Has anyone else noticed how supermarkets sneakily put their food prices up?

Question

Example: Asda used to do a pack of 6 coriander & garlic naan breads for about 62p. Then all of a sudden it was 4 naan breads in the pack (2 less) yet the same price. They may not have technically put the price up, but if you ask me it is exactly the same thing when they downsize food volumes. I don't like this sneakyness, Asda done the same thing with Eggs and countless other food products. Tesco are also guilty of this.

Answer 1

Yes I hate buying cheese, milk and sugar bc of this.

Answer 2

It's an art form...

Everyone has been sucked in with the promise of a really good deal on item (A) only to find that the other items (B),(C), and (D), are higher. This is called the "loss-leader" trick.

Coffee used to be sold in 1 lb. cans. Look now. They're 14 oz. and sometimes less! It is price hiking of the sneakiest sort.

Glorious gold-foil packaging can hide the fact that there is only 4 pieces of overpriced candy in the bag. Labelling ("Does as many loads as the 32-ounce size") and other gimmicks are there to separate the gullible from his or her hard-earned dough.

Read carefully, compare, check ingredients, and, if something is a good deal, buy it and walk out. Don't be suckered into paying 4% more on everything else in the store! You think they're actually going to give you a break?

Nah!

Best wishes!

Answer 3

Sometimes supermarkets can be "clever" but apparently many of us see through this crap. There are even times when the same thing is priced lower individually but costs more when you buy like 2 for or 3 for, BUT you buy more thinking you have a deal. How very dirty that is. Many people notice this fact but it is a minimal occurrence which favors the supermarket. Thus, the supermarkets continue to increase their sales to a fault. I watch all of this and shop specifically for what I want. After all, I am the consumer that must be pleased. This always works out for me. Know this, What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31.

Answer 4

In the US, packages are downsized so the price remains the same which is kind of sneaky when you think you're buying the same size, but it's actually less.

Afterwards, they'll raise the price but repackage the product with "Now with xx ounces extra" or "Bonus pack with xx additional ounces". Making it appear that you're getting more for a better price when in reality you're getting the original box at a higher price.

Also, I've noticed that supermarkets will have products that ring up with higher prices which most people don't notice. When you do mention it, they claim that it's mislabled or there's a problem with the database. Hmmm... just seems fishy to me.

Answer 5

Where have you been the last couple of weeks?
There is a price reduction war going on between Asda, Sainsburys, Tesco and Morrisons as to who can sell their products the cheapest.
My weekly shopping bill was £6.00 cheaper that last weeks for the same products so I'm staying with Morrisons.

Answer 6

Yes they do the larger packs first to get you hooked then reduce the contents. I usually buy them when they've just been reduced and freeze them Tesco reduce theirs to under half price, so I pay less. Usually about 4 o'clock at our Tesco's they reduce loads of things down that can be frozen and as long as you don't hoard em and get stuff eaten they are fine. That's the way to beat supermarkets. Hope this helps

Answer 7

Yea i found that too plus the fact that tesco and asda arn't always that cheap i buy all my fruit and veg from the local farmer save a packet of money and i buy things made locally or from heron as a student i have to look after the pennies and if i buy localy its doing the planet a favour and the local farmers a favour too!

Answer 8

here is what they do here in my city
a weekly sales ad they tell right in the sale paper they intend to raise the price by this method...
On Sale $,,regular price $,, (after the sale + a little more than the shelf price)
I do not want regulated pricing they are entitled to make a profit BUT how much...
but rather an announcement of the profit margin of the individual market
you got a grower; manufacture; many middlemen wholesalers; transporters; then warehouses; and then stores
when it comes to food Milk should not be $4.00/gal
we can't win anything we have no way to prove price gouging

Answer 9

I have noticed the same thing about yogurt. regular and light, both priced the same, used to be in 8 oz. containers. Now they have effectively downsized both to 6 oz. containers, even though regular is still sold in 8 oz. containers. Both containers used to be full to brim with product, but now they leave a 2-oz. space in 8 oz. container for you to add your own "extras," such as fruit or nuts. I say it was more about them giving less product and still charging the same, for light and regular, than it was to allow customer space to add their own extras. So, the 8 oz. and 6 oz. containers now both contain 6 oz. of product. Same price as when they were both 8 oz. I would lay the "sneakiness" on the manufacturer instead of the supermarket.

Answer 10

Yes I have noticed this. I live in Ireland and 6 months ago I could buy 5 apples for €1.49 however now they cost €1.79 that is about 20p more. I think all shops do it but they expect that people are going to be too busy to notice.

Answer 11

yes this is so annoying. i go to a shop to buy something in a pack of 10 and cos i always buy it i pick it up put it in the basket and pay. then i get home and realise there is less and that i paid the same price as i would have before.
i hate it