Supermarket costs ‘rise despite price war’

All supermarkets should be required by law to issue weekly statements of the number of price drops and the value.

But they must also include the number of price rises and the value.

Supermarkets should be stopped from advertising false half price sales such as strawberries that have been going on for 5 months.

Whilst it is the point of business to earn money (Supermarkets as well), imo we have become so used to believing what the big Shops tell us that we often blindly buy on the advice they present us with (for example this item now half price). When we consider this we would not necessarily believe a used car salesman or estate agent (random professions) if they claimed we were presented with £1000 off or the "deal of a lifetime".

Where the supermarkets differ is that often what may be regarded as "tradesmans puff" or simply an "invitation to treat" becomes blurred with misrepresentation which can go unchallenged. As an example certain 1kg boxes are branded as "Best value" when in fact a smaller 750g box represents better value (in this case 29p per 100g rather than 26p per 100g for the smaller box).

We need to take care to establish whether such labeling as 47p each or 2 for £1 is illegal but also take care to work out what we need as compared with what we are told we want. Whilst the supermarkets have an obligation to us the consumer, careful scrutiny of your shopping is also a must.

When all is said and done, tell the supermarket about mistakes and ultimately vote with your feet. (CAUTION - tell an organ grinder rather than a monkey otherwise you will be met simply with oh yeah strange that). Often "the system" is blamed but this is not acceptable.

Bigger is not always better (I have dozens of examples) but as in many cases the adverts are simply tradesmans puff so we have little recourse other than not to buy. In extreme cases of misrepresenation speak to a manager nicely and you may get a helpful polite response or even a sticker for 50p off.

Why not make your shopping a mini maths quiz for your children, they help you keep down costs as well as learning valuable life lessons about sales and maths. Maybe this is why the big shops do it.

On a final note, half price items are often artificially inflated for a period before going on "Sale" this is common for sofas, electrical and now sadly supermarkets. In these ostere (spelling phonetic) times we should think what we need more and what we or others want a little less.

Simon

Any benefit "given" to the shopper by way of special offers can be  recouped by putting a few pence per item round a store. I have spotted that some of the Sainsbury's own range "Basics"  of non-food items have increased by several pence per item since VAT increased - the price increase being beyond the rise in VAT.  If those items I have noted are sold daily throughout the country any "give-aways" are recouped. There are probably many such items others buy regularly.  There can be no price comparisons with other supermarkets on own ranges. I am sure they are all doing it on own ranges.

I suppose the best discount of all is to buy some shares in whichever supermarket you frequent!