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MSE News: Sainsbury's £2.60 prosecco trick deal suddenly pulled

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  • canterswest
    canterswest Posts: 364 Forumite
    edited 2 June 2016 at 3:37PM
    When it used a discount expressly for groceries to arrive at a false discounted price on alcohol, MSE was advertising a price that is below cost which is banned.


    On a 750ml bottle of abv 11.5 Prosecco, the duty plus VAT is £3.16, according the the Home Office spreadsheet.


    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/banning-the-sale-of-alcohol-below-the-cost-of-duty-plus-vat-march-2015


    MSE's advert was actually illegal it appears which is probably why Sainsburys refused to supply at MSE's advertised price.

    http://www.offlicencenews.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/15750/First_conviction_for_selling_alcohol__below_cost__sees_retailer_fined.html

  • Tiddlywinks
    Tiddlywinks Posts: 5,777 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    edited 2 June 2016 at 3:50PM
    Sainsbury's is a business - it's not a charity.

    It made a mistake in allowing a combination of offers to be used together - it has now rectified that mistake.

    Would Martin prefer that the company made a massive loss which impacted wider pricing?

    One man's bargain has to be paid for by an increase in prices elsewhere to maintain the company's profit levels.

    Profit is not a dirty word you know - Sainsbury's is a major employer, purchaser of UK produce and a UK tax payer... it does not exist to purely provide Martin Lewis with offers to exploit at the expense of maintaining a healthy financial trading model.

    Honestly, no need to throw a tantrum - it was an offer on non-essential items - get over it!
    :hello:
  • System
    System Posts: 178,348 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Probably a tax/duty reason too. Hence why Scotland don't have this promotion.

    Two friends that work for Sainsburys, they have a list of wines and sherries which they don't get staff discount on. Wines need to be over £4.75 a bottle. Their own sherry is on the list. Still get the 25% off.

    Can get the staff discount if they buy 5 or less bottles during the promotion and for any amount when no promotion.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • I complained to Sainsburys about the price change and have been sent an e-voucher that can be used to reorder.
    Total cost of prosecco £34.50 (Had to bump up total order cost to £60 with other groceries)
    e-voucher £15
    new customer discount £18


    Therefore total cost of 6 bottles of Prosecco = £4:50, or 75p per bottle
  • chrissy3634
    chrissy3634 Posts: 329 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    It wasn't a trick - any time there is an offer for 25% off wine and you are a new customer then its a good saving
  • Big_Graeme
    Big_Graeme Posts: 3,220 Forumite
    jenniewb wrote: »
    Probably due to minimum alcohol pricing rather than to shaft customers.

    No such thing. Yet.
  • redfox
    redfox Posts: 15,336 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Big_Graeme wrote: »
    No such thing. Yet.

    but there are laws that ban the sale of alcohol below cost price, defined as alcohol duty plus VAT, that came into force on 28th May 2014 which may well be the reason for this situation.
  • Herbalus
    Herbalus Posts: 2,634 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    redfox wrote: »
    but there are laws that ban the sale of alcohol below cost price, defined as alcohol duty plus VAT, that came into force on 28th May 2014 which may well be the reason for this situation.

    But who is to say the whole £18 came off just the alcohol? The prosecco is still above £5 for the specific discounts, and it's only MSE that "applied" the code to the prosecco. (In fact the £18 doesn't work when you only buy alcohol so arguably it applies to the food). They could have said "£18 off your food bill when buying 6 bottles for £33" but that just ain't as catchy.
  • RHYSDAD
    RHYSDAD Posts: 2,346 Forumite
    £4.99 in Lidl....
    "Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from your friend's forehead."

    Chinese Proverb


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