait until people get a load of what Google, meta etc are tracking and you get next to nothing from it! Worried about a store you don’t have to use when companies who have at this stage become essential infrastructure of the global economy also know what you had for breakfast but didn’t need you to buy it from them to know that!

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    Mute Stuart Stu
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    Apr 15th 2023, 1:51 PM

    @bazhealy: Currently, I find the idea of taking my pick of ANY shop is at odds with the reality of the situation. I buy from all of them. When Tesco doubled its price of passata to €1.20, I bought it from Lidl for €0.49. None of them have earned my loyalty, Tesco least of all. Its range has shrunk post-Brexit and it’s stopped stocking all the things that made it special. Now that it’s increasingly sourcing from Irish suppliers and that’s great but so is everybody else and they’re all selling the same stuff.

    56
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    Mute Paul Cunningham
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    Apr 15th 2023, 10:49 AM

    Theres a difference between using one because of the offers, and using one just to get the recommended retail price of something. Tesco are so bad with their clubcard scamming that I have just decided to shop elsewhere. Dunnes and SuperValu may be expensive, but at least they charge you a bogstandard rate with or without a clubcard.

    329
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    Mute Inno Items
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    Apr 15th 2023, 10:21 AM

    By shopping groceries online and having them delivered they have all my data anyway, so there is no point for me in not having a club card and using it. At least I can avail of the special offers.

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    Mute Peter
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    Apr 15th 2023, 10:49 AM

    @Inno Items:

    Do you get the freshest dates when you order online?

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    Mute Jo H
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    Apr 15th 2023, 11:07 AM

    @Peter: I have gotten an online shop from Dunnes several times and found the stuff to be much fresher than what I would have picked up on the shop floor. I don’t know if it is because it’s taken from the stock room or just that the delivery comes from a bigger/betttter store but quality is definitely superior

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    Mute Inno Items
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    Apr 15th 2023, 11:17 AM

    @Peter: No, I don‘t and this is a huge problem for me as I live alone and often struggle to use everything up before it goes bad, but due to long Covid I currently depend on deliveries as I am still not well enough to leave the house. Before that I would order non-perishable heavy things like mineral water online as I don‘t drive and shop myself for anything else.

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    Mute Sheila Bedford
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    Apr 15th 2023, 11:31 AM

    @Peter: no

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    Mute Sheila Bedford
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    Apr 15th 2023, 11:31 AM

    @Peter:

    No dates are bad

    15
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    Mute Inno Items
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    Apr 15th 2023, 11:46 AM

    @Jo H: Regading online shopping at Dunnes I made the same experience and think you might be right. I am in the city centre with the closest Dunnes Store to me being rather small, but get the deliveries from a big store.
    Tesco used to be the only doing deliveries and Dunnes only started to offer deliveries about a year ago and before that only used Buyme which did not work for me.

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    Mute Michael
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    Apr 15th 2023, 10:43 AM

    With Tesco you should use have the option “feel forced to use one”, could not afford to shop there with their prices before cc reductions. Scam

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    Mute S
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    Apr 15th 2023, 11:04 AM

    Tescos once referred to Ireland as ‘Treasure Island’. Here they are at it again digging for our data to use for gold.

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    Mute Margaret Deacon
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    Apr 15th 2023, 2:12 PM

    @S: and Tesco have never revealed their irish profit they just include in the uk figures

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    Mute GClare
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    Apr 15th 2023, 7:49 PM

    @Margaret Deacon: very very rarely use them, this being a huge part of that decision

    17
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    Mute Anna Carr
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    Apr 15th 2023, 11:25 AM

    Any savings at all are priority now. I’ve nothing to hide so I don’t really care. I have about 10 loyalty cards lol.

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    Mute Terry Fagan
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    Apr 15th 2023, 2:09 PM

    If you’re worried about data protection you may as well switch your phone off – for good.

    113
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    Mute Gareth Miskelly
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    Apr 15th 2023, 11:12 AM

    Tesco you kind of have to, prices without are astronomical sometimes. Scan as you shop is terrific to be fair.

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    Mute Chutes
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    Apr 15th 2023, 1:15 PM

    They are not loyalty cards, they are simply the easiest method for companies to track your purchasing.

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    Mute Peter Dunwoody
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    Apr 15th 2023, 4:58 PM

    They are all at it with their scams, If you look at the adds on the TV, for Tesco, there are promoting a particular Bottle of Wine, I have been drinking bottles of wine of late ( who hasn’t the pub scene is to expensive, as is purchasing a decent bottle of spirits), But this particular bottle of wine, originally, I could buy for €8.50, in Tesco’s ,but then they bumped up the price to €12.00, if you have a Clubcard, you can get it for €10.00, You can buy the exact same bottle of wine for €8.80, in Dunnes Stores, but even that is discounted from €11.00, I bought a jar of coffee in Dunnes Stores, on special, at €3.99, on the shelf, but was charged, €5.90 at the register, I went back took a photo, showed them and got the balance back, Went in to my local off licence, picked up two bottles of wine, believing, they were €9.95 each, went up to pay for them and was charged over €46.00 for the two, this happened the following night, with another bottle, this is becoming quite common of late, check your receipts, and question the store.

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    Mute Benny Mchale
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    Apr 16th 2023, 5:21 AM

    @Peter Dunwoody: Yea, happens all the time with Centras and Spars. They advertise something on special but it doesn’t “ring in” on the till. The error is ALWAYS in the shop’s favour though.

