Supermarket DisEconomy of Scale Name & Shame

System

Two disappointing contacts with big stores for me. I was mooching in Tescos, sent out without a shopping list, when I found an incorrect price tag in the beer and wine section. I was not buying the product, but pointed it out to a manager. She snatched it off the shelf and legged it, perhaps fearing I was trading standards or something.
Next, just up the road, I was going into Currys when two lads ran out looking like cliche panicing shoplifters. I went woah! but they sidestepped me into their car. So I simply took their index number, then as a manager ran out, asked if something had been stolen, he said yes, so I gave him the index number. He at first seemed to think I was some bizarre accomplice as he treated me with great suspicion (it was school holidays so I was in rugby shorts and tee shirt). Later the police came and took a statement, but Currys never wrote to say thanks. I shop at PC world now, but I guess they are part of the sme chain. Sorry. the second yarn is not much to do with incorrect pricing, but it was good to get it off my chest.

System

One thing to watch for is when food products are discounted because they are approaching their sell-by date.

My local Co-Op often has "Buy two for £**" offers on things like minced beef. When they reduce the price of a single packet on the last sell-by date, it remains more expensive than the unit price for buying two packets which are still well within their sell-by period.

System

:)Martin,

In Republic of Ireland a recent law has mandated the display of "unit" price on all displays...this means for example the price per litre is always shown thus making comparision easier.

Suggest this is something UK/NI should progress.

System

Sainsbury's "own" deluxe fruit and nut muesli: If you buy it in the small box size, it is the same price as other mixes in the same range. If you buy in the large bag, it then becomes around 50p more expensive than the others - all bags being the same weight. It still works out cheaper to buy the bag than the box, £/gm, but is more expensive than its cousins. Beats me!

System

Watch out for tins of Pedigree Chum at Tescos.
The six pack is cheaper than the 12 pack (which is actually a nine tin tray with three free tins!). Also, all the tins seem the same but the Tescos price comparison of price per kilogram sometimes uses the exact tin weight of 383g, and sometimes the manufacturers estimated weight of 400gramms. Thanks for the calculator on my mobile phone....lol ???

scubajon

How many really study the prices on the supermarket shelves. Here's one for you: ASDA...if you like cereals for breakfast, or indeed any other time of day, it is cheaper, cost per gram, to buy Shreddies in 500 gm packets that the larger 750gm packet. JC

System

Funny I should read this tonight!
Earlier this evening I went to Sainsburys for my shopping, when I left the checkout I went to the customer service desk with my last receipt from 11th July,on it I pointed out that I had been charged full price for both my chicken BOGOF...I was astounded when the girl looked at the date on the receipt and said '11th of July,that's rather a long time ago'. I pointed out that it's only 11 days and I have neither the time nor inclination to make a journey back to the store for a refund of £2.49. She gave me my refund but eyed me suspiciously as if I was having her on as the BOGOF is not on this week.
I spent £139 tonight and when I got home I went through my receipt (as I always do,i've been caught so often) and I had been overcharged on....crisps 0ne 12 pack £1.20 two packs £2.00...I had been charged £2.40....reduced Ginsters slice @ 99p I was charged £1.25....chipolatas....99p instead of 60p! So this time I got straight back in my car with the offending items and receipt,the store duty manager was extremely helpful and polite,I got a full refund on the total cost of all the items and I think the girl got a roasting, he said their policy is to refund in full,never question the customer and not to dictate a timescale for returning to the store for wrongly priced goods.
I will add I really like Sainsburys and will continue to go there but I will ALWAYS check my receipts. You should do the same,think how many people bought their crisps today with the kids off school and don't know they've paid 40p extra!!

Yeknodathon

interesting topic for me ....

Nowadays with "unit pricing" tickets on the shelf edge that converts prices into a common unit eg  "pence per litre". You should always look at these to ensure you are getting the lowest price.

Interesting topic to me too!! And the fun starts when comparing the "unit pricing" for one product against others. For instance, why are a lot of products frozen, fresh, baked canned or shrink-wrapped priced around the £5 - £7 range per unit... its strange, bizarre... a conspiracy?

My contribution: always buy loose veg and fruit rather than the packs, nearly always cheaper. Hunt around the lower shelves where supermarkets don't want you to look and if you like wine, its worth finding the odd good left-over vintage near the back of the shelf.... same price, better wine.

Anyway, sorry for flying off at a tangent... love this site. Cleared my credit cards and honed my bargain hunting skills all down to this site! Did someone mention £25 at First Direct?


Yeknod

scouselass

Don't you feel good to know that there are lots of us out there. Mad, obsessive and keeping our beady on on these prices.

I must look out for my fellow moneysavers at the local supermarket.....we can't be too difficult to spot can we?

up close and dangerous scrutinising those unit prices
clogging up customer service with our till receipts
10 hrs in the shop, with a basket of yellow label goods and every bargain under the sun
Bags under our eyes cos we sit up all night posting chat forums.
Boot full of toe separators
When we pay we have an armful of different cards to choose from
Then of course there's our internet coupons spilling out of purses and wallets
And the sales assistant with the bright red face because we are using our Durex coupons, which are the size of a postcard!

So next time you see me, say hello, and we'll have a coffee, but only if its, BOGOF

So what else is there to say except Nuts, not me. No I'm talking about Tescos, their 100g cashews are better buy than 200g.

loveabargain_6

Tesco small bags (2.5kg) of charcol are on offer making them cheaper than the 5kg ones!