Lidl Differential Pricing

General_Grant

I was aware of, for example, Tesco Metro and Tesco Express having different prices in different types of store but had not realised that Lidl did the same.

It probably isn't for very many but the 100g Deluxe asparagus tips are one of the current Pick of the Week.  The "national" price shown on the Lidl website is 69p but the online brochure linked to my local store (and what I was charged) is 95p. 

Bacman

However in these times, if you pay a little more for a convenience store that opens early so you can just pop in, compared to queuing for ages to get into a supermarket, worth doing!

General_Grant

Bacman said:

However in these times, if you pay a little more for a convenience store that opens early so you can just pop in, compared to queuing for ages to get into a supermarket, worth doing!

Are you counting a Lidl as a convenience store in one part of the country but not in another?

sarah1972

As far as I am aware all supermarkets do this. 

Tesco, Asda & Sainsbury’s are different prices from where my grandad lives to where I live. I assume Lidl is just the same as the others. 

Bacman

General_Grant said:

Bacman said:

However in these times, if you pay a little more for a convenience store that opens early so you can just pop in, compared to queuing for ages to get into a supermarket, worth doing!

Are you counting a Lidl as a convenience store in one part of the country but not in another?

A convenience store from a supermarket chain is just a smaller store. A Sainsburys Local is a convenience store of a larger Sainsburys chain, Tesco and Tesco Express, etc. Point I was trying to make was convenience stores open early, 6am or 7am and open for anyone at those times, so makes sense to use them rather than standing in long queues at supermarkets, being in contact with others that you don't need to; if the penalty for this convenience is paying a little extra then it is a balance that in my view is worth paying. If you have a small Lidl or whatever that opens early, same benefit applies. If you can shop while most people are still asleep or getting their kids ready for the morning, then the shops are quieter; leave it to 9am or later and of course it is busier.

General_Grant

Bacman said:

General_Grant said:

Bacman said:

However in these times, if you pay a little more for a convenience store that opens early so you can just pop in, compared to queuing for ages to get into a supermarket, worth doing!

Are you counting a Lidl as a convenience store in one part of the country but not in another?

A convenience store from a supermarket chain is just a smaller store. A Sainsburys Local is a convenience store of a larger Sainsburys chain, Tesco and Tesco Express, etc. Point I was trying to make was convenience stores open early, 6am or 7am and open for anyone at those times, so makes sense to use them rather than standing in long queues at supermarkets, being in contact with others that you don't need to; if the penalty for this convenience is paying a little extra then it is a balance that in my view is worth paying. If you have a small Lidl or whatever that opens early, same benefit applies. If you can shop while most people are still asleep or getting their kids ready for the morning, then the shops are quieter; leave it to 9am or later and of course it is busier.

All my local Lidls (6 mile radius) had the same price (not the "national" advertised one) and are normally open for the same or shorter hours as the bigger supermarkets, not Tesco Express type.  So I don't think they count as "convenience".  It must be the geographical location - or the online brochures for specific stores were updated with the higher price but they left the national one untouched, and it is the national one linked from the front page of the website which I normally look at.

MrsStepford

It is perfectly legal for supermarkets to charge different prices in different stores. I don't just mean between a superstore and a convenience store in the chain, but price differentials in supermarkets in same chain but different towns. They categorise stores by area and size and the product range isn't the same. Have noticed this in Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Waitrose. 

General_Grant

MrsStepford said:

It is perfectly legal for supermarkets to charge different prices in different stores. I don't just mean between a superstore and a convenience store in the chain, but price differentials in supermarkets in same chain but different towns. They categorise stores by area and size and the product range isn't the same. Have noticed this in Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Waitrose. 

Of course, I didn't suggest it wasn't lawful.  It is just annoying that one can look on the main site and click through to the weekly leaflets with a promotional offer but it is different at the actual store where one shops.  I'd guess it is never cheaper.  I also have to admit that there is a "Hint" displayed before viewing the booklet that one should select your local store to see "all the offers within grabbing distance".

cymruchris

The process has happened for years. It can also be linked to national promotions - so if they want to sell their asparagus at a discount - they'll sell it at a higher price in a small number of stores for the minimum legal relevant number of days - while the majority of stores will continue to sell it for a lower price - and then once that relevant number of days is reached, they can advertise WAS £X NOW £X to show a big fat saving, when in reality it was £X all along. So you might find that your local stores are part of the promotional pricing group that sells certain lines at higher prices ready to reduce them nationwide later.

jon81uk

cymruchris said:

The process has happened for years. It can also be linked to national promotions - so if they want to sell their asparagus at a discount - they'll sell it at a higher price in a small number of stores for the minimum legal relevant number of days - while the majority of stores will continue to sell it for a lower price - and then once that relevant number of days is reached, they can advertise WAS £X NOW £X to show a big fat saving, when in reality it was £X all along. So you might find that your local stores are part of the promotional pricing group that sells certain lines at higher prices ready to reduce them nationwide later.

That has changed a few years ago, there is no legal minimum number of days any more and the rules are more about being able to demonstrate the higher price is realistic and people actually get charged it rather than a small number of stores using it for 28 days. I think from what I have seen the new guidance is a lot more vague for stores so they have to consider what they are doing rather than just meet a legal minimum.

In this case it is more likely to just be regional pricing and the OP lives in an area seen as more affluent by Lidl or with less competition between supermarkets.

maman

I must admit that I thought that when I see a Lidl advert in my daily, national newspaper that the prices would be the same as in my local store. Similarly, when you look at the websites of national chain supermarkets the prices shown would apply all over the country (not small local convenience branches). In fact, for example, they usually point out in small print not in N. I. if that applies.