Supermarkets discussion

[styles]

I remember working in retail, plenty of people are literally phoning in their job all day long... I mean, it was a long time ago (cigarettes were still 16+) but it was hard enough to get them to even check ID for them.

But maybe things have changed and retail staff are actually more on the ball now...?

I don't know; when I worked it, I'd have been sacked for selling booze to kids, but not soft drinks.

 

[Silver Cobra]

What I find odd (and I know it's not the staff's fault, but why do supermarkets insist on people showing I.D. for sales of alcohol free cider? My son, who is 24, likes the alcohol free kopperberg (as do I) and the one sold in Aldi, but both places insist on I.D. before they will sell it
I understand there's probably still a miniscule amount of alcohol left in it but it's less than what you get in a tinned or bottled shandy.
Just wondered if those of you in the industry knew why?

While this isn't directly related to alcohol, I remember several years back serving a customer who had childrens' safety scissors as part of their shopping. Despite the fact this is a product intended for children to use, it still required me to do a 'challenge 25' ID check in order to authorise the sale.

 

[Freightmaster]

Interesting article on the BBC website this evening:

Aldi boss says some of rivals' loyalty discounts 'dupe' customers

Aldi is the only major supermarket chain that doesn't operate a loyalty scheme, which are hugely popular and used by millions of shoppers.

www.bbc.co.uk

Aldi's UK boss has accused rival supermarket chains of duping customers in some cases with loyalty discounts that start with "unrealistically high prices" and then drop.

Is Aldi lashing out at other supermarkets because they are losing their 'low price' USP??

 

[Peter Sarf]

Interesting article on the BBC website this evening:

Aldi boss says some of rivals' loyalty discounts 'dupe' customers

Aldi is the only major supermarket chain that doesn't operate a loyalty scheme, which are hugely popular and used by millions of shoppers.

www.bbc.co.uk

Is Aldi lashing out at other supermarkets because they are losing their 'low price' USP??

I fear so. And I do often notice prices going up in other supermarkets before then a loyalty bonus back down to not necessarily what I would call cheap.

Years ago I started spotting buy one get one free offers where the unit price was often double the competitions unit price.

Enough people really do perceive a discount more than the actual price.

 

[jon0844]

It's laughable how expensive the non loyalty card prices can be on some products, and it reminds me of the late night shopping channels that used to sell costume jewellery for thousands of pounds - quickly rescued by 50%, 70% and then 80 or 90%.

It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the fact that some people can't get a Tesco Clubcard. If you're a child, you can't have one (I know they keep saying they're working on something but it hasn't happened yet) and they still technically bar giving a screen shot of the code to a child.

I don't believe they enforce the age restriction, but it's still grossly unfair IMO that someone is technically not allowed to pay the Clubcard price and therefore the item is now double or triple the cost in some cases.

I have no issue with loyalty cards but don't believe everyone should be required to have one if they don't want to for whatever reason. It was one thing not to earn points if you went without one, but now you're absolutely being made to pay more than the item would normally cost in many other locations.

 

[jon81uk]

It's laughable how expensive the non loyalty card prices can be on some products, and it reminds me of the late night shopping channels that used to sell costume jewellery for thousands of pounds - quickly rescued by 50%, 70% and then 80 or 90%.

But the supermarket pricing has been like this for 30+ years, the only change is the offers are restricted to loyalty card holders. There are products I've bought for a long time where they go down in price every few months on special offer. Things like Ginsters pasty, New Covent Garden soup, Muller yoghurts, Colgate toothpaste and other branded items have done this for 30 years. For example the New Covent Garden soup is currently on offer at £1.50 down from £2.45 at Ocado, in a few weeks it will be back to £2.45 at Ocado but on offer at £1.50 at Tesco instead. Seven years ago it would be £1.80 and then down to £1 on offer, both the full price and regular price have increased as have many other food items in the last seven years due to the wars and other factors.

Yes Tesco and Sainsbury's lock their promotions to card holders, but Ocado and Asda will often have the same discounts without the loyalty only thing. The promotions have always been like that and still are at most places.

I don't believe they enforce the age restriction, but it's still grossly unfair IMO that someone is technically not allowed to pay the Clubcard price and therefore the item is now double or triple the cost in some cases.

I have no issue with loyalty cards but don't believe everyone should be required to have one if they don't want to for whatever reason. It was one thing not to earn points if you went without one, but now you're absolutely being made to pay more than the item would normally cost in many other locations.

Do you have any links to items that are 2/3 off when on promotion? I've not seen anything that significantly below 50% off for a long time.

