Avoid the supermarket rip offs

20 Comments -

Supermarkets use all kinds of clever marketing tricks to make us spend more at the checkout. Nathalie Bonney explains the thinking behind supermarket's ploys and gives some timely advice on how to spend less at the checkout.

Comments
Maelor Owen (not verified):

Excellent video and very informative

Guest (not verified):

very good

Guest (not verified):

Nothing new in this video. This has been going on for years and like a previous commentator said they are not rip offs just crafty marketing tactics.

Guest (not verified):

I shop with my wife. We draw up a list during the week and STICK TO IT. We look for special offers and compare the price of the "special" with the usual price. Surprise surprise the "special" is not always the cheapest!

People complain about the lack of groceries etc for the single person or pensioner i.e. everything is aimed at families. Ever heard of freezers and cutting stuff into useable poirtions for your own circumstances. Bulk buys may be more expensive in the short term but usually save money in the end.

Guest (not verified):

the most important thing to do is to check price per unit on shelf talkers, especially on "economy packs" and "refills"
it is often the case where 2 small packs is actually cheaper than 1 large pack

Guest (not verified):

the most important thing to do is to check price per unit on shelf talkers, especially on "economy packs" and "refills"
it is often the case where 2 small packs is actually cheaper than 1 large pack

Guest (not verified):

Thanks for the informative video - I consider myself a fairly savvy shopper but hadn't heard of either of the 2 websites you mentioned.

Mandalina (not verified):

I agree. This is not about rip-off but about clever marketing plots all supermarkets use to intice you to part with your cash. After all, that their job - to sell. And yes, it drives me mad if I have to look for something that has been moved from its usual place.

Rip-off however, would be an offer 2 for £3 when their combined cost is only £2.85. Or offering bigger packaging at greater price than two smaller pachages combined. It happens from time to time and I do pay closer attention to their 'offers'.

Guest (not verified):

top tip DO NOT TAKE THE WIFE..

Guest (not verified):

The basic facts of how to avoid supermarkets getting you to spend more. Not sure the suggestion to join maximiles is a good one, they have some bad reviews out there, seems you need to spend huge amounts of money at a supermarket (£3500) just to get a £10 video.

Taximan76 (not verified):

I agree with others. This video was not about rip offs.
A rip off is where 2 identical items are banded as 1, sold as 2 for the price of 1, and when you go around the corner of the aisle and you find the single item priced at LESS than half the price of the 2 for 1 "bargain" offe.r

Guest (not verified):

what about supermarket prices that are different to the one shown on the shelf and the one on your bill which 99% of people never check but is more common than you realise now that is a proper supermarket scam

yummymummy78 (not verified):

can we consumers sue them over this, as its psychological war-fare!!!!

Guest (not verified):

What bugs me about the unit price displays are that the units are in-consistent for the same product £/kg, p/g can you quickly work out which is cheapest. This is quite usual to be found on the supermarket shelf edges.

guest (not verified):

send your granny round. I have a trick to show her, involving eggs.

Big Jim (not verified):

A load of rubbish the supermarkets job is to sell there goods if they tempt you with smells I suggest you are weak why blame the supermarkets

Guest (not verified):

Some excellent ideas for saving money.

But as others have already said there is nothing in here suggesting "Rip-off" beyond the very misleading title.

Guest (not verified):

Check the weights etc in your boxed items etc. recently I have found frozen corn cobs, same price but 6 in the bag instead of 8, another one 14oz instead of a pound. The old "Wagon Wheel" syndrome. Same size box less in it!!!!

Adrian (not verified):

Dont shop at supermarkets
Go to local independant shops
like Butchers Veg shops and bakers
not only avoiding paying too much
You will also get far better produce

 
Nothing new here for me but wanted to add some tips off my own:
 
Beware when buying the three for two offers where there is a significant range of prices. If you buy, say, three at £5 and another three at £1 you will only get £2 off and end up paying in this case, £16. Make two separate purchases (at self check-out if you prefer) putting the three £5 items through - paying - then putting the other three £1 items through and you'll save £6. Remember that it is the cheapest of the three items that is free.
 
Download the moneysupermarket app (assuming you have a smartphone) and scan items instore (or at home if you have the item). You will then be shown the cheapest offering at Asda, Tesco,Sainsbury and Ocado.
 
Always look at the price per kilo on bagged and loose fruit and veg. I don't mean bagged versus loose necessarily; (check out the current prices per kg on bagged new potatoes in Tesco, for an example).  And don't always assume that those end of aisle promos are cheaper than the rest. I regularly save a small fortune by doing this as there is often a huge difference in price. Finally, don't turn your nose up at 'market value'/'basic' fruit and veg. It is often equal if not superior to its posher equivalents
 
Hope this helps someone.