Grocery Shopping – Inattention Can Cost You Big
June 4, 2008
By now hopefully you have read all about Meal Planning in the Tips, Techniques and Ideas category and are ready to attack the grocery store with your shopping list. CAUTION!!! inattention here can cost you big. Here is the headline from an article written in 1993 and still as pertinent in today’s grocery stores:
This is the label that sits on the front of the shelf either over or under the product. The first thing you want to look at is to make sure the product and the tag are describing the same product. Look for the product name and make sure it is the same size as the box or can you are placing in your cart. Grocery stores “bait and switch” here, substituting larger, more costly sizes, their own brand or even the more expensive national brand for their less expensive product. This is called creating a false front, see they even have a name for it. My store habitually puts 36-40 count shrimp on sale then fills the case with larger 20-26 count shrimp, an up-charge of $3 per pound. In order to compare whether a larger size of a product is less expensive look for the PPU (price per unit). This is on the tag and will tell you the cost of each ounce or unit; compare this price with the one on the smaller box to see which in fact is cheaper. It may be the smaller box is less expensive per ounce or unit. The next thing you want to check is the price. If they have a bigger, brighter tag (called a shelf talker) hanging from the same area of the product shelf and the price is less expensive then the shelf tag, remember the shelf talker price. Many are not entered into the computer system of the store and will charge you the more expensive price instead of the sale price. Lastly, watch the two-fers, buy one get one free items. Make sure you are not charged for both. Remember, you can buy just one and be charged only half… especially if you only need one.
Entry Filed under: Tips.Techniques and Ideas. Tags: careful shopping, grocery shopping.
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1.
Elizabeth | June 5, 2008 at 8:33 pm
The store you shop at fills the case with shrimp that cost more than what is advertised hoping people will grab them without looking? That’s pretty shifty of them. I agree it’s important to shop carefully and compare prices.
2.
April | June 7, 2008 at 11:04 am
This is a very good article!! Very informative! Thank you!!
3.
BILLIE MAE | June 7, 2008 at 11:30 am
i always compare price to the tags and compare the brand name against the store brand. i also watch closley when they are scanning becuase as you said the sale price may not be in the computer yet. also i have seen the shelf talkers advertising something and if you don’t compare sometimes two of the smaller products may be cheaper. i have actually argued with the cash register person because they don’t think i’m right so i make them send someone back to check and then i have no more problems with them. thank you,
billie mae
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