Watch out for Tesco's Value

Elven_Princess · 2 March 2005 at 9:08AM

Whilst shopping in Tesco's lately I have noticed that they appear to be playing a nasty game. Several items were packaged as "Value" products, you therefore expect them to be the cheapest. However I saw a couple of things that were the same price as their standard products.

E.g. Value 1 litre Unsweetened Soya Milk - 65p
Tesco Brand 1 litre Sweetened Soya Milk with Calcium and vitamins - 65p

I even saw mouthwash where the Value one was 1p MORE expensive than their standard bottle. We are talking the same quantity here too. I checked the ingredients and the active ones were the same.

Another trick is with their labels. Their standard products were priced per 100ml or per litre etc but the value products were marked per item, making it really difficult to compare value.

E.g. Tesco "Weetbix" marked as £ per 100g
Tesco Value "Weetbix" marked as xp per biscuit.

This is all designed to trick us and make it more difficult to shop well. I am really cross about this as we are all trying to be careful with where we spend our money and we would naturally assume that by buying Value products we are being as thrifty as possible, when really we might be getting a substandard quality product for the same or MORE than Tesco's standard product!

Keep your eyes peeled and make sure that you check those prices before buying!!!!

Jolaaled · 2 March 2005 at 9:14AM

Also..Tesco Value chopped tomatoes are the same price as the plum ones, which you'd normally expect to be cheaper!

System · 2 March 2005 at 10:44AM

I really cant beleive you posted this:

E.g. Value 1 litre Unsweetened Soya Milk - 65p
Tesco Brand 1 litre Sweetened Soya Milk with Calcium and vitamins - 65p

I noticed the very same item last night when i was about to throw in my usual value soya milk into the basket. I had been thinking of increasing my calcium intake too and i was really chuffed when i saw it had extra vitamins and was the same price as the value equivalent. I cant say i have noticed other prices though, but will definately keep an eye open now.

Thanks for posting this.

Austin_Allegro · 2 March 2005 at 10:48AM

Thanks for posting this - with supermarkets employing psychologists etc to get the most money out of people, I suppose it's hardly surprising.

Caveat Emptor Frugalis!

Becles · 2 March 2005 at 12:54PM

Watch the special offers too. I've noticed they don't put the price per 100g on the special offer price ticket and price per 100g on the shelf ticket is applicable to the normal price.

I nearly bought two small jars of coffee on special offer, but when I worked it out, it was still more expensive per 100g than a big jar.

Gives your brain a good workout going shopping mind

Ticklemouse · 2 March 2005 at 2:10PM

At least there will be more of us, blocking the aisles in the supermarket, with queried and/or pained looks on our faces as we try to work out which is in fact, the cheapest, pound for pound.:D I've been doing this for ages because I refuse to get sucked into buying 'The Special' only to find out it was cheaper to buy another size. However, maths was not my strong point so it takes me a while. (Yes, it's me in Blackburn Tesco's, with the frown, talking to myself and wiggling my fingers around as I do those invisible sums:D

)

Galtizz · 2 March 2005 at 2:21PM

Try tacking a calculator or using the one on your mobile, if you have one.

Austin_Allegro · 2 March 2005 at 2:22PM

Haha yes, and it's me in Muswell Hill Sainsbury's staring into space trying to work out whether 1.1kg of soap powder at 58p is more expensive than 4.4kg at £1.65!

Mind you my shopping doesn't take long. I know exactly where the value products are and have my route planned out - no dawdling looking at the latest overpriced tat for me!

And Sainsbury's very kindly provides a little library of magazines at the checkout for me to read while I wait in the queue!

jazzyjustlaw · 2 March 2005 at 6:51PM

Sometimes I get the feeling we are fighting a losing battle!! I will continue to the bitter end. I think it really all is unfair. Are all the supermarkets at it? I buy the shops own as opposed to the value range I find this the best value for money.

halloweenqueen_2 · 3 March 2005 at 9:39AM

I do find it annoying that one things is in price per weight and what I want to compare it with is price per apple or something. I do only buy unsweetened soya milk though but morrisons one is much better and still 65p. Has an improved pouring spout now which means I don't do three cups of tea at once any more!

Austin_Allegro · 3 March 2005 at 11:56AM

jazzyjustlaw wrote:

Sometimes I get the feeling we are fighting a losing battle!! I will continue to the bitter end. I think it really all is unfair. Are all the supermarkets at it? I buy the shops own as opposed to the value range I find this the best value for money.

My philosophy has always been 'caveat emptor' - beware the buyer. We're not fighting a losing battle, because the internet has enabled us to share information and be more canny consumers. You have to remember that supermarkets are there to make profits and they'll do this by any legal means. Millions of pounds are spent trying to subtly confuse consumers into spending more money. You just need to make this work to YOUR advantage, not the supermarket's.

For example, many products sold on offers in supermarkets are 'loss leaders' ie the supermarket makes a loss, but relies on making up the loss by enticing you to buy other crap you don't need because you feel you've 'saved' money on the loss leaders. But if you're aware of this, you can just make the savings and get out of the shop quick!

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Watch out for Tesco's Value

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