 

[Peter Sarf]

But the supermarket pricing has been like this for 30+ years, the only change is the offers are restricted to loyalty card holders. There are products I've bought for a long time where they go down in price every few months on special offer. Things like Ginsters pasty, New Covent Garden soup, Muller yoghurts, Colgate toothpaste and other branded items have done this for 30 years. For example the New Covent Garden soup is currently on offer at £1.50 down from £2.45 at Ocado, in a few weeks it will be back to £2.45 at Ocado but on offer at £1.50 at Tesco instead. Seven years ago it would be £1.80 and then down to £1 on offer, both the full price and regular price have increased as have many other food items in the last seven years due to the wars and other factors.

Yes Tesco and Sainsbury's lock their promotions to card holders, but Ocado and Asda will often have the same discounts without the loyalty only thing. The promotions have always been like that and still are at most places.


Do you have any links to items that are 2/3 off when on promotion? I've not seen anything that significantly below 50% off for a long time.

I know my ale "Marston Pedigree" drops to 50% about four time a hear. Latest was £2.50 down to £1.25 which is 50%. Granted it is often 4 for £7.50 which is 25% off !. Until earlier this year the ale would get down to £1 for 500ml, that still happens for weaker ales circa 3.4%. Guess when I stock up !.

 

[jon81uk]

I know my ale "Marston Pedigree" drops to 50% about four time a hear. Latest was £2.50 down to £1.25 which is 50%. Granted it is often 4 for £7.50 which is 25% off !. Until earlier this year the ale would get down to £1 for 500ml, that still happens for weaker ales circa 3.4%. Guess when I stock up !.

Yep most of these promotions are cyclical and the price will drop on an item 4-6 times a year and its been that way for a very long time.

 

[jon0844]

But the supermarket pricing has been like this for 30+ years, the only change is the offers are restricted to loyalty card holders. There are products I've bought for a long time where they go down in price every few months on special offer. Things like Ginsters pasty, New Covent Garden soup, Muller yoghurts, Colgate toothpaste and other branded items have done this for 30 years. For example the New Covent Garden soup is currently on offer at £1.50 down from £2.45 at Ocado, in a few weeks it will be back to £2.45 at Ocado but on offer at £1.50 at Tesco instead. Seven years ago it would be £1.80 and then down to £1 on offer, both the full price and regular price have increased as have many other food items in the last seven years due to the wars and other factors.

Yes Tesco and Sainsbury's lock their promotions to card holders, but Ocado and Asda will often have the same discounts without the loyalty only thing. The promotions have always been like that and still are at most places.


Do you have any links to items that are 2/3 off when on promotion? I've not seen anything that significantly below 50% off for a long time.

No links, but they've had items around 66% off before on things like expensive Colgate whitening toothpaste as one example.

I don't note down prices as I see them, but other examples are ridiculous SRPs on things like 24 or 30 cans of Coke.

There are people who do post examples and Aldi have obviously looked into this in more detail than me, probably collating data and knowing what the suppliers are charging etc.

 

[SuspectUsual]

It's laughable how expensive the non loyalty card prices can be on some products

Its just an extension of the way they've done promotional prices for years

 

[jon0844]

Its just an extension of the way they've done promotional prices for years

But nobody had to pay the inflated price before. Now you do if you can't have a loyalty card, such as because of your age.

That's a key difference.

Fake SRPs are as old as time itself but now some people are paying the inflated prices.

 

[Belperpete]

It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the fact that some people can't get a Tesco Clubcard. If you're a child, you can't have one (I know they keep saying they're working on something but it hasn't happened yet) and they still technically bar giving a screen shot of the code to a child.

European branches of Tesco run the same kind of price inflation for those without loyalty cards. But my UK loyalty card doesn't work in continental Tesco stores. And not having an address there, I am unable to apply for a local loyalty card. The inflated prices actually puts me off buying from Tesco there.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I suppose generally the supermarkets believe that people who do not have the time, energy or inclination to shop around will not bother with a loyalty card either - so they might as well screw them. Bit hard on those people unable to get a loyalty card.

 

[Bald Rick]

I am reminded every day about the significant proportoin of the populaton who do not ntoce prices for what tehy are buying. Mrs BR being my daily reminder. She has absolutely no idea how much anything costs, and never has.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I am reminded every day about the significant proportoin of the populaton who do not ntoce prices for what tehy are buying. Mrs BR being my daily reminder. She has absolutely no idea how much anything costs, and never has.

I know that feeling - but after all they don't have to pay.......

 

[zero]

European branches of Tesco run the same kind of price inflation for those without loyalty cards. But my UK loyalty card doesn't work in continental Tesco stores. And not having an address there, I am unable to apply for a local loyalty card. The inflated prices actually puts me off buying from Tesco there.

