Loose potatos not so cheap

tiff

and by the sack at £4 for 25kg it works out 16p/kg.

Clowance

The bakers in the bags / 4 packs are always small, and in my opinion not worthy of the name. However some people have them with their dinner, and therefore like them small. I prefer big ones (oooh errr) because when I have them they ARE my dinner (with cheese/beans etc). The loose ones are bigger. I have taken to buying them from Makro in sacks but again this year they are huge (even for me) and tend to have brown edged holes in the centres which you don't find until opening them.

onlyroz

Well yes, if you specifically want a large potato for serving as a "jacket", and you think the ones in the pre-packed bags are too small, then by all means select your own from the overpriced "loose" selection. However, if you're mashing/chipping/roasting then I think you're far better off buying a pre-packed selection, checking over the general quality before you just throw the bag into your trolley.

rogerblack

DCFC79 wrote: »

i dont think its a reason why pre packed are cheaper

They are easier to sell.

Quicker for the customer to select.
Less cleanup
No need for weigh-scales/bags/someone to check the bags are full
Less space needed, as you don't have to cater for crowding round the scale
Less preparation - you don't need to open the bags, and tip them out.
Health and safety - easier for staff to lift smaller bags.
Already barcoded, so till-staff don't get confused by varieties.

ladylouise62

I suspect that since potatoes vary in size much more than most veg, and smaller pots are worth less than larger ones, the 'loose' charges are higher to cover the fact that they may get left with lots of smaller ones.

Bogof_Babe

The ironic thing is, that if you fancy a jacket spud for your tea, why not have two or three smaller ones and save the extra cooking time a large one takes?

Middy

At work, we have packs of 4 jacket potatoes for 60p. I have seen customers not liking the selection of loose baking potatoes, opening a packet of 4 potatoes and selecting 2 of them. They go to my checkout and they come to 85p-£1.25. I think to myself, 'serves you bloody right!'

I don't eat that many potatoes and always buy a pack of 4 jacket spuds. They last me 2.5 weeks and are fine.

Middy

Another thing about the price of loose produce and prepacked stuff. When bananas were 98p a kilo earlier this year, it was cheaper to get the multipack of Basic bananas at £1.15. Now they are 68p a kilo, the price of the basic bananas hasn't changed. I get colleagues asking me to do a price enquiry with a pack of basic bananas which they are buying after work. Buying the same weight of bananas loose can be 25p cheaper.

Bogof_Babe

I put a tin of Sainsburys Basics potatoes (20p and quite a large tin) in a stew yesterday, with a tin of Basics sliced carrots. Both were absolutely fine, so if anyone thinks "fresh" spuds are too expensive then I recommend these as an alternative, especially in a casserole.