Somerfield - Illegal much?

Kerilinann

4 packs of tuna is usually around £2.19. Someone I know who works there went to buy a packet and found it was £4.19 (something ish) buy one get one free. Upon enquiring to her manager, it seems that this was done deliberately, so that they don't lose out on money. People think they're getting a deal, when really, they're not.

Illegal? I'm sure it is.

Just thought I'd say to watch out on the buy one get one free deals!

springchicken

Have noticed this a lot in Somerfield ,making the deals look really good when in fact the original price they are basing the offers on is twice as much as anywhere else :mad:

jodyemma

I think as long as the said item has been on sale for at least 28 days in any of its stores at the stated higher price they can say 'half price' or 'BOGOFF' and its legal (if a littlle underhand)

Kerilinann

jodyemma wrote: »

I think as long as the said item has been on sale for at least 28 days in any of its stores at the stated higher price they can say 'half price' or 'BOGOFF' and its legal (if a littlle underhand)

But if it's been at the usual £2.19 then the next day put up to £4.19 and buy one get one free...?

marvin

Kerilinann wrote: »

But if it's been at the usual £2.19 then the next day put up to £4.19 and buy one get one free...?

It does not have to be that price in that store, it could be that price in the ochmagandy local somerfield for 28 days and then be upped.

this is not unusual practice. I noticed when tesco did their half price fruit promotion last year the price of the half price fruit went up considerably during the offer and came down considerabley outside it.

Kerilinann

*shrug*

Well either way, just thought i'd give a wee notice as until this I never knew that happened.

ec9wrr

I don't think this is illegal... it's slightly miss leading but it isn't illegal.
I think that it is only in a "sale" where you said a "was" and a "now" price that you had to have it on sale at the "was" price for at least 28 days.
As far as I'm aware BOGOF don't fall under this. Same for managers specials and special purchases.
Correct me if I'm wrong though.

real1314

Descending into discussion now, but perhaps the OFT / Trading Standards should be looking at this?

Clowance

it doesn't much matter to the consumer whether or not its legal, a grey area I imagine. I think the OP was trying to highlight that we should all know the original price of the item before being sucked in by "offers"; it is all the supermarkets I think that do something like this. But if its something you buy regularly or is an alternative to something you buy, surely most people have a vague idea what the item should cost if they think about it. So what we have to do is look closely at the price that the offer is based on to see if it really is a bargain.
Also, genuine offers are usually on unhealthy things rather than everyday healthy items like broccoli ; even the fruit in Tescos tended to be non everyday sort of stuff.

mpython

Its underhand, misleading, slight of hand, confusing, but not illegal. as others have said, it will have been on offer at the higher price somewhere in the UK for 28 days in last 6 months. Whether they sold any at that price is immaterial, as long as they do that, they can then claim reduction. Last tv programme I saw o this was Trevor Macdonald Tonight investigating supermarket's marketing practices. its no different to the astronomical savings claimed by furniture shops in their january sales.

if you want straight forward, vfm pricing (without loyalty points or free carrier bags) try Lidl or Aldi. Noticed this on the which website - they outperform tesco, sainsburys etc.

http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/house_and_home/Reports/utilities_and_services/Home%20services/High%20street%20shops%20survey/High_street_shops_survey_657_107266_2.jsp

hollydays

Its really up to you to determine if its an offer.Companies do this all the time.I have a table and chair set I bought from MFI for about £600. I saw it advertised a year later as "original price £1200,reduced to £800" or similar.
At the end of a day,what IS a bargain?
I thought i got it at a reasonable price,and no doubt so did the people who paid £800 for it! Buyer beware.
I now print off my asda and or tesco shopping list on www.mysupermarket.com when I go into Aldi or lidl first(as already stated) i can look at the price per pound and compare.

The comparison site Nextag has a chart beside the electrical (? mainly),items showing how the price has fluctuated over a year or two-there is a lot of variation,and the lowest prices do not seem to be in the January Sales!Confusing or what!