Supermarket tricks to watch out for
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Christmas is a stressful time for food shoppers: packed supermarkets, annoying Christmas music and long queues...enough to put anyone in a festive frenzy!
But this Christmas could be made even more stressful if you fall for a supermarket trick - here's four you should watch out for next time you're on the hunt for groceries...
Dodgy BOGOFs
The old buy-one (but don't actually) get-one-free trick - it's been infuriating shoppers for years and shows no sign of abating!
The classic buy-one-get-one-free (BOGOF) trick is probably the most obvious one - just make sure the offer doesn't come off at the tills and hope the customer doesn't notice! Now, having worked on a check-out throughout sixth-form college I can confirm that occasionally the till is genuinely not programmed correctly - or so I was told!
You should also keep your eyes peeled for mis-shelved products as many people have reported picking up goods placed directly above a BOGOF sign that aren't actually on the offer. Of course the supermarket will usually blame this on a lazy shelf stacker or product-moving customer - whether they're telling porkies or not is for you to decide!
The obvious way around this trick is to keep a mental note of any BOGOF items you pick up and check your receipt at the checkout. If the offer hasn't come off, let the cashier know! Kick up a fuss at the customer service counter and you may even get the items for free - it's worked for my mum before!
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Volume offers
This again concerns BOGOF offers as well as other discounts such as 3 for 2's or 2 for £10. Obviously special offers like these can sometimes help to slash your food bills - but they don't always offer value for money.
A report into price advertising by the Office for Fair Trading (OFT) found that 'volume offers' can sometimes distort the true value of the product, causing you to needlessly over-spend.
This is because supermarkets may temporarily inflate the price of an item before putting it on offer so the discount looks more worthwhile than it actually is. The effect is that you become focused on getting a 'good deal' rather than just buying what you need.
You'll also find the best volume offers will be on perishable items like fruit and vegetables. So unless you're confident you can eat everything you've purchased before it goes off, don't be taken in by the offer!
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Baiting sales
The OFT report also highlights the trick of baiting sales. This is where a retailer will tempt you into the store with a bargain offer but only hold a very small amount of stock at the discounted price.
It works because if you traipse down to the supermarket to pick up an offer, but it's sold out, you'll probably buy a similar product at a higher price from the same retailer.
Baiting sales is banned by consumer protection rules and the OFT have vowed to crack down on any retailers found to be practicing it.
Shop layouts
Supermarkets will place the most profitable items at eye-level, while the cheaper items will be on the very top or bottom of the shelves. You'll also find expensive electrical goods towards the front of the shop, and the cheaper items at the back - so you'll have to walk through the profitable aisles to get to the cheap ones!
Many retailers will also change the layout of their shops regularly - so you'll have to hunt around for products on your shopping list and hopefully throw a few extra items into your trolley as you do.
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Di Cortez
having worked in a supermarket myself when I was 16, if this happens to you again just tell the person dealing with your complaint that it doesn't matter whether they have got round to change the ticket or not, trading standards state that they have to charge you what is advertised and its tough! It happens a lot in my local co op but they have to change the price!
2 points.,,the first primarily aimed at Tesco, the regular re-arranging of shop layout does not result in increased sales...it results in turned off customers who subsequently go on to shop at stores they are familiar and comfortable with. We are sick to the teeth of going hunting and not shopping and going home with far less than intended because is wasn't readily visible.
Secondly, and this is totally aimed at Tesco, we're sick or being steered away from the products and brands we want (or even having them kept from us entirely) in order that they can punt their own, inferior, higher margin products.
Morrisons et al, charge me a little more and give me what I want!
P.S.
I wouldn't be seen dead in the scummy bun-fight that is Asda regardless of offers, perks or inducements.
My local supermarket has stopped doing "Buy One Get One Free" on oversized condoms
This has not only caused me a major problem, but also there are hundreds of now seriously disappointed b1tches that I cannot "put to the sword"
When I stand on my balcony at night I can hear the crying all over town.
Hold steady girls - I will get to you all eventually - Including Jim Roger's wife
Im naturally instinctive, when it comes to spending money, as we all should be!! Rip Off Britain,,,,keep that in mind, whatever you spend your hard earned money on. Lets face it,,,,,Any sort of retailer, does not give a fig, the work you put into earning it, they just want it off you as quick as possible..And if you do think u have been jipped,,,,,,do kick up a fuss about it,,,,,,the last thing the retailer wants, is bad live advertising..It happened to me once,,,,,,so I went all gay and camp,,,,And gave that bitch such a blast,i got a weeks grocery,s for nothing. :o)
Merry Save and enjoyable Christmas, to you all.xx
