Great 'supermarket staff tell us your reduction policies' hunt

familyguyof4

Which supermarket do you work for/did you work for?
I'm a store Manager for Lidl
What times of day do you reduce prices?
Reductions should take place before 5pm but vary from store to store
How big are the discounts? (If the computer does it automatically, do a rough estimate)
30% off
What time is the final, final reduction (to 10p-ish)?
If we do not sell a reduced item by the following day at 5pm we just give the items free to customers
Who has the authority to reduce prices?
Any manager
If a customer asked you to reduce something because it’s on it’s sell-by date are you allowed to?
Yes, but again be nice!
Does it vary if it’s a 24-hour store?
No
And any other useful tips …
We do not reduce bread or cakes, but instead give it away free to customers, this normally happens first thing in the morning, but can also happen last thing at night. A new store opening up is a gold mine, as with a new store it must be fully stocked at all times. This means there is literally hundreds of items given away each day!

Baby_J_2

The_Don wrote: »

ICELAND
I work for iceland and they have just rolled out a new reducing policy where only fresh meat and poulty and damage stock is reduced which is to half the original price, anything else is kept on sale until the end of the day that it goes out of date then put in shrinkage (waste). This is meant to save money, making more profits for iceland. dont see how though, we've wasted lots of stock since this change in policy.

It does depend on the manager whether they inforce this though. My Mum is still Duty Manager and the main manager doesn't inforce this new policy.

Davina1_2

Which supermarket do you work for/did you work for?
24 hour ASDA
What times of day do you reduce prices?
Rottisere is reduced about 8p.m. Bread and fresh meat is around 5 p.m.
How big are the discounts? Up to half price
What time is the final, final reduction (to 10p-ish)?
Around 10 p.m. when the night staff come on, however, because we are 24 hours this does not always happen. But Saturday evenings at around 9 p.m. if you are not doing anything lots of items (bread, cakes, fish, meat etc.) can all be got for around 10p to £1. (I got 4 portions of salmon for 20p a few weeks ago!) Or Bank Holiday Monday's when shop shuts - these are excellent especially on hot days when no one bothers to go shopping!
Who has the authority to reduce prices?
Any manager with Telson gun
If a customer asked you to reduce something because it’s on it’s sell-by date are you allowed to?
Normal staff members are given a limit of £1 but have to use this wisely, so if customers are nice about it then a small discount can be given, however your best bet is to go to the customer service desk where they can give better discounts

And any other useful tips …
ASDA offer a 200% guaruntee on their own brand items and if you bring back the packaging on an item and say you did not enjoy it etc., you get a double refund or a refund and another item. If an item is out of stock we again should give a 'smiley' voucher for a customer to get this item next time at a reduced rate.
I think it probably goes without saying that if a customer is polite, friendly and treats us like human beings then you are more likely to be given a discount.
Or pretend to be 'mystery shopper!'

2 x 4 pack of heinz baked beans £2 (instead of £1.79 each!)

purt

Used to work in Customer Services for Tesco. Can concur with most of what's been said already. As the others have said - there is a degree of flexibility with reductions but do be nice to the person you ask. I used to get loads of people come asking for stuff to be reduced. I never reduced anything for those that simply expected it.

pigfarmersdaughter

Baby_J wrote: »

It does depend on the manager whether they inforce this though. My Mum is still Duty Manager and the main manager doesn't inforce this new policy.

This may be true, but if it is a company policy and the staff don't comply with it, they are risking their jobs. It would be unethical to suggest to them that they go against the stated policy just so we could get a 'bargain'. I'm sure Iceland will have a process to check it is being followed.

pigfarmersdaughter

I was a Store Manager for Sainsbury's until recently (in both the Supermarkets and the Convenience stores).
There is a definite policy on reductions; to sell each product for the highest possible price, within it's dates.
To this end, the aim is to make the least number of reductions; ideally only one of about 30%; based on likely selling quantity and date. Obviously if anything is left after this, then a further cut will take place. The first reduction will be made as early as possible in the day, to allow for maximum selling time, and it should be left in the original location, as that is where customers will be shopping. You're more likely to sell reduced chicken to someone who was planning on buying chicken in the first place, if it is with the other chicken! The later reductions will probably be done in time to hit the evening rush hour, again to maximise the selling potential.

Remember - there is NO legal requirement on the store to reduce ANYTHING. The legal requirement is not to sell anything once it is past it's sell by/ use by/ display until date.
So: bearing that in mind, the staff do not 'have' to reduce anything, and opinions vary across the sector as to whether it is better to get some money for it, or it is better to draw a line on what is a profitable sale. Customers who only buy reductions are NOT profitable customers, and the store is there to make a profit after all.

As said in other posts; don't pester the staff, not even the manager. If you want to ask for a reduction then do so in a calm, enquiring manner (Is it likely that there will be a further reduction in price?) not in a demanding tone (You have to reduce this it's going out of date!). In a small store, it will probably be the Duty Manager that is doing the reduction anyway, and they will probably be annoyed enough about having to do it. You don't really want to tick them off. Making reductions is not about Customer Service, it is about clearing excess stock. I don't mean they will be rude (or should be) just that they are not offering you a service by doing it, they are trying to get you to take a problem off their hands.

And yes, sometimes that means they will reduce it for, but sometimes they won't.

iamchrisli

M&S withdraw their daily expire product reduction. They rather to take the stuffs as waste or sell them at 50% or 75% to the staffs.

anniesgranny

i don't work at Morrisons but have cause to pass by our local one most evenings. Reductions of cakes,pies and bread starts about 45 minutes before closing time. The nearer to closing time the cheaper it all becomes. If you catch them at the right time you can get a large bag of mixed bread rolls for 9p (great for freezing), all kinds of family pies and cakes for 19p and cooked chickens for 79p.

Eskimo_Nell

JIMbo345 wrote: »

Hi i dont know if in the right place. Or if it still works.
How many times have you got to the shelf to find its empty.
I spoke to my friend who works for Tesco. Who told me that if they have an offer thats out of stock. Go to the customer service. They will give you a ticket to get your deal. At the now price . This ticket lasts for 6 months
I have not checked this out as we no longer live near a Tescos

Or if you need an item (eg box of cereals £1.74 or 2 @ £2.50) but there is only one left on the shelf, you can ask for the reduction on the single box. I asked nicely at Sainsbury's and had half the discount taken off the one box. It has also worked with 3 boxes of teabags when there was only one box left. Might be an idea to take a calculator, as the girl at customer services had great difficulty working out the amount of discount to subtract and I had to wait while she went in search of a calculator, 'cos she didn't trust my maths!

DougWeller

iamchrisli wrote: »

M&S withdraw their daily expire product reduction. They rather to take the stuffs as waste or sell them at 50% or 75% to the staffs.

Is this new? Because I've bought marked down food at M&S in the past year.
Doug