Are prices in different supermarkets of same chain, the same?

NewShopper

I mainly buy in different Tesco supermarkets and I am wondering if products' prices are all the same.
For example is the price in different Tesco supermarket and in Tesco Express the same?
Is the online products price of Tesco the same as in Tesco supermarket?
What is the prices situation with other supermarket like Asda, Sainsbury and the rest?
Did someone ever check the products prices in real supermarkets?
Does the law force supermarkets to have the same products prices in different shops?
Thanks

Edwardia

Trading Standards told me that it's quite legal to charge different prices in different branches for the same product.

Freemans, Kaleidoscope and Grattan are all part of the same group but they charge different prices for products. Homebase and Argos are sister companies. Scott's of Stow owns a lot of mail order companies including Artigiano and Ancestral Collections and they price differently.

Tesco Express and Tesco Metro prices differ from main store prices but I use supermarkets in two counties and though the ranges can differ a lot, if they have the same product then it's the same price. I can only say that for Sainsbury's and Tesco though.

anamenottaken

I've noticed Boots the Chemist have different prices according to store location.

emweaver

Tesco and Coop have different prices too in different locations

DCFC79

NewShopper wrote: »

I mainly buy in different Tesco supermarkets and I am wondering if products' prices are all the same.
For example is the price in different Tesco supermarket and in Tesco Express the same? Prices are different and can be more expensive in either shop size but more often than not express stores are more expensive

Is the online products price of Tesco the same as in Tesco supermarket?

Not sure but I would have thought so.

What is the prices situation with other supermarket like Asda, Sainsbury and the rest?

The Netto stores Asda took over i believe are more expensive but thats the location they're in. The convenience stores from Sainsburys portfolio will be just the same as above for Tesco. The hint is in the name "Convenience".

Did someone ever check the products prices in real supermarkets?
Does the law force supermarkets to have the same products prices in different shops? As stated its completely legal.
Thanks

Answers in bold

antrobus

NewShopper wrote: »

I mainly buy in different Tesco supermarkets and I am wondering if products' prices are all the same...

Tesco, together with other major supermarkets, gave the Competition Comission an undertaking that they would adopt a national pricing policy.

NewShopper wrote: »

For example is the price in different Tesco supermarket and in Tesco Express the same?

No, the undertaking doesn't cover Tesco Express stores. They're regarded as 'convience stores'. I recall Tesco claiming that prices are 5%-6% higher in Express stores; how accurate that is I don't know.

NewShopper wrote: »

Is the online products price of Tesco the same as in Tesco supermarket?

They should be. Although Scottish stores are unable to offer certain deals on alcoholic drinks.

NewShopper wrote: »

What is the prices situation with other supermarket like Asda, Sainsbury and the rest?

Same as Tesco I believe.

NewShopper wrote: »

Did someone ever check the products prices in real supermarkets?

Some people do. Tesco got into a bit of trouble when someone found out that they were charging different prices in Scotland.

NewShopper wrote: »

Does the law force supermarkets to have the same products prices in different shops?

No. Other than the fact that non-compliance with the undertaking might trigger an investigation by the OFT.

European_Citizen

I've not noticed any price difference between Tesco and Tesco Metro but Tesco Express is definitely more expensive. Sainsbury's Local is also more expensive than normal Sainsbury's supermarket.

steviedeal

I work for co-op and there a different price bands dependant on size, location, competition, store type. for example the store i work at now is a higher price band than the previous store i was at, this store stocks more of the premium and branded ranges, is in a affluent area and has not much competition. Last store was in a poorer area, competition from tesco and iceland and sold more own brand and value ranges and price matched tesco etc.. So sometimes it can be the type of product that changes too (value, regular, branded, premium).

Tesco do the same, their express stores are vastly more expensive than Metro which are slightly more expensive than Regular and Extra but also again location etc..would also come into the pricing and ranging of products.

I know also with Co-op and Tesco that offers are also dependant on the above variations and not all offers will be available in all stores.

Asda charges one price across the board (aparently) but also seem to stock much less of a range than tesco (usaully more of a core range that is repeated in everystore without much variation at all).

I couldnt comment on Sainsburys and Morrisions as never worked for either and dont know much about behind the scenes.

NewShopper

Thanks for all the answers,
From what you all wrote here, I understand I can save money by going to a supermarket in a location with high competition.
Does anyone know how big the prices differences between supermarkets of the same chain are?
If I go to other Tesco supermarket, how much money will I save?

antrobus

NewShopper wrote: »

Thanks for all the answers,
From what you all wrote here, I understand I can save money by going to a supermarket in a location with high competition.
Does anyone know how big the prices differences between supermarkets of the same chain are?
If I go to other Tesco supermarket, how much money will I save?

No. The answer is that the big supermarkets operate a national pricing policy, so it doesn't matter which store you use, the pricing will be the same. Except that:-

The big supermarkets all operate different formats, and prices vary between formats. Tesco (for example) charges more in its Express stores, and yet more in in its One Stop stores.

The big supermarkets remain free to decide on what lines to stock each store.

None of this applies to the Co-Op, who (presumably) weren't big enough to warrant being asked for an undertaking. Although given that they're supposedly a mutal business, it seems decidedly unethical to go around squeezing extra profit out of some of their customers just because they can.

VoucherMan

You might want to have a look at mySupermarket.

If you add everything you want to get to your basket you can compare the main supermarkets against each other. It's not always completely accurate, it sometimes makes strange substitutions when a product is not available, but you can look at each item, see what's on offer etc.