Kamis, 24 Mei 2012

Supermarket special offers that actually cost us MORE

Supermarket special offers that actually cost us MORE

By Sean Poulter

PUBLISHED: 18:03 EST, 23 May 2012 | UPDATED: 08:16 EST, 24 May 2012

Supermarkets are tempting shoppers with bogus special offers including some where prices are put up rather than down, researchers say.

They identified a series of cases suggesting stores are manipulating prices to give the illusion of savings rather than offering genuine reductions.

Consumer champion Which? surveyed more than 700,000 products over a year and found dodgy deals on everything from fresh fruit to pet food.

Enlarge   Consumer champion Which? has warned supermarkets are tempting shoppers with bogus special offers

Consumer champion Which? has warned supermarkets are tempting shoppers with bogus special offers

Supermarkets have run major price promotions over the past three years, insisting they are helping families negotiate the cost of living squeeze.

But Which? found products sold as a multi-buy which were more expensive than when bought individually.

For example, Asda doubled the price of a single Müller yoghurt from 30p to 61p as it put them on multi-buy at ten for £4. The price went back to 30p when the offer ended.

This meant the yoghurt cost more per item when you bought ten during the special offer than when you bought a single pot before or after it.

 Enlarge   bogus-special-offers.jpg

Which? also found examples of products on offer for weeks on end after being sold at the 'original' higher benchmark price for only a short period.

Tesco sold Beck's beer for 190 days on discount and only 70 days at the supposedly original higher price.

Often, stores will put up prices for a short period before an offer. Online grocer Ocado raised the price of strawberries from £3.89 to £4.38 for 13 days. They were then sold as 'Was £4.38 now £2.19/£2.29/£2.25' for 112 days.

Stores may also use a high price applied long ago as the benchmark for claims of a reduction.

Asda was selling Aquafresh Milk Teeth Toothpaste with a label boasting 'was £1.74, now £1.15'. Which? never found it being sold at £1.74.

The UK's largest retailer Tesco was one of the stores criticised by the Which? report

The UK's largest retailer Tesco was one of the stores criticised by the Which? report

Which? says rules which should stop stores pulling the wool over customers' eyes do not work and need toughening.

The supermarkets blamed human error. Tesco said: 'We make every effort to ensure we act in accordance with government guidelines.' Asda said: 'We are only human and occasionally make mistakes.'

Sainsbury's said: 'We would never seek to mislead our customers.'

And Morrisons said its multi-buy prices are always cheaper per unit than the standard price. Ocado blamed an isolated error for the pricing claims on its strawberries.

 

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

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I was GOBSMACKED to see so many people DID NOT understand "Asda doubled the price of a single Müller yoghurt from 30p to 61p as it put them on multi-buy at ten for £4. The price went back to 30p when the offer ended" .................... Are there really that many thick people around????????????? Thanks for the information though DM....

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I have been caught out on a few occasions (I never learn) by the labeling in my local supermarket, where the wrong product is positioned above an incorrect price. I should know better, but because the small print is so small, its the elderly that get caught out. On a couple of occasions I have complained about it and demanded a refund at the customer services desk, but it still goes on. You really have to keep your eyes and your wits open.

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They are worse in Ireland..... Asda In Enniskillen is the busiest....wake up were not fools- Marie Antoinette, Rome, 24/5/2012 14:15---------------------------------------Why come all this way to shop if not a fool?

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Sorry Anon, Lancs. I meant to green arrow not red! I agree, it is fun working out the stores' ruses! Unfortunately, it invariably means I buy a bigger bar of chocolate as it's so much cheaper. Still, I suppose it should last longer!

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Of the non-German supermarkets, Tesco is getting the most flak. Wonder why? Dame Shirley Porter owns half of it.

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This week's shopping for my family of 4 - £62 at Aldi. It would have cost at least £140 at Tesco for the equivalent goods. Tesco can take their offer and bog off....I'm using the money saved to take a nice holiday :)

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I was GOBSMACKED to see so many people DID NOT understand "Asda doubled the price of a single Müller yoghurt from 30p to 61p as it put them on multi-buy at ten for £4. The price went back to 30p when the offer ended" .................... Are there really that many thick people around????????????? Thanks for the information though DM....

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Surely a supermarket can't just double the price of a product just to then put them on offer at more than they cost before the offer? Isn't this illegal? I hope Which are reporting all these major supermarkets for these deceits.

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Easy answer to all those who shop, apply the rule when prices increase: do I need to buy this? Can I manage with a smaller amount/s? Are the own brand products as good or near same? When things are on offer and present good value and of course are not sell by date sensitive, buy more and store! Also I personally have been shopping at ALDI as well as ASDA, I know, I do have the time, however it is amazing the saving that can be made on a weekly shop. Food for thought?

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Just accept that 'honesty' is now a thing of the past!

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