When I was grocery shopping last week I needed particular item. When I found it I was happy to see that is was on sale for $2.69. Ah ha I said , "I'm lucky! This is on sale." The item was on the top shelf and although I'm not short the writing is hard to see. When I checked my receipt I found that I was charged the regular price of $2.99. What gives? I went back to look at the sale tag on the item. Well, if you bought three they were at $2.69! Now very few people would by 2 or 3 of this item because it's one of those that's on your shelf but not used very much. So pretty tricky. First they force people to buy three items or the suckers like me who miss the small print , pay the regular price.
Now I'm used to buy three for a sale price and over three they are regular price. As you see the sale tag above is almost opposite to this one.
Another pet peeve is a price for assorted with a limit of six. So there are 8 varieties of soup. Does this mean I can only take six cans of the same variety or can I pick six different varieties of soup. Again if I make the wrong interpretation I lose out.
I buy almond milk. It comes in packs of 2 two liter containers or a two liter buy itself. So on the double pack it says 2 for a certain lower price. Does it mean I have to buy 4 liters or does it mean the two liter in the pack?
Now to add more confusion to this mess, the prices are sometimes entered incorrectly and don't match what's on the shelf.
Now every grocery store has a points system...customer loyalty. Each store you go to has a different plan on how points are collected and spent. Some you just collect points and redeem them. One store offers a sale price with the use of so many points. Good deal? I think not.
Each store has a different set up at the cash register to see your groceries go through.
I realize that all these strategies are clever marketing. There are strategies that most customers are unaware of.
So do you think I'm not a happy grocery shopper? I want one good simple price and no gimmicks.
I hate when they do that!! They need to stop trying to confuse us.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's very confusing.
DeleteI just buy my usual stuff. If it is on sale, good for me. I will stock up on that product. I seldom run into the confusion you are talking about. Sometimes I just pass up a deal on multiples because I don't want ore than one.
ReplyDeleteWe tend to look for specials as we make most of our own meals.
DeleteYup! We have the same problem over here and I've gotten burned too. Gracious! Even in Canada?
ReplyDeleteYes, we have the wise guys as marketers here too.
DeleteThere sure are a of gimmicks used these days. They count on people not to pay attention to the fine print. If I find out about it at the check out, I tell them I don't want the item and leave it there for them to put away. I think the marketing system is rough on old people who can't see too well and can't get around so well.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point on seniors. Top shelves are out of my wife's reach. Bottom shelves I have to kneel on the floor to see price tags. My blind friend depends on asking people.
DeleteI live alone. So I rarely want 2 or 3 of a particular item and I do resent the marketing ploy of increasing a price so that it can be lowered when buying multiples.
ReplyDeleteI would bet that most sale items have a higher price before the sale comes on.
DeleteThere is so much trickery in supermarkets. They just want to squeeze as much money out of us as possible. Even those so-called loyalty schemes are about boosting profits. By the way, I know how cows are milked but how the hell do you milk almonds? They don't appear to have udders.
ReplyDeleteAlmond milk? On the udder hand the almonds are squeezed!
DeleteIt is confusing, Red. I rarely deviate from what I usually buy, but I do notice that, even with bargain prices, everything is more expensive these days. :-(
ReplyDeleteYou have a good system. We also by what we call the regular stuff and then the odd new product.
DeleteI'm with you. This is why I don't do groceries!
ReplyDeleteYou also eat out a lot so don't need a huge amount of groceries.
DeleteI hear you , I may not need 6 of the same product, but want a sale price always
ReplyDeleteThere are some very unfair prices to singles and seniors.
DeleteI'd be happy if one store had everything I want. I hate having to go to two or three stores.
ReplyDeleteWe usually visit 3 stores before we're finished.
DeleteWe have two supermarkets and a Walmart with groceries in our area. One supermarket and the Walmart require you to buy multiples to get the lower price. The other supermarket does not. The choice is easy to make! They also have an excellent customer reward plan. But I think they may be unusual in the grocery world.
ReplyDeleteI know which store I'd deal with in your town.
DeleteI look at the flyers in advance, since they're all sent to the door, and make decisions that way about any sale items.
ReplyDeleteMy wife spends a lot of time with the fliers. It pays.
DeleteI get most of my groceries from aldi. None of that crap there.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have an aldi here.
ReplyDeleteI totally get you! There are a lot of sneaky things going on when you go grocery shopping. Why not make it simple for people?
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. It's kind of like us versus the marketers. Like they say, buyer beware. This is a real pain for older folks.
ReplyDeleteSome of the fine print is too small to see! I share your distaste of grocery shopping, it is a necessary evil :(
ReplyDelete