MSE News: Investigation reveals supermarkets' 'dodgy pricing tactics'

*Jelly_Tots*

hermante wrote: »

I bet these people are the ones who complained that algebra has "no relevance in the real world". Like msot of the people who posted above, I have some idea of what I consider a fair price, and can do a quick calculation in my head to work out if an offer is worth it or not. I don't ever look at the "was" price, or the "normal" price for BOGOFs.

Also, the man with the yellow stickers on products that expire today. Something is £3, 2 for £5, but only gets reduced to £2.69?? Might as well get 2 fresh ones for 2.50 each and put one in the freezer.

I also have an idea of what is a fair price and can also do a quick calculation in my head, but if I needed, for example, milk, I would have to buy it anyway as I probably wouldn't have time to go to another supermarket to get a cheaper pint of milk. That's how they win.

TrickyWicky

It's got so bad these days that if I see something with a 'bargain price tag' I just ignore it as I can't be bothered with the hassle and stress of trying to decide if it's genuine or screwy.

At Asda (Always Screwing Dem Accounts) we always have to check the receipt to make sure they've charged us right as they frequently used to over charge us. Then BBC watchdog caught wind of their tactics and their prices have suddenly matched what is charged at the till. Got to admit though they sometimes make a blunder - I got a bargain electrical product last year at way below the wholesale cost of it. When I took it to the customer service desk to pay for it the lady had to scan it twice to be sure the price was correct.

Tesco.. Terrible Everyday Service Customer Observation

Sainsburys were actually pretty good until the last couple of months and now they've started playing games with us too. We got over charged for a single vegetable - we bought one and it cost us over £8 as they charged us for over 10!!! There has been a few other niggles like this with them lately so since ASDA have gone honest temporarily we're back over there again.

Krojan

As a regular savvy shopper when I do our weekly shop I can usually point out at least half a dozen items that are soon going to go "on offer" simply because you can literally see the prices of items skyrocket only to go "on offer" about a month later for a couple of weeks, then a couple of weeks later go back down to their usual price, which is still cheaper than the offer price.

The fact that the Supermarkets have gotten away with this for so long unchallenged by anyone goes to show how naive the general public is to said offers and how there is nothing there to challenge such actions due to a lack of a decent regulatory body to monitor such price fixing and underhanded behaviours.

VfM4meplse

The part that made me lol were the disingenuous claims by the supermarkets that these were mistakes rather than deliberate attempts to profiteer.

I like to think of myself as a savvy shopper - in part thanks to the support I've had on this board - but that does involve not eating any processed foods and cooking everything from scratch. It's too big a sacrifice for most people and nearly impossible for families.

Stephen_Leak

It can backfire so easily.

ASDA Sunflower spread, 500g tub. It's usually £1.26 reduced to £1.00, but goes up to £1.26 every now and again. I kept 3 tubs on the shelf in the fridge door, so I could "tough it out" until it came back down to £1.00 again.

However, last time, they kept it at £1.26 for too long. I ran out, and discovered that Tesco do the same product for just 75p and it tastes just the same.

So, that's another everyday item transferred from the ASDA shopping list to the Tesco one.

That's saving me money every day. Every little helps.

charlysays

Someone has rightly raised the point already about checking receipts before leaving the store, but has anyone ever investigated fully the routine overcharging of items displayed as being a special offer but when paid for a 'higher price' is charged.
It's got so bad at Morrisons (which I avoid usually but it's just round the corner) that I jokingly take a photo of the shelf display offer price so that when I have to get the difference refunded at customer services I show the pic to them.
The usual explanation is their pricing through the electronic till system is controlled by Head Office. The physical piece of card showing the offer is placed by the local staff on the shelf/ display and sometimes the 'left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing' (Their staffs explanation)
Three items last week were overcharged.
Legally when confronted with this type of overcharging the stores should be forced to automatically trace and refund any overcharging back to credit or debit cards of customers who didn't notice by doing a search on that items barcodes when brought to their attention and x ref'ing to till records.
Costly and a pain for them but it would sharp minimise the problem. (Technically I don't know if that's possible and it wouldn't work for cash payments)
ASDA used to do a right price guarantee where any mistake would be refunded and a £2 voucher on top given.
If you add up the thousands who shop in supermarkets each day then 20p here and 50p there overcharged adds up to....More than I earn.........
What about the facility on this site to post such misleading pics as a warning?

Pincher

*Jelly_Tots* wrote: »

I also have an idea of what is a fair price and can also do a quick calculation in my head, but if I needed, for example, milk, I would have to buy it anyway as I probably wouldn't have time to go to another supermarket to get a cheaper pint of milk. That's how they win.

If you have a Costco nearby, check it out.
I pay £60 a year in membership fee to Costco, willingly.

I tend to buy my fruit and veg elsewhere, as they are riper and cheaper than Costco.

TESCO is really for top-up shopping these days.

Plushchris

charlysays wrote: »

ASDA used to do a right price guarantee where any mistake would be refunded and a £2 voucher on top given.

They still do that AFAIK, the problem is dealing with some of the little hitlers on the CS counter, the company has one policy but the staff have another... Tesco is just as bad if not worse

anniecave

There are some products that regularly go up and down depending on whether they are on special offer or not. This applies to all the main supermarkets, and they've been doing it for years.

Tubes of pringles
Branded margarines like flora, clover etc
Drinks such as Schloer
Walkers Sensations (the sharing bags)
Branded multipack crisps (eg McCoys)
Branded tinned hot dogs (eg Ye Olde Oak)
These are just the brands/items I buy - I'm sure there are many others.

I notice it's usually the branded items this mostly applies to, although there is some fluctuation on own branded items, but not by as much.

To be a savvy shopper therefore it's quite simple. Only buy the items when either they're on multi-buy, or the price has been reduced to the lower amount.

Lynsey

To be honest, it's not just the supermarkets at it. It's been going on for ages with false discounts.
MFI done it for years before they collapsed. Carpet Right?? DFS?? Specsavers?? Officers Club?? ................. and many, many more .............. artificial offers.

Strange way to create customer loyalty by trying to "con" them!!
Play them at their own game and be extra savvy and NEVER EVER be loyal, just use and abuse them.

Stock up when cheap (if you can) and use coupons in conjunction with offers, maybe not hitting the supermarkets as more the manufacturers, but the end result will be in your favour.
I actually enjoy playing the "game" and if the prices were more steady, maybe there wouldn't be as many offers?? Might be more fairer for all, but some may actually lose out??

I'm happy with the current format now, didn't used to be though as hated being cheated. I do feel for the vulnerable though, not everyone can work it out sadly.

Lynsey