Comments on: Ten Things Your Supermarket Won’t Tell You http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/ personal finance that makes cents Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:41:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Loramir http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-192641 Loramir Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:54:42 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-192641 As a grocery store employee: --Definitely do check your receipts or watch prices as items are scanned. Sale items sometimes don't make it into the system at the right price. Most of the time this is simply human error, not intentionally trying to overcharge you. Usually once the error is pointed out it gets fixed immediately in our system. --Store discount cards CAN save you a LOT of money. My store (Piggly Wiggly, a Southern chain) offers big discounts with our card, especially on meat. If you don't feel comfortable signing up for one (and we do send out good coupons if you give your real address, like $10 off on a $50 order), ask to use a manager's card or courtesy card. However, using your own card also earns you points at many stores - at ours, you earn Greenbax stamps, which are very useful. You can even save them up and use them for free gas! As a grocery store employee:

–Definitely do check your receipts or watch prices as items are scanned. Sale items sometimes don’t make it into the system at the right price. Most of the time this is simply human error, not intentionally trying to overcharge you. Usually once the error is pointed out it gets fixed immediately in our system.

–Store discount cards CAN save you a LOT of money. My store (Piggly Wiggly, a Southern chain) offers big discounts with our card, especially on meat. If you don’t feel comfortable signing up for one (and we do send out good coupons if you give your real address, like $10 off on a $50 order), ask to use a manager’s card or courtesy card. However, using your own card also earns you points at many stores - at ours, you earn Greenbax stamps, which are very useful. You can even save them up and use them for free gas!

]]> By: Toby http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-162109 Toby Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:54:46 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-162109 I usually check unit pricing too; is displaying unit pricing some sort of regulation? It seems to be present in all major grocery stores. I usually check unit pricing too; is displaying unit pricing some sort of regulation? It seems to be present in all major grocery stores.

]]> By: Kendra http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-162034 Kendra Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:29:59 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-162034 I'm very careful about checking unit prices when I shop, and lucky for me (although everyone else seems to hate it) I'm a picky eater, and shop only for foods I know I will eat, and I don't buy large quantities if I know they will go bad. I also check what price is being scanned in at the register, and any time I go to a deli/sandwich shop, I make sure that whoever handles my sandwich washes and gloves their hands before handling it. I WILL call them on it if they don't, and have them remake my food. I worked in food service and I know how nasty most restaurants are in the back area, and what kinds of things the employees do with their hands before they hop out front to helpfully make your sandwich. DON'T trust them if they come out from the back drying their hands on a paper towel, make them wash in front of you. For all you know they were just scrubbing out the mop bucket back there, then just dried off to help you. I’m very careful about checking unit prices when I shop, and lucky for me (although everyone else seems to hate it) I’m a picky eater, and shop only for foods I know I will eat, and I don’t buy large quantities if I know they will go bad. I also check what price is being scanned in at the register, and any time I go to a deli/sandwich shop, I make sure that whoever handles my sandwich washes and gloves their hands before handling it. I WILL call them on it if they don’t, and have them remake my food. I worked in food service and I know how nasty most restaurants are in the back area, and what kinds of things the employees do with their hands before they hop out front to helpfully make your sandwich. DON’T trust them if they come out from the back drying their hands on a paper towel, make them wash in front of you. For all you know they were just scrubbing out the mop bucket back there, then just dried off to help you.

]]> By: Mary http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-82644 Mary Sat, 31 Mar 2007 17:40:45 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-82644 Many years ago my Mother told me it is illegal (back in the 70's) for stores to place a higher price label on items already on the shelves and tagged, and that if you can remove the higher label(s) they have to give you the item for it's original price as it was tagged based on what they paid for that particular shipment. I recently purchased a package of gum (a 3 pack) that had been $1.99 for soome time, this time it had 2 other tags over the %1.99, a $2.29. and $2.49 which I wound up paying as they had a line through the other lower prices although still readable. What is the legal status (if any) on this practice? Many years ago my Mother told me it is illegal (back in the 70’s) for stores to place a higher price label on items already on the shelves and tagged, and that if you can remove the higher label(s) they have to give you the item for it’s original price as it was tagged based on what they paid for that particular shipment. I recently purchased a package of gum (a 3 pack) that had been $1.99 for soome time, this time it had 2 other tags over the %1.99, a $2.29. and $2.49 which I wound up paying as they had a line through the other lower prices although still readable. What is the legal status (if any) on this practice?

]]> By: Get Rich Slowly » Price vs. Ethics: Is the Best Price Always the Best Choice? http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-1044 Get Rich Slowly » Price vs. Ethics: Is the Best Price Always the Best Choice? Fri, 30 Jun 2006 15:10:25 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-1044 [...] Cribcage took exception to a comment I posted yesterday. In the further discussion of things your supermarket won’t tell you, I quoted a Digg-user who works at a grocery store: Since I have started changing prices I have noticed a lot of tricks that Safeway uses. […] Everything at a grocery store is close to double the price of Walmart or Target. [...] [...] Cribcage took exception to a comment I posted yesterday. In the further discussion of things your supermarket won’t tell you, I quoted a Digg-user who works at a grocery store: Since I have started changing prices I have noticed a lot of tricks that Safeway uses. […] Everything at a grocery store is close to double the price of Walmart or Target. [...]

]]> By: Mr. Food Markets http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-1030 Mr. Food Markets Fri, 30 Jun 2006 02:13:32 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-1030 Thanks for the insights about SM article. Yours is a thought provoking post - but there seems to be somewhat less here than meets the eye. Here's my <a href="http://foodmarketindex.blogspot.com/2006/06/treatise-of-true-things-about-whole.html" rel="nofollow">take</a>. I guess I fall into the category of someone who shops pretty much in one place (Whole Foods) and am wise to their tricks! I'm not looking forward to the day I get outsmarted by product placements! Thanks for the insights about SM article. Yours is a thought provoking post - but there seems to be somewhat less here than meets the eye. Here’s my take. I guess I fall into the category of someone who shops pretty much in one place (Whole Foods) and am wise to their tricks! I’m not looking forward to the day I get outsmarted by product placements!

