One month before Christmas this year, I attempted to order my Christmas Turkey for collection a few days before Christmas at Waitrose's Comely Bank branch. Imagine my disappointment when the website advised that the Turkey which I selected was "sold out." "Sold out" one before Christmas, I ask you. I wrote to the new Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, (John Lewis owns Waitrose) stating that this failure, on the part of a major supermarket, to balance supply and demand was reminiscent of the former Soviet Union Food Distribution System and not what a regular customer expects from a major retailer in a modern market economy. I received a reply from Waitrose telling me that they "work with their suppliers." I am certain that Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Asda all work with their suppliers - it beggars belief that any of them would not work with their suppliers because it is in their interests to do so. Waitrose made suggestions of alternative Turkeys which they were able to supply but the fact remains they could not supply what I wanted one month before Christmas. The tone of the reply was perfunctory telling me that they work hard "to supply the products that I love" One of their "helpful" suggestions was ridiculous because I am diabetic and a treacle glazed turkey is not a good choice for a diabetic. Not enough concern or attention was given to the failure of Waitrose being completely sold out of something one month before Christmas. As a result of this, I have been shopping at Tesco and have found that it has improved beyond all recognition at my local branch with the items that I want to buy sitting on the shelves without any excuses for non availability; and very helpful staff around the store. I heard a manager at my local branch thanking a girl working on a display for doing such a good job. Appreciating workers is an underused tool in workplaces these days.