Storelifters - Unjustifiable Price Hikes

KorkyKat

That's right, you are reading the title correctly. These are the opposite to Shoplifters which we hear about all the time except the large stores call it shrinkage.

And so I would like to take up a bit of space on Martin's wonderful site to name and name and shame all the stores that shrink or Storelift their customer's purses and wallets with unjustifiable price increases.

Unless this thread gets deleted I will be making a careful watch over various products over the next few months and will let you know when and where unjustifiable price increase are made. Prices, that is, that exceed the CPI.

The first one is Asda. Here is a copy of a letter I sent to them recently. So far they have not replied.

"I have been a customer of ASDA before it was part of Wal-Mart. I have never had any problems before but of late I have noticed that you have been increasing prices on some grocery items way beyond the CPI and RPI.

This morning I checked your ASDA own brand Soya milk. Before Xmas it was 59 pence a unit. Today it is 69 pence a unit. That is equivalent to a 16.949% increase!

The current CPI is 4.8% Would you care to explain why you are exceeding the government's inflation target and making shopping more expensive for your customers? It has nothing to do with world commodity costs because your nearby competitor, Aldi, is still selling the same Soya milk at 59p.

I also bring to your attention that two weeks before Xmas you had on sale a 10 sachet pack of Nescafe Capuccino at £1.50 a unit. During the Xmas week this increased to a staggering £2.50 or a 66.66% increase! Rather a large amount just for a pretty Holly packaging don't you think?

I look forward to your response"

I am still awaiting a reply!

I noticed that last week they had the same Soya milk on special offer for 65 pence - a reduction of 4 pence but no mention of the previous increase. I assume by hiking up the price this is the way they can offer a 'false' discount?

If you know of any similar sharp practices at any supermarket please post.

Happy New Year

Barneysmom

I did an online order with Asda a few weeks ago.
When I did the order the Gold Blend was £4.00 on the website.
When it was delivered the next day it was £6.48 (obviously I gave it back to the driver)

I know that the prices on the site aren't necessarily the same as on the day of delivery but that to me was completely outrageous, and how many peole didn't notice the massive rise when they got their delivery.

I wouldn't have minded 20p or so difference but £2.48 more on 1 item is disgusting.

Thanks for highlighting this Op, but I doubt anything will change.

KorkyKat

Barneysmom. Maybe not but it won't do them any harm to let them know they are being watched.

Over the next few weeks I am going to be doing some price comparisons with standard food items. I'll be more than happy to send a copy to the relevant supermarkets. At least it will expose the little 'comparison scam' that they run when comparing themselves to others but excluding the likes of Aldi and Lidl.

Take Care

Barneysmom

Thanks, you too.

I am highly suspicious of this new thing they are doing, making something a round pound. All those extra pennies they're getting...

wellblechstrumpf

Thank you for opening this thread.
I noticed:
Sainsbury's 500g basic joghurt 45p-->55p +22% (also why is 4x125g cheaper than 1x500g??? :mad:, that is more waste)
Sainsbury's Mozarella basic 45p-->52p +16%
Vogel's Bread 1GBP ---> now 1.45p (last year still 1.30GBP OMG!!!) +45%

I wish mysupermarket.co.uk or another website could show a rate over long time like you would find for exchange rates or the price development for electrical goods.

My strategy: I bake my own sourdough bread, is even better quality (check out the fresh loaf dot com) and I try to remember prices for 100g as sometimes the content changes.

lindseykim13

Unfortunatly though the supermarkets are businesses and they obviously want to make a proffit so they can sell their goods for whatever price they like as long as they aren't breaking the trading standards laws. It's up to the customer to either shop elsewhere or pick out the bargains.

wellblechstrumpf

Yes, lindsey, you are right. But if we try to work together maybe we can achieve something. Does anybody know barcoo where you can check immediately online prices?
Maybe another question in this context: Prices are more or less transparent due to the Internet, but is there a hidden syndicate going on between the big four? Their prices are more or less the same, so in general no chance to break this circle apart from establishing food coops.

KorkyKat

lindseykim13. And it does no harm to send them a short e-mail to let them know we are wise to their scams.

wellblechstrumpf. Yes, they do operate a cartel like the energy companies.

And yes you are correct - if we act together there is more power.

crystaltipps

Rocky 9 pack chocolate bars were £1 for ages (not a promotional price, they just were that price). I used to get a couple of packs on a weekly basis as they were perfect as the 'treat' in mine and my daughters packed lunches.

Now they are £1.59. I think they will stay that price for a while so they can do a 'Rollback' in the future perhaps of 20 or 30p to make you think they are cheaper. Needless to say, I haven't bought them since the hike.

I am sure if I mull it over I will be able to think of other examples.

As a balance though, I bought 4 300g jars of Nescafe a couple of weeks ago when they were £4 and they are back up to over £7 now. I also stocked up on Bounty before Christmas when it was about half price for a 6 pack. I think the best thing to do is try to buy multiple staple items when they are heavily discounted and that helps balance out their shocking hikes! And this week was the first week I have bought washing liquid since the giddy days of Tesco Double the Difference. If you play them at their own game, it is possible to save money or at least balance out their hikes.

Doesn't work with very fresh produce but then I tend to buy things like Aldi super six or use our market or farm shop...a sack of red potatoes from out farm shop is £5.50 and I split them with family because there is too many for just us to use. And this year I will be growing my own salad stuff again for the second time - it's killing me to fork out a quid for 80g of rocket or watercress leaves. And I do like to make my own bread which is loads cheaper than shop bought, as well as being more delicious - but time constraints mean that doesn't always happen!

gailey_2

Good post.

noticed few value lines I normally buy all fixed at the same when one rises they all do.

Unfortunatly they 2 essentials for us with toddler and baby

value wipes last year since jan 2011 gone mad.

was 17p, upped to 35p then last month raised to 46p in all big 4

latest is value 6pack fromage frais was fixed at 44p and last 4weeks as soon as teco raise to 50 others followed. its 52p in co-op.

Im doing my best to track prices.

ut my supermarket does not include

morries
aldis
lidls
poundland
co-op

I now spend ages shopping comparing weights and prices.

some prices just dont make sense.

now when im seeing it cheap /on offer im buying in bulk as cant forcast what will rise next.

when things round up usually weight/size gets smaller that happened with iceland its why I prefer farmfoods tend to give you more in weight on chips and veg.

Middy

Sainsburys Basic custard powder - was 6p now 15p - 150% increase!