    21
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    Mute Darren
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    Apr 15th 2023, 3:07 PM

    Supervalu are far and away the poorest when it comes to loyalty cards, so much so that I hardly go there anymore.
    Voucher of say 8 off a 40 spend, scan your card a few times and that suddenly jumps to 15 off a 120 spend, much lower saving percentage and I wouldn’t spend 120 in 1 shop

    52
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    Mute ⚡ Seánie ⚡
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    Apr 15th 2023, 10:21 AM

    Have a look at Stocard, you can have them all on one App

    45
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    Mute Gearóid MacEachaidh
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    Apr 15th 2023, 11:03 AM

    @⚡ Seánie ⚡: I stopped using an app for my store cards. I found it was taking more time to open that than just swipe my key fob

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    Mute Gareth Miskelly
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    Apr 15th 2023, 11:13 AM

    @⚡ Seánie ⚡: most android phones come with a wallet app

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    Mute David J McDonagh
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    Apr 15th 2023, 12:34 PM

    What details would you give that could cause problems?

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    Mute Carm(Orange Vampire)
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    Apr 15th 2023, 5:19 PM

    Main reason I don’t shop in TESCO much and I never buy anything that has a club card price which is usually the correct price, if something is €5 as a clubcard price and €6.50 without a clubcard then in reality the price in other shops is €5. I’m lucky, I have about 4 supermarkets near me so can avoid Tesco easily.

    41
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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Apr 15th 2023, 12:30 PM

    I am not loyal to any supermarket. I buy items or brands not available in local family-run shops or farmers’ markets.

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    Mute Yvon Queguiner
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    Apr 15th 2023, 1:40 PM

    If you are all mad a Tesco because you can’t afford it, go shop somewhere else and stop moaning all day long.
    Regarding their data policy, well you use Google right? Maybe an iPhone or any other smartphone? Hypo crisy at its finest.

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    Mute Jeff Rudd
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    Apr 15th 2023, 3:27 PM

    * The Tesco’s card is part of a price con. Tesco’s have got a lot dearer – more so than the rest that have still done their own price hikes.
    * The Dunnes card is near useless for many, as the vouchers are time-limited. I refuse to use it.
    * The Aldi card is also useless because they don’t make it clearer how to use it to gain any discounts.
    .
    All are collecting public data, and many also selling that data onward to other private companies.

    38
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    Mute Martin O'Callaghan
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    Apr 15th 2023, 9:54 PM

    @Jeff Rudd: Aldi have a loyalty card now??

    9
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    Mute Derek O’Sullivan
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    Apr 15th 2023, 10:36 AM

    I use it when I’m getting my lunch. My wife is happy as well as she will get the points at the end of the month.

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    Mute Colm de
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    Apr 15th 2023, 8:18 PM

    Stuck in Dunnes’ tenner-off-per-50 cycle which is anything up to a 20% discount depending on how clever you play it. Though I’m interested to know if it’s a genuine discount or have they just upped their prices to pay for the discount.

    On saying that, I’m not really sure what details they could have about me that could do me harm. “It’s useful to them” isn’t the same as “It’s bad for me”. Ok they could try to trick me into spending more with targetted ads I suppose but I don’t see evidence of that and as long as you plan your shopping sensibly that shouldn’t be a worry.

    29
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    Mute Kevin Garvey
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    Apr 15th 2023, 10:19 AM

    You should have in the options list I have one but only use it when prompted by the cashier,the self service prompt you when the transaction is nearly done

    24
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    Mute Sheila Bedford
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    Apr 15th 2023, 11:38 AM

    I use one to shop online because I can’t carry my shopping but tesco dates can be bad

    24
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    Mute Inno Items
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    Apr 15th 2023, 12:26 PM

    @Sheila Bedford: I once got a delivery where everything was extremely fresh and I thought they might have changed only to find a letter notifying me that I had been randomly picked for quality control and had received the freshest items in store. I found this strange and thought why would they tell the customer that? For me the message read see what you could get but we are usually not giving you.

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    Mute Eamon Kelly
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    Apr 15th 2023, 3:24 PM

    Are there many benefits to the lidl app?

    16
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    Mute Jeff Rudd
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    Apr 15th 2023, 3:27 PM

    @Eamon Kelly: Not that others or I can find, so far!

    17
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    Mute Inno Items
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    Apr 15th 2023, 7:24 PM

    @Eamon Kelly: I could not find any. Every time I wanted to buy their special offers they were already out of stock or in case of some middle aisle items they had not been stocked in the store I shopped in the first place. I like to shop at LIDL and wished they would start online shopping with delivery and get rid of their Buyme affiliation, but I stopped using the app.

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    Mute Gerard Mooney
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    Apr 15th 2023, 3:50 PM

    Needs to be an option, have one and hate it.

    17
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    Mute Richard Carroll
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    Apr 15th 2023, 1:49 PM

    Do 95% grocery shopping online now and loyalty card Hooked into my accounts.

    11
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    Mute Liam
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    Apr 16th 2023, 9:13 AM

    Needs to be another option on the poll….

    Yes, I have a loyalty card but I don’t want to have to use it.

    Tesco used to be our one stop shop every week, but between loyalty cards and self-scanning the items into your trolley, it’s now a once a month trip to get get a few items I can’t get at Aldi or Lidl.

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    Mute Luke Ronan
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    Apr 16th 2023, 11:34 AM

    Hate the Tesco club card now. I go to Dunnes instead since they changed it

    6
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