Do they not let you open a card with any random address on their app? I have 4 nectar cards none of which have real personal details. I have not tried this with UK Tesco because I don't shop there, and I have a Tesco credit card and (for this year) Tesco insurance, so it has to have my real details.

 

[Belperpete]

Do they not let you open a card with any random address on their app? I have 4 nectar cards none of which have real personal details. I have not tried this with UK Tesco because I don't shop there, and I have a Tesco credit card and (for this year) Tesco insurance, so it has to have my real details.

I tried to obtain a Czech Tesco loyalty card, but they post the card to you. As far as I could see, there is no way to obtain the discount without the card.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I tried to obtain a Czech Tesco loyalty card, but they post the card to you. As far as I could see, there is no way to obtain the discount without the card.

I suppose the only chance is if they post the loyalty card to you (in oblivion) but also send you an email with the QR or bar code on.

 

[jon0844]

I hadn't considered the overseas bit.. And as someone who often gets a hotel/apartment so we can have breakfast and/or dinner in the room, being made to pay an inflated price because we can't get a local discount card would be a PITA.

The same presumably applies to tourists coming to the UK.

 

[Tester]

The Lidl Plus app can easily be changed to different countries.

I discovered this in a French Lidl, when the checkout operator changed my phone settings with one hand while scanning my shopping with the other.

I was impressed!

 

[Belperpete]

The Lidl Plus app can easily be changed to different countries.

That is interesting to know.

I don't bother with the Lidl app, I just type my phone number in. I will have to try that next time I am abroad.

 

[jon0844]

At least Costco memberships are global, and everyone qualifies for their promotions!

 

[BuhSnarf]

At least Costco memberships are global, and everyone qualifies for their promotions!

Well, as long as you meet the requirement to join!

 

[Buzby]

Well, as long as you meet the requirement to join!

Why? If you pay you can get Individual Membership. I departed as the quantities they were selling I could never consume before they expired.

 

[jon81uk]

Why? If you pay you can get Individual Membership. I departed as the quantities they were selling I could never consume before they expired.

No, Costco UK has criteria to become a member. https://www.costco.co.uk/membership-goldstar-questions

Current or Retired Employee of:​

• Banking / Finance
• Local Government
• Fire / Rescue Service
• Post Office
• Airlines
• Education
• Police Force
• Civil Service / Armed Forces
• Medical / Health Service
• Insurance

OR Qualified as:​

• Qualified / Certified / Chartered Accountant
• Chartered Architect
• Doctors (MD) / Dentist / Optician / Pharmacist
• Chartered Surveyor
• Solicitor / Barrister / Magistrate / Advocate
• Chartered Engineer / Civil etc

OR Pre Approved Membership​

 

[BuhSnarf]

Why? If you pay you can get Individual Membership. I departed as the quantities they were selling I could never consume before they expired.

You can only be an individual member if you work in certain sectors, which thankfully I do, but not everyone can get a card. Unless they've changed it recently.

 

[jon0844]

Well, as long as you meet the requirement to join!

I believe that if you can get a second card in your name with someone else who qualifies, you can become a separate member the following year?

Also, if you buy a gift card you can enter a store to buy things even without membership.

You used to be able to shop online also as a non member but I think this has changed. It's cheaper but you still need to qualify.

 

[jon81uk]

I believe that if you can get a second card in your name with someone else who qualifies, you can become a separate member the following year?

I don't think this is the case any longer. You can only have one additional card holder at the same address. Only business accounts can add additional cardholders.

Also, if you buy a gift card you can enter a store to buy things even without membership.

To my knowledge Costco UK don't have gift cards. I think you are referring to the USA stores.

You used to be able to shop online also as a non member but I think this has changed. It's cheaper but you still need to qualify.

Online-only membership doesn't have the eligibility restrictions, it used to be £15 but is now the full £42 same as warehouse membership.

 

[jon0844]

I don't think this is the case any longer. You can only have one additional card holder at the same address. Only business accounts can add additional cardholders.

To my knowledge Costco UK don't have gift cards. I think you are referring to the USA stores.

Online-only membership doesn't have the eligibility restrictions, it used to be £15 but is now the full £42 same as warehouse membership.

I didn't realise the UK didn't have gift cards. It's quite probable that I read this on a forum referring to the US stores.

 

[Buzby]

No, Costco UK has criteria to become a member.

Then you provide a link to the most expensive! Gold star membership requires a considerable spend. Individual Membership (NOT Business) has been available at my local store since it opened. It costs more than Business per annum, but the ID required is a driving licence or other acceptable photo ID. The other option is Digital Membership, open to all over 18 but no access to stores or petrol stations (yet). Buy and join on their website.