Supermarkets seem to believe that we are all idiots
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
October 5, 2015 8:07am CST
Every day I go out for a short while, which usually involves a trip into the city centre. There is a Tesco supermarket in Market Street, so I often walk in and check the reduced goods on sale due to the expiry date.
Many of the reductions are quite small and not even worth considering, so I always look for the product on the shelves to check the original price. If the reduction is something stupid like 10 pence then I simply ignore it.
Today I noticed a Broccoli and Tomato Quiche, which looked quite tempting. It was being offered at £1.70 because the expiry date was today, so as usual I went to the shelf where these are kept to check the price.
The normal price is £2 each, but you can buy 2 for £3. Obviously £1.70 is hardly a saving when I can buy 2 and they would equal £1.50 each.
I often wonder how many people never pay attention and happily buy such items.
23 people like this
25 responses
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
5 Oct 15
You would be surprised to know that most people do not even check. They do not have a look at the ingredients, expiry dates and prices. I am also surprised to see that (most of the time) the so called BIG family pack, per pound, are more expensive than small packages. This is marketing!
8 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
5 Oct 15
I have encountered this myself Anna. I have seen refill packs of coffee that are more expensive than the jars and remember seeing a 24 pack of Weetabix that was more expensive than 2 packs of 12.
People simply take it for granted that the bulk packs are cheaper and buy them, whereas I have always been a very suspicious person.
6 people like this
@shivuspeaks (111)
• Delhi, India
5 Oct 15
These are marketing strategies. We hardly pay attention to such details. I think checking such things could actually save us a lot of money. 
5 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
5 Oct 15
@shivuspeaks That used to be a common practice in the past.
3 people like this
@shivuspeaks (111)
• Delhi, India
5 Oct 15
@Asylum That's true. Finding out that we've been cheated is quite irritating. I have seen that the market guys here sometimes hike up the prices of certain products before giving an additional discount. They end up making a lot of profit. 
3 people like this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
7 Feb 16
It sounds like they need to change their price reduction policy on expiring goods. You can't get rid of it if it's not being offered at a decent reduction in price. Who knows how much people notice. We have a store here that also has scratch 'n dents rack. Usually you can find a deal on something. But are times when it's not a deal as well because a dented brand name can of corn is .25 higher than if I was to just go to another store for one off the shelf. I've noticed it depends on the item and who is marking it down.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
7 Feb 16
@Asylum If I had room in my fridge right now there is a store nearby I have had luck finding reduced produce in the early mornings Though it's more boutiful in summer when things go bad quicker. And early afternoon is when I catch more scratch'n dents at this store.
Sadly they have closed up my favorite store for finding mark downs on meat and dairy wich makes the struggle to keep my family in tow with a good meal that much harder.
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
5 Oct 15
I find misleading deals like that all the time in supermarkets.
3 people like this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
5 Oct 15
I am reminded of an episode of "To the Manor Born" in which the local shopkeeper proudly declares that some items are still available "at the old price" - thus encouraging bulk purchases - before revealing that the prices are going down, not up!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
5 Oct 15
I tend to mostly buy the produce, and I do know the prices and the reductions are quite good. Other things in the freezer are not always good deals but I did get wild caught salmon for $3 per pound a while back.
1 person likes this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
5 Oct 15
I check prices and deals all the time but many i know just grab off the shelf instead of comparing prices.I try to teach my children but can't be with them all the time. Consumer shopping by a commercial is horrible.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
5 Oct 15
@Rosekitty The addiction to mobiles does cause such results. It is not uncommon to see someone talking on a mobile or using one to read a Facebook page while being served, which I consider very disrespectful.
3 people like this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
5 Oct 15
@Asylum kids are on their phones so much they just grab and don't look..
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
5 Oct 15
The prices are more interesting here. My supermarket has special shelves for goods near expiry date, and the reduction is between 20 and 50% depending of the product. They don't try to cheat : the price displayed is the normal price, and they put a sticker on these products telling the reduction that you will get at the checkout.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
5 Oct 15
That is the way that these items are sold in England as well. I have seem some items at exceptional value at times, but all too often the saving is minimal.
I have been told by a woman who stocks those shelves that the quantity makes a difference. If a single item is reduced, the reduction is very small. However, if they have a lot of the same item due to expire they will make a much larger reduction in order to sell as many as possible.
1 person likes this
@akp100 (13640)
• India
5 Oct 15
Hi
Yes all these are strategies to attract the customers. But honestly they only believe about their profit and advantage. Nothing else. Well, don't buys things you have mentioned, only rarely I do it. About other things, right now I prefer online shopping more, as I can compare price on multiple sites.
Yes all these are strategies to attract the customers. But honestly they only believe about their profit and advantage. Nothing else. Well, don't buys things you have mentioned, only rarely I do it. About other things, right now I prefer online shopping more, as I can compare price on multiple sites.1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
5 Oct 15
I have used online shopping for groceries, but I have not bothered for a long time. It used to be very convenient to purchase a large amount of stuff to fill the cupboards and freezer and reduce the weekly shopping. Of course now that I am retired I have no need of large stocks any more.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
6 Oct 15
@wiLLmaH That is understandable then and the sensible way to shop. I do know that some products vary widely at supermarkets. I like to buy the Extra Thick Roberts bread because it makes excellent toast, yet this is sold at £1.30 or £1 in some major supermarkets, which is quite a difference.
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
8 Oct 15
You are right to do so.
Sometimes those bargains turn out to be cons. I love Tescos though
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
5 Oct 15
I know you have to be careful... did you see that documentary the other month called supermarket rip offs...it was interesting...some of the stunts they pull concerning special offers...[ and other pricing matters... em]happy[/em]
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
5 Oct 15
No I did not see it, but I probably know most of the tricks that they employ.
Of all the methods that they use to boost sales, I believe that the worst is placing chewing gum and sweets on shelves at the checkout tills. This results in parents being constantly pestered to buy some while queueing to pay for their groceries.
1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
8 Oct 15
I don't tend to check the price, although I have an idea of how much I'd be willing to pay for it, if you see what I mean, but I think it's very easy for even savvy shoppers to get caught out.
