Shopping at night for reduced food

flubberyzing

I was reading an article earlier today about people who specifically time their grocery shops to take advantage of supermarket mark-downs in price.
General consensus seems to be that about 8:30pm is the best time for bargains, but I was wondering whether anyone realistically ventures out at that sort of time of night, particularly in winter?

The reason I ask, is that I might have a wander down later this evening and just scope out the landscape, but if you think I'd be wasting my time, I won't bother. Normally I shop in the mornings/lunchtime-ish, and am 90% of the time unimpressed with the discounts, but is that the wrong time to be looking?

itsallinthemind

My local supermarket closes 8pm, so I head down around 730/40. Whether it is worth it, depends on you. I couldn't care if it is winter, I own a jacket and it's a matter of having to as the 90% reductions mean I can eat healthily in my budget. My local Sainsbury, I walk past the reductions, they are not worth looking at as I'd rather pay 30% more for something with a shelf life. ASDA however is great(locally) and I've not paid over 10p for a loaf in 6 months. I got a lovely leg of lamb, individual salmon portions and a chicken for 10p each at the weekend. To me, that's worth it. Some days there is nothing worth having, but it's worth regular visits IMO.

Tiglath

I went to our local Tesco at 5pm today and picked up some YS bargains. They're open till 11pm, I think.

skivenov

When I was working away I used to do my Asda shop at about half 3 in the morning on the way home. The cheap stuff had all gone, but at least there were no customers!

flubberyzing

My Tesco is 24 hour apart from Saturday nights when it's 10pm I think...
Well... It's officially raining at the moment, but I think I will give it a go in another hour. Can't hurt to try a couple of times eh?

itsallinthemind

I find certain nights are better. So you'd be wise to try a few times, to see if your store is plentiful on occasion(Like I say, my local Sainsburys is not) and if it's worth the hassle of going back out the door to you. All stores reduce at different times, so it's worth getting a grip on when that is in your local. I'm off now, brolly in hand!

flubberyzing

Hmmm... Was in-store at 8pm. Absolutely nothing YS to be seen, even the dedicated YS section was virtually empty apart from a few packets of bacon and random bagged up collections of yoghurts. Obviously 8pm is either far too early or far too late. I'm inclinded to think it was too early, especially as the shop was still surprisingly busy.
For me personally however, I don't think I'd feel terribly comfortable leaving the flat on my own much past 8. My car is in a residents carpark, which is completely unlit and away from the front door. I didn't feel terribly safe on my own, which is very sad, but true. Obviously, it'll be very different in summer time...
Perhaps I'll try once more earlier in the evening, but otherwise, leave it as an activity for the summer months.

twiglet98

Friday is not the night to try this. My nearest supermarket is a big 24-hour Tesco, 8 miles away. I work almost halfway between home and there, so I go after work on a Tuesday or Wednesday, when the first and possibly second reductions have been done, and the last big reductions are done around 8.30pm though this can vary. There isn't usually enough machines for bread, greengrocer AND meat/fish/dairy, and if the guy doing the last section is about to finish his shift it just won't get done at all. I won't pay half-price for a £9.90 roasting joint of beef but would (obviously) snap it up at 99p, all the meat joints in my freezer cost 25% or 10% of the original price.

Sunday just before closing can be very good IF they have the staff, and a machine available. Usually the fruit and veg gets done, so I stock up on tomatoes and potatoes, but the meat and dairy misses the last big knockdown.

System

does anyone do this regularly and do they feel it pays off?

What supermarkets give the best reductions? Do they do the reductions daily? What time do they do it at?

Listerbelle

I've been going to my local Tesco. Best bargains are at 7-8.30pm.

Middy

There is a small Co-op in one of the estates. It only opened June/July and its good for bargains - esp their instore bakery items - 8p-12p for cookies, donuts, mini onion bagettes etc,