]]> By: Get Rich Slowly » Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-1019 Get Rich Slowly » Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping Thu, 29 Jun 2006 21:49:29 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-1019 [...] Attention, visitors from The Consumerist: This is not the article you’re looking for. Here is the post on Ten Things Your Supermarket Won’t Tell You. This piece is interesting, too, though. Come back and read it when you’ve finished! [...] [...] Attention, visitors from The Consumerist: This is not the article you’re looking for. Here is the post on Ten Things Your Supermarket Won’t Tell You. This piece is interesting, too, though. Come back and read it when you’ve finished! [...]

]]> By: Gary Dymock http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-1015 Gary Dymock Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:01:40 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-1015 Why not push for better food regs in the US? Here in the UK the major supermarkets - Tesco being one of them, who I gather are expanding in the US - label the shelves with theunit pricing as a matter of course. There are also laws regarding promotions - any price reduction must be backed up by proof that the higher price was genuine and on sale at a given location. Keep an eye on Tesco, if they don't do those things in the US, demand them, because the store has these practises elsewhere. Once you've got Tesco doing it, the market (you guys) will force WalMart etc (speaking of whom their UK arm, Asda also have these practises) to follow suit. Go for it... Why not push for better food regs in the US?

Here in the UK the major supermarkets - Tesco being one of them, who I gather are expanding in the US - label the shelves with theunit pricing as a matter of course.

There are also laws regarding promotions - any price reduction must be backed up by proof that the higher price was genuine and on sale at a given location.

Keep an eye on Tesco, if they don’t do those things in the US, demand them, because the store has these practises elsewhere. Once you’ve got Tesco doing it, the market (you guys) will force WalMart etc (speaking of whom their UK arm, Asda also have these practises) to follow suit.

Go for it…

]]> By: Get Rich Slowly » 17 Ways to Save Big at the Grocery Store http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-1003 Get Rich Slowly » 17 Ways to Save Big at the Grocery Store Thu, 29 Jun 2006 13:00:39 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-1003 [...] Choose a grocery store and learn its prices. As I mentioned yesterday, supermarkets monkey with prices. You can’t be sure a sale price is really a deal unless you know what the store usually charges. Once you learn the prices at one store, you can save even more by adding another supermarket to the mix. Learn its prices, too, and note how they compare to the first. Your goal should be to recognize bargains. You want to know when those Lucky Charms are really on sale. [...] [...] Choose a grocery store and learn its prices. As I mentioned yesterday, supermarkets monkey with prices. You can’t be sure a sale price is really a deal unless you know what the store usually charges. Once you learn the prices at one store, you can save even more by adding another supermarket to the mix. Learn its prices, too, and note how they compare to the first. Your goal should be to recognize bargains. You want to know when those Lucky Charms are really on sale. [...]

]]> By: Marco - Stock Trading http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-993 Marco - Stock Trading Thu, 29 Jun 2006 07:30:05 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-993 I was watching a documentary from FrontLine about Walmart this afternoon. They have an interesting system they use to lure customers to buy their expensive items. They have a lead item for a category - say a microwave for $30. Then you say - wow that's cheap. Then you keep walking. 10 feet later you are in the microwave section looking at the premium brand microwaves that are much more expensive. But you still have the suggestion in your mind that their microwaves were cheap. But according to a former manager there it isn't the case. Some of those higher priced items are much more expensive than what you would get outside. Very smart tactic! The same tactic Old Sam Walton used when he first started. I was watching a documentary from FrontLine about Walmart this afternoon.

They have an interesting system they use to lure customers to buy their expensive items. They have a lead item for a category - say a microwave for $30. Then you say - wow that’s cheap. Then you keep walking. 10 feet later you are in the microwave section looking at the premium brand microwaves that are much more expensive.

But you still have the suggestion in your mind that their microwaves were cheap. But according to a former manager there it isn’t the case. Some of those higher priced items are much more expensive than what you would get outside.

Very smart tactic! The same tactic Old Sam Walton used when he first started.

]]> By: J.D. http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-968 J.D. Wed, 28 Jun 2006 19:23:46 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-968 Heh. I've stood in the peanut butter aisle before, mentally calculating the cost-per-serving on various brands and sizes of peanut butter. Heh.

I’ve stood in the peanut butter aisle before, mentally calculating the cost-per-serving on various brands and sizes of peanut butter.

]]> By: mapgirl http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-967 mapgirl Wed, 28 Jun 2006 19:10:16 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-967 Great tips. I am in love with the calculator on my cellphone. I broke it out just the other day to unit price between two brands of orange juice on sale. Love, love, love it. Great tips. I am in love with the calculator on my cellphone. I broke it out just the other day to unit price between two brands of orange juice on sale. Love, love, love it.

]]> By: frugal http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-962 frugal Wed, 28 Jun 2006 18:36:10 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/06/28/ten-things-your-supermarket-wont-tell-you/#comment-962 This is a great summary for all the supermarket tricks that they play on you. My post of <a href="http://www.1stmillionat33.com/2006/05/check-your-receipt/" rel="nofollow"> checking your receipts</a> go over a few other tricks that supermarkets can play on you, such as putting look-alike and more expensive items along with on-sale items. This is a great summary for all the supermarket tricks that they play on you. My post of
checking your receipts go over a few other tricks that supermarkets can play on you, such as putting look-alike and more expensive items along with on-sale items.